An Old Friend
Part One
The ranch was quiet and deserted. The night had not removed its coat yet. A small, South wind blew slightly, bringing with it whirls of dust. Everybody slept. Only, a shadow haunted the ranch. It moved stealthily, then went into the barn. It lay down on the ground, in the straw, near the horses. Some hours later, the sun dawned on the horizon and the ranch's life started again. The men emerged from the bunkhouses, paced the ranch, began again to work. In the Barkleys' house, Silas could see every member of the family going down the stairs and sitting down at the huge table. Suddenly, a worker came into the dining room.
"Sorry, Mrs. Barkley, but a tramp is in the barn and the guy is not easy!" The man was out of breath.
"A tramp! I'm headed there, come with me, Heath," demanded Nick.
"Keep your head, big brother." Heath was not reassured.
Both boys headed direct toward the barn. Though he was mad, Nick kept his head as his brother had asked. Near the barn's door was a whip and Nick picked it up. Immediately, he felt Heath's stare and his anxiety. He turned around and looked his young brother in the eye. Heath knew that his big brother could be dangerous, in his words as in his gestures.
"Don't worry! It's to impress," said Nick calmly.
"I hope so, Nick." The tone of Heath's voice betrayed his thoughts.
Nick pouted and went to the barn followed by Heath. Both boys had stopped clear. There, they could see a tall man approximately forty five years, in torn clothes and who apparently had not eaten for a long time. Nobody could see his face, as he had put his wide-brimmed black hat on his eyes. The man had settled down in a stall. And indeed, he didn't seem to be an easy man. He had one hand on his colt, ready to draw.
"What are you doing there?" asked Nick.
"Don't come any closer and throw away this whip, that makes me nervous," said the man.
"Answer my question, or!" Furious, Nick raised his hand with the whip.
"Stop it, Nick, no!" Heath remembered how Nick had welcomed him in the barn and he didn't want that, even if this man was unknown to him. The blond stood in front of his older brother.
"Listen to him, this boy is full of common sense." The man slipped off his hat and looked at Heath.
"But, but, I know you," said the blond.
"Yeah, my boy. You know me very well. Try to remember." The man seemed to be sure of himself.
Nick had lowered his whip and looked at both men, who apparently knew each other.
"Heath, do you really know this man?"
"Yes, Nick. I could never forget this man. Without him, I would have died."
In spite of those words, Nick frowned, then, took a fresh look at the man.
"Ok, can you explain to me, why, if you know Heath, you are here, in our barn?" asked Nick.
The man took a deep breath and looked at Heath.
"I'm sorry, my boy, I followed you until there, then I lost your track in this big ranch."
"You followed me?" asked Heath intrigued.
"I saw you in town, but you were with him, then . . . when you left with the wagon . . . I followed you, but as I said, I lost your track. I was tired then . . . I wanted . . . to see you again . . . I thought to see you this morning . . . but nothing, no Heath. I believed that you worked here?" The man had answered Heath in a hesitating voice.
"I work here, Sam, but . . . I . . . I'm not a . . ." Heath felt ill-at-ease, almost ashamed.
Nick had noticed it. He approached to shake the man's hand.
"I'm Nick Barkley and I understand that you know my little brother, Heath," said Nick with a small smile.
"Your brother? But it was the Barkley ranch? It's the richest family in the valley, isn't it?" Taken by surprise, the man looked at Heath, his eyes asked for an answer.
"Yes. I learnt by my mother that my father was Tom Barkley and I came to see him, but he died six years ago," answered the blond.
"Then, now, you have got a family and which family!" said the man.
"What are you getting at? I always wanted a real family, Sam and nothing else." Heath had not liked his friend's thought.
"Ok, my boy, you are right, and how is your mother? It has been a long time since I saw her."The man smiled.
"My mother died eight months ago, having spoken to me about my father." Heath looked down. His pain was always there.
"Oh, I'm sorry, my boy. She was a pretty and nice woman." The man was compassionate.
Heath took a deep breath. "Thanks, Sam."
Nick had stayed away, looking at his brother and this man called Sam. He had listened to the conversation and had noticed several times that the man got on Heath's nerves.
"Well, you aren't going to stay there, in the barn. You're going to come stay with us at home." Nick had spoken to the man.
"I don't know if I can. What do you think of it, my boy?" The man turned to Heath.
Before he answered Sam, the blond looked at his older brother. Nick frowned to say to Heath to accept.
Heath turned to look at Sam: "We are waiting for you outside."
Both brothers went out of the barn. Nick took Heath's arm. "What's the matter with him? You said to me that he saved your life. Then I don't understand your attitude. Can you explain to me?"
Suddenly, the man came out of the barn with a small smile. "I'm ready my boy to meet the Barkley family!"
Nick let go of Heath's arm and both brothers looked at the man with a surprised expression.
"Well, follow us!" said Nick.
The three men went towards the main house. Nick ensured his younger brother entered first.
"I'll leave it to you, Heath, to make the presentations."
These words were followed by a pat on the back. He pouted and went straight to the dining room, where he had left his family. Heath, in front of him, looked for his mother's gaze.
"I'm sorry, Mother. May I introduce an old friend, Sam Bennett? It's the man who was in the barn."
"Sam, here is my Mother, my sister Audra and my eldest brother, Jarrrod."
"Oh, nice to meet you, Mister Bennett."
Victoria had got up from her chair, her hand stretched out towards the man. She had also noticed that the man was poor, as poor as Heath, the first time that her gaze had fallen upon the young man.
"Good morning, Mrs.Barkley, you have got a very beautiful house and a gigantic ranch, it's really a beautiful ranch, yeah!" The man turned to look at Heath "You are rich, now!"
"What do you mean by that, Sam?" Heath had approached the man.
Nick took the initiative and stopped his brother. In a way, he knew how to recognize Heath's fears.
"Stop it. Keep calm," said Nick gently, by putting his hand on the blond's chest. He could feel his brother's heart beating wildly.
"So to speak, my boy, don't worry. Listen to your brother, keep calm!"
The man approached Heath, face to face.
"You do not have to speak to me in this tone, my boy. Remember, without me, you would have died now. They know nothing, do they?"
He had spoken in a low voice so that nobody else could hear.
Heath looked down. "No, Sam, please."
"I'll let you eat. I prefer to wait for you outside, my boy. Mrs. Barkley."
The man bowed to Victoria and went out.
"Heath, what's the matter? You know that I don't like little secrets in the presence of all the family."
Victoria had raised her voice on principle, but she felt there was something with this man.
"I'm sorry, Mother. It's nothing but old memories. I ... I have to go there!"
The blond had avoided looking at his mother. Nick had noticed it and knew that Heath hid something from them. He caught his younger brother by the arm in the hall.
"Heath, wait, please. What's the matter between the two of you? Answer me."
"There is nothing. Leave me alone! Let go of me!"
The blond had tried to free his arm from Nick's grip. But his elder brother stood firm. They were now face to face, eyes to eye.
"You won't get away with it, little brother!" Nick had his black stare.
"Nick, let him loose." Jarrod had stopped the discussion before it got worse. Nick loosed his grip and Heath
left without a word.
To Be Continued
