Finally I've finished...a little bit late it's really finished I wish to thanks to my beta schoolmarm
The following day Nick Barkley left Stockton on the first train bound to San Francisco, there his father lived with his sister; he was looking forward to announcing to him the merry news about Tom's sudden return from death.
A few hours later he was facing the entrance of his sister's house.
" Nick what a nice surprise, you didn't send any telegram; is everything all right at the ranch?"
" Yes father, I have wonderful news…I really don't know how to start: Tom is alive?"
" Are you sure; during these last years we have followed many false leads, but none of them led to Tom, how did you discover that he's alive!"
" He simply arrived at the ranch yesterday."
"What? And what was his explanation? He went missing for seven years leaving his wife and two young sons and then he simply reappears seven years later?"
"He has a pretty good justification: he has amnesia. He arrived at the ranch looking for a job, he didn't recognize anyone; we are strangers to him."
" Maybe he will recognize his father, I always hoped that he was alive and I don't care that he doesn't recognize me; the most important thing is that he's alive. When is the next train to Stockton?"
" In a few hours. I've already booked the tickets for you and Anne, there's one more thing: during these seven years Tom was married and fathered a son."
" She's with him?"
" No, maybe I'm selfish, but thank God she died two years ago...I cringe at the thought that she could be alive."
" While we wait for your sister let's celebrate with some whiskey."
The news of Tom Barkley's return spread like wildfire in Stockton; the first well-wishers arrived just after the family had finished breakfast that was spent in a heavy silence. Neither Jarrod or Nick went to school that morning, Victoria thought that it was better for them to keep them away from Stockton where she was sure they would be assaulted by well wishers and more important they needed time to reacquaint with their father.
She put Silas in charge of screening the visitors, she gave him a short list with names of old friends who were allowed to enter and meet Tom, the others would receive a polite decline. After a few visitors she put a stop to all visits, even the ones from the closest friends. Tom appeared more and more ill at ease with each visit. Their friends tried to be helpful, to recall shared moments spent together, but to their chagrin Tom wasn't able to recall their friendship and Tom appeared more tired every passing visit and after awhile Victoria decided to put a stop to all visits.
" Tom do you want to go outside, you look that you have spent enough time cooped up? I think Heath and Nick will be happy to join us, I think they spent the majority of the morning upstairs and I'm pretty sure they will appreciate some fresh air."
After few minutes the four were heading toward the corral.
" Papa me and Nick played all morning with his soldiers upstairs I've never seen so many and he told me that they are mine too!" exclaimed Heath.
" Nick is your brother and he's happy to share his toys with you," piped in Victoria, "And when you receive toys you will share with him as well, " she concluded.
" Toys? Real toys for me? Uncle Matt gave me a toy soldier last Christmas and papa made me a wooden horse, but I lost the soldier," asked a doubtful Heath.
" Victoria was right, I reckon in a few days we will go to Stockton and I have the impression that you will receive new toys and clothes and I'm pretty sure that when uncle Matt will arrive he will have a surprise for you," answered Tom.
" Uncle Matt will come here? Nick my uncle Matt is the bestest uncle in the world he always tells me funny stories and he always gives me candies."
" Yes, I asked Victoria to send him a telegram."
" Sorry Victoria if I didn't tell you in advance…"
" Tom, you are my husband even if you don't remember and I would do anything to make you happy. From what you told me Matt Simmons is as good man and friend and I don't see why he shouldn't be here; just write the telegram and I will send a hand to town to send it," interrupted Victoria
Tom watched Victoria, he still didn't remember her, but she shared many qualities with Leah. She looked like her in some ways; maybe he fell in love with Leah because of this resemblance. He had felt safe with her and he still felt the void in his heart caused by Leah's death. He didn't know if he would ever regain his memory, but he would give a try with Victoria by staying near her. Even though he didn't remember her he felt at ease, complete and safe.
" Victoria, where is Jarrod?"
" He's studying or at least he's using this excuse to be somewhere else. You have to understand that your last words with him were that you would be back for his birthday; just give him some time. He's a smart young man who will realize pretty soon that it wasn't your fault for not being here all these years."
The rest of the day was spent as a family, Tom spoke at length with Victoria about his years spent away from her and how he struggled during the last two years. He spoke highly of his brother in law Matt, in many way he saved his life twice: the first one when he saved him from the storm and the second one when he helped him overcome his pain at losing Leah. Heath and Nick spent the time playing with new puppies and starting a friendship that would last for the rest of their lives; meanwhile Jarrod observed them from his room and was starting to realize that maybe he was childish, but he was too stubborn to admit aloud.
Nick Barkley had never seen his father so nervous as they approached the ranch. During the hours spent on the train he and his sister asked question after question which he answered as well as he could. He had to admit that he barely knew the new version of his brother. Finally the house emerged from the horizon and the buggy stopped in front of the entrance. Heath Barkley slowly got off the buggy and he slowly approached the door. He was so happy that his son was alive even though he wouldn't recognized him and he had this strange wish that, maybe his presence would stir some memories in Tom's mind. As usual it was Silas who opened the door.
" Welcome back Mister Barkley, your son and his family have just finished dinner and are in the parlor."
He slowly advanced toward the room closely followed by Nick and Anne. Victoria was the first one to realize that her father in law was arrived.
" Father, I'm so happy you have arrived."
" Grandfather! " chorused Nick and Jarrod.
Heath Barkley slowly reached for his son and engulfed him in a bear's hug not leaving him time to react.
" Oh Tom I'm so happy; deep in my heath I've always knew that you were alive." he said sobbing.
Nick was amazed; he had seen his father cry only when his mother had died several years ago.
Tom didn't know how to react. This man who was engulfing him was his father, but he didn't recall him; it was an awkward situation, but Nick came to his aid.
" Father, as you can see he doesn't recall you. Tom, as you could easily surmise this is your father and this lady near me is your sister Anne."
" Uncle Nick, does that make him my grandpa? " asked Heath.
" Yes, Father this smart boy is your grandson and, Heath, she is your Aunt Anne."
" I've never had a grandpa or an aunt, but I have another Uncle who is coming soon."
" Nice to meet you Heath; you know you look like your father when he was your age."
The following conversation between father and son was strained. In Tom's eyes his father was a complete stranger they didn't have a common conversational subject until they finally found it by focusing on talking about Heath's namesake who was being fussed over by his newfound aunt. Slowly the time passed and one by one each member of the Barkley family said their farewell and went to bed.
" Pa, I'm happy here, I have an aunt, a grandpa and two brothers, " said a sleepy Heath in the privacy of their room – and toys. ," he concluded.
" And I am happy that you are happy." Tom didn't said it aloud, but he was happy also that if anything should happen to him Heath would have a family; yes there was Matt, but lately he was associating with with an odd woman who wasn't a motherly type.
The following day the whole Barkley clan went to Stockton; they wanted to show that they believed wholehearted to Tom's amnesia to stop the busybodies and their lies. Tom and Heath needed new clothes and others things. Tom and Heath were dumbstruck at the amount of money that was spent during the day. Tom tried feebly to put a stop to the shopping spree, but he had to face both Victoria and the rest of the family. He had no memories of them, but he knew that he would lose this particular battle.
They stopped at the Stockton school that both Jarrod and Nick attended to enroll Heath in the first grade.
" Mrs. Barkley, I've just heard the happy news," said Mr. Jones, the principal, while he welcomed the Barkleys.
" Mr. Barkley, my name is Mr. Jones."
" Nice to meet you. I'm here to enroll my son Heath Winter…I mean Barkley. He didn't have too much schooling, but he knows his letter and numbers."
"It's not a problem; if he is smart as his brothers he won't have any problems."
" You know Victoria I always feared that I couldn't give my son any opportunities to attend school after her mother's death. We wandered from town to town while I was looking for any job…" said Tom while going out from the school.
" Tom, Heath isn't your son, he's our son."
At these words Heath looked at Victoria hopefully; it was the second time she had called him son. He really didn't have any memories of his mother, but his father's wife reminded him of her mother. He would ask his father if it would be all right for him to call her Mama. He was excited to start school. He had attended one only for a few days, but he liked it.
The rest of the day passed quickly. Tom and Heath shared equal time with different members of the family, Heath and his daughter tried to made Tom remember, telling him several episodes of his childhood. When they were with Heath they began to know Tom's son better; Heath was a polite and smart boy who put his father at the center of the universe and deep inside him he was afraid he could lose him since the close call he had during the cave in.
The dinner was very lively, Heath Barkley had a booming voice and in Victoria's opinion Nick had inherited it.
"Heath, I reckon you are happy that tomorrow you will start school, " said Anne.
" Yes Aunt Anne, when we were in Midas I went for a while, but then papa had an accident in the mine and I had to work…" he replied.
"But you are too young to work.," interrupted his grandfather; Nick had told his father about Tom's brush with death, but he didn't tell about Heath's part in earning during Tom's convalescence.
" It's not a big deal grandpa, I worked in the livery stable, the mine owner wanted me as a charge boy, but papa knew I'm afraid of the dark so he told him no…we needed the money," explained Heath.
" Heath I'm proud that you are my grandson."
It was in their room that Heath asked the big question.
" Papa I'm wondering….do you think mama would be angry if I call Mrs. Barkley mama? I don't remember her, but I want to have a mama and she reminds me of her."
"Honey, I think she would be happy; she always wanted your happiness. You know Victoria already considers you as her son and I think she would be honored to be called mama, and you can ask her tomorrow morning before going to school."
Heath was so excited that he was awake at the dawn; he wanted to go downstairs, but Tom pointed out that it was too early and the rest of the family would still be sleeping so Tom decided to read him a story from a book he took from the family library the previous night.
The family was gathered in the dining room when Tom and Heath arrived. Tom took his place in front of Victoria and Heath next to him.
"Ma'am, I have a question for you," asked Heath hesitantly , "You are my papa's wife and I'm wondering if I can call you mama?"
"Heath do you remember the first time we met? You asked me if I could be your mama and my answer was yes, so I don't see anything wrong to call me mama. You are a smart little boy and any woman would be delighted to have you as a son."
Everyone in the room smiled with the sole exception of Jarrod 'how dare him, to call her mama, he isn't her son, he isn't my brother, it's his fault and his mother's that papa didn't come back sooner' he thought darkly. No one noticed how morose Jarrod was till the moment they went to the stable to get the horses.
" Father I don't see why you need to come with us? Nick and I know our way to the school pretty well."
" Jarrod, it's the first day of school for Heath; maybe you don't remember, but he went with you on your first day of school."
" But mother he wasn't here for Nick's…."
" Don't say one more word, Jarrod Thomas Barkley, or you will have a close meeting with my wooden spoon; since your father's return you have been uncouth. Maybe you should learn your manners again."
" Sorry mother," he replied while mounting and urging his to a slow trot.
" Tom, I'm sorry; he usually doesn't behave in this manner."
" Don't worry, Victoria. I think we will have to give him some time. See you later."
" Tom, if you want I can come with you."
" Don't worry; I'm a big boy and I think my little brother can protect me," he replied laughing.
Victoria stood still till the four riders disappeared on the horizon. One of the things she missed most during Tom's disappearance was his laughter and lopsided smile, but he was back; maybe he wasn't himself, but he was back and this was the most important thing.
After delivering Nick and Heath the two men returned to the ranch and along with their father they toured the ranch. Nick showed his big brother the work that had to be done around there daily.
The following days passed smoothly; Heath made new friends in school and bonded with his newfound family. Tom's father and sister left Stockton after a few days with the promise that pretty soon the family should have come to visit them in San Francisco.
Jarrod, Nick and Heath rode by themselves to school each day, but Jarrod distanced himself from his two younger brothers as soon the corral was out of sight.
" Nick why doesn't Jarrod like me?" Heath asked one day, innocently.
" I don't know; he's always stiff and full of himself, he thinks he's pretty smart only because he reads books. I'm very happy that you are here; finally I have a brother who I can play with."
" Maybe he doesn't like me because I'm not smart," concluded Heath.
It was during recess that trouble arrived for Heath; a group of older boys corralled him, after making sure that Nick wasn't around.
" Hey, bastard, do you like the life with the Barkleys? I'm sure your mother was a looker for keeping Tom Barkley away from his rightful family."
" I've heard that your name ain't Barkley, but Winter…maybe your father ain't Tom Barkley."
" Bastard, I think once your father remembers he will send you away; after all you aren't his real son."
The jeers continued for several minutes. Heath was on verge of tears; so far he had had no problems and those big boys were laughing at him with no reason, they were teasing him using words that he didn't know the meaning of. He was saved by the bell and he returned to class and was tempted to ask the teacher the meaning of the words he had heard during the recess, but he had the feeling it was better to avoid it.
On his way back to the ranch he was so subdued that Nick asked what was going on, but he was able to make up a story about losing a marble.
He took courage when he entered Jarrod's room; his brother was pretty smart and even if he hated him he was sure he would tell him the meaning of the words he had heard that morning.
" I'm studying, I don't have time to lose with you brat."
" I'm sorry Jarrod, but I have a question for you; you are pretty smart and I think you can help."
" I think 'papa' will help you with your homework when he come back from the range," he said sarcastically.
" It's not homework; today some boys called me some names and I don't know their meaning."
" Ask 'mama' I'm pretty busy right now."
" Please Jarrod, I know you don't like me, but I think they are bad words."
" All right, just make it fast I don't have time to waste."
" What is a bastard?"
Jarrod was at a loss at that word; he would never have imagined that Heath would ask the meaning of this word. He didn't know how to answer; he was tempted to brush him off, to send him to ask to their father, but he wasn't a coward and started to think of the best answer.
" Heath you heard this word at school, didn't you?" he started.
" Yes it was during recess, some older boys told me that word and others, but they kept on saying that I'm a bastard…"
" Heath you are right, it's a bad word and you shouldn't say…it means that the mother and the father of a child aren't married."
" But mama and papa were married, Uncle Matt was there!"
" But father was already married; he broke the law. You can't be married to two women."
" He didn't know he was married…he thought that he was alone. Papa always obey the law; he didn't break it. If you don't remember that you are married you don't break the law if you marry another woman. Papa was happy with mama, but I'm sure he would never have married her if he remembered that he was married to your mama."
" Heath you are right, but for the law the marriage between father and your mama isn't valid. One could say that father faked his amnesia…"
" But papa really didn't remember anything, he loves me and I think he would never leave me unless he wouldn't remember me and I think the same thing is true for you or Nick," interrupted Heath.
Those simple words started Jarrod to really think about his father and the real reason why he left him all those years ago. It wasn't his father's fault nor Heath's; it was fate and maybe it was the fate that made his father come back home.
" Sometimes law is unfair, but you aren't a bastard; father recognized you at the birth so you are his son the same as myself or Nick."
" But Jarrod what should I say to those boys next time?"
" Just ignore them; they are bullies and they will get tired if you don't react to their words. Remember words don't hurt."
" Thanks, Jarrod. Those boys said something about my mama, after they said it they laughed and run away. I've heard it before and when I repeated papa smacked my bottom…if I tell you in your ear you won't tell papa, you promise?" asked Heath. The blond boy slowly whispered what he had heard and Jarrod blushed from hearing that five-letter word from the mouth of someone so young…
" Heath it's a really bad word and you must promise never to say it again."
" I promise, but what does it mean, why did they use it for my mama?"
" It means…" Jarrod didn't know what to answer, he wanted to maintain Heath's innocence as long as possible "Sometimes ladies work in the saloon, you know them?" at Heath's nodding he continued " it's not a good job, real ladies don't work there."
" But mama never worked in a saloon! Those boys are wrong!"
" Yes they are, they are bullies and they pick on younger boys because they are cowards."
" Thanks Jarrod I knew you were pretty smart and I'm sorry if you lost time for me."
" Don't worry. I'm your older brother and it's my job to help you and tomorrow during recess call me or Nick if those boys come near you," replied Jarrod relieved that Heath didn't inquired about the kind of the job that was done inside the saloon. "Heath, another thing; I don't hate you. Maybe I was a bit angry at you because papa didn't come home sooner, but now I understand that it was nobody's fault. What about going downstairs and eating some cake like real brothers?"
At those words Heath jumped at Jarrod and hugged him with his small arms.
"I'm happy you like me now, I have a book I want to read, but it's too difficult. I asked Nick, but he refused; maybe it's too difficult for him too, do you want to help me?"
"Sure, but before we do there's a cake with our names down in the kitchen…one more thing don't tell father or mother about what happened this morning; it will be our secret."
A few hours later Victoria was pleased to hear Jarrod speak in a civil tone to Tom and was stunned at hearing his older son ask Heath to play checkers. Slowly Heath and Tom were merging into the family. She didn't know if, or when, Tom would regain his memory, but it was becoming a secondary matter. She had noticed the glances Tom gave her; they were the same he had when he had met her so many years ago…she knew he was falling in love with her again.
Tom was happy that Jarrod stopped holding grudges against him and started to treat Heath as a brother. He kept on observing Victoria and suddenly realize that he had the same sensation of butterflies he had when he met Leah; he realized that he was falling in love again.