Chapter 59
Entering the water closet Nick let out a tired sigh as he cleaned up from the day. His mind rambled and he found himself second guessing his previous thoughts regarding the blond fighting to prove he had what it took to be a Barkley. He needed to speak to his mother and Jarrod. He felt obligated to relay the information shared with him by the blond younger man.
The man had been in Carterson as a mere teenager.
Leaning on the cabinet, hazel eyes scrutinized his features in the mirror. When he had observed the blond helping to erect the new line shack, he'd been swept by a feeling of rightness. It had nearly buckled his knees as it stole his breath.
How had this man who had twisted his innards since they first met caused this new feeling? It was rightness and yet, it was so much more…it could almost be described as….brotherhood.
The rancher puzzled and warred with himself. He had wanted three things from the intruder in their midst; the money, the name of his rustling partner and the sight of his back leaving the ranch for good. As a family they had agreed…all of them. They had as a cohesive unit had decided they would willingly forego the first two for the final goal of the third.
How was it now he was finding himself hesitant to accomplish any of the three? What exactly was he hoping or wanting to happen? Could this family association started on a path of sharp and agonizing shards of glass widen out to a path of evenness and comfort?
Taking a deep breath, he ran his fingers through his dark locks in frustration. Would the others think he had gone crazy in a span of a day? When he spoke with the two eldest in the family - would they feel the same as him?
When the boy wasn't snarling and snapping to protect himself, he could spy a shadow of the younger man's inner self beneath the guardedness. The shell of the man was hardened on the outside but inside Nick sensed the still waters ran very deep.
Quietly leaving the water closet, he walked towards the landing wondering if the blond had returned to the house yet. Stopping suddenly he heard the blond's voice floating up to his ears and he stepped back behind the curtain to conceal his presence unsure of what he was wanting to witness.
"Even'g Mr. Whiting," greeted Heath with a nod as he closed the grand door.
"Mr. Heath," returned Silas, moving past the blond to place a bucket of freshly chipped ice on the drink cart in the parlor. "How's ya' feelin?"
Holding his hat, the blond replied, "Good, Mr. Silas. Doc says it's healing well."
"Good…good," agreed Silas before adding, "I's left ya' new clothes in ta room."
"Appreciate that, Mr. Silas," smiled Heath before winking, "I don't reckon the Barkleys would want me working in my long johns."
A chuckle of merriment filled the foyer and the dark eyes lit up with amusement. Shaking his head, Silas turned to go before stopping and pulling an envelope from his pocket. "I's almost forgot. The post master got this letter and since he didn't know ta name…he ask'd the sheriff and he gave it to me."
Nick's eyes narrowed with intensity as the blond slowly took the envelope and turned it over in his hands. He studied the head which was down turned for several minutes and staring at the patch of white.
Heath blinked at the familiar slanted writing on the envelope. His heart started to pound furiously and cotton filled his head. He was startled back to the place he stood and nodded to his softly spoken name.
Offering a smile of apology, the blond patted the small hand which had taken hold of his arm before he took a step to the staircase, "Thank you, Mr. Whiting."
"Is ya' a'right?"
Glancing over, the blond nodded, "Fine….I'm fine."
Silas watched the blond near the staircase before turning and crossing to the kitchen to finish the evening meal. Nick stepped back further behind the curtain at the younger man who started climbing the staircase. Hazel eyes filled with questions at the blond whose steps were slow as if he were walking the steps to the gallows. The eyes of the younger man hadn't left the envelope as he automatically climbed the staircase and turned to enter the narrow hallway leading to his forsaken room unaware of the hazel eyes searing into his back.
The alienated room awaited him and Heath slowly closed the door. Putting his hat on the lone dresser, he crossed over and took a seat beside a bundle of new clothes on the small cot. Shaky fingers slowly opened the flap and he closed his eyes for a moment before pulling out the paper.
The smell of roses assaulted his senses, the aroma taking him back over two years prior. It was the same smell as the roses on the pathway to the doctor's office. The tantalizing scent had brought her into his mind for a brief moment this morning.
He hadn't seen her since that day when she walked away. He had wanted to give her everything the world had but in the end she found it stifling and overwhelming to be tied to a man with the reminder of his past tattooed on his arm. Wiping a hand over his face to erase the painful memory of that torturous day, he slowly opened the pages.
Taking a breath, his blue eyes painstakingly read the writing on the papers. His orbs widened in disbelief as the letter neared its end and his head lifted to stare outside to the sun rapidly lowering to the ground.
"My god." Whispered the shaken man before he shook his head, his decision made in a split moment of time.
Pulling out the saddlebags from under the small cot, it was a matter of minutes before he was packed. Carefully pulling open the hidden inner flap, he pulled out his share of the rustled cattle and a portion of his own savings he had built up since leaving the Nevada Correctional Facility.
Leaving the bills on the dresser, he made his way to the kitchen and stated he would not be dining with the rest of the household. Returning back to his room he stood at the window and watched as the first born rode into the yard, handing off his horse before disappearing from his view. Taking out his pocket watch, he checked the time before mentally going over the trail in his mind.
The time for the Barkley family dining drew nearer and he grabbed his saddle bags, bedroll and hat. Walking quietly down the hallway, he heard the voices crossing the foyer and waited until they no longer reached his ears.
Checking the foyer, he descended the staircase and softly closed the front door behind him.
