Thicker Than Water

Chapter Three

"Thought you were going to play poker and grab a drink." Jarrod, who was sitting in the city office waiting for either Mr. Scott or the man's foreman, said as Nick opened the door and shut it behind him.

Nick looked around the room. Modesto's city office housed only two rooms, an office and the main meeting area. Benches sat in front of the other until they stopped, maybe, five feet from the table Jarrod sat behind. Nick walked up to the table, took his hat off and sat down off to the left of his older brother. "I was going to but," he looked closely at his brother, "you've been more than quiet ever sense we left the stables this morning. You didn't even argue with how much I wound up paying for the horses we bought." He'd seen Jarrod's raised eyebrow during the bidding and figured the man would step in and say something only he hadn't. It had bothered Nick enough to make it so he just had to find out what was up with his big brother.

Jarrod tapped the top of the table a few times before he answered. "Just trying to figure out if I should know that fellow that helped us out this morning," The fact that he continued to get strong impressions that he should had bothered Jarrod all morning.

Nick frowned. "Is that good or bad? I mean, the fact that you think you should know him?" Though, if Nick was to be honest, he'd been having the same feelings ever since he'd laid eyes on the man who had led the horses around in the corral during the auctions.

"I don't feel anything bad when it comes to him," Jarrod answered as he leaned back in the chair and looked at the clock, wondering where their friend or foreman was, "just can't shake the feeling that he's familiar in some way." he stopped talking as the door opened up. Both he and Nick felt shock waves go through them and they glanced at each other as the same young man who had helped them out that morning walked through the door.

Heath was just as surprised as Nick and Jarrod, though his face did not show his it. He'd spent far too many years hiding how he felt as a way to protect himself to let it show now, though he couldn't help but chuckle to himself as he thought 'Boy howdy! Ain't it a small world!' "Jarrod Barkley?" He asked as he looked from Jarrod to Nick and then back to Jarrod and then stopped a few feet away from where the two men were sitting.

"I'm Jarrod Barkly," Jarrod stood up and held out his hand, "This," he nodded towards Nick, who had also arisen, "is my brother, Nick Barkley."

Heath shook Jarrod's hand and then Nick's. "Name's Heath, Heath Thomson, Mr. Stokes sent me. He apologizes," Heath said as he pulled a chair over to the table and sat down, "only he's a bit under the weather. He asked me to come and talk to you." The fact that Mr. Stokes had been 'a bit under the weather' for some time wasn't something Heath felt free to discuss. In his eyes, that sort of discussion needed to be started by Mr. Stokes himself, or his family, if it was started at all.

The next thirty minutes was spent talking about Nick and Jarrod's interest in the property Mr. Stokes owned, but wasn't using, along with the price the Barkley's were willing to pay for it. As the discussion drew close to being over, Heath began to gather up the copies of the various legal documents his boss needed to look over and see if he agreed with the few changes Jarrod wanted to make before they bought the land from Mr. Stokes. "I'll make sure Mr. Stokes gets these papers." Heath told them as he stood up. Then, because he hated the idea of the Barkley's eating at the café or at the boarding house, Heath invited them to his house. "I'm no gourmet cook." He smiled as he finished making the offer. "Still, I ain't killed anyone yet."

Since Heath had offered to cook them supper, Nick and Jarrod assumed he was single like them. That being the case, they figured he was all alone in the house and wanted company for a few hours.

"Thank you." Jarrod smiled as he accepted the invitation, as did Nick. Soon the three were on their horses and heading down the main street of Modesto.

"I should warn ya," Heath spoke up after a few minutes, "while Bryon is shy around visitors at first, Leah will be all over you. She's never had a shy bone in her since the day she was born."

Bryon? Leah? Jarrod and Nick looked at each other. Heath had offered to cook them supper which meant he didn't have a wife. If that was the case, was he a widower? Was he talking about children or what? They both wanted to know, but dare they ask? Before either had time to decide, they found themselves in front of Heath's home. The moment, they and their host dismounted their horses, Jarrod and Nick had their silent questions answered.

"Papa!" Leah screamed as Jenny opened the door. Seconds later she had ran down the steps and flew up into her father's arms. She then looked at Nick and Jarrod. "More friends, papa?" the child tilted her head and looked at her father. She was so cute; Heath couldn't help but smile, as did Jarrod and Nick.

"You could say that." Heath turned to face Jarrod and Nick. "This is my daughter, Leah. That," he said as he turned and looked at Bryon, who had come out onto the front porch and was standing next to Jenny, "Is my son, Bryon." He then headed up the steps speaking to Jenny as he did so. "Thanks for watching the children. Come back inside and I'll pay you." Jenny did as he asked, but left the moment she had her money, but not before shocking him when she asked if he'd heard the news about Cole.

"What news?" Heath asked not sure if he wanted to know or not.

"He got caught cheating in a card game with a stranger and, when the stranger called him on it, he went for his gun. They say he never cleared leather before the other man shot him." Jenny told him as she walked out the door.

Heath was shocked, but not surprised. Young men like Cole seldom lasted long. He turned his attention to his guests as Jarrod spoke up.

"You have beautiful children." Jarrod asked as he looked around the front room. Nick voiced the same opinion as Leah climbed up on his lap and started playing with the raw ride that held his leather vest together.

At four years old, Leah was still learning various terms such as jacket, coat, vest, etcetera; that being the case, she looked up at Nick and asked, "Why do you have shoe lace on your jacket?"

Nick smiled and answered, "It does look like shoe lace doesn't it?" He went on to explain what it was, the fact that his father had given it to him and why. Well, he did his best to give the child a picture she could understand.

"Where's your papa?" she asked after Nick was done speaking. Because she was so young, she didn't catch the small, but quick, appearance of pain that shot through Nick's eyes. Heath did not.

"Leah!" Heath did not yell, but he did speak loud enough to make sure she knew he meant business. "You don't need to bother the man."

When the child frowned and started to get down, Nick quickly stopped her. "She's fine." Nick smiled at the young child and then looked at Heath. "She's not botherin' me." She wasn't either. He was amused by the attention the small child was giving him. Most of the time, he seemed to scare young children away even though he meant no harm.

"Have it your way." Heath told him as he stepped into the kitchen and began gathering what he'd need to fix supper.

Jarrod and Nick watched as Bryon hurried into the kitchen and began climbing onto the chair to get the plates they'd need. Nick and Jarrod couldn't help but smile as Leah flew off Nick's lap and hurried to join her brother, grabbing two more plates with Heath's promptings. After the table was set Bryon stuck close to his father while Heath continued cooking, and Leah found her way back to Nick.