Chapter Seventy
Grete came upstairs a few minutes after Heath. She had asked Anna to take care of Kai when she did with Henry. She and Nick readily agreed. They had seen the mood Heath was in and hoped that his bride of two months could get through to him.
"Heath? Heath?" she quietly called out as she opened the bedroom door.
"In here," he called from the water closet. The door was partially open.
She saw two work shirts and pants hastily placed on the bed. She automatically folded them neatly and put them on the chair.
"Are you taking a trip?"
"Yep. Might as well head on. I was gonna go Wednesday but figured the sooner I get done what I need to the sooner I will be back with you, girl."
He weakly smiled at her as he shaved.
"Need to check on the men up here from Mexico then I need to get the bill of sale to Merced for the bull. Nick's not up to riding yet. And it's a week late as is—-Don't want to lose that kind of stock."
She smiled relieved that he was talking at least—-even if it was just about work. She changed into a pink sheer nightgown and took her hair down. She was brushing it as he came up behind her.
"Heath?"
"Expecting someone else," he made a joke, already aroused by her beauty across the room.
"We need to talk about what happened today."
"Later," as he kissed her on the neck.
She relaxed and allowed him to caress her. She was always amazed at how her husband and now Heath were able to separate their mind and body.
"How can he think about making love after everything this afternoon?"
It was impossible for her to do but she gave in to her husband out of love. It never was far from her mind how blessed to have two husbands that were kind and gentle—-and passionate. She had listened to too many women over the years and their complaints during hen parties as Nick liked to call them. She appreciated what she had found in Heath and Kai's fader.
She stood up and he led her to their four poster bed. He met her kisses with such ardor she soon lost of semblance of control. It was extremely passionate as he seemed to use his anger of the day focused on pleasing her. She quivered and shook with his flurried touch as they came together.
Heath smoothed her hair down and kissed her forehead as she lay on his chest.
"I love you Grete. Don't ever forget that. Ever."
"I love you Heath. Please talk to me about what happened today."
He exhaled—-the only two people he ever talked to about what he felt and that was rare—his mothers. Nick and Jarrod just knew instinctively what was rumbling in his head and he theirs—-it was the most natural thing in the world. It took some getting used to being raised an only child but once he accepted it—But talk? To Grete? He was supposed to protect her and be the man of the house. Never had one of those-
"Well honey, that preacher's gossip got to Merar's nephews' ears. They told Kai and Henry."
She knew that much and just listened.
"I explained to our boy about gossip and people that make up lies. They got holes in their soul you can't see."
"Holes in soul? I don't understand."
"Hannah, one of the ladies that raised me told me that when folks would say something about my momma. When you ain't full inside, you try to make yourself feel better by gossiping. Gossips got holes in their soul. It just makes your holes bigger—I guess that sounds strange but it helped a ten year old boy, me. Still honestly makes sense."
"It does to me too. Did Kai understand?"
"Yep even better than me at his age. Said like a bucket with holes and all the water pours out."
"Heath? Do you think it will go away by school in September? For Kai? Do what Mother said?"
He sighed, "I think what Mother said in the beginning was right. Face it square on. Go to town and look the people in the eye. Lots of folks don't believe the nonsense. Even those new boys today came around real quick. But Grete—-I gotta do something about that man. He can't keep saying it. As your husband, I have had enough—-you would've thought knocking the hell out of him would have worked—"
"Heath please let it be—"
"No Grete. I can't" and he kissed the top of her head and held her tight the rest of the night.
—-/&/—-
Heath rode out at dawn with the bill of sale for Merced and headed by the hotel work site. He delivered partial early pay to the mining team he brought up from Mexico and gave them their instructions for the week with the promise of a bonus for completing the pond by the end of the week.
"You are the hardest working team I ever did see—-the road, the seawall and half the pond is done. It just beats all! Will have a bonus at the end of the week for ya."
"Si Mista Heath. We work hard for ya. This money will see our families through the year."
"I sent some money to the mine too for them. To get by while you men are up here."
"Gracias, gracias." the men were appreciative.
He headed toward the road to Merced but changed his mind.
"Gotta get this out of my craw. Deal with the Preacher."
—-&—-
Heath rode to Brother Jehu's small house on the outskirts of town. He passed two neighbors on the way. He shared small talk with them and headed on.
The one-bedroom home had been fixed up recently by church members so that "their prophet had a place to lay his head," as he announced in sermons.
"That man is different—-not a shyster like Brother Love. Doesn't seem to want nobody's money. I really think the man believes what he preaches. Coulda lived with that. Let men be. But now his target is my wife. She ain't no damn witch."
He knocked on the door and no one answered. He pushed the door open and found the house empty. A unlit lamp, tin plates and cups on the table, the stove and hearth—-he felt them and they were cool. Didn't seem to have been used this morning or last night. The bed was unmade and there was cool water in the basin.
"Doesn't look like he spent the night here? Guess he's still stirring up trouble in town. Ok Lord, I will head on to Merced but there is going to be a reckoning. I can promise him that."
—&—-
The man watched Heath Barkley ride out of town from the ridge north of the little house.
He laughed aloud, "By damn, I can get rid of two problems for the boss at once. And collect some of that gold he brags about. "