Never Alone

Chapter Three

The child wasn't due yet; what was she doing in labor? Kathleen lay in her bed doing her best to breathe the way her mother-in-law was instructing her. Where was the doctor? Where was Nick? He was supposed to be home for this. When another pain hit Kathleen hands doubled up in fists and she screamed, "Where are you, Nick!"

Nick bolted up and sat straight up in the bed Mrs. McKinley was letting him use. Perspiration was running down his face. It took him a few minutes to get his bearings and then let out a few choice words. The dream had seemed so real; he still felt rather unsettled. It would only be after returning home to find his wife and daughter doing well would Nick learn that at the exact time he awoke from the dream that night, his first child, Victoria May, had been born. As it was, too unsettled to sleep, Nick threw on his clothes and went out into the kitchen.

While the room wasn't huge, it was fairly spacious. It held a cook stove on the south wall, cabinets and a counter on the west one, an archway led from the kitchen into the living room while windows set on the east wall. The sun was still thinking about getting out of bed as Nick made his way into the living room. It was the same size as the kitchen and held one bookcase, a couch and two chairs, along with a piano that set against the northern wall of the room.

Nick might have sat in one of the chairs and tried to relax but he saw a couple of riders coming and they weren't letting grass grow under their feet. Nick quickly threw on his gun belt and grabbed a rife. By that time the riders was close enough for him to see Nick had stepped out on the porch, the rifle still in his hand, but pointed downwards as the riders were Heath and the two deputies that had ridden out with him. "What's wrong?" He asked as Heath and the men dismounted their horses.

"Not out here," Heath answered as he tied the reins of his horse to the hitching rail outside the McKinley home, "Let's talk indoors." His eyes, along with the eyes of the two men with him, darted about the whole time he was talking. Of course, that only put Nick on high alert. He wasted no time in following the three men back into the house. Once inside, it did not pass Nick by that Heath stood in the corner of the room keeping his eye out the window, while the other two men slipped into the kitchen and guarded the window and door in that room. That being the case, Nick took the same position by the window on the other side of the room.

"So, what's up?" Nick didn't like being left in the dark; he wanted answers like yesterday.

"The men who hit the ranches might come back." Heath answered, "Yes, most of them got away, but two were caught and one talked. Actually, he sang like a jailbird. At least we know who we are fighting now. Mr. Anderson, who owns the ranch to the north. He wants both places." Heath looked at his brother and sighed. The man had mixed feelings showing in his eyes. Heath didn't have to ask why. "I sent a wire to Jarrod to tell him what was going on. He's coming down, so you can go home and be with Kathleen when that baby is born."

Nick gave him a half smile and let out a small 'humph'. How could he tell his well meaning brothers about his dream and what he thought it was trying to tell him? He didn't know how, but he tried the only way he knew how. "Knowing my luck, she'll have that baby while I'm here and I'll get an earful before I get a chance to hold my child." Then, because he was thinking about Jarrod, Nick shook his head. "I hope that brother of ours knows what he's doing coming down here. It's not like we don't have men here with us. If he crosses any of those troublemakers on his way, and they realize who he is and what he's doing, they'll kill him. It's not like he has anyone one to help him fight."

"I'm sure he'll be fine." Heath said as he stiffened and leaned closer to the window, without putting himself into the line of fire. He thought he'd seen someone near the barn and he could have sworn it was a young Indian woman!

"What is it Heath?" Nick looked outside. He saw nothing.

"Someone went into the barn; I think a young woman. Looks like one of the Indians that were living with the Barnes." Heath answered.

"What?" Nick's face filled with disbelief. "Are you sure? That's the last thing we need 'round here right now. It's bad enough havin' to protect an old woman, but a young woman to boot, we don't need that." Nick said as Heath made his way to the door.

"Maybe not, but we got it. I'm sure of it. I'm goin' out there. Cover me if the need arises, won't ya? Who knows who else might be out there." After all, Mr. Anderson wanted both too badly. In fact, Heath didn't doubt that if it weren't for the ongoing investigation the man would have stepped in and bought the Barnes place already.

"Heath!" Nick barked too late; Heath was already out the door and halfway to the barn. All Nick could do was keep an eye open.

Heath wasted no time getting to the barn, but he was extremely cautious in entering. Sure enough, once he was inside he saw a young Indian woman huddling in the corner of the building. Her clothes were singed which told him the young woman had indeed been in the Barnes house when it caught fire. He held his hand to the young girl. "Come on, let's get you inside quickly. I'm sure we'll have company soon." He didn't whether or not the company he felt would come meant the sheriff would show up or some of the men who had been helping him search for clues before the raid, maybe, even some of the wanted men. All he knew was that his gut told him someone would come. That meant he and the young woman needed to get to back into the house. There at least, they had some chance of safety. He was relieved when the young woman did not fight him. Soon he and she were back with Nick and the two deputies who had arrived with Heath.