Chapter 5
I was setting the table for dinner when Heath rode up to the house. With plates in hand I stepped out onto the porch.
"Have you seen Jarrod?" he asked. He was in such an aggravated state that it went right to his horse, making him dance around.
"Heath why don't ya go unsaddle your horse and get washed up. Dinner is just about ready." I was trying to defuse that stick of dynamite and when he smiled I knew that I had at least slowed it down a mite.
He dismounted and pulled his horse towards the barn and I was turning to go back into the kitchen when the shot rang out. Even as I turned I knew what I would see, Heath laying in a heap on the ground. I could see Nick and Jarrod next to the barn both had their guns drawn. A voice hollered from a grove of trees to my left.
"Now we got more blood out of you!"
Heath hadn't moved the entire time and I could see that Nick was getting a bit nervous not knowing how badly his brother was hurt. We waited until we heard a horse gallop away before moving forward to check on Heath.
Nick crawled through the fence and trotted over to where Heath lay on the ground. I also had moved toward the prone body.
Nick carefully rolled Heath onto his back. Heath grabbed Nick's arm.
"Help me up will you?" he asked as he tried to sit up.
"Heath I need to check you for holes, you know the kind that bleed," said Nick as he looked his brother over and to his relief found no blood.
"I'm all right. He didn't hit me," said Heath as he now stood brushing his brother's concerned hands away. I brushed some of the dust off of the back of his shirt.
"You gave us all a scare, Heath, you sure you're alright?" I asked.
Jarrod approached still looking around with caution and much relief to see Heath standing on his own. He made his way over to us.
"Are you alright Heath?" he had asked the question in genuine concern. Before anyone could stop him, Heath threw a punch to the lawyer's jaw putting his backside into the dirt. Heath stood over him with Nick holding his arm.
"You knew about me all along," he said through clenched teeth.
"Knew what?" asked Nick looking from Jarrod to Heath.
"He knew about me! My father knew about me and you did nothing!" Heath pulled his arm from Nick's grasp and moved to collect his horse.
Nick looked down at Jarrod, "You knew about Heath?" when Jarrod nodded his head, Nick growled and started toward Jarrod. I grabbed his arm.
"I think you need to hear the entire story before you throw that punch," I said. I could feel the muscles tighten under my grasp. I released Nick's arm and moved towards the house, "Supper is just about ready. Jarrod can tell his story while we eat."
"Alright Jarrod, you had better explain and if I don't like the explanation I'll tear you apart, brother or not." Nick growled as he walked towards the house. Heath took his horse to the barn, we all left Jarrod still sitting in the dirt holding his jaw.