Never Alone
Chapter Seven
The sound of a horse outside interrupted the story Kathleen was telling her daughter; both mother and daughter flew to the front door and opened it. The disappointment they felt as they saw Heath Barkley dismounting his horse was something they could not hide. Heath felt horrible for his sister-in-law and niece. He hurried as fast as he could to the stable, unsaddling his horse, and putting him in his stall for the night; he then joined Kathleen and Victoria May on the porch. Due to the anxious looks on their faces, Heath shook his head, "We haven't found him yet. The rest of the family is camping out, while some of our friends will head back first thing in the morning. Come on inside it's cold out here"
Once inside, he threw his hat down on the table that set just inside the living room and sat down in the chair closest to the room's entrance. "It's too late for you to be up," Heath said as he looked on his niece, "what have you two been doing this whole time?" Not that he needed to ask; after all, he figured as close as these two were; talking was a high possibility.
"Mother was telling me about the trouble outside Lodi; you know the trouble that kept father away from my birth." Victoria May answered as she moved from where she was sitting over to the couch. The couch was more comfortable.
Heath couldn't help but shake his head. Anyone who said his niece wasn't in love with all kinds of stories either had their head in the sand or up in the attic. He looked at the clock. It was almost ten. Knowing Nick and Kathleen's surprise baby, he was eight months old, was just beginning to teeth and would, most likely, be awake soon, he said, "If you're mother doesn't mind, maybe I should tell you the rest of the story. I mean, it's not like I wasn't there. Besides, I think your mother needs to lie down and at least rest." Heath looked from his niece to his sister-in-law. Kathleen might have fought him, but she was tired and she did know the story already. She nodded and stood up. Hugging her daughter and then Heath, she left the room and went to her bedroom. While deep sleep would evade her, she was able to relax and doze off for awhile at least until the baby woke.
"Where were you?" Heath asked as he did his best to relax once his sister-in-law was out of the room. He saw no reason to start from the beginning. After all, to him that was only a waste of time and there was very little left of that in the day.
Looking at the clock herself, Victoria May realized how thoughtless it was to ask her uncle to continue the story when what he really needed some sleep. He seemed to sense her dilemma and assured her that, with Nick still missing, he wasn't going to be getting much sleep anyway. With that being the case, Victoria May slowly replied, "The part where it had been decided that fake evidence had to be planted and the real evidence found."
Heath stretched his legs out and made himself comfortable; he then picked the story up where his sister-in-law had left off.
BACK TO FLASHBACK
The night sky was filled with bright sparkling stars reaching from one end of the sky to the other; each one sharing the light it with whoever needed it. The moon was also doing what it could do share what light it could on the earth beneath its feet.
Nick and Heath stood on the porch taking in the night air and discussing the fact that neither one of them was happy that they'd stood aside and let Jarrod, his niece and the two men with him head to the Barnes ranch without them. "We have been able ta gather twenty men, scatter and hide them throughout the vicinity of this house, the barn and the stable without raisin' suspicions, along with the two deputies inside," Nick growled as he put his hands on his hips and nodded towards the house, "I say we get our horses and ride after Jarrod. What if there's trouble? Three men and a young woman, if Mr. Anderson's men are searchin' that ranch for evidence odds could be stacked against them. We shouldn't be standin' 'round here!"
Heath leaned against the pole and thought for a few agonizing moments. He too wanted to ride out and join Jarrod and the ones he'd taken with him. He also knew he'd given his word to stay with the Widow McKinley. "Take one someone with you," he finally said as he stepped away from the pole, "if ya go." Heath stepped away from the post. "I promised to stay here with the Widow McKinley; I reckon she's in more danger. Jarrod knows what he is doin'." He stated, more convincingly to Nick than to himself.
Nick nodded and headed for the barn. If he was going to take anyone, he'd take the late Mr. McKinley's nephew, Julies Webb. The man was the salt of the earth and definitely one you wanted on your side if you were in a fight. It didn't take Nick long to find the man and explain what was going on. "I don't like it," Nick told him, "We have enough men here. Come with me and let's go join Jarrod and the two men he took with him. If they are attacked, one will have to guard that young woman. That only leaves two to really fight the others. If Anderson has got men there they won't be looking for two separate parties. We'll come in just behind Jarrod; have their backs"
"Sounds like a solid plan, Mr. Barkley, but my aunt…" Julies spoke with his eyes in the direction of the house.
"Heath's got her well protected, don't worry." Nick slapped the man on his shoulder.
Julies nodded. He knew that to be true. "You are fine people, helping us like this. I'll go with you." He saddled his horse within minutes and was ready to ride with Nick.