Chapter Twenty

After Priscilla and Jarrod left, Nick had gone into the study and poured a glass of whiskey. He debated pouring a second one to take to Heath, but then decided against it, not sure what frame of mind his brother would be in. When he finished the smooth amber liquid, Nick headed to the barn to look for Heath.

He found him in the tack room, taking inventory of bridles and saddles, noting what needed to be mended or replaced. Nick paused in the doorway, trying to gather his thoughts, and figure out what to say.

"Did Jarrod send you out here, to get me to back down from fighting the divorce?" Heath turned around to look at him, his blue eyes cold and hard. His words at least gave Nick a starting point even if Heath did not seem in a mood to talk.

"Not really; he and Priscilla are discussing something about the Van DerHoffen trust." He offered, as he came into the tack room. There was a worn leather chair that he sat down in; the cushion sunk very quickly as the horsehair stuffing was very thin.

"I haven't heard anything about problems with the trust?" Heath's eyes widened as he asked the question. He was much more involved with the trust, since he oversaw the mining activities that generated the revenue.

"Actually, I imagine it is just a paperwork issue, or something to do with the orphanage and school there." Priscilla had setup the trust to fund the dairy farm that the Christian Brothers ran in northwest Denver. It was an orphanage for boys and young men, but also offered schooling for poor families in the community. "Priscilla and I are talking about going to Denver next year, to see the improvements the monks have made at the farm."

Nick watched as Heath turned to go back to work on the tack inventory, which caused Nick to inwardly sigh. Getting Heath to talk was hard at best, and difficult at worst; there was also the fact that he wished he had not volunteered for this task. However, Jarrod's words about how bad the divorce could be, and the worry and sadness in his mother's eyes pushed him on.

"You know that Jarrod has your best interest at heart, Heath. Not to mention more experience with this kind of thing than you do." Nick offered, hoping Heath would understand his intentions.

"As I said yesterday, I am happy to agree to the divorce and give her the house in the city. I am not" Heath's voice rose an octave and took on a strident note "going to give her anything else." He whirled back around and looked at Nick, his lips set in a firm line. The expression on his face made Nick concerned for what could end up happening.

"I know I suggested it yesterday, but maybe you should go up to San Francisco and talk to her, one to one. I am sure she was very upset when she left town, because of Simon." Nick crossed his legs, hoping to get Heath to see it from Sarah's viewpoint. "I know that things weren't easy with you and her, but women do appreciate an effort being made on their behalf."

"Did you know that mother came to see me, after she returned from visiting Sarah in San Francisco last month?" Heath tensed his body up, as he recalled that visit. "She told me that I needed to spend more time with Sarah and do things she liked to do." The memory burned in his mind, as he thought about how much latitude he had always given Sarah to do what she wanted.

"That doesn't sound like a pleasant conversation, and I don't blame you for being upset." Nick shifted in the chair. "But I am sure that mother was just trying to help and meant well by her words."

"Tell me something Nick, you've heard the rumors around town, about me and Sarah? And her affair with Adam?" Heath narrowed his eyes, as he regarded his brother. For the last two years he had done his best to ignore the talk, but tonight he had been forced to voice his suspicions out loud. Heath saw how uncomfortable his brother looked.

"Just a few things, but I put it down to gossip." The hesitation in his voice was apparent to Heath, which stung him.

"You didn't think to say anything to me?" Heath asked in an irked tone; privately he wondered how long the talk had really be going on before he heard the rumors.

"Look, it was third hand, and nothing was ever said to me directly." Nick stood up to face Heath. "Plus, it wasn't my concern. A man's marriage is his own business, and I knew that Adam is a friend of yours."

Heath rocked back on his heels, as Adam came to mind. He could still remember the first time he had met man, three years ago in Denver. It was at the Tabor's ball, and he had spent most of the evening trying to get Horace on board for mining reform. Heath had felt bad about leaving Sarah alone, knowing how she struggled at these events. He had gone looking for her and found her with several other young couples and a man who he did not know.

He had been taken aback to see how happy she looked, talking with the group. Heath was further surprised when he saw the man take two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter, and hand one to Sarah. She gave him a warm smile, before she drank from the glass; Heath had felt jealous and walked over to the group.

Sarah had been glad to see him, which cooled the jealousy he had been feeling. When he was introduced to Adam Cohen – Heath had found himself liking the man. He was intelligent, well spoken, and very interested to hear about Heath's mining reform, as he talked about the labor struggles with the garment factories his father-in-law owned.

When Adam came to San Francisco Heath had welcomed him, and at first was not bothered about Sarah working with him. Only as she spent more time in the city, and the rumors started did he remember the jealousy he had felt in Denver. Nick's comment about Adam being his friend made him realize that it had easily been almost a year since he had seen or talked to the man, and he said as much to his brother.

"Well then even more reason to go to San Francisco. You can talk to Sarah about the divorce and see Adam." Nick put his hands on his hips. "I can't believe he would want the scandal that Sarah is going to create if you let her." This comment struck Heath as unfair; why should he have to pander to Sarah, and he had no interest in talking to Adam.

"Why are you taking her side? Just like mother. I am not the one in the wrong here." Heath snarled as he took a deep breath. "The night Simon arrived she was hateful to him. I saw a side of her I had never seen before, and do not want to see again. Why am I the bad guy?" There was so much more he could tell Nick, but he wondered if it would only make him look pitiful for having put up with everything.

"I am certainly not taking Sarah's side Heath! From what I could see she wasn't a good wife and didn't seem to care about your life here at the ranch." Nick wanted to shake his brother by the shoulders. "Is that what you would have wanted me to tell you? And how would you have taken it?" It came to him that he was handling the whole situation badly, and just making Heath dig his heels in more.

"What I am trying to say is, based on what Jarrod said, Sarah could make a lot of trouble for you – and Simon." Nick hoped that by reminding Heath of the young boy, he would see reason. "All of us are on your side and will support you during this time." With that he left, to head back to the house. As he walked in the moonlight, he was troubled at how the conversation had gone.

Heath stood in the tack room, hands on his hips, thinking about everything Nick had said – and what he had said in return. He knew that his brother was just trying to help him and protect the family, as was Jarrod. Heath then thought about that carefully itemized list of his assets that Sarah had listed in the divorce papers. She had no right to any of his – and the Barkley's – hard earned money.

Nick's comment about Sarah not having been a good wife to him, and never sharing an interest in the life on the ranch was on the mark. Heath recalled all the times he was by himself, while Sarah was up in the city doing who knows what. I was always kind and considerate with her, more than she was with me Heath said to himself.

He should have put his foot down a long time ago but was ready to do so now. Heath decided that the gossip and scandal was worth it, to make sure that Sarah was not rewarded for her behavior to him and Simon. Nick's mention of Simon had given him pause, but then he remembered Jarrod saying that it was probable that he had no legal rights to the boy. Certainly, if his wife divorced him it would make getting those rights harder, than if he divorced his wife for adultery.

The course was clear in his mind and having started the process he was not going to regret it, or stop it, no matter what Jarrod and the family thought. That decision being made, he locked up the tack room and after checking on the horses headed back to the house.