Post by amlapilusa on Sept 14, 2009 17:07:49 GMT -4
Firestorm
Chapter 51
Nick leaned over, and pulled Heath to him, his face wet with tears, shed for the boy he now held in his arms. For the short time that the Barkley family included one more, Nick, although knowledgeable about the world around him, felt for the first time the cruelty that life could really offer. “I wish I could just pull all these memories out of ya, boy, so you wouldn’t have them lingerin’ in your head.” Large hands used to ranch work gently held the blond, wishing only to give comfort and love, feeling both the strength of character and the frailty in the too thin frame. “I wish I could…..I wish….”
“I wish….you could…..too.” Heath murmured, as he came around. He felt his brother’s arms encircle him, providing him a haven of safety that he never felt before. He kept his eyes closed as he lifted up still shaking hands to hold his brother tight.
Nick pulled away just enough to move his hands to encase sun-kissed hair…..he marveled at the color, still amazed that the boy existed. As angry as he was at his father for leaving Heath and his mother to languish in poverty, he was even more grateful that he fathered this gentle son. Tenderly, he moved Heath’s face up so that their eyes could meet. “So many if’s in life, but I have to tell you, my brother....if Father had known about you, and with that, even if your mother still wanted you to live her in Strawberry, you can bet that the lash of your uncle’s would never have touched you…..we wouldn’t have allowed him to even think of harming you…..understand?”
Heath felt new tears form in his eyes……he mouthed ‘I understand’ and began shaking as the emotions of yesteryear caught up with him again. He wanted to tell Nick about how Uncle Matt used the same lash on his mother…..and how she fought even then…..how proud he was of her courage…..but he just didn’t have the energy. With one final hitch to his breath, he sagged against strong arms.
Nick held Heath for another minute, and then gently let go. “Water?”
Heath nodded and felt the cool water slide down his sore throat. He began to cough as the liquid backed up a bit to his nasal cavity, and suddenly, he couldn’t breathe. He gargled, and felt himself lifted, a hard hand hitting his back, moving the sometimes stubborn phlegm up and out.
“Cough it out, boy! C’mon…..that’s it!”
“Nick!” Heath experienced a moment of panic as his airway was blocked, and then the whoosh of relief as the goo was expectorated out, into a cloth. He fell back, his chest aching. He watched in silent fascination as his brother folded it over and tossed it into a basin….then moved to wash his hands as if the exercise was an everyday event.
“Sorry, Nick. That’s…..disgustin’.”
Nick laughed as he tossed a towel back onto the table and sat down once again on the edge of the bed. “Ah, I did the same thing for Jarrod about two years ago when he had pneumonia. Talk about gunk…..lawyers make the worst.”
The two brothers laughed a bit as Nick wiped his brother’s sweaty brow. “I’ll tell you a secret, but don’t tell Jarrod….he’ll kill me.”
Heath smiled through his fatigue….he loved Nick so much, and wondered how he ever got along without him. “I can keep a promise.”
“He would cough up the junk and then the poor guy would belch…..I mean loud….to the point where it sounded like he just ate a whole turkey or somethin’.”
“Really?” Heath felt lightheaded. His eyes drooped…..but he fought to stay awake. He hated sleeping every two minutes.
“Yeah…..the first time Mother heard it she thought he was ready to throw up, and ran to get a basin, then threw me her evil eye as I started laughin’…..and Jarrod, well, he just turned red with embarrassment. But it was nothin’ he could control.”
Heath smiled at the memory…..where was he two years ago? “Two years ago this happened?”
Nick nodded. “I think so….yeah.”
“I was in…..” Heath’s brow furrowed, his memory suddenly clouded. “Um, I think I was crabbin’ then…..off the coast.”
Nick’s ears perked at the opportunity to learn a bit about Heath. “I’ve sailed before, but never did that. How was it?”
Heath looked at his brother’s face, obviously eager for information. He yawned, fighting what he knew was the inevitable. “Hard…..’specially when a storm kicked up. Almost got knocked off the ship a few times.”
“They say it’s one of the most dangerous things to do.”
“Lost two men on the ship I was on…..was one of the reasons I….” yawn “….didn’t sign on again.”
“Did they fall over?”
“One did…..never saw him again…..it was a big storm, waves crashin’ over the side. Tired and drenched….hands were raw from the water….” He swallowed hard, feeling his illness through small cascading waves of pain from everywhere it seemed, “couldn’t grab him as he went over.”
Nick saw Heath fading, but didn’t want to lose the moment of the boy’s history. “Weren’t you guys tied to the ship?”
“Supposed to…..but he was workin’ off shift…..guess he forgot.” Pause. “His name was Hank Faulkner, I think. Didn’t know him but a few weeks.”
“You were tied, though….weren’t you?”
Heath smiled. He wondered if Nick always had mother hen instincts….he’d have to ask Jarrod. “Yeah…..I was a rookie, and underage to boot. The cap’n didn’t wanna explain to the authorities if somethin’ happened to me.” Yawn.
“What about the other one?”
“He died from gettin’ hit in the head with one of the big cages.”
“How did you do? Seasick at all?”
“When I heard what they were payin’, I signed up, never thinkin’ that I wouldn’t see the shoreline for weeks on end. The rockin’ of the ship was nice in the beginnin’, until the storms came.”
“So??”
Heath grimaced. “I leaned over the railin’ more times than I want to admit, okay?”
The rancher snickered. “Yeah, I hear you.” He paused. “Father had a few large boats when we were younger. That’s how I got used to them….got used to the rockin’ of the water. After the River Monarch was lost, he decided to keep business on land, and sold all but one ship, The Victoria. We still have it.”
“Where’s it sail?”
“It doesn’t sail….The Victoria, like the others, were steamboats. It’s still docked in the Delta River. When we get back home, we’ll go take a ride.”
“As long as it doesn’t rock like The Beacon…..even the most experienced man joined me at the rail a time or two.”
“Whew, what a job. You sure know how to pick ‘em.”
“I did it for the money, nothin’ else.”
Nick patted Heath’s arm. “How well did the ship do overall?”
Heath smiled. “We did well. Was able to send Mama the biggest cash out I ever did…..almost fifty dollars.” Heath closed his eyes for a moment, before forcing them open again. “I remember the hold was filled with thousands of those crawly things. Still can’t get their beady eyes outta my head.”
Nick laughed. “You don’t like crab?”
“Nah, anythin’ you have to crack to get the meat is off my list.” Heath stifled a yawn, wanting to continue the talk as well. “How ‘bout you?”
“You should know me a bit by now, little brother. I love anythin’ you have to work for…..crab, lobster, mussels, anything is fine with me.”
“Hmmm…..how ‘bout Jarrod?”
“I’ve seen him eat lobster, so I assume he likes the other ones as well.” Nick paused as he put a hand to his chin. “Come to think of it, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him eat crab before. Usually at the house we stick to beef, lamb, chicken…..land lubber food.”
“But here in the city….” Heath dropped off, his eyes all but closing.
“Sleep, little brother,” Nick soothed, his hand gently fixing Heath’s pillows. The boy’s breathing was still harsh to hear. With the blond sleeping, Nick decided to look for Dr. Gerard and see when he was planning on putting up the steam tent again. Adjusting his sheet and blanket, Nick laughed at how they stuck to the boy’s body, the aloe lotion working it’s miracle on Heath’s skin. He let his hand go through blond hair before he closed the door quietly behind him.
*************************
Nick came out of Heath’s room, closing the door quietly behind him. He took a few steps out and turned, looking for the orderly who normally was posted by the door. Putting his hands on hips, looking down the hallway again, Nick hesitated to leave….he didn’t like leaving his brother unattended even for short bits of time…..especially when the boy didn’t have the ability to move.
Nick stood for a moment, a small smile spreading across his face as he noticed a nurse coming down the hall. “Amanda! Good timing!”
Amanda smiled at the handsome rancher…..she and her nurse colleagues were in their glory with the three Barkley brothers in attendance, even if the younger blond was currently laid up. They were all handsome, and Amanda sighed as she approached the one that she had a special attraction to.
“Oh? Good timing for what, Nick?” She winked.
Nick laughed…..he enjoyed flirting. “Well, we don’t have time for dancin’, Miss Amanda, but I do have a small favor to ask of you.”
Amanda held her folder in front of her, both arms across the papers. “Small favor? Oh, that’s too bad.”
“Sorry, m’dear. Maybe another time.”
The nurse sighed as she rolled her eyes. “Oh, the story of my life.”
“Can you stay here for just a few minutes? I need to track down Dr. Gerard.”
“Is Heath okay?” Her brows furrowed in concern…..sigh…..Amanda looked at Nick…..he had such dreamy eyes.
“He’s sleepin’ right now, but his breathin’ is kinda strained again. Doc Gerard said that he wanted to put up the steam tent again…..just wanted to track him down to see when.”
“I can find him for you.”
“Well, I also want to find my mother and brother. Can you just stay here for a few minutes? I won’t take longer than that.”
“Sure, not a problem. Try not to be too long…..I have a shift change in half-an-hour.”
“Okay, Amanda. Thanks.”
“Where’s George? He was the orderly assigned here, right?”
“I don’t know and yes. I need to find out that, too.”
Amanda smiled as she watched Nick walk quickly down the hallway. She let her eyes linger on his bottom for a few moments, before she cleared her throat and put a hand to her cheek. “Hmmmm…..magnificent.”
As Amanda began going through her papers, Matt Simmons poked his head out from behind the large drape that covered the corner window. He heard the exchange…..he didn’t have much time…..and decided that if he was going to make his move, he’d better do so right now.
“Hello little lady.” Matt walked up to the nurse, forcing his body to relax, putting on his most charming smile. “I’m lookin’ for Heath Thomson, my nephew. But I’m gettin’ awful confused by all these rooms….” He used his hands to indicate his confusion. He smiled again.
“Oh, he’s right in here.” The nurse pointed to the door. “As soon as his brother gets back, you can visit him.”
“Do you know how long he’ll be?”
“No, sir, I don’t. He should be back shortly…..he doesn’t leave the room for very long.”
“Well, I guess I can wait….” He trailed off, trying to give the woman a feeling that he could be trusted. “It’s just that I don’t have much time…..could I just poke my head in for a few minutes and say hello?”
Amanda looked at Matt more closely, trying to ascertain if he was someone to be trusted. She bit the inside of her lip as she contemplated her options…..Nick didn’t say anything about not having people visit…..he just asked her to not leave Heath until he returned. “And you are again?”
“I’m Heath’s uncle. His mother’s brother.”
“Oh, well….I guess it will be alright, for just a few minutes. I’ll go in with you, if that’s okay.”
“Of course, my dear.” Matt followed the nurse into Heath’s room, and quickly felled her before the door even had a chance to shut. Her papers dropped, scattering on the floor. He dragged her body over to the side, and pushed her into a corner. Since he planned on murdering Heath, one more body didn’t bother him.
He turned to look at the blond breathing heavily on the bed, his sleep thus far undisturbed. The rancher was right, he thought….it wasn’t a pretty sight. But the battered boy he saw before him wasn’t what Matt saw; Heath’s reddened skin, and casted leg were just minor disturbances to the older man. What he saw before him wasn’t what his son had done to another soul…..what his twisted mind saw was a barrier that kept his son from being found.
Trey, my son…..my son.
With a snarl, he took two large strides to the bed.
************************
“Mother, Jarrod, have you seen Dr. Gerard?”
Jarrod sat at the nurse’s station, several telegrams laid out before him. He was furiously writing at one, then two, giving them to the boy who patiently waited by the desk. “He was just here.”
Victoria stood and held out her hands to accept Nick’s. “Dr. Gerard is arranging for the Heath’s steam tent to be put back up……he is also arranging for a nurse to be assigned to him permanently, so that the tent can be properly monitored over the next day or two.”
Nick nodded, and gently squeezed his mother’s petite hands. “The orderly that was supposed to stay outside of Heath’s room is gone.”
“He probably just had to use the bathroom, Nick. He’ll be right back.”
Nick’s face was held firm. “He’s supposed to tell us when he’s leavin’, and then get someone to replace him. I had to get Amanda to stand by the door until I got back.”
Jarrod handed the young boy a few coins and patted his head as he ran down the hallway. “I’m done here…..how about you take a break, and we’ll sit with Heath for awhile.”
Nick released his mother’s hands and took a step back. “No, I’ll go back with you……I want to make sure the steam tent is put up right.”
Jarrod looked over at his mother, and chuckled. “I’m perfectly capable of seeing to something like that, Nick.”
Nick’s mouth was opened to retort back when his arms suddenly became loaded with packages. “What’s all this?”
Victoria stood back, as she picked up a few more packages and handed them to Jarrod. “I went shopping…..Heath is in serious need of some clothes, and I found a few things for Audra, too.”
“Nothin’ for me?”
“There could be something in there….maybe.” Victoria smiled as she led the way down the hall to Heath’s room. “Besides, you have enough leather to last you a while….and Audra just bought you those new shirts.”
“Before Heath got here, Jarrod, we used to be the objects of Mother’s attention.” Nick winked at Jarrod from behind a pile of different size boxes, some wrapped in paper.
“Yes, you’re certainly right. Maybe I should just see if anything in here fits me as well.” Jarrod made a move to open one…..enjoying the teasing he was giving his mother.
“Take a look for me, too, Jarrod…..my blue shirt is gettin’ a bit worn.”
Victoria turned back as her sons expected, her eyes flashing. “Don’t you dare open one of those boxes without Heath’s permission!” She held up two packages in her hands. “Besides, I wouldn’t shop without getting something for the two of you…..my goodness! The both of you still sound like little boys.”
TBC
