Chapter Eight

Heath wiped his forehead with his bandana. He'd been repairing a stretch of fence most of the morning. He might have had a hard time concentrating on work, but Audra had been kind enough to offer to watch his children while he worked, free of charge. That was the one blessing he was extremely grateful for. While the Barkleys paid well, paying anyone to watch his children would have taken money that really could be used to provide the things Bryon and Leah needed.

As hot as the sun was making the day, he wished he could have taken his shirt off, but other ranch hands, along with Nick, would wander by every once in awhile, as they also had jobs that were in the process of getting done. That being the case, Heath didn't feel like taking a chance and having any of them see the scars upon his back. The scars that very few people knew about; ones put there, both by his Aunt Martha when he was growing up, or ones he received while a prisoner of war. He wiped his forehead again and then put the bandana in his pocket.

Almost mesmerized as he watched a rabbit hop through the grass had him thinking about the war and what a feast he and other soldiers would have had if they'd been able to catch such game. Looking back at it, he wondered why he hadn't simply found another way to help his mother with money, but it seemed like good money to a thirteen year old; one that could handle a gun and was tall and lanky enough to pass for an older boy. He'd seen many things early on in his life, but nothing like that; young people shot, his own buddies near dying of starvation on the front lines, and then of course the prison camp. His stomach clenched when he came anywhere near those memories, so he quickly dismissed them. He sighed again when he thought on his mother…how she'd worried for him when he went to war and how she'd rejoiced the day he came back. He looked around him and remembered how glad she was the day he said he was going to look into working on a ranch instead of mines or serving in the military.

Slowly his mind turned to the Barkley family. They were good, friendly folk like Gideon and his wife had been, though he was troubled by the feelings he was getting; ones that seemed to continue to say he was closer to home that he thought. He wondered if it was just because his daughter had taken such a shine to the all the Barkley's or, to get more specific, to the fact that she'd latched on to his new boss as if to say 'back off, he's mine!' That part, Leah becoming so possessive of Nick, was quite amusing. If the dark haired rancher was in the house, or around the yard, Leah was his constant shadow…when her father wasn't around; even then she didn't let Nick out of her sight. He knew about Leah following Nick so much because he'd heard some of Barkley's other hands joking that Nick had a new gal, one that wasn't going to just step aside and give him away. Heath's musings then turned to Victoria; she'd stopped by the night before.

Victoria, who had ridden her horse to the two bedroom house where Heath and his children were now living, stood on the porch watching Bryon playing with the puppy Nicholas had insisted on buying for the children. It was a puppy that Heath would have sent packing only both his children had instantly fallen in love with the animal, and he didn't have the heart to take it away from them.

Heath looked up at the evening sky, which was starting to show some signs that end of the day was to make its appearance. He wasn't sure what to think of Mrs. Barkley's visit, but he wasn't going to be a rude host either. That being the case, he hadn't argued when she asked if they visit on the porch while the children played. Though, he admitted to himself he feared where the visiting might lead to. Since he'd sensed some unease on her part, he couldn't help but wonder if his illegitimacy bothered her, if she wanted to ask questions because of it, and he feared what some of the questions might be. A lot of those questions, he wouldn't be willing to give answers to.

For her part, Victoria smiled as she continued to watch the children, doing her best to keep the unease Heath saw under control. After a few moments, she took a chance and said, "My sons, Jarrod and Nick, say you were born and raised in Strawberry." She turned her eyes away from the children and kept them on Heath as she talked, wanting to make sure she didn't miss any silent messages.

For a moment, he did not answer. His mind was on not only Strawberry, but on his mother, Hannah and his "Aunt" Rachel. For the first time in quite some time, he felt homesick. Because of that homesickness, he might have given his notice and gone back to Strawberry, but there wasn't anything left for him there now. Finally he looked at her, nodded and said, "Yes, ma'am, though by the time I was twelve the town was beginning to die out. I'm amazed anyone still lives there." Heath then turned his eyes away Victoria and onto his children.

Heath slammed another pole down into the ground, as he remembered how Mrs. Barkley talked about her family and how glad she was that Heath and his children were now living on the ranch. "It's been wonderful having young children in the main house again," had been her exact words. He offered a comment here and there, to be polite, but he'd kept his conversation on the present, never on the past. Whether or not the ranch's matriarch would have gotten around asking about any family he might have, Heath did not know, as the good woman had been pulled away on some family business. Right or wrong, he was grateful for that fact.

Heath forced his mind off his past and off Mrs. Barkley's visit. He had a life to lead and children who needed him. That being the case, he went back to work. The last thing he needed was to leave work unfinished or finish it too slow. If he did that, Nick Barkley was bound to fire him sooner or later.

~oOo~

"Leah!" Audra exclaimed as she hurried into the kitchen. She'd been searching for the young child. Audra had put both children down for a nap. Not fifteen minutes later Bryon was asleep, and Audra was searching for Leah. After looking all over the upstairs, Audra had grown desperate and hurried down the stairs as fast as she could. Because of the noise she'd heard coming from the kitchen, Audra had decided to look in that room first. Now she stared at the young child who stood on a stool and had flour all over the table. "What are you doing?"

"Making cookies for Papa and Cowboy," Leah said matter of factually.

Audra wanted to laugh, but she didn't want to hurt Leah's feelings. Besides, there was something special about the young girl and her family. "Well," Audra smiled as she began cleaning up the mess the little girl had made, "Why don't I help you? We can make them together."

Leah started beaming and clapped her hands; liking the idea very much. "Okay!"

Soon, Audra had the cookie dough mixed and was helping Leah put it on the cookie sheet. She just hoped that Nick would keep his mouth shut about her cooking, if for no other reason than to humor Leah.