No Candy you don't know what you're missing. Might take a notion to bust Nick up pretty good. I think after them Barkley's leave I'll be moving on too.
****
Heath found jobs farther and farther from the main house. The Barkley's as house guests made him nervous. Oh, he knew they were trying to see him, he just didn't want to. He had trusted for the last time.
The cowboy was pulling up more mesquite when he saw the rider. Tall, thin, black haired, without thinking he climbed on his horse and tried to outrun Nick. In such a hurry, he saw the gopher hole too late as his horse went down, his right foot caught in the stirrup and the horse fell on him.
Nick rode up and dismounted, worry and pain in his hazel eyes.
"HEATH!" the rancher kneeled down.
"LEAVE ME ALONE NICK!" Heath said through gritted teeth, each word sending pain all over his body.
"You're hurt Heath, please," Nick came closer.
"I said leave me alone. You can get help but I don't want you touchin me. Now get," the blond found breathing hard but forced his words out.
"Heath, you can be as stubborn as an ox," Nick pulled out a knife and headed towards Heath's saddle.
Hands shaky, Heath pulled out his gun and pointed it at Nick.
"I reckon you can't hear none, now get, anyone else can help me but you damn Barkley's."
In shock Nick stopped, "You don't mean that?" the rancher's breathing became uneven.
"I mean every word," Heath's eyes flickered as his vision became blurry," his gun hand shaky he waved it in front of Nick. "I said get," the words becoming harder and harder to say. Off in the distance he heard riders; he gave into the pain and blacked out.
****
When Heath woke up, he was on a bed, fluffy and soft. His right leg was elevated and he heard voices.
"Oh Heath," Victoria came over.
The blond closed his eyes and gave into the pain once more.
For the next few days, Heath fought off fever and infection, threatening to take his leg. Fighting each breath and ache, he could hear his Mama's voice.
"Mama! Mama!" the blond called through his fevered brain.
"I'm right here, Darling," a woman bathed his burning face.
"Oh Mama. I'm sorry. Ain't no Barkley. Sorry Mama." Heath's head rolled from side to side.
"Yes you are. You're every inch a Barkley," she said through tears.
Both families took care of the sick man. Praying he would survive and live to fight another day. Each pondering what brought Heath to them and how he had affected them.
By the end of the week, Heath's fever had broken and he was more coherent. Hoss was wiping his face when he opened his eyes.
"Hoss, is that you?" Heath's blue eyes blinked in difference to the bright sunlight.
"Yep it's me, who'd you expect?" Hoss laughed.
"No one I guess. Just do me a favor," the blond wary of his employer.
"What's that?" Hoss put his cloth back in the basin.
"I don't want any of them Barkley's near me, ya hear," Heath sneered. "I don't need 'em or want 'em."
"Why that's awful harsh, Blue. Why we've known the Barkley's for years and I…"
"Well you don't know 'em like I do. Ain't worse than a two headed man. I came here to work and….I just don't want 'em near me. Don't trust 'em and…" Heath closed his eyes to the pain.
"But Blue they came all the way for ya. Why when we picked up your mother and…"
"She ain't my mother, Hoss. My Mama is dead and buried, long ago. I told ya before it's just me and no one else," Heath pointed to himself. "And iffen you don't mind I don't want to hear nuthin about the Barkley's. If I had my way, I should be in the bunkhouse. I ain't no house guest. I'm a hired hand."
"But Blue," Hoss protested only to find Blue had turned his head. "All right, I'll be bringin in your lunch soon. The large man got up, leaving Heath alone with his thoughts
