I'm back! I know it's been a long while since my last chapter- life has gotten in the way- but I am hoping to start back with intermittent chapters for the time being. I am also in the middle of a collab - not BV- so that takes a lot of my free time.
Feel free to go back and refresh on previous events before reading this one.
Chapter 9
Victoria walked out smiling brightly to greet Heath as he arrived, but her expression turned puzzled when she saw the small boy with him.
"Looks like you had a productive trip," she said, eyeing the new horses. "And you brought a guest home as well."
Dismounting, Heath helped Zander down and rubbed the boy's blond head but before he had a chance to introduce him, Zander stuck out his hand.
"James Alexander Carter, ma'am. Nice to meet you."
Glancing at Heath in surprise, Victoria shook the young man's hand and smiled. "I am pleased to meet you, James. Victoria Barkley."
"James is okay, but I prefer Zander."
"Then Zander it shall be."
Audra joined them and the introductions began again. "Audra, this boy looks famished. Would you take him in and get him some of Silas's special cookies with milk?"
"He needs a bath too," Heath added.
"Come on, Zander," Audra prompted, but the boy stood still and looked up at Heath who stooped down to his level.
"It's alright. Audra is my sister. You can go with her. I'll see you in a little while."
Nodding at the reassurance, Zander turned and entered the house, Audra following. When the door was closed, Heath told his mother of the events of yesterday.
"The poor little thing."
"I brought him here in hopes that you would have some idea of what to do with him, Mother."
"Today we will feed him and clean him up. Tomorrow I'll go to town and talk to the sheriff, see if we can find any family."
"And if we can't?"
"One step at a time, son." Victoria's words were gentle as she walked with him to the barn. "He seems quite mature for his age."
"Reminds me a little of myself at five. I don't want him to end up in an orphanage."
"Then perhaps we should talk to your brother about options. He is an attorney. Or was."
"In criminal law, but that would be a good start."
"First of all, Heath, you should have taken someone with you, we aren't supposed to travel alone right now. But never mind that, as you are home safe. Now, tell me about these horses..."
###
Later, Heath made his way upstairs to his room while Audra kept Zander busy downstairs. Walking in and over to his dresser, he saw something lying there and picked it up to examine it.
It was a seashell.
As he turned it around and inspected it, he heard a voice from his open door. "It's from Gabby," Nora said, leaning against the jam. "She asked me to give it to you before she left, so I placed it on your bureau; I hope you don't mind."
"Of course not." Nora noticed his eyes soften as he gave the shell the once over again, now knowing who the giver was. "I hoped to get back before she left."
"And instead, you saved a life."
"He's a special boy."
"He was lucky that you came along when you did. About the shell, the story goes," Nora began as she stepped into his room and over to him, "that when you put it to your ear you can hear the voice of the one you love."
The words brought a smile. "I've never heard that one before."
"That's because Mama made it up when she gave Gabs the shell on her 16th birthday. Perhaps you should give it a try."
He glanced at his sister-in-law, then back down at the gift. "Maybe another time," he said, carefully placing the shell where he had found it. "I need to check on Zander." Moving toward the door, he paused, putting his hand on the door frame when Nora spoke again.
"Gabby cares about you, you know. That shell means the world to her, and she has never let it leave her sight- until now."
"Then I better take good care of it until she returns," he replied before stepping into the hallway.
###
The day had been long for Nick. Rising at the crack of dawn, he had gently kissed his sleeping wife's cheek and stared at her beautiful face for a moment before quietly leaving their bedroom.
Hard work, that's what he needed. Nora's treating him differently had started when she realized she was pregnant over two weeks ago. The day she told him was the last time the two had had marital relations, Nora coming up with one excuse or another when he would try to get close to her.
And it was starting to take its toll.
He was getting irritable with the hands, and more abrupt with his family. So much so, that Jarrod called him out yesterday. After dinner last night, he had stepped outside for some fresh air, and soon his mother had joined him.
"It's a lovely night."
"Yes."
"Nick, I've noticed things aren't quite right with you and Nora. Care to talk about it?"
"I don't know what to say, Mother. Things were fine until she got pregnant. Now she won't give me the time of day."
Victoria nodded in the darkness as she thought. "She has been acting a little unusual. I was hoping you could shed some light on it for me."
"Not a clue."
"Don't worry too much about it. She is carrying your child and she loves you very much. And everything with Gabby lately has her on edge. Let's be patient with her and maybe she will come out of her doldrums."
"Thanks, Mother."
The conversation had ended there with his mother returning to the house as he continued looking out at the night sky. Seeing a falling star, Nick closed his eyes and made a wish- something he had learned from Nora. Maybe it would come true.
The morning had come early with no answers, so he decided hard work was warranted.
Sighing as he took his hat off to wipe his sweaty brow Nick thought of her again before slamming the Stetson down on his head and getting back to it.
###
Although they had set Zander up in Gabby's old room, when Heath arose the next morning, he almost tripped over the boy wrapped in a blanket and lying on the floor by his bed. Bending down, he lifted the small bundle and placed him on the mattress before getting dressed for work. He smiled when he saw the blond hair sticking all out of the blanket, about the same color that Heath's was as a child.
Quietly exiting the room, he made his way downstairs to find his mother drinking coffee.
"It seems that Zander likes my floor more than his bed."
"I'm sure he is a little nervous being here around people he doesn't know. As soon as I finish my breakfast, I'll be headed to town to talk to Fred."
"Be sure and ask him if there is any new information about the shooting. I'm sure he would have come to tell us, but it doesn't hurt to ask. It makes me nervous that we haven't identified a suspect yet. Or a motive." His thoughts now centered on Gabby who he found himself thinking of frequently. It had been well over a week since he had seen her.
Victoria watched as he contemplated, then spoke. "She wasn't here long, but she is missed." At his quiet nod, she changed the subject. "Audra will watch Zander while I am gone."
"I'll cut my day short today so I can spend some time with him. Maybe we should move a cot into my room, so he is more comfortable."
"That's a good idea. He seems to feel safe with you."
"I'm going to have a quick breakfast and get going. I'll be in the south pasture if anyone needs me."
Victoria watched with a knowing smile as he left. It looked like Heath's life was about to change radically and she hoped he was ready for it.
###
Traveling always wore Gabby out and yet the excitement of arrival normally kept her heart glad during the journey. But not so much this trip.
Grandfather was sweet and his eyes lit up every time he looked at her. They talked in the early hours of the day, while he napped in his seat during the afternoon. Grandmother spent most of her time telling Gabby to sit up straight as if she were ten and reading a book that was all about the building of the railroad. Gabby couldn't imagine anything duller and brought along a romance novel to pass the time.
Whether Gabby planned on marrying or not, she loved reading the fantasies that fiction writers would weave into their stories. She especially liked the books with a bit of mystery worked in. It was fun trying to figure out 'who done it' as she read. And a strong male character that the heroine would fall in love with kept her attention. In reality, her only male role model had been her father, and she would rather not compare him to the masculine, protective men that she liked to read about. For some reason, a certain blue-eyed cowboy came to mind as she read. Brushing the thought aside, she settled into the seat and continued her story.
###
"Just what do you think you are doing?"
Nick looked down from the barn rafters to see Jarrod with his hands on his hips. "What does it look like?" he answered as he tied off the rope in his hand, knotting it securely and dropping the other end which dangled with a piece of wood attached at the bottom.
"Well, it looks very much like a barn swing to me," Jarrod replied with a slight smile.
Climbing halfway down the bales of hay, Nick jumped the rest of the way, looking up at his work with satisfaction. "I see all that schooling was good for something... it is a barn swing, big brother."
"And just who is going to use it? Your son- or daughter- isn't even born yet."
"It's for Zander. Every boy needs a barn swing. We had one."
"Ah, yes. I remember. And I also recall someone falling out of it a time or two and needing Pappy to bandage him up."
"Boys will be boys." The words were said with a slap to Jarrod's arm.
"It seems you are thinking our little guest will be here a while. Since you are putting up a swing, that is."
Nick's expression turned serious. "I don't know. But even if he is here a few days I want him to feel at home. It's obvious he has bonded with Heath."
"I noticed that too. Well, however long he is here, at least he won't be bored."
"That's the plan."
"I'm glad to see you are keeping yourself busy as well." The meaning wasn't lost on Nick. "And whatever is bothering you, I'm here if you need to talk." Jarrod's words hit home causing a lump to form in Nick's throat as he only nodded his reply.
###
Victoria's trip to town hadn't provided anything new- on the shooting, or regarding Zander. Fred took what information they had on the orphaned boy and said he would check things out; and see if he could find any relatives. As for options, Fred told her that truthfully, an orphanage was his only one unless the Barkleys decided to keep him at the ranch.
The words made her decision easy- she wouldn't allow Zander to go to a children's home and that was that. So, she had come home and told the family that Zander would be with them until further notice. A cot was brought into Heath's room, and everyone settled into the new routine- Victoria, Audra, and Nora would be responsible for watching the boy during the day, and Heath would take over in the evenings. The new schedule was working well, and Heath ended up listening to the boy chat every evening before he finally fell asleep at night. A few days into the new arrangement, Zander noticed Gabby's shell and wanted to play with it.
"It's a seashell. I've never seen one so large." Heath was always amused at how much older the boy sounded when he spoke, but when he reached for the shell, Heath reminded him he wasn't to touch it.
"That doesn't belong to me, Zander, so you need to leave it alone." The words were stern but not harshly spoken.
"Whose is it?" He couldn't have had his face any closer to the object if he had tried.
"It belongs to Nora's sister Gabby."
"Why did she leave it here?"
"She wanted me to keep it to remember her by."
"Is she pretty?" Heath had quickly found out the boy could talk forever.
"Yes, very pretty," he answered, remembering the green eyes and full lips.
"Is she your girlfriend?"
"Uh... no. She is just a friend."
"You said she was pretty, I bet you wish she was your girlfriend. Or maybe your wife."
"How old are you again?" It was hard to believe this child was only 5.
"You know I'm five." He had finally lost interest in the shell and walked over to his cot and crawled in. "I think you like her. Maybe you should marry her."
"And I think this conversation is over for tonight," Heath replied as he tucked the blanket around the small body. "Goodnight, Zander. Sweet dreams."
A large yawn followed as the boy turned towards the wall. "Goodnight, Mr. Heath." Soon he was asleep, the man smoothing the boy's hair off his forehead before heading to his own bed for the night.
###
Gabby had settled into the large room her grandparents had prepared for her. While she found herself biting her tongue when her grandmother spoke, she was drawn to the softspoken man who was her grandfather.
Breakfast was over, and Gabby was informed that a small party was planned for that evening with a few of their friends. She was expected to play a couple of numbers for the group and her grandmother was now going through her clothes to find something suitable for the event. Gabby sat on the bed and nervously watched her.
While Gabby's dresses were all appropriate for a family gathering, Elvira quickly shuffled each one past, her nose turned up and the corners of her mouth turned down as she dismissed most of the outfits.
"Really, Gabrielle. I would think you would want to look suitable." Finally stopping at a dark green gown, she pulled it out and placed it on the bed. "This one is the least objectionable. We will have to go to the dressmakers tomorrow to properly clothe you."
"Yes, Grandmother," Gabby replied, trying her best to keep the peace when everything in her wanted to scream. There was nothing wrong with her clothes, Gabby had always been modest and made sure her dresses weren't too flashy or revealing. But Elvira Worthington was not an easy woman to please.
Hopefully, she didn't disappoint her this evening.
###
"Zander, I already told you yesterday..."
Heath entered the dining room where Audra was holding something in her hand as she stood talking to the boy.
"What's going on?" he asked, seeing the frustration in his sister's face.
"This." Holding out the object in her hand, Heath took it, discovering it was a box of matches. "I caught him playing with them yesterday and told him they are dangerous and not for little boys to play with." The last was said with a stern look at Zander.
"And he was playing with them again today?"
"Yes."
"I'll handle this, Audra," Heath replied. "Zander, let's take a walk outside." Having grown up with no man around the house, he wasn't sure how to deal with situations like this. But as the boy was already aware of his wrongdoing, punishment was in order. As they walked, Zander was silent and kept his head down, which was unusual for the chatterbox. Their little stroll led them behind the barn where Heath sat the boy on a stump and knelt in front of him.
"Would you like to tell me your side of the story?" The question brought sad little eyes up to Heath's face.
"I wanted to burn some paper."
"Did you know not to touch the matches?"
"I wasn't going to hurt anything. Only burn the paper."
"You didn't answer my question."
The trusting face once again faced the ground. "Yes. She told me yesterday."
"So, you disobeyed her."
"I didn't mean to..."
"Zander, look at me. We have rules for a reason. And when we break them, there are consequences. Fire can be very dangerous if it isn't controlled. Do you understand what I am saying?"
Tear-filled eyes met his. "That I'm going to be punished?"
Heath wasn't sure he could do this but knew he must. "Stand up," he said softly. Sitting in the boy's place, he gently bent him over his knees and gave him one swat on his behind. He had always heard that spanking was much harder on the parent than the child and now understood the meaning of that statement as he helped Zander back to his feet. Seeing the tears rolling down the boy's face brought them to his own eyes. Heath took the boy's shoulders gently in his hands. "You won't do it again, will you?"
A persuasive shake of the boy's head was convincing as well as the words that followed. "I promise, Mr. Heath. I will never play with matches again." Sniff. "Are you mad at me? Please don't be mad at me." Sniff.
As he saw the anxiety in Zander's eyes, Heath hoped to never again have to discipline this boy he had come to love in such a short time. Pulling him into his strong arms, Heath felt small hands clasp behind his neck as he held him close and rubbed his back. "No, Zander, I'm not mad at you. I only want you to be safe and mind when we tell you to do something. Or not do something."
Pushing himself back, Zander made the sign of an x on his chest. "Cross my heart."
The action brought a smile to Heath's face as he stood and the two of them headed back to the house, the man's hand on Zander's shoulder and the boy looking up at him with trusting eyes.
