Post by sandymarek on Apr 9, 2014 17:40:34 GMT -4
Adjustments-Story 6-
Now that Nick has finally admitted and accepted Heath into the family they now have to learn things about him while at the same time he has to learn what it is to be a part of a family.
<p>
Upon walking in the dining room and bidding everyone goodmorning Silas observing the one empty seat asks, “Where is Mr. Heath this morning?”
“He’s still asleep,” Victoria answers, “Would you start bringing in breakfast? The kids need to be going off to school.”
“Yes Miz Barkley,” Silas says, “Coming right up,” and departs quickly.
<p>
Outside in the barn checking on everything while in between getting the wagon already for the North Pasture watches for Heath to awaken which he now catches sight of opening his eyes and noticing the blanket over him.
Upon them exchanging goodmornings Duke asks, “Sleep well?” with Heath replying, “Yes um.”
Noticing the mystified look on his face, “Are you wondering how that blanket got on you?” Duke asks in which Heath nods his head and Duke informing him “Thank Nick for it. He did it.”
“He was out here?” Heath asks.
“He was” Duke mentions “He came out here to look for you. He told me to tell you when you wake up to go inside the house and that you don’t need permission to do so. So I suggest you do so, if you want to join them for breakfast.”
Replying, “Yes sir,” Heath gets up. Duke then says, “Heath, what did I tell you?”
Swallowing hard, “Don’t say sir,” Heath mentions.
Duke says “Right! So, you better go in” taking the blanket “I’ll see you later.”
Replying, “Bye Duke,” Heath walks up the front walk.
<p>
Walking in the dining room Silas brings in the glasses of juice and distributes them to each member of the family.
As the family converses “I think I really shook him up” Nick says “But then again he really shook me up too. Up until last night all the things that I was doing to him from the moment he arrived finally woke me up to what I was doing.”
“What do you mean by that?” Audra asks to Nick responding, “Just what I said.”
Cutting in, “Leave it alone Audra,” Victoria tells her.
Hearing the sound of the door opening “That must be Heath” Eugene announces.
Victoria calls out, “Heath, come in here.”
<p>
As he walks in the family bids him goodmorning to which he responds “Um, goodmorning.”
Noticing him attired in a nightshirt “Heath” Victoria asks “What are you doing in your nightshirt?” to which Nick intervenes and suggests “Heath, why don’t you go upstairs and change into your day clothes. Then come back down and join us for breakfast?” Replying “Yes Nick” Heath quickly goes up the stairs to change.
<p>
Looking over at Nick, “What is that all about” Jarrod inquires, “And I noticed that he actually called you Nick.”
“Yes” Nick admits “We had a talk last night and I managed to get him to call me by my name.”
“Nick” Victoria wanted to know “What is he doing outside coming in wearing his nightshirt?”
“That part I don’t know yet” Nick says “I did have him change into his nightshirt as I said when I tucked him in. We will have to work on finding out what he was doing out there in his nightshirt. But the next thing I am gonna bring up is very” he then says “I mean very important.” Audra asks “What’s that Nick?”
<p>
“I did get him to call me by my name” Nick mentions “I told him he could call each of you by your names but if he doesn’t you better tell him, that means each one of you here, otherwise he will continue calling you ‘Sir’ or ‘Maam’ until you say otherwise.”
“There is a lot more to Heath” Jarrod brings up “Than what we are seeing isn’t there Nick?”
“Yes” Nick admits “A lot more. I just got a beginning of it, but we have a lot more to learn about him.”
<p>
Walking in Silas brings their breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast and upon placing them in the center Victoria thanks him who is busily placing things on the table while the family waits patiently for Heath to join them. Turning to Jarrod Nick in a very low audible voice calls out to him who turns and asks “What Nick?” also in a low audible voice.
Moving closer to Jarrod and placing his hand over his mouth “We have to talk” Nick whispers into his ear “After Audra and Gene head off to school. Duke is gonna come in so that the four of us could talk.”
Whispering back “Okay” Jarrod responds.
Catching sight of them, “What are you whispering about?” Gene inquires.
“Oh nothing Gene,” Nick responds.
“Let me bring in your coffee” Silas says “Then you should be all set” leaving the room Audra asks if they should say grace with Victoria suggesting they wait until Heath comes to join them.
<p>
Just as Silas walks in with their morning coffee Heath enters the doorway. After greeting him and Heath returning the greeting Victoria tells Heath to come and join them. Replying “Yes um” Heath takes his seat between Gene and Jarrod but across from Nick.
<p>
As the family begins picking up the dishes and filling up their plates they pass them along to each other when they finish. Once everyone has filled their plates they return the dishes back in the center of the table. Victoria then says “Okay, let’s say grace. Jarrod, why don’t you do it this morning?”
Replying “Okay Mother” Jarrod then says as each one of them bows their heads “Oh, heavenly Father, we thank you for thy blessing, for this food on this here table and for thy boundless love, and thank you” glancing over at Heath “For bringing Heath into this house” as he speaks who looks back “Amen.”
After the family replies “Amen” they begin eating their breakfast with Nick quickly saying “Heath, eat up.”
Glancing over at Nick “Yes Nick” Heath replies picking up his eating utensil and slowly starts eating.
“Heath” Victoria asks “Did you have enough sleep? You went to bed way late last night, past midnight.” Replying “Yes um” Heath looks over at Victoria.
“Heath” Nick brings up “I thought I told you that you could sleep a little longer if you wanted to.” Swallowing hard “You did Nick” Heath replies.
“Then” Nick inquires “What are you doing awake?”
Looking at each person at the table “I wake when it’s day light” Heath mentions “It’s daylight; I wake up.”
“Heath” Jarrod asks “Could I ask how come you came into the house without any shoes on your feet?”
Glancing over at Jarrod “Didn’t have them on when I reckon” Heath answers “Went out, uh…?” not knowing what to say looks over at Nick.
“Jarrod” Jarrod quickly tells him “It’s all right Heath; you may call me by my name.” Heath slowly replies, “Uh…Jar-rod.”
“Very good Heath” Jarrod comments “And that would seem to make sense.”
“Could I ask” Nick inquires “Why you went outside in the first place? I left you upstairs in your bed; not outside in the barn” watching as Heath turns silent and just stares at him wondering what he is gonna say or do next asks “What time did you go out there?”
Shrugging his shoulders “Not know Nick,” Heath replies “Was dark out.”
“It must’ve been right after I went to sleep” Nick says “Because if I was up and heard you, you wouldn’t of, right?” Swallowing hard “Right…Nick” Heath replies.
“Heath” Jarrod joins in with “I’ve noticed each day since you’ve been here that you always came into the house from the outside. Have you been sleeping outside since that first day?” Heath answers, “Yes Jar-rod.”
As Victoria calls out to Heath he responds “Yes um” looking over at her sitting at the head of the table. Observing “Heath” Nick says with Heath looking over at Nick replying “Yes Nick?”
Nick then suggests “You could do Mother one of two ways” as he listens “You could either just call her Mother and try it out and see what happens or you could just ask her. Give it a try. You gotta start making choices sometime, now is as good as any. Trust me, Heath.”
Nodding his head he shifts his position looks directly at Victoria then swallows hard before looking back at Nick again saying “Um, um” not sure of how to address her when she quickly intercepts and replies “Yes Heath.”
Looking back at Nick once again who nods his head then twitches his nose for a brief second Heath looks at Victoria asking “Would…would you…would you like it” swallowing hard again “Like it…if I…if I…if I called you Mother?” taking each wording slowly as they come out.
Grinning from ear to ear “Oh Heath” Victoria replies “I would be delighted if you did.”
Nick says “See Heath? You are now on your way. You just have only three more to go.” Audra asks “Who’s the three?” Nick looking over at Audra replies “You, Gene and Silas.”
“Oh! Heath” Audra then says “You could call me Audra anytime” to which he replies “I’d like that Aw-dra.”
“And you could call me” Gene joins in with “Either Gene or Eugene; it doesn’t matter.” Heath asks “Which do you like better?”
“Doesn’t matter” Gene notes “But I think I like Gene better,” to which Heath responds “Okay Gene.”
“Now see Heath” Nick mentions “No one is doing anything to you. We are all fine with you calling us by our names.”
Replying “I see Nick” Heath once again shows a partial grin. Nick then tells him “Okay, let’s eat up; got work to do.”
“And” Victoria adds “You two have to go off to school, looking to Audra and then Gene.
“We know” Gene comes out with “It’s what we do every morning Mother.”
As Victoria calls out to Heath he replies, “Yes Mother?”
“First” she mentions “I like it that you’re calling me Mother and second, how come you slept outside? Don’t you like sleeping inside in your own room?”
“Not know” Heath responds “Not done it, um, I mean, Mother.”
“Well” Nick brings up “I guess we’ll have to work on that too Heath; find out how we could help you with transitioning to your own bed? But we’ll take it slow like I told you last night, okay?”
Nodding his head “Okay Nick” Heath replies.
“Heath” Victoria brings up “I will tell you that I do like you talking more and I like it that Nick isn’t doing so much hollering as he has been while we are eating. It makes the table so much more complete, much more relaxing, lively and family-oriented. Not so tense” to Heath who doesn’t answer but listens. Glancing over at Nick “Don’t you agree, Nick?” Victoria then asks.
“I agree,” Nick replies. Noticing the time Victoria then informs Audra and Gene it’s time they started out for school. As they get up she then asks, “Would one of you be so kind enough to go and check on the mail and see if any wires came in on your way home from school?”
“Sure Mother” comes from Audra with “We’d be happy to” from Gene.
Leaving the room they grab their schoolbooks and their lunch.
<p>
Turning to Heath, Nick asks “Heath how’s the breakfast?”
Answering “Good Nick” Heath eats a little more slowly and not as nervous with Jarrod, Nick and Victoria quietly taking notice.
Nick then says “Once you are finished, you could return to work on the fence. A couple of the men will be helping you with it today, okay?” Heath replies “Okay Nick.”
While Heath gets to eat without any interruptions Audra and Gene both come back into the room. As they bid everyone a goodbye Victoria brings up “Oh Audra, remember I want you home after school, no running around.”
Replying “I remember” Audra replies as she and Gene go out the door.
<p>
Watching as Heath is eating and noticing him almost finished “Heath” Victoria suggests “Do you want seconds?” Heath asks, “Seconds?”
“Are you still hungry,” Victoria reiterates, “Would you like to have some more?”
Swallowing hard “Yes um” Heath answers “I mean Mother, if it’s alright to.”
“It is very alright Heath” handing him one of the dishes “Here” she says “Help yourself.” Taking it from her he thanks her and begins filling his plate up. Watching him eat, they notice he starts eating a little faster than he has been.
“I guess you really are hungry” Jarrod mentions.
“Yes sir” Heath replies “I mean Jarrod. Sorry.”
“That’s okay Heath” Jarrod informs him “Take your time.”
While Heath eats Nick says “Heath” showing a little smile “After you leave to work on the fence, I will come by in a little bit to help with putting it up as well, okay?”
Replying “Okay Nick that is fine” Heath returns the half smile.
<p>
Walking in Silas offers the family more coffee to which Nick, Jarrod and Victoria all inform him they do. Turning to Heath Victoria asks if he would like to have some more to which he responds, “Yes um, Mother; if it’s alright.”
“Of course it’s alright, Heath” Victoria replies as Silas begins pouring the coffee.
Once Heath’s cup has been refilled and he takes a sip Victoria ask of him, “How is it?” Heath answers, “Good, um, Mother.”
Noticing Heath eying the sugar bowl “Heath,” Jarrod asks “You okay?” Heath answers “I am.” Jarrod then notes “I see you looking at the sugar bowl. Is there any particular reason?”
Heath not saying anything Victoria jumps in and asks “Heath would you like some sugar?” As he still eyes the sugar bowl Victoria then says “Nick, give him the sugar bowl” to which Nick complies and upon placing it before him replies “Heath here; help yourself.”
Looking at it and then at Nick “It’s alright” Nick tells him “Go ahead, you could have sugar.”
Watching him as he pours the sugar into his coffee Nick asks “Do you like sugar in your coffee?” Heath answers, “I do.”
Nick then asks “Do you like anything else?”
Watching Heath nod his head, “What would you like Heath?” Victoria inquires.
Heath replies, “Uh, milk.”
Nick asks, “Heath, do you like milk in your coffee? Or do you like milk on the side?” Heath answers, “Both.”
Handing him the pitcher Nick tells him to help himself while Jarrod gets up to retrieve a glass for him. As Heath pours milk into the coffee, “How is it?” Nick asks who answers after trying a little, “Much better.”
As Jarrod hands him the glass Heath graciously takes it from him and drinks the milk down.
Watching him “Heath” Nick informs him “As I told you last night you could have anything you want in this house. You don’t have to ask could you have it; it’s yours. Okay?” Heath replies, “Okay Nick.”
Victoria joins in, “Nick’s right Heath, what we have in this house is yours too.”
Jarrod replies “Yes Heath it is. We want you to be a part of all of this. Remember you said you wanted a piece of it all?” Heath says “I remember, Jar-rod” as he looks over at him.
“That includes” Jarrod mentions “Being able to have access to anything we have in this: here house or on this here property. Okay?”
Still looking over at Jarrod “Okay Jar-rod” Heath answers.
Once breakfast is finished Silas returns for the dishes but leaves Heath’s who is still finishing what he has. As he finishes “Heath” Victoria asks “Do you want anything more?”
Heath replies “No, thank you. That’s it. Can’t eat no more, Mother.” As he finishes his cup of coffee Victoria asks if he would like some more to which he responds, “No thank you. That’s it too; stomach full.”
Nick then says, “Heath, if you are ready, I will walk out with you.”
Heath replies, “I ready, Nick.”
“Come on,” getting up Nick says, “I’ll be right back.”
<p>
While he and Heath go out the door “Well” Jarrod mentions “It looks like what we said from early on that Nick was the key to Heath being turned around.”
“I do wonder” Victoria brings up “What did take place last night that had Nick change. I mean I think I finally did get through to him but he seemed to have drastically changed the moment he returned.”
“Same here” Jarrod says “But whatever it was I am sure we will find out once Nick returns. And I think we have a lot to learn today about what did happen.”
“I’m just glad for Heath’s sake” Victoria replies “That it didn’t take longer than a week.
“I agree” Jarrod then says “Excuse me, I need to go use the facilities” getting up “I will be right back” and quickly exits the room.
<p>
Outside Nick assists Heath with getting Gal ready and upon bringing her out of the barn Nick asks, “Heath, you got everything you need?”
Mounting up, “Think so” Heath answers. Nick says “Wait!” Nervously Heath asks “Did I do something wrong?” Nick replies “No! Where’s your canteen?”
Pointing to the barn “In there,” Heath answers. Nick then tells him to stay put and quickly goes inside the barn to retrieve it.
After handing it to him, Nick asks, “Now do you have everything?” Heath replies “Think so.”
Nick says “Well okay, I’ll see you in a little bit. I have to go and talk with Duke Mother and Jarrod for a few minutes. Everything is gonna be fine, okay?” still reassuring him Heath replies “Okay Nick” and heads off towards the North Pasture.
<p>
Seconds later catching sight of Duke approaching “Duke” Nick asks “Are you ready?” Duke replies, “Ready.”
“Come on,” Nick mentions, “We have a lot to talk over,” as they walk towards the house together. Duke quips, “Yes, we certainly do.”
Nick inquires, “Did you send out the men to help him?” Duke answers, “They already left” as they go inside Nick calls out, “Mother, Jarrod?”
From inside the study “We’re in here Nick” and upon joining them they each bid Duke a good morning who in turn reciprocates.
As Victoria offers Duke a seat, Jarrod offers him a drink to which he replies “This time of the morning Jarrod; coffee. It’s way too early for anything harder than that.” Handing Duke the cup he graciously takes it.
Jarrod then says, “Okay, shall we get started?” Nick replies, “Yes.”
Jarrod says “You did say you wanted us to do it without Audra and Gene here.”
“For now” Nick says “They don’t need to hear some of what is going to be brought up.” Glancing over at Duke “And Duke” he adds “I know you have some things to bring up and questions regarding Heath that we need to hear about as well.”
“Yes Nick,” Duke answers, “You are so right. I have been trying since last week to get your attention, but you kept being so busy and not having anytime to stop and talk to me.” Nick promises, “Well I will hear you today. Sorry, it took so long.”
“Well” Duke points out “Just so that you are finally starting to come around is a good start.” Jarrod asks “How would you like us to begin this?”
“How about” Victoria suggests “If we start from when Nick came in last night” looking over at him “Nick, last night when you went out to get Heath, at first you were reluctant into going but when you came back in you had a whole different prospective. What exactly did happen out there last night, Nick?”
“I’d,” Jarrod answers, “Like to know that myself.”
Standing over by the fireplace Nick has his elbow on the mantle looking towards the fire below it then putting his hand under his chin moving it back-n-forth along the side of his chin; he starts hitting the top of the mantle angrily and then shifting his position looks towards each of them seated.
“Nick” Victoria says “Control yourself” watching as he throws a book off the mantel on the floor he answers “I’m trying to. It’s just that I’m so angry, so fired up right now.”
Quietly picking it up “We could see that” Jarrod quips as he places it back and returns to his seat.
“I understand that Nick” Victoria mentions “But being angry isn’t going to help the situation. Whatever happened, why don’t you tell us what took place?”
“I know” Nodding his head he then says “Alright” exhaling deeply he turns towards them “Last night when I went out to get him as I said he shook me up.”
“Why Nick” Victoria asks “What is it that he said or did that shook you up?”
“Well at first” Nick tells her “It was the talk we had. You made me stop and think. You did wake me up to what I was doing. I never realized just how bad I became until he came here, I just didn’t see it” shaking his head “I never realized that I could be that bad towards anyone and yet I took it out on him.”
Walking around the room moving his hands as well as opening and closing them constantly into fists followed by running his fists together continues “Then when I went out to get him, I saw him working on that fence. He had his eyes closed and when I called out his name he didn’t answer. I went over to him shook him a bit and called out to him again. I must’ve startled him because I think he must’ve fell asleep for a couple of minutes or so, maybe longer not really sure. But as he awoke, he kept mumbling things like: Sorry, didn’t mean to do it, didn’t mean to disobey and not being told to come in. And then when we got to the barn and began putting the wagon and horses away for the night is what really shook me up. What he was doing or was about to do really opened my eyes to what I was doing.”
Victoria asks, “What Nick?”
Letting out a deep sigh, “He started,” Nick mentions, “Unbuttoning his shirt.”
“Unbuttoning his shirt?” Jarrod mimics.
“Yes” Nick says “I asked him what he was doing and he said he was getting ready.” Victoria asks, “Getting ready?”
“Yes” Nick answers sternly “Getting ready. He was getting ready for me to give him a whipping.” With their mouths gaping wide open in shock “A whipping?” Jarrod and Victoria mimic together simultaneously. Victoria then says, “Nick!?”
“He thought,” Nick responds, “I was gonna give him a whipping. He thought he needed to be put in his place, to be kept in line for disobeying me, to be taught a lesson, to be taught respect. He thought he was being bad for not finishing the fence and for dozing off, as he put it.”
“Oh Nick” Victoria says “That is awful” as she takes hold of her shirt, in surprise.
“There is more,” Nick mentions. Victoria says, “Tell us Nick.”
“When I went to go join him in the kitchen,” Nick replies, “I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. I saw him in the corner of the room sitting and eating a cold dinner on the floor.” Victoria mimics, “A cold dinner?” Nick replies, “Yes.”
“Nick,” Jarrod insists, “Continue.”
“I asked him what he was doing” Nick continues “He said that is where he thought he was to eat. I asked him why he wasn’t eating at the table and eating a cold dinner with his hands.”
With her eyes widening in shock “With his hands” Victoria says “Oh, Nick!”
Duke asks, “What did he say Nick?”
“He said,” Nick explains, “He couldn’t eat at the table or use a fork because he wasn’t told he could or because he wasn’t asked to. He couldn’t do anything unless we told him that he could.” Victoria asks, “Why would he think that?”
“He thought,” Nick speculates, “That from the very first day he needed to be asked to join us otherwise he wasn’t allowed to or that he would get some kind of whipping or punishment in some other way if he did without our permission.”
“Where would he get an idea like that?” Victoria wanted to know.
“Apparently from other people,” Nick surmises, “Some of which he worked for, one being his uncle and aunt.”
“Nick,” Victoria asks, “You didn’t let him eat like that?”
Replying, “NO,” Nick smiles down at her says, “Mother, I wouldn’t do that. I may have been hard on him but I wouldn’t do that. I am not that uncaring and I do have a heart. It just took a little eye opener,” glancing over at Jarrod, “To find it. I took it away from him, warmed it up for him had him wash his hands and eat at the table.” Victoria exclaims, “Oh, thank goodness Nick!”
“Mother” Nick states “I believe Father would’ve done just what I did” as he smiles again down at her she returns the smile answering “Yes Nick, he would’ve.”
“You know, Nick,” Duke joins in “That does seem to make sense.”
Glancing over at Duke, “What do you mean?” Nick asks.
“That first day,” Duke mentions, “He and I went out to work on the bridge I asked him small things like how he was getting along with each of you.”
“What did he say?” Victoria wanted to know. Glancing over at Nick, “Remember me telling you,” Duke says, “That Heath mentioned you talking harshly to him?”
“I remember,” Nick notes, “You said he said it in a roundabout way.”
“That’s right” Duke replies “He did. He said each of you were okay, except for you Nick” pausing “He said you were no different than others that he met. If some of these other ranchers that he worked for did any of that to him, then he must’ve seen you as being one of them, wondering when you were gonna do that to him.”
“You know Nick,” Jarrod joins in “If we all think about it, since that very first day that he was asked to live here, anytime we would eat at the table he would keep his eyes on you like no tomorrows. That must’ve been running around inside of his head.” Nick answers, “I’m starting to see that.”
Jarrod then brings up, “And he probably thought we were a bunch of savages here. I mean you never really would give him the right time of day Nick. You were always yelling at him and then putting him to work almost non-stop over the past three days. Now what would you expect Nick?”
“Well,” Nick notes, “I didn’t expect that. I mean I did have so many things running around my head regarding him but not once did I think what he came out with is what he was thinking.” Victoria brings up, “I know you didn’t Nick.”
“I already told him,” Nick replies, “Nothing is gonna happen to him. But for some reason he seems to think that he needs permission before he does anything. We need to break him of that habit and get him to make choices for himself, something he was never allowed to do before.”
“You do bring up a good point” Jarrod says “If we all really think about it he has been doing just that since the very first day. No matter what any of us said or did he never would do anything unless one of us said he could do it. When he came into the house he only entered a room when we told him to come in or come and sit down. When we ate, he always waited until Mother said to start eating.”
Jarrod adds “When it was time for him to go off to work he only got up and went when you” looking over at Nick “Told him to go. He never got up on his own.”
“Precisely” Nick says “And I never even paid any attention to any of that until now.”
“How could you Nick?” Jarrod asks, “You were too busy trying to find something to fault him on.” Victoria cuts in, “I don’t think any of us were at the time. I thought it was just his being new here. That has never occurred to me either.”
“At least,” Jarrod says, “Now we know.”
“Yes,” Nick replies.
<p>
Overhearing the conversation and entering the room Silas says, “That might explain what happened when I was helping him take his bath the other night.”
“What do you mean by that?” Victoria wanted to know.
“I told him when I was getting the tub ready” Silas mentions “To go get out of his clothes and get a robe. He grabbed the robe but wasn’t wearing it. He wasn’t wearing anything” as everyone in the room chuckles he continues “Except his birthday suit. I had to tell him to put it on.”
“And Bobby,” Nick adds, “Also mentioned that he doesn’t do anything for himself only what is told to him.” Duke brings up, “I was aware of that too early on.”
“That does explain why he was just standing around,” Nick continues, “He was waiting to be told what he was to do next.”
“Now Nick,” Jarrod asks, “How do you feel yelling at him all this time and his not knowing what he was supposed to be doing?”
Nick tells him, “I already told you I feel bad about what I did and I already told him I’m sorry. What else more do you want Jarrod? I made a mistake, alright?”
“A very bad one, Nick” Jarrod states, “Could you imagine what could’ve happened if you kept right on doing what you were doing to him?”
“Well,” Nick vows, “Let’s not think about that okay. I won’t ever be doing that to him again.” Jarrod replies, “Good; that is what I wanted to hear.”
Exhaling deeply,” There is one other word he used quite often last night,” Nick brings up. Victoria asks, “What word was that?”
“Bastard!” Nick replies, “He kept saying things like: because he’s a bastard, being a bastard he has no place in society, bastards must only work that is their only purpose here. That his kind don’t get to do without someone saying they could.”
As he paces back and forth in front of the fireplace, “I then asked him what he would consider being bad,” Nick brings up, “For me to be giving him a whipping.”
“What did he say Nick?” Victoria compassionately wanted to know.
Exhaling heavily “He said” Nick says “Anything could be. His being a bastard alone was reason to. Just to keep him in line, to know his place here to be taught respect. If he touched something he wasn’t suppose to, if he did something wrong. He must obey at all times and bastards are not allowed to call us by our names; must call us sir or ma’am. Bastards are lucky to be around, bastards should be grateful for that, bastards get what is coming to them and bastards deserve whatever is handed to them. He also stated that he was a child of the devil, his kind was no good. His kind was evil; his kind must be kept in line.”
“He did,” Duke notes, “Use reference of the word his kind to me.”
Stunned, “He did?” Victoria asks.
“Yes,” Duke replies, “While we were having lunch. That’s another thing Nick, when we ate he didn’t have anything with him to eat except a piece of fruit. I asked him where his lunch was.” Nick asks, “What did he say?”
“He said,” Duke mentions, “That was all he had. I asked him why he didn’t make himself something but he said he couldn’t. And I believe you are now aware that he has been sleeping in the barn for the past couple of nights.”
“We just found that out today” Jarrod states.
“It’s been more than just a couple of nights,” Silas brings up.
“What’s that mean Silas?” Victoria wanted to know.
“He’s been sleeping out there” Silas says “Since that first night he came here.”
“That is why,” Nick brings up, “You kept looking outside for him to see if he was coming in.” Silas replies, “Yes Mr. Nick.”
“I’m starting to learn about that too,” Nick states.
Sympathetically, “Poor Heath,” Victoria says, “I feel so bad for him. I wonder just how many did that to him.”
“I know the uncle,” Nick points out “And his Aunt Martha have.”
“Looks like it could be quite a few” Jarrod says “From what you mentioned Nick.”
Glancing over at Duke Victoria thanks him for looking after Heath while they were gone. Duke replies, “Don’t mention it, Victoria, it was my pleasure.”
“That boy” Jarrod brings up “Could’ve starved to death and we would not have known until it was too late.”
“Well,” Nick states, “It won’t ever happen again. I could promise you that. Not ever again! I am so sorry that I was so blinded by all that at first.”
“I did ask him,” Duke brings up, “If he minded me asking him questions.”
“And what did he say?” Victoria asks of Duke who responds, “He said, you ask he is to answer.”
“He did,” Nick points out, “Tell us something similar to that effect as well, but when he said that I didn’t understand it all at that time.”
“I don’t think any of us knew what he was referring to,” Jarrod notes.
“I then asked if he would like to ask me any questions,” Duke says.
“And what did he say Duke?” Victoria asks.
“He said that he couldn’t,” Duke states “That his kind isn’t allowed to. I then started asking him questions about Strawberry.”
Victoria says, “We’ve all been doing that.”
“He doesn’t like it much,” Duke surmises, “I know that.”
“No, he doesn’t,” Nick quickly notes, “And with everything that happened to him while living and growing up there, I can’t say I blame him.”
Victoria replies, “I don’t either.”
“The first day I brought him around the ranch” Nick brings up “He made an interesting comment while he was looking up at the sky and I asked him why he did that.” Jarrod asks, “And what did he say, Nick?”
“He said,” Nick replies, “He wished he was up there and wondered if what was up there was better.”
Duke mentions, “He doesn’t like his Uncle Matt or Aunt Martha either.”
“That much we do know,” Victoria states, “And he says that very strongly.”
“Well,” Nick says, “He has good reason to.”
“That could very well,” Jarrod mentions, “Explain why he had so many jobs away from Strawberry. He tried staying as far away from them as possible.”
“That is quite possible,” Victoria says.
“We did get on the topic of school, his not knowing how to swim but each time he kept saying things like his kind don’t need one,” Duke mentions, “His kind is only trouble, his kind don’t need to know how to swim.”
“I wonder,” Victoria asks, “How often he seen his Uncle Matt and Aunt Martha?”
“A lot,” Nick says, “From what he said and they were pretty bad to him from what he told me.” Victoria asks, “How bad, Nick?”
“From what I got out of him,” Nick mentions, “While taking a spoon off the table to eat a bowl of oatmeal his Aunt Martha came into the room and took him into the closet and used a strap on him and made him stay in there until his Uncle came home and took him downstairs to teach him a lesson, as he put it.”
“They hit him for that?” Victoria asks.
“Apparently,” Nick says, “And there’s more.” Victoria asks, “Such as?”
“Another time,” Nick mentions, “He took an apple off the table and wasn’t supposed to. His Aunt Martha once again took a strap to him and let his uncle finish the job when he came home.”
Shaking her head, “That poor boy,” Victoria remarks, “I feel so bad for him. Did he say when that happened?”
“No,” Nick replies, “I tried to ask him how old he was but he wouldn’t say. He just shrugged his shoulders and I didn’t press it and let it go. But I’m starting to wonder about things about him.”
“Like if maybe he knows how old he is?” Jarrod brings up. Nick replies, “Yeah.”
“Well that has been on my mind a great deal,” Jarrod notes, “From the beginning.”
“That is one of the reasons” Nick says “Why he has been calling us by ma’am and sir; out of respect as he put it and thought if he didn’t he’d be punished for that.”
“He was calling me sir” Duke brings up “The first day we went out but I stopped him right off.” Jarrod says “That explains why he wasn’t calling us by our names.”
“Yes,” Victoria mentions, “He was afraid to.” Nick adds, “And because we didn’t tell him that he could.”
“I would like to know how old he was,” Victoria brings up, “When his uncle and aunt did all that to him.”
“I don’t imagine he was that old,” Nick mentions, “He kept using the word little. He would say little bastard, little retched, this little thing, making me believe he was small or little when a lot of that happened to him. I could be wrong, but it’s just the way it sounded from the way he was saying it. So I’m not really sure.”
“That’s quite possible,” Jarrod notes. Duke brings up, “There are other things I manage to get out of Heath regarding his aunt and uncle too.”
Victoria asks “Like what Duke?” Duke replies “He wasn’t allowed to talk when he was in their hotel.” Victoria says “I wonder just how bad a life that boy did have.”
“It couldn’t have been that great Victoria” Duke replies “Being hit and punished for talking or taking a spoon or trying to eat an apple; not to mention being called bastard or a kind by them.” Jarrod says, “Duke’s right.”
“From the looks of things,” Silas quips, “It looks pretty bad.” Duke replies, “It is.”
“Sometimes I wonder,” Victoria brings up, “why his mother just didn’t try taking him out of Strawberry and come here?”
“His mother did try to leave there once,” Duke mentions. Victoria asks, “And what happened?”
“They didn’t get far,” Duke says, “His uncle went after them. Heath said something about him slapping her and taking him to teach her a lesson.”
“Heath mentioned that to me too,” Jarrod mentions. Victoria asks, “He did?”
“Not the slapping part,” Jarrod reiterates, “But her trying to leave with him and them coming after them leaving her there.”
Shaking her head in disgust “That uncle” Victoria says “I’m so sorry Heath had one like that. The more I hear of him the more I hate him. And that’s not a word I use too often and try not using on anyone. But he does take the cake.”
“I have to agree Miz Barkley,” Silas notes with Nick adding “I couldn’t agree more. And I just hope I never have to run into him because if I do he’s going to be one sorry uncle.”
“It sure seems,” Duke brings up, “A lot of people made sure he stayed quiet.”
“That might explain why he has been so quiet around here,” Jarrod speculates.
Victoria says, “It could very well have been.”
Shaking his head in disgust “And once again” Nick mentions “Here I thought the quiet ones are the ones you have to watch out for. As much as I was saying it I could never tell you just how wrong I was. Everything I thought about him was not what I had thought. Boy, I sure do have a lot to learn. It never occurred to me that he didn’t say anything because of that no good aunt or uncle he has. And whoever all those other people were making him remain silent” taking his fingers and tapping them on the mantle “Unless someone asked him something or said that he could.”
“Do you know,” Victoria brings up, “That first night that he came here after you were still at the Swensons’ I walked into the house and saw him over with the fruit. He was about to take it but then stopped. I let him have it. I figured he wanted it and could use it. He must’ve been hungry; the poor dear but didn’t know how to tell me. He must’ve been afraid and didn’t know what I was going to do him. He probably thought he would be punished for helping himself to it.”
“It’s quite possible,” Jarrod notes.
“Thank goodness Mother” Nick says “You were the one who walked in, instead of me. At that time I wasn’t thinking too clearly. If he had gone out of here I don’t think we would ever have known what became of him. And right now, I don’t want to think about that” still thinking of the treatment he gave to him “I didn’t know just how bad I could be.”
“Well, I’m very relieved Nick” Victoria says “That you finally did come around and came to your senses. You may have scared Heath” placing her hand over her heart “And scared yourself but you were also scaring me.”
“Well you don’t have to worry about that anymore,” Nick vows, “Not now, not ever again.”
Letting out a sigh of relief, “Thank goodness” Victoria says “You know I wonder just how often he got to see his mother?”
“I don’t know,” Nick hypothesizes, “But something tells me he couldn’t have seen that much of her. And I did ask him if his mother knew anything about his being punished by them.” Jarrod asks, “And did she Nick?”
“No” Nick replies “He said sometimes she did, sometimes she didn’t. And of the times she didn’t he wasn’t allowed to tell her.” Victoria asks, “Why’s that Nick?”
“He said his uncle Matt told him if he said anything” Nick says “That he’d either be punished worse than he had or that he would punish her the way he punished him. So he didn’t tell her. I did ask him if there was anybody he could’ve gone to and tell them about what was going on with his uncle doing that to him.” Victoria asks, “What did he say?”
“He said there wasn’t,” Nick mentions, “And his being a bastard he got what was coming to him and deserved what ever was handed to him.”
“I think Heath is proving to be what one of those cases or children look like that are born out of wedlock” Jarrod surmises “To unwed mothers without fathers being shunned by everyone.”
“That is just terrible” Victoria states “But I think we are all getting a taste of what his life has been like and this is just the beginning. I did say that if someone could get him to open up he sure did have one story to tell and he certainly does. And I am sure there is more to come.”
“You’re so right Mother” Nick replies “I think there is much more to come a lot more.”
“Yes, you’re right” Duke says “Both of you are.” Jarrod replies “Let’s keep going.”
“I feel so sorry for him” Victoria disgustedly mentions “It’s not right, not right at all that he had to grow up and live like that.”
“No” Nick says “It’s not. It’s almost like he was treated like a dog or some kind of animal. To sit when told to, stay when told to, speak only when told to or spoken to and must obey at all times” shaking his head once again in utterly disgust.
“It’s disgusting I have to admit,” Jarrod joins in with Duke adding, “Yes it is.”
“It’s awful” Victoria says. Duke then mentions “I don’t think he got much schooling either.”
“We were thinking along that line ourselves,” Victoria notes, “I wonder what Audra and Gene know that maybe we don’t.”
“We’ll have to wait until they get home” Jarrod says “To find that out.”
“We’ll wait” Nick brings up “But in the meantime let’s see what else he has been saying and try to see what we know about him and then take it from there and whatever he doesn’t know we’ll help him with.”
“Right” Victoria replies “He is a part of this family so we all will pitch in and help him in whatever way we need to.” Jarrod says, “Agreed.”
“And I’ll help in anyway I can too,” Duke mentions, “I like that boy and have from that very first day.”
“And I will also help,” Silas says, “I too like that boy and want to see him getting his feet on the ground and he sure does need it.”
“At least,” Jarrod observes, “We are all in this together now. We no longer have to work on Nick accepting him.”
Nick replies “No that is over with. I am here along the side with the rest of you to do whatever is needed to get that boy on his feet.” Jarrod says “About time Nick.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Nick replies, “I know Jarrod.”
<p>
Nick then says, “Let’s go back to what we know about him and what we don’t. He has been saying quite a bit if we listened. Now, I know I was giving him the hardest time here but I was still listening to what he was saying.”
“Okay,” Jarrod replies, “We do know that he led a very sad and bad life before he came here. We know he has to be told or needs permission before he does anything so let’s keep that all in mind until we’re able to snap him out of it. We also better keep a close eye on him for now and make sure that he learns to do things for himself. But I was just thinking.” Nick asks, “What’s that?”
“I know that he needs to be told to do something but I have noticed on occasion,” Jarrod mentions, “That he has seemed to use his own mind at times. He may not even have known he was doing it and we didn’t think anything of it either because we weren’t fully paying attention to it but yet he has.”
“Right Jarrod,” Victoria replies, “He has. He came here to Stockton all on his own; I don’t think anyone told him to come here.”
Jarrod says, “No I don’t think they have. We could always ask him to be sure.”
“He did design the bridge all on his own,” Duke points out, “And decided on the railing that was added on.”
“When we went out the first day,” Nick mentions, “And I was showing him around a bit he did ask on his own was this all ours.”
“And he did manage to come and fight with us against the railroad” Jarrod notes “No one told him to do that and I did manage to get him to open up slightly at the restaurant. It wasn’t much but it did happen. And I believe he brought Audra back to us on his own. I don’t think anyone told him to do that and knowing Audra the way I do, something tells me that she wouldn’t have came back that quickly or easily by herself.”
“That’s true Jarrod,” Victoria says, “She probably wouldn’t have.”
“And I noticed,” Nick brings up, “That a lot of it came when he actually lived with us. I think whatever I was doing to him the constant yelling and barking as Mother pointed out had a lot to do with his withdrawing away from all that.”
“I think you’re right Nick” Jarrod admits “I remember taking him into town on Friday and I did get him to loosen up a little and yet on the way back to the ranch I noticed him tensing up like he dreaded coming back here. And as you stated he was more talkative prior to his coming to live with us.” Victoria says “Yes he was.”
“I’d have to agree,” Nick mentions, “I remember our first meeting on the bridge and he did talk a lot more there. And he did have a lot to say when he came looking for a job here and coming into the house telling us who he was. I guess I was the cause of his dreading to come back to the house. Somehow I will have to rectify that with him. I don’t want him to ever having to dread returning to here anytime. I want him to know that this is his home now.”
“Agreed,” Victoria replies, “This is home now and this is here where he belongs.”
“There is one thing you do have to keep a close eye on,” Duke brings up.
“What’s that Duke?” Jarrod asks.
“Make sure the he is wanted here,” Duke states, “Because if he feels he’s not he will go. He must think his being here is only for now he may not realize he is a part of your family permanently.”
“I have to agree,” Silas joins in, “I think Mr. Heath led a very sheltered life.”
“I don’t think,” Jarrod mentions, “Heath knows what it means to be a part of a family, our family.”
“I suppose,” Nick says, “We’ll have to be teaching him that too. But you are right Duke, he would go if we said go. So we do have to be careful.”
“Okay,” Victoria replies, “Let’s see what else.”
“Well he knows how to build a bridge,” Duke notes, “He did that very well.”
“Yes, he did” Nick admits “And he knows how to play checkers and said he knows how to play cards. We’ve seen him playing gin with Audra.”
“There is something I have noticed” Jarrod says. Nick asks “What’s that Jarrod?”
“Think about it!” Jarrod says “If we really think about it he never once used dates, days or time or anything. He said his mother died. We asked how long ago and all he said was a short time ago. He never mentioned a week, a month, a day, nothing; just a short time ago.”
“Never thought of that,” Victoria replies, “But you’re right Jarrod, he hasn’t. I wonder if he even knows.”
“Not sure,” Jarrod then says, “He did say he goes to sleep when it is dark or when someone tells him to and wakes up when it’s light or once again when someone tells him to. He never did mention a time.”
“That is true,” Duke adds, “When it was time to stop work for the day I had to tell him to otherwise he would’ve kept right on going. The same with lunch; he only stopped when I told him to.”
“And I noticed that even though you were barking at him” Jarrod says looking at Nick “Each morning he seemed to have came in the exact same time. He must wake up that exact same time every morning.”
Closing his eyes “Oh god” Nick asks “Do you think he doesn’t know how to tell time?”
“I don’t know Nick” Jarrod replies “We know just as much as you do. You probably know more from what you got out of him thus far. But it is a possibility. And if Heath only answers us when we ask him a question then we didn’t know enough to ask him that to start with and he doesn’t volunteer anything freely.”
“You’re right Jarrod,” Duke surmises, “Maybe the way all the people that were responsible, punished him or scared him enough to the point that he just won’t openly volunteer anything to us or anyone else.”
Looking over at Jarrod “That might explain why he doesn’t make choices for himself” Nick mentions “Or as you said won’t just volunteer anything freely.”
“We are going to have to find out,” Jarrod states, “What he does and doesn’t know. We’re also going to have to find a way to find out what he’s thinking and what’s going on inside his mind, inside his head.”
“Yes, we are” Nick notes “Of course I didn’t help matters either. The night leading up to the fight in the barn I mentioned something to him about Corning being at least a good 100 miles away from us and asked him why he would travel that many miles when there were so many other spreads along the way that he could’ve found work at.” Victoria asks, “What did he say Nick?”
“All he said was” Nick reiterates “That no man sends him anywhere. And here I thought he worked for the railroad or came to spy on us or something” letting out a deep sigh “Boy, did I make a huge mess out of what was happening with him.”
“Nick,” Jarrod brings up, “At least you managed to get him to open up. We would never have known any of this if what you did, didn’t take place.”
A little saddened “Yeah,” Nick answers, “I suppose.”
“And we did say,” Jarrod mentions, “That if he had anything to hide or was lying we would have our answers soon enough. And something tells me that we’re starting to learn our answers rather quickly.”
“Jarrod” Victoria asks “You don’t think he’s lying or hiding anything, do you?”
“No,” Jarrod answers, “I am just pointing it out. As the lawyer here I have to bring up all sides of everything.”
“Well,” Nick answer, “I could tell you here and now,” boring into Jarrod’s eyes, “That he’s not lying about any of it.” Jarrod asks, “How could you tell?”
“Those eyes,” Nick answers, “I looked hard into them. I could tell you that everything he said thus far is the truth. He is telling us straight out anything we ask of him. It’s just that he’s not telling us anything if we are not asking him it.”
“There is something about those eyes” Victoria joins in “I saw it in them that very first night when I looked up at him. I could sense something about them. I didn’t know what but only that they told a story. They looked troubled, telling me that he needed something, wanted something. I don’t know how or why but I just could tell.”
“Maybe that’s,” Jarrod notes, “What I saw in them that day over at the Sempleworth’s when I asked him to come to the house. Something in them told me that he could use a friend, someone who cared.”
“I think we could all see it,” Duke says, “Eyes don’t lie.”
“Duke’s right,” Jarrod defends, “Eyes don’t lie.”
“Indeed they do not” Silas adds “And that boy is very troubled which is why he is so quiet.”
Sighing heavily “Why don’t we stop for now” Nick suggests “Until Audra and Gene get home and until then I’ll go and work with him and see what other information I could extract from him.”
“I think that is a good idea Nick” Victoria says “When they get home we could resume this however I don’t think they need to hear some of what was brought up.”
“No,” Nick admits, “I don’t think so either. That is why I opted to wait until they went off to school before we began this.”
“I too,” Duke says, “Have a lot of work to be getting to. So, if you’ll excuse me”, as he gets up out of his seat.
Jarrod then says, “Oh, there is one more thing I’d like to bring up.”
“What’s that Jarrod?” Victoria wanted to know.
“When I got on the subject of his being a little boy,” Jarrod says, “I did ask if he ever had any dreams of what he wanted to do or be when he grew up.”
“What did he say?” Nick inquires.
“He wanted to” Jarrod says “Leave Strawberry and make lots of money and take his Mama away from there; but that it didn’t go the way he had in mind.”
“Well he did get out of Strawberry,” Nick mentions, “And when he gets going he will be making money. He will no longer have to worry about that. However, I do feel bad for him that he doesn’t have his mother. Something tells me he didn’t get to enjoy her the way he should’ve.”
A little downcasted, “I don’t think so either,” Victoria notes, “And we can’t do anything to bring her back or to make up for it unfortunately.”
“True,” Jarrod then says, “There is one more thing I just thought of.”
“What’s that?” Victoria asks.
“Wheeler and Deak” Jarrod notes “Heath seems to know them and somehow we do need to find out more about them. They confined him; I like to know more about that too.”
“I’ll be looking into that,” Nick vows, “And I will see what I could get out of Heath when I talk to him.”
Getting up out of their seats “Let me make you a lunch” Victoria says “For him. I don’t want that boy thinking he can’t have anything to eat” walking out of the study together “Because we didn’t say he could.”
“I don’t either,” Nick brings up.
“That might take awhile,” Jarrod surmises, “If he’s gone on years living and thinking like that it’s not something he’s gonna stop doing overnight.”
“How long it takes makes no difference to me.” Nick vows “There is one other thing I’ve noticed about him.”
Victoria asks “What’s that Nick?” Nick mentions, “When I touch him it seems to bother him.” Victoria ponders, “I wonder why.”
“I’ve read stories,” Duke mentions “Of children who haven’t been shown a lot of love doesn’t know what it is to be touched or show affection.”
“Then,” Victoria states, “We will just have to work with that boy getting him to know just what love is around here.”
Sighing heavily, “I must say,” Nick says, “We do have a lot of work ahead of us. But we will just take it one step at a time.”
“Agreed,” Victoria replies, “But at least now talking about it I do like the fact that we’re all in this together in helping him.”
“Seeing he has been making some small decisions on his own,” Duke speculates, “Something tells me that it just may not take as long as we think.”
“I sure hope not,” Victoria replies.
Reaching the front door “Same here” Duke says “Well, I’ll see you all later.”
“You were a great help Duke,” Victoria informs him “Thanks for all your input.”
“No problem” Duke replies “As I said I like that boy. I’m just sorry to hear about what he had to grow up with. Boy, I sure wish Tom were here and had known about him, if he did maybe none of this would’ve happened.”
“You’re right Duke” Victoria says “If he was here and did indeed have known about him, he would never have grown up the way he did” and while Jarrod and Nick walk Duke out Victoria and Silas head for the kitchen.
<p>
Once they get outside “I have to go into town” Jarrod mentions with Nick asking “Town for what?”
“I have to see if there are any cases for me to be working on” Jarrod says “And then I want to go see if there is anything new on the investigation I have going.”
Listening, “Investigation?” Duke asks of Jarrod, “Are you having Heath investigated?” Jarrod answers, “I am, yes. We do still need to know about him.”
“I don’t care anymore about that investigation Jarrod” Nick states “He is staying here now regardless of what that report comes to say. I already said I want him to be a part of this here family and I meant it.”
Showing a crooked smile “You definitely have changed your tune Nick” Jarrod notes.
“I guess you’re right” Nick confides “I have. I no longer care what that report should say and it doesn’t matter anymore to me whether he is our brother or not, I still do want him here. I want him to be a part of this here family and I am not changing my decision.”
Looking from one to the other “I could tell you both here and now” Duke says “That he is definitely Tom’s son and your brother.”
Nick asks “You could see that?”
“Quite clearly” Duke says “I remember your father in his younger years, I could see Heath in him as well as in his grandfather and I’m sure your mother does too.”
“She does” Jarrod confirms “And I too know that he’s our brother” looking over at Nick “And even if he’s not I agree with you Nick that he is staying here regardless of what that report comes to say. But I think that report may give us some pertinent information on him that he may not supply us with that we do still need to know.” Nick asks, “Like what?”
“His age for one thing,” Jarrod mentions, “We don’t know how old he is and I wonder if even he does. He did clam up when you asked him when his birth date was so there is that possibility that he doesn’t know.”
“I must say,” Duke says, “That he doesn’t look twenty-four to me.”
“He doesn’t look twenty-four to any of us,” Jarrod states.
“If he’s not twenty-four,” Nick brings up, “I wonder where he got that idea from.”
“Good question” Jarrod says “I’m sure when the time comes we’ll find that out. And we’ll see what happens between now and the time that report comes in. Maybe by that time we will have no more use for it and will just be put away or something but for now I still need to have it pursued. It may answer questions he can’t.”
“Well,” Nick replies, “You do what you must but I don’t want any part of it. I know I wanted it pursued but I’ve changed my mind and rather the information came directly from him and when I go and work with him I will see what I could find out and then just take it from there.”
“I think that is the best way to go,” Duke joins in, “Well I’ll see you both later.”
<p>
Before he goes Nick asks him to do a fast run around the ranch in which he answers “Sure thing” and upon going their separate ways just as Jarrod heads to the barn he calls out to Nick who shifts his position and upon facing him asks, “What?”
“I may have given you a harder time over accepting Heath” Jarrod states “And even though I did accept him sooner than you in all fairness to you I was not that much different than you. I didn’t tell you any of this right off because as the eldest I do have a moral obligation to this family just as much as you do and as I mentioned before Audra and Gene are watching everything we are doing so I must do certain things whether I like to or not. I just kept a lot to myself. When I took him into town on Friday, I never introduced him around as my brother. I only said he was living or staying with us. I guess at the time I wasn’t really ready to accept him into the family as I’d like to have everyone to believe.”
Nick asks of Jarrod, “Are you now?”
“Very much so” Jarrod answers with assurance “I finally came to terms with it the moment I heard some of the guests talking badly about him. It should never have waited that long; it should have happened a lot sooner but that is when it did happen.”
“Then” Nick says “We both better start letting people that we see and know that he is our new brother and sooner the better.”
Nodding his head, “Agreed,” Jarrod answers, “I just wanted you to know that and that you heard it from me.”
Squeezing his shoulder “We may not always see eye to eye on everything” Nick notes “But we are still brothers and its okay. As we all know this took us all by complete surprise but I guess now in our own strange way we are ready to face the music.”
Jarrod says, “We are, yes.”
“And,” Nick points out, “We are all in this together.”
“Yes! We are all now” Jarrod states, “All for one and one for all.”
Smiling, “Well put,” Nick exclaims.
<p>
While Jarrod goes to get Jingo saddled up Nick returns to the house and is met by Victoria handing him a lunch for Heath. Thanking her “I will make sure he is eating his lunch” Nick informs her who then asks, “Where is Jarrod going?”
“Into town,” Nick mentions, “To see if there is anything on that investigation he has going and wanted to find out if there are any cases for him.”
“How do you feel about that Nick?” Victoria inquires.
tbc
Now that Nick has finally admitted and accepted Heath into the family they now have to learn things about him while at the same time he has to learn what it is to be a part of a family.
<p>
Upon walking in the dining room and bidding everyone goodmorning Silas observing the one empty seat asks, “Where is Mr. Heath this morning?”
“He’s still asleep,” Victoria answers, “Would you start bringing in breakfast? The kids need to be going off to school.”
“Yes Miz Barkley,” Silas says, “Coming right up,” and departs quickly.
<p>
Outside in the barn checking on everything while in between getting the wagon already for the North Pasture watches for Heath to awaken which he now catches sight of opening his eyes and noticing the blanket over him.
Upon them exchanging goodmornings Duke asks, “Sleep well?” with Heath replying, “Yes um.”
Noticing the mystified look on his face, “Are you wondering how that blanket got on you?” Duke asks in which Heath nods his head and Duke informing him “Thank Nick for it. He did it.”
“He was out here?” Heath asks.
“He was” Duke mentions “He came out here to look for you. He told me to tell you when you wake up to go inside the house and that you don’t need permission to do so. So I suggest you do so, if you want to join them for breakfast.”
Replying, “Yes sir,” Heath gets up. Duke then says, “Heath, what did I tell you?”
Swallowing hard, “Don’t say sir,” Heath mentions.
Duke says “Right! So, you better go in” taking the blanket “I’ll see you later.”
Replying, “Bye Duke,” Heath walks up the front walk.
<p>
Walking in the dining room Silas brings in the glasses of juice and distributes them to each member of the family.
As the family converses “I think I really shook him up” Nick says “But then again he really shook me up too. Up until last night all the things that I was doing to him from the moment he arrived finally woke me up to what I was doing.”
“What do you mean by that?” Audra asks to Nick responding, “Just what I said.”
Cutting in, “Leave it alone Audra,” Victoria tells her.
Hearing the sound of the door opening “That must be Heath” Eugene announces.
Victoria calls out, “Heath, come in here.”
<p>
As he walks in the family bids him goodmorning to which he responds “Um, goodmorning.”
Noticing him attired in a nightshirt “Heath” Victoria asks “What are you doing in your nightshirt?” to which Nick intervenes and suggests “Heath, why don’t you go upstairs and change into your day clothes. Then come back down and join us for breakfast?” Replying “Yes Nick” Heath quickly goes up the stairs to change.
<p>
Looking over at Nick, “What is that all about” Jarrod inquires, “And I noticed that he actually called you Nick.”
“Yes” Nick admits “We had a talk last night and I managed to get him to call me by my name.”
“Nick” Victoria wanted to know “What is he doing outside coming in wearing his nightshirt?”
“That part I don’t know yet” Nick says “I did have him change into his nightshirt as I said when I tucked him in. We will have to work on finding out what he was doing out there in his nightshirt. But the next thing I am gonna bring up is very” he then says “I mean very important.” Audra asks “What’s that Nick?”
<p>
“I did get him to call me by my name” Nick mentions “I told him he could call each of you by your names but if he doesn’t you better tell him, that means each one of you here, otherwise he will continue calling you ‘Sir’ or ‘Maam’ until you say otherwise.”
“There is a lot more to Heath” Jarrod brings up “Than what we are seeing isn’t there Nick?”
“Yes” Nick admits “A lot more. I just got a beginning of it, but we have a lot more to learn about him.”
<p>
Walking in Silas brings their breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast and upon placing them in the center Victoria thanks him who is busily placing things on the table while the family waits patiently for Heath to join them. Turning to Jarrod Nick in a very low audible voice calls out to him who turns and asks “What Nick?” also in a low audible voice.
Moving closer to Jarrod and placing his hand over his mouth “We have to talk” Nick whispers into his ear “After Audra and Gene head off to school. Duke is gonna come in so that the four of us could talk.”
Whispering back “Okay” Jarrod responds.
Catching sight of them, “What are you whispering about?” Gene inquires.
“Oh nothing Gene,” Nick responds.
“Let me bring in your coffee” Silas says “Then you should be all set” leaving the room Audra asks if they should say grace with Victoria suggesting they wait until Heath comes to join them.
<p>
Just as Silas walks in with their morning coffee Heath enters the doorway. After greeting him and Heath returning the greeting Victoria tells Heath to come and join them. Replying “Yes um” Heath takes his seat between Gene and Jarrod but across from Nick.
<p>
As the family begins picking up the dishes and filling up their plates they pass them along to each other when they finish. Once everyone has filled their plates they return the dishes back in the center of the table. Victoria then says “Okay, let’s say grace. Jarrod, why don’t you do it this morning?”
Replying “Okay Mother” Jarrod then says as each one of them bows their heads “Oh, heavenly Father, we thank you for thy blessing, for this food on this here table and for thy boundless love, and thank you” glancing over at Heath “For bringing Heath into this house” as he speaks who looks back “Amen.”
After the family replies “Amen” they begin eating their breakfast with Nick quickly saying “Heath, eat up.”
Glancing over at Nick “Yes Nick” Heath replies picking up his eating utensil and slowly starts eating.
“Heath” Victoria asks “Did you have enough sleep? You went to bed way late last night, past midnight.” Replying “Yes um” Heath looks over at Victoria.
“Heath” Nick brings up “I thought I told you that you could sleep a little longer if you wanted to.” Swallowing hard “You did Nick” Heath replies.
“Then” Nick inquires “What are you doing awake?”
Looking at each person at the table “I wake when it’s day light” Heath mentions “It’s daylight; I wake up.”
“Heath” Jarrod asks “Could I ask how come you came into the house without any shoes on your feet?”
Glancing over at Jarrod “Didn’t have them on when I reckon” Heath answers “Went out, uh…?” not knowing what to say looks over at Nick.
“Jarrod” Jarrod quickly tells him “It’s all right Heath; you may call me by my name.” Heath slowly replies, “Uh…Jar-rod.”
“Very good Heath” Jarrod comments “And that would seem to make sense.”
“Could I ask” Nick inquires “Why you went outside in the first place? I left you upstairs in your bed; not outside in the barn” watching as Heath turns silent and just stares at him wondering what he is gonna say or do next asks “What time did you go out there?”
Shrugging his shoulders “Not know Nick,” Heath replies “Was dark out.”
“It must’ve been right after I went to sleep” Nick says “Because if I was up and heard you, you wouldn’t of, right?” Swallowing hard “Right…Nick” Heath replies.
“Heath” Jarrod joins in with “I’ve noticed each day since you’ve been here that you always came into the house from the outside. Have you been sleeping outside since that first day?” Heath answers, “Yes Jar-rod.”
As Victoria calls out to Heath he responds “Yes um” looking over at her sitting at the head of the table. Observing “Heath” Nick says with Heath looking over at Nick replying “Yes Nick?”
Nick then suggests “You could do Mother one of two ways” as he listens “You could either just call her Mother and try it out and see what happens or you could just ask her. Give it a try. You gotta start making choices sometime, now is as good as any. Trust me, Heath.”
Nodding his head he shifts his position looks directly at Victoria then swallows hard before looking back at Nick again saying “Um, um” not sure of how to address her when she quickly intercepts and replies “Yes Heath.”
Looking back at Nick once again who nods his head then twitches his nose for a brief second Heath looks at Victoria asking “Would…would you…would you like it” swallowing hard again “Like it…if I…if I…if I called you Mother?” taking each wording slowly as they come out.
Grinning from ear to ear “Oh Heath” Victoria replies “I would be delighted if you did.”
Nick says “See Heath? You are now on your way. You just have only three more to go.” Audra asks “Who’s the three?” Nick looking over at Audra replies “You, Gene and Silas.”
“Oh! Heath” Audra then says “You could call me Audra anytime” to which he replies “I’d like that Aw-dra.”
“And you could call me” Gene joins in with “Either Gene or Eugene; it doesn’t matter.” Heath asks “Which do you like better?”
“Doesn’t matter” Gene notes “But I think I like Gene better,” to which Heath responds “Okay Gene.”
“Now see Heath” Nick mentions “No one is doing anything to you. We are all fine with you calling us by our names.”
Replying “I see Nick” Heath once again shows a partial grin. Nick then tells him “Okay, let’s eat up; got work to do.”
“And” Victoria adds “You two have to go off to school, looking to Audra and then Gene.
“We know” Gene comes out with “It’s what we do every morning Mother.”
As Victoria calls out to Heath he replies, “Yes Mother?”
“First” she mentions “I like it that you’re calling me Mother and second, how come you slept outside? Don’t you like sleeping inside in your own room?”
“Not know” Heath responds “Not done it, um, I mean, Mother.”
“Well” Nick brings up “I guess we’ll have to work on that too Heath; find out how we could help you with transitioning to your own bed? But we’ll take it slow like I told you last night, okay?”
Nodding his head “Okay Nick” Heath replies.
“Heath” Victoria brings up “I will tell you that I do like you talking more and I like it that Nick isn’t doing so much hollering as he has been while we are eating. It makes the table so much more complete, much more relaxing, lively and family-oriented. Not so tense” to Heath who doesn’t answer but listens. Glancing over at Nick “Don’t you agree, Nick?” Victoria then asks.
“I agree,” Nick replies. Noticing the time Victoria then informs Audra and Gene it’s time they started out for school. As they get up she then asks, “Would one of you be so kind enough to go and check on the mail and see if any wires came in on your way home from school?”
“Sure Mother” comes from Audra with “We’d be happy to” from Gene.
Leaving the room they grab their schoolbooks and their lunch.
<p>
Turning to Heath, Nick asks “Heath how’s the breakfast?”
Answering “Good Nick” Heath eats a little more slowly and not as nervous with Jarrod, Nick and Victoria quietly taking notice.
Nick then says “Once you are finished, you could return to work on the fence. A couple of the men will be helping you with it today, okay?” Heath replies “Okay Nick.”
While Heath gets to eat without any interruptions Audra and Gene both come back into the room. As they bid everyone a goodbye Victoria brings up “Oh Audra, remember I want you home after school, no running around.”
Replying “I remember” Audra replies as she and Gene go out the door.
<p>
Watching as Heath is eating and noticing him almost finished “Heath” Victoria suggests “Do you want seconds?” Heath asks, “Seconds?”
“Are you still hungry,” Victoria reiterates, “Would you like to have some more?”
Swallowing hard “Yes um” Heath answers “I mean Mother, if it’s alright to.”
“It is very alright Heath” handing him one of the dishes “Here” she says “Help yourself.” Taking it from her he thanks her and begins filling his plate up. Watching him eat, they notice he starts eating a little faster than he has been.
“I guess you really are hungry” Jarrod mentions.
“Yes sir” Heath replies “I mean Jarrod. Sorry.”
“That’s okay Heath” Jarrod informs him “Take your time.”
While Heath eats Nick says “Heath” showing a little smile “After you leave to work on the fence, I will come by in a little bit to help with putting it up as well, okay?”
Replying “Okay Nick that is fine” Heath returns the half smile.
<p>
Walking in Silas offers the family more coffee to which Nick, Jarrod and Victoria all inform him they do. Turning to Heath Victoria asks if he would like to have some more to which he responds, “Yes um, Mother; if it’s alright.”
“Of course it’s alright, Heath” Victoria replies as Silas begins pouring the coffee.
Once Heath’s cup has been refilled and he takes a sip Victoria ask of him, “How is it?” Heath answers, “Good, um, Mother.”
Noticing Heath eying the sugar bowl “Heath,” Jarrod asks “You okay?” Heath answers “I am.” Jarrod then notes “I see you looking at the sugar bowl. Is there any particular reason?”
Heath not saying anything Victoria jumps in and asks “Heath would you like some sugar?” As he still eyes the sugar bowl Victoria then says “Nick, give him the sugar bowl” to which Nick complies and upon placing it before him replies “Heath here; help yourself.”
Looking at it and then at Nick “It’s alright” Nick tells him “Go ahead, you could have sugar.”
Watching him as he pours the sugar into his coffee Nick asks “Do you like sugar in your coffee?” Heath answers, “I do.”
Nick then asks “Do you like anything else?”
Watching Heath nod his head, “What would you like Heath?” Victoria inquires.
Heath replies, “Uh, milk.”
Nick asks, “Heath, do you like milk in your coffee? Or do you like milk on the side?” Heath answers, “Both.”
Handing him the pitcher Nick tells him to help himself while Jarrod gets up to retrieve a glass for him. As Heath pours milk into the coffee, “How is it?” Nick asks who answers after trying a little, “Much better.”
As Jarrod hands him the glass Heath graciously takes it from him and drinks the milk down.
Watching him “Heath” Nick informs him “As I told you last night you could have anything you want in this house. You don’t have to ask could you have it; it’s yours. Okay?” Heath replies, “Okay Nick.”
Victoria joins in, “Nick’s right Heath, what we have in this house is yours too.”
Jarrod replies “Yes Heath it is. We want you to be a part of all of this. Remember you said you wanted a piece of it all?” Heath says “I remember, Jar-rod” as he looks over at him.
“That includes” Jarrod mentions “Being able to have access to anything we have in this: here house or on this here property. Okay?”
Still looking over at Jarrod “Okay Jar-rod” Heath answers.
Once breakfast is finished Silas returns for the dishes but leaves Heath’s who is still finishing what he has. As he finishes “Heath” Victoria asks “Do you want anything more?”
Heath replies “No, thank you. That’s it. Can’t eat no more, Mother.” As he finishes his cup of coffee Victoria asks if he would like some more to which he responds, “No thank you. That’s it too; stomach full.”
Nick then says, “Heath, if you are ready, I will walk out with you.”
Heath replies, “I ready, Nick.”
“Come on,” getting up Nick says, “I’ll be right back.”
<p>
While he and Heath go out the door “Well” Jarrod mentions “It looks like what we said from early on that Nick was the key to Heath being turned around.”
“I do wonder” Victoria brings up “What did take place last night that had Nick change. I mean I think I finally did get through to him but he seemed to have drastically changed the moment he returned.”
“Same here” Jarrod says “But whatever it was I am sure we will find out once Nick returns. And I think we have a lot to learn today about what did happen.”
“I’m just glad for Heath’s sake” Victoria replies “That it didn’t take longer than a week.
“I agree” Jarrod then says “Excuse me, I need to go use the facilities” getting up “I will be right back” and quickly exits the room.
<p>
Outside Nick assists Heath with getting Gal ready and upon bringing her out of the barn Nick asks, “Heath, you got everything you need?”
Mounting up, “Think so” Heath answers. Nick says “Wait!” Nervously Heath asks “Did I do something wrong?” Nick replies “No! Where’s your canteen?”
Pointing to the barn “In there,” Heath answers. Nick then tells him to stay put and quickly goes inside the barn to retrieve it.
After handing it to him, Nick asks, “Now do you have everything?” Heath replies “Think so.”
Nick says “Well okay, I’ll see you in a little bit. I have to go and talk with Duke Mother and Jarrod for a few minutes. Everything is gonna be fine, okay?” still reassuring him Heath replies “Okay Nick” and heads off towards the North Pasture.
<p>
Seconds later catching sight of Duke approaching “Duke” Nick asks “Are you ready?” Duke replies, “Ready.”
“Come on,” Nick mentions, “We have a lot to talk over,” as they walk towards the house together. Duke quips, “Yes, we certainly do.”
Nick inquires, “Did you send out the men to help him?” Duke answers, “They already left” as they go inside Nick calls out, “Mother, Jarrod?”
From inside the study “We’re in here Nick” and upon joining them they each bid Duke a good morning who in turn reciprocates.
As Victoria offers Duke a seat, Jarrod offers him a drink to which he replies “This time of the morning Jarrod; coffee. It’s way too early for anything harder than that.” Handing Duke the cup he graciously takes it.
Jarrod then says, “Okay, shall we get started?” Nick replies, “Yes.”
Jarrod says “You did say you wanted us to do it without Audra and Gene here.”
“For now” Nick says “They don’t need to hear some of what is going to be brought up.” Glancing over at Duke “And Duke” he adds “I know you have some things to bring up and questions regarding Heath that we need to hear about as well.”
“Yes Nick,” Duke answers, “You are so right. I have been trying since last week to get your attention, but you kept being so busy and not having anytime to stop and talk to me.” Nick promises, “Well I will hear you today. Sorry, it took so long.”
“Well” Duke points out “Just so that you are finally starting to come around is a good start.” Jarrod asks “How would you like us to begin this?”
“How about” Victoria suggests “If we start from when Nick came in last night” looking over at him “Nick, last night when you went out to get Heath, at first you were reluctant into going but when you came back in you had a whole different prospective. What exactly did happen out there last night, Nick?”
“I’d,” Jarrod answers, “Like to know that myself.”
Standing over by the fireplace Nick has his elbow on the mantle looking towards the fire below it then putting his hand under his chin moving it back-n-forth along the side of his chin; he starts hitting the top of the mantle angrily and then shifting his position looks towards each of them seated.
“Nick” Victoria says “Control yourself” watching as he throws a book off the mantel on the floor he answers “I’m trying to. It’s just that I’m so angry, so fired up right now.”
Quietly picking it up “We could see that” Jarrod quips as he places it back and returns to his seat.
“I understand that Nick” Victoria mentions “But being angry isn’t going to help the situation. Whatever happened, why don’t you tell us what took place?”
“I know” Nodding his head he then says “Alright” exhaling deeply he turns towards them “Last night when I went out to get him as I said he shook me up.”
“Why Nick” Victoria asks “What is it that he said or did that shook you up?”
“Well at first” Nick tells her “It was the talk we had. You made me stop and think. You did wake me up to what I was doing. I never realized just how bad I became until he came here, I just didn’t see it” shaking his head “I never realized that I could be that bad towards anyone and yet I took it out on him.”
Walking around the room moving his hands as well as opening and closing them constantly into fists followed by running his fists together continues “Then when I went out to get him, I saw him working on that fence. He had his eyes closed and when I called out his name he didn’t answer. I went over to him shook him a bit and called out to him again. I must’ve startled him because I think he must’ve fell asleep for a couple of minutes or so, maybe longer not really sure. But as he awoke, he kept mumbling things like: Sorry, didn’t mean to do it, didn’t mean to disobey and not being told to come in. And then when we got to the barn and began putting the wagon and horses away for the night is what really shook me up. What he was doing or was about to do really opened my eyes to what I was doing.”
Victoria asks, “What Nick?”
Letting out a deep sigh, “He started,” Nick mentions, “Unbuttoning his shirt.”
“Unbuttoning his shirt?” Jarrod mimics.
“Yes” Nick says “I asked him what he was doing and he said he was getting ready.” Victoria asks, “Getting ready?”
“Yes” Nick answers sternly “Getting ready. He was getting ready for me to give him a whipping.” With their mouths gaping wide open in shock “A whipping?” Jarrod and Victoria mimic together simultaneously. Victoria then says, “Nick!?”
“He thought,” Nick responds, “I was gonna give him a whipping. He thought he needed to be put in his place, to be kept in line for disobeying me, to be taught a lesson, to be taught respect. He thought he was being bad for not finishing the fence and for dozing off, as he put it.”
“Oh Nick” Victoria says “That is awful” as she takes hold of her shirt, in surprise.
“There is more,” Nick mentions. Victoria says, “Tell us Nick.”
“When I went to go join him in the kitchen,” Nick replies, “I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. I saw him in the corner of the room sitting and eating a cold dinner on the floor.” Victoria mimics, “A cold dinner?” Nick replies, “Yes.”
“Nick,” Jarrod insists, “Continue.”
“I asked him what he was doing” Nick continues “He said that is where he thought he was to eat. I asked him why he wasn’t eating at the table and eating a cold dinner with his hands.”
With her eyes widening in shock “With his hands” Victoria says “Oh, Nick!”
Duke asks, “What did he say Nick?”
“He said,” Nick explains, “He couldn’t eat at the table or use a fork because he wasn’t told he could or because he wasn’t asked to. He couldn’t do anything unless we told him that he could.” Victoria asks, “Why would he think that?”
“He thought,” Nick speculates, “That from the very first day he needed to be asked to join us otherwise he wasn’t allowed to or that he would get some kind of whipping or punishment in some other way if he did without our permission.”
“Where would he get an idea like that?” Victoria wanted to know.
“Apparently from other people,” Nick surmises, “Some of which he worked for, one being his uncle and aunt.”
“Nick,” Victoria asks, “You didn’t let him eat like that?”
Replying, “NO,” Nick smiles down at her says, “Mother, I wouldn’t do that. I may have been hard on him but I wouldn’t do that. I am not that uncaring and I do have a heart. It just took a little eye opener,” glancing over at Jarrod, “To find it. I took it away from him, warmed it up for him had him wash his hands and eat at the table.” Victoria exclaims, “Oh, thank goodness Nick!”
“Mother” Nick states “I believe Father would’ve done just what I did” as he smiles again down at her she returns the smile answering “Yes Nick, he would’ve.”
“You know, Nick,” Duke joins in “That does seem to make sense.”
Glancing over at Duke, “What do you mean?” Nick asks.
“That first day,” Duke mentions, “He and I went out to work on the bridge I asked him small things like how he was getting along with each of you.”
“What did he say?” Victoria wanted to know. Glancing over at Nick, “Remember me telling you,” Duke says, “That Heath mentioned you talking harshly to him?”
“I remember,” Nick notes, “You said he said it in a roundabout way.”
“That’s right” Duke replies “He did. He said each of you were okay, except for you Nick” pausing “He said you were no different than others that he met. If some of these other ranchers that he worked for did any of that to him, then he must’ve seen you as being one of them, wondering when you were gonna do that to him.”
“You know Nick,” Jarrod joins in “If we all think about it, since that very first day that he was asked to live here, anytime we would eat at the table he would keep his eyes on you like no tomorrows. That must’ve been running around inside of his head.” Nick answers, “I’m starting to see that.”
Jarrod then brings up, “And he probably thought we were a bunch of savages here. I mean you never really would give him the right time of day Nick. You were always yelling at him and then putting him to work almost non-stop over the past three days. Now what would you expect Nick?”
“Well,” Nick notes, “I didn’t expect that. I mean I did have so many things running around my head regarding him but not once did I think what he came out with is what he was thinking.” Victoria brings up, “I know you didn’t Nick.”
“I already told him,” Nick replies, “Nothing is gonna happen to him. But for some reason he seems to think that he needs permission before he does anything. We need to break him of that habit and get him to make choices for himself, something he was never allowed to do before.”
“You do bring up a good point” Jarrod says “If we all really think about it he has been doing just that since the very first day. No matter what any of us said or did he never would do anything unless one of us said he could do it. When he came into the house he only entered a room when we told him to come in or come and sit down. When we ate, he always waited until Mother said to start eating.”
Jarrod adds “When it was time for him to go off to work he only got up and went when you” looking over at Nick “Told him to go. He never got up on his own.”
“Precisely” Nick says “And I never even paid any attention to any of that until now.”
“How could you Nick?” Jarrod asks, “You were too busy trying to find something to fault him on.” Victoria cuts in, “I don’t think any of us were at the time. I thought it was just his being new here. That has never occurred to me either.”
“At least,” Jarrod says, “Now we know.”
“Yes,” Nick replies.
<p>
Overhearing the conversation and entering the room Silas says, “That might explain what happened when I was helping him take his bath the other night.”
“What do you mean by that?” Victoria wanted to know.
“I told him when I was getting the tub ready” Silas mentions “To go get out of his clothes and get a robe. He grabbed the robe but wasn’t wearing it. He wasn’t wearing anything” as everyone in the room chuckles he continues “Except his birthday suit. I had to tell him to put it on.”
“And Bobby,” Nick adds, “Also mentioned that he doesn’t do anything for himself only what is told to him.” Duke brings up, “I was aware of that too early on.”
“That does explain why he was just standing around,” Nick continues, “He was waiting to be told what he was to do next.”
“Now Nick,” Jarrod asks, “How do you feel yelling at him all this time and his not knowing what he was supposed to be doing?”
Nick tells him, “I already told you I feel bad about what I did and I already told him I’m sorry. What else more do you want Jarrod? I made a mistake, alright?”
“A very bad one, Nick” Jarrod states, “Could you imagine what could’ve happened if you kept right on doing what you were doing to him?”
“Well,” Nick vows, “Let’s not think about that okay. I won’t ever be doing that to him again.” Jarrod replies, “Good; that is what I wanted to hear.”
Exhaling deeply,” There is one other word he used quite often last night,” Nick brings up. Victoria asks, “What word was that?”
“Bastard!” Nick replies, “He kept saying things like: because he’s a bastard, being a bastard he has no place in society, bastards must only work that is their only purpose here. That his kind don’t get to do without someone saying they could.”
As he paces back and forth in front of the fireplace, “I then asked him what he would consider being bad,” Nick brings up, “For me to be giving him a whipping.”
“What did he say Nick?” Victoria compassionately wanted to know.
Exhaling heavily “He said” Nick says “Anything could be. His being a bastard alone was reason to. Just to keep him in line, to know his place here to be taught respect. If he touched something he wasn’t suppose to, if he did something wrong. He must obey at all times and bastards are not allowed to call us by our names; must call us sir or ma’am. Bastards are lucky to be around, bastards should be grateful for that, bastards get what is coming to them and bastards deserve whatever is handed to them. He also stated that he was a child of the devil, his kind was no good. His kind was evil; his kind must be kept in line.”
“He did,” Duke notes, “Use reference of the word his kind to me.”
Stunned, “He did?” Victoria asks.
“Yes,” Duke replies, “While we were having lunch. That’s another thing Nick, when we ate he didn’t have anything with him to eat except a piece of fruit. I asked him where his lunch was.” Nick asks, “What did he say?”
“He said,” Duke mentions, “That was all he had. I asked him why he didn’t make himself something but he said he couldn’t. And I believe you are now aware that he has been sleeping in the barn for the past couple of nights.”
“We just found that out today” Jarrod states.
“It’s been more than just a couple of nights,” Silas brings up.
“What’s that mean Silas?” Victoria wanted to know.
“He’s been sleeping out there” Silas says “Since that first night he came here.”
“That is why,” Nick brings up, “You kept looking outside for him to see if he was coming in.” Silas replies, “Yes Mr. Nick.”
“I’m starting to learn about that too,” Nick states.
Sympathetically, “Poor Heath,” Victoria says, “I feel so bad for him. I wonder just how many did that to him.”
“I know the uncle,” Nick points out “And his Aunt Martha have.”
“Looks like it could be quite a few” Jarrod says “From what you mentioned Nick.”
Glancing over at Duke Victoria thanks him for looking after Heath while they were gone. Duke replies, “Don’t mention it, Victoria, it was my pleasure.”
“That boy” Jarrod brings up “Could’ve starved to death and we would not have known until it was too late.”
“Well,” Nick states, “It won’t ever happen again. I could promise you that. Not ever again! I am so sorry that I was so blinded by all that at first.”
“I did ask him,” Duke brings up, “If he minded me asking him questions.”
“And what did he say?” Victoria asks of Duke who responds, “He said, you ask he is to answer.”
“He did,” Nick points out, “Tell us something similar to that effect as well, but when he said that I didn’t understand it all at that time.”
“I don’t think any of us knew what he was referring to,” Jarrod notes.
“I then asked if he would like to ask me any questions,” Duke says.
“And what did he say Duke?” Victoria asks.
“He said that he couldn’t,” Duke states “That his kind isn’t allowed to. I then started asking him questions about Strawberry.”
Victoria says, “We’ve all been doing that.”
“He doesn’t like it much,” Duke surmises, “I know that.”
“No, he doesn’t,” Nick quickly notes, “And with everything that happened to him while living and growing up there, I can’t say I blame him.”
Victoria replies, “I don’t either.”
“The first day I brought him around the ranch” Nick brings up “He made an interesting comment while he was looking up at the sky and I asked him why he did that.” Jarrod asks, “And what did he say, Nick?”
“He said,” Nick replies, “He wished he was up there and wondered if what was up there was better.”
Duke mentions, “He doesn’t like his Uncle Matt or Aunt Martha either.”
“That much we do know,” Victoria states, “And he says that very strongly.”
“Well,” Nick says, “He has good reason to.”
“That could very well,” Jarrod mentions, “Explain why he had so many jobs away from Strawberry. He tried staying as far away from them as possible.”
“That is quite possible,” Victoria says.
“We did get on the topic of school, his not knowing how to swim but each time he kept saying things like his kind don’t need one,” Duke mentions, “His kind is only trouble, his kind don’t need to know how to swim.”
“I wonder,” Victoria asks, “How often he seen his Uncle Matt and Aunt Martha?”
“A lot,” Nick says, “From what he said and they were pretty bad to him from what he told me.” Victoria asks, “How bad, Nick?”
“From what I got out of him,” Nick mentions, “While taking a spoon off the table to eat a bowl of oatmeal his Aunt Martha came into the room and took him into the closet and used a strap on him and made him stay in there until his Uncle came home and took him downstairs to teach him a lesson, as he put it.”
“They hit him for that?” Victoria asks.
“Apparently,” Nick says, “And there’s more.” Victoria asks, “Such as?”
“Another time,” Nick mentions, “He took an apple off the table and wasn’t supposed to. His Aunt Martha once again took a strap to him and let his uncle finish the job when he came home.”
Shaking her head, “That poor boy,” Victoria remarks, “I feel so bad for him. Did he say when that happened?”
“No,” Nick replies, “I tried to ask him how old he was but he wouldn’t say. He just shrugged his shoulders and I didn’t press it and let it go. But I’m starting to wonder about things about him.”
“Like if maybe he knows how old he is?” Jarrod brings up. Nick replies, “Yeah.”
“Well that has been on my mind a great deal,” Jarrod notes, “From the beginning.”
“That is one of the reasons” Nick says “Why he has been calling us by ma’am and sir; out of respect as he put it and thought if he didn’t he’d be punished for that.”
“He was calling me sir” Duke brings up “The first day we went out but I stopped him right off.” Jarrod says “That explains why he wasn’t calling us by our names.”
“Yes,” Victoria mentions, “He was afraid to.” Nick adds, “And because we didn’t tell him that he could.”
“I would like to know how old he was,” Victoria brings up, “When his uncle and aunt did all that to him.”
“I don’t imagine he was that old,” Nick mentions, “He kept using the word little. He would say little bastard, little retched, this little thing, making me believe he was small or little when a lot of that happened to him. I could be wrong, but it’s just the way it sounded from the way he was saying it. So I’m not really sure.”
“That’s quite possible,” Jarrod notes. Duke brings up, “There are other things I manage to get out of Heath regarding his aunt and uncle too.”
Victoria asks “Like what Duke?” Duke replies “He wasn’t allowed to talk when he was in their hotel.” Victoria says “I wonder just how bad a life that boy did have.”
“It couldn’t have been that great Victoria” Duke replies “Being hit and punished for talking or taking a spoon or trying to eat an apple; not to mention being called bastard or a kind by them.” Jarrod says, “Duke’s right.”
“From the looks of things,” Silas quips, “It looks pretty bad.” Duke replies, “It is.”
“Sometimes I wonder,” Victoria brings up, “why his mother just didn’t try taking him out of Strawberry and come here?”
“His mother did try to leave there once,” Duke mentions. Victoria asks, “And what happened?”
“They didn’t get far,” Duke says, “His uncle went after them. Heath said something about him slapping her and taking him to teach her a lesson.”
“Heath mentioned that to me too,” Jarrod mentions. Victoria asks, “He did?”
“Not the slapping part,” Jarrod reiterates, “But her trying to leave with him and them coming after them leaving her there.”
Shaking her head in disgust “That uncle” Victoria says “I’m so sorry Heath had one like that. The more I hear of him the more I hate him. And that’s not a word I use too often and try not using on anyone. But he does take the cake.”
“I have to agree Miz Barkley,” Silas notes with Nick adding “I couldn’t agree more. And I just hope I never have to run into him because if I do he’s going to be one sorry uncle.”
“It sure seems,” Duke brings up, “A lot of people made sure he stayed quiet.”
“That might explain why he has been so quiet around here,” Jarrod speculates.
Victoria says, “It could very well have been.”
Shaking his head in disgust “And once again” Nick mentions “Here I thought the quiet ones are the ones you have to watch out for. As much as I was saying it I could never tell you just how wrong I was. Everything I thought about him was not what I had thought. Boy, I sure do have a lot to learn. It never occurred to me that he didn’t say anything because of that no good aunt or uncle he has. And whoever all those other people were making him remain silent” taking his fingers and tapping them on the mantle “Unless someone asked him something or said that he could.”
“Do you know,” Victoria brings up, “That first night that he came here after you were still at the Swensons’ I walked into the house and saw him over with the fruit. He was about to take it but then stopped. I let him have it. I figured he wanted it and could use it. He must’ve been hungry; the poor dear but didn’t know how to tell me. He must’ve been afraid and didn’t know what I was going to do him. He probably thought he would be punished for helping himself to it.”
“It’s quite possible,” Jarrod notes.
“Thank goodness Mother” Nick says “You were the one who walked in, instead of me. At that time I wasn’t thinking too clearly. If he had gone out of here I don’t think we would ever have known what became of him. And right now, I don’t want to think about that” still thinking of the treatment he gave to him “I didn’t know just how bad I could be.”
“Well, I’m very relieved Nick” Victoria says “That you finally did come around and came to your senses. You may have scared Heath” placing her hand over her heart “And scared yourself but you were also scaring me.”
“Well you don’t have to worry about that anymore,” Nick vows, “Not now, not ever again.”
Letting out a sigh of relief, “Thank goodness” Victoria says “You know I wonder just how often he got to see his mother?”
“I don’t know,” Nick hypothesizes, “But something tells me he couldn’t have seen that much of her. And I did ask him if his mother knew anything about his being punished by them.” Jarrod asks, “And did she Nick?”
“No” Nick replies “He said sometimes she did, sometimes she didn’t. And of the times she didn’t he wasn’t allowed to tell her.” Victoria asks, “Why’s that Nick?”
“He said his uncle Matt told him if he said anything” Nick says “That he’d either be punished worse than he had or that he would punish her the way he punished him. So he didn’t tell her. I did ask him if there was anybody he could’ve gone to and tell them about what was going on with his uncle doing that to him.” Victoria asks, “What did he say?”
“He said there wasn’t,” Nick mentions, “And his being a bastard he got what was coming to him and deserved what ever was handed to him.”
“I think Heath is proving to be what one of those cases or children look like that are born out of wedlock” Jarrod surmises “To unwed mothers without fathers being shunned by everyone.”
“That is just terrible” Victoria states “But I think we are all getting a taste of what his life has been like and this is just the beginning. I did say that if someone could get him to open up he sure did have one story to tell and he certainly does. And I am sure there is more to come.”
“You’re so right Mother” Nick replies “I think there is much more to come a lot more.”
“Yes, you’re right” Duke says “Both of you are.” Jarrod replies “Let’s keep going.”
“I feel so sorry for him” Victoria disgustedly mentions “It’s not right, not right at all that he had to grow up and live like that.”
“No” Nick says “It’s not. It’s almost like he was treated like a dog or some kind of animal. To sit when told to, stay when told to, speak only when told to or spoken to and must obey at all times” shaking his head once again in utterly disgust.
“It’s disgusting I have to admit,” Jarrod joins in with Duke adding, “Yes it is.”
“It’s awful” Victoria says. Duke then mentions “I don’t think he got much schooling either.”
“We were thinking along that line ourselves,” Victoria notes, “I wonder what Audra and Gene know that maybe we don’t.”
“We’ll have to wait until they get home” Jarrod says “To find that out.”
“We’ll wait” Nick brings up “But in the meantime let’s see what else he has been saying and try to see what we know about him and then take it from there and whatever he doesn’t know we’ll help him with.”
“Right” Victoria replies “He is a part of this family so we all will pitch in and help him in whatever way we need to.” Jarrod says, “Agreed.”
“And I’ll help in anyway I can too,” Duke mentions, “I like that boy and have from that very first day.”
“And I will also help,” Silas says, “I too like that boy and want to see him getting his feet on the ground and he sure does need it.”
“At least,” Jarrod observes, “We are all in this together now. We no longer have to work on Nick accepting him.”
Nick replies “No that is over with. I am here along the side with the rest of you to do whatever is needed to get that boy on his feet.” Jarrod says “About time Nick.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Nick replies, “I know Jarrod.”
<p>
Nick then says, “Let’s go back to what we know about him and what we don’t. He has been saying quite a bit if we listened. Now, I know I was giving him the hardest time here but I was still listening to what he was saying.”
“Okay,” Jarrod replies, “We do know that he led a very sad and bad life before he came here. We know he has to be told or needs permission before he does anything so let’s keep that all in mind until we’re able to snap him out of it. We also better keep a close eye on him for now and make sure that he learns to do things for himself. But I was just thinking.” Nick asks, “What’s that?”
“I know that he needs to be told to do something but I have noticed on occasion,” Jarrod mentions, “That he has seemed to use his own mind at times. He may not even have known he was doing it and we didn’t think anything of it either because we weren’t fully paying attention to it but yet he has.”
“Right Jarrod,” Victoria replies, “He has. He came here to Stockton all on his own; I don’t think anyone told him to come here.”
Jarrod says, “No I don’t think they have. We could always ask him to be sure.”
“He did design the bridge all on his own,” Duke points out, “And decided on the railing that was added on.”
“When we went out the first day,” Nick mentions, “And I was showing him around a bit he did ask on his own was this all ours.”
“And he did manage to come and fight with us against the railroad” Jarrod notes “No one told him to do that and I did manage to get him to open up slightly at the restaurant. It wasn’t much but it did happen. And I believe he brought Audra back to us on his own. I don’t think anyone told him to do that and knowing Audra the way I do, something tells me that she wouldn’t have came back that quickly or easily by herself.”
“That’s true Jarrod,” Victoria says, “She probably wouldn’t have.”
“And I noticed,” Nick brings up, “That a lot of it came when he actually lived with us. I think whatever I was doing to him the constant yelling and barking as Mother pointed out had a lot to do with his withdrawing away from all that.”
“I think you’re right Nick” Jarrod admits “I remember taking him into town on Friday and I did get him to loosen up a little and yet on the way back to the ranch I noticed him tensing up like he dreaded coming back here. And as you stated he was more talkative prior to his coming to live with us.” Victoria says “Yes he was.”
“I’d have to agree,” Nick mentions, “I remember our first meeting on the bridge and he did talk a lot more there. And he did have a lot to say when he came looking for a job here and coming into the house telling us who he was. I guess I was the cause of his dreading to come back to the house. Somehow I will have to rectify that with him. I don’t want him to ever having to dread returning to here anytime. I want him to know that this is his home now.”
“Agreed,” Victoria replies, “This is home now and this is here where he belongs.”
“There is one thing you do have to keep a close eye on,” Duke brings up.
“What’s that Duke?” Jarrod asks.
“Make sure the he is wanted here,” Duke states, “Because if he feels he’s not he will go. He must think his being here is only for now he may not realize he is a part of your family permanently.”
“I have to agree,” Silas joins in, “I think Mr. Heath led a very sheltered life.”
“I don’t think,” Jarrod mentions, “Heath knows what it means to be a part of a family, our family.”
“I suppose,” Nick says, “We’ll have to be teaching him that too. But you are right Duke, he would go if we said go. So we do have to be careful.”
“Okay,” Victoria replies, “Let’s see what else.”
“Well he knows how to build a bridge,” Duke notes, “He did that very well.”
“Yes, he did” Nick admits “And he knows how to play checkers and said he knows how to play cards. We’ve seen him playing gin with Audra.”
“There is something I have noticed” Jarrod says. Nick asks “What’s that Jarrod?”
“Think about it!” Jarrod says “If we really think about it he never once used dates, days or time or anything. He said his mother died. We asked how long ago and all he said was a short time ago. He never mentioned a week, a month, a day, nothing; just a short time ago.”
“Never thought of that,” Victoria replies, “But you’re right Jarrod, he hasn’t. I wonder if he even knows.”
“Not sure,” Jarrod then says, “He did say he goes to sleep when it is dark or when someone tells him to and wakes up when it’s light or once again when someone tells him to. He never did mention a time.”
“That is true,” Duke adds, “When it was time to stop work for the day I had to tell him to otherwise he would’ve kept right on going. The same with lunch; he only stopped when I told him to.”
“And I noticed that even though you were barking at him” Jarrod says looking at Nick “Each morning he seemed to have came in the exact same time. He must wake up that exact same time every morning.”
Closing his eyes “Oh god” Nick asks “Do you think he doesn’t know how to tell time?”
“I don’t know Nick” Jarrod replies “We know just as much as you do. You probably know more from what you got out of him thus far. But it is a possibility. And if Heath only answers us when we ask him a question then we didn’t know enough to ask him that to start with and he doesn’t volunteer anything freely.”
“You’re right Jarrod,” Duke surmises, “Maybe the way all the people that were responsible, punished him or scared him enough to the point that he just won’t openly volunteer anything to us or anyone else.”
Looking over at Jarrod “That might explain why he doesn’t make choices for himself” Nick mentions “Or as you said won’t just volunteer anything freely.”
“We are going to have to find out,” Jarrod states, “What he does and doesn’t know. We’re also going to have to find a way to find out what he’s thinking and what’s going on inside his mind, inside his head.”
“Yes, we are” Nick notes “Of course I didn’t help matters either. The night leading up to the fight in the barn I mentioned something to him about Corning being at least a good 100 miles away from us and asked him why he would travel that many miles when there were so many other spreads along the way that he could’ve found work at.” Victoria asks, “What did he say Nick?”
“All he said was” Nick reiterates “That no man sends him anywhere. And here I thought he worked for the railroad or came to spy on us or something” letting out a deep sigh “Boy, did I make a huge mess out of what was happening with him.”
“Nick,” Jarrod brings up, “At least you managed to get him to open up. We would never have known any of this if what you did, didn’t take place.”
A little saddened “Yeah,” Nick answers, “I suppose.”
“And we did say,” Jarrod mentions, “That if he had anything to hide or was lying we would have our answers soon enough. And something tells me that we’re starting to learn our answers rather quickly.”
“Jarrod” Victoria asks “You don’t think he’s lying or hiding anything, do you?”
“No,” Jarrod answers, “I am just pointing it out. As the lawyer here I have to bring up all sides of everything.”
“Well,” Nick answer, “I could tell you here and now,” boring into Jarrod’s eyes, “That he’s not lying about any of it.” Jarrod asks, “How could you tell?”
“Those eyes,” Nick answers, “I looked hard into them. I could tell you that everything he said thus far is the truth. He is telling us straight out anything we ask of him. It’s just that he’s not telling us anything if we are not asking him it.”
“There is something about those eyes” Victoria joins in “I saw it in them that very first night when I looked up at him. I could sense something about them. I didn’t know what but only that they told a story. They looked troubled, telling me that he needed something, wanted something. I don’t know how or why but I just could tell.”
“Maybe that’s,” Jarrod notes, “What I saw in them that day over at the Sempleworth’s when I asked him to come to the house. Something in them told me that he could use a friend, someone who cared.”
“I think we could all see it,” Duke says, “Eyes don’t lie.”
“Duke’s right,” Jarrod defends, “Eyes don’t lie.”
“Indeed they do not” Silas adds “And that boy is very troubled which is why he is so quiet.”
Sighing heavily “Why don’t we stop for now” Nick suggests “Until Audra and Gene get home and until then I’ll go and work with him and see what other information I could extract from him.”
“I think that is a good idea Nick” Victoria says “When they get home we could resume this however I don’t think they need to hear some of what was brought up.”
“No,” Nick admits, “I don’t think so either. That is why I opted to wait until they went off to school before we began this.”
“I too,” Duke says, “Have a lot of work to be getting to. So, if you’ll excuse me”, as he gets up out of his seat.
Jarrod then says, “Oh, there is one more thing I’d like to bring up.”
“What’s that Jarrod?” Victoria wanted to know.
“When I got on the subject of his being a little boy,” Jarrod says, “I did ask if he ever had any dreams of what he wanted to do or be when he grew up.”
“What did he say?” Nick inquires.
“He wanted to” Jarrod says “Leave Strawberry and make lots of money and take his Mama away from there; but that it didn’t go the way he had in mind.”
“Well he did get out of Strawberry,” Nick mentions, “And when he gets going he will be making money. He will no longer have to worry about that. However, I do feel bad for him that he doesn’t have his mother. Something tells me he didn’t get to enjoy her the way he should’ve.”
A little downcasted, “I don’t think so either,” Victoria notes, “And we can’t do anything to bring her back or to make up for it unfortunately.”
“True,” Jarrod then says, “There is one more thing I just thought of.”
“What’s that?” Victoria asks.
“Wheeler and Deak” Jarrod notes “Heath seems to know them and somehow we do need to find out more about them. They confined him; I like to know more about that too.”
“I’ll be looking into that,” Nick vows, “And I will see what I could get out of Heath when I talk to him.”
Getting up out of their seats “Let me make you a lunch” Victoria says “For him. I don’t want that boy thinking he can’t have anything to eat” walking out of the study together “Because we didn’t say he could.”
“I don’t either,” Nick brings up.
“That might take awhile,” Jarrod surmises, “If he’s gone on years living and thinking like that it’s not something he’s gonna stop doing overnight.”
“How long it takes makes no difference to me.” Nick vows “There is one other thing I’ve noticed about him.”
Victoria asks “What’s that Nick?” Nick mentions, “When I touch him it seems to bother him.” Victoria ponders, “I wonder why.”
“I’ve read stories,” Duke mentions “Of children who haven’t been shown a lot of love doesn’t know what it is to be touched or show affection.”
“Then,” Victoria states, “We will just have to work with that boy getting him to know just what love is around here.”
Sighing heavily, “I must say,” Nick says, “We do have a lot of work ahead of us. But we will just take it one step at a time.”
“Agreed,” Victoria replies, “But at least now talking about it I do like the fact that we’re all in this together in helping him.”
“Seeing he has been making some small decisions on his own,” Duke speculates, “Something tells me that it just may not take as long as we think.”
“I sure hope not,” Victoria replies.
Reaching the front door “Same here” Duke says “Well, I’ll see you all later.”
“You were a great help Duke,” Victoria informs him “Thanks for all your input.”
“No problem” Duke replies “As I said I like that boy. I’m just sorry to hear about what he had to grow up with. Boy, I sure wish Tom were here and had known about him, if he did maybe none of this would’ve happened.”
“You’re right Duke” Victoria says “If he was here and did indeed have known about him, he would never have grown up the way he did” and while Jarrod and Nick walk Duke out Victoria and Silas head for the kitchen.
<p>
Once they get outside “I have to go into town” Jarrod mentions with Nick asking “Town for what?”
“I have to see if there are any cases for me to be working on” Jarrod says “And then I want to go see if there is anything new on the investigation I have going.”
Listening, “Investigation?” Duke asks of Jarrod, “Are you having Heath investigated?” Jarrod answers, “I am, yes. We do still need to know about him.”
“I don’t care anymore about that investigation Jarrod” Nick states “He is staying here now regardless of what that report comes to say. I already said I want him to be a part of this here family and I meant it.”
Showing a crooked smile “You definitely have changed your tune Nick” Jarrod notes.
“I guess you’re right” Nick confides “I have. I no longer care what that report should say and it doesn’t matter anymore to me whether he is our brother or not, I still do want him here. I want him to be a part of this here family and I am not changing my decision.”
Looking from one to the other “I could tell you both here and now” Duke says “That he is definitely Tom’s son and your brother.”
Nick asks “You could see that?”
“Quite clearly” Duke says “I remember your father in his younger years, I could see Heath in him as well as in his grandfather and I’m sure your mother does too.”
“She does” Jarrod confirms “And I too know that he’s our brother” looking over at Nick “And even if he’s not I agree with you Nick that he is staying here regardless of what that report comes to say. But I think that report may give us some pertinent information on him that he may not supply us with that we do still need to know.” Nick asks, “Like what?”
“His age for one thing,” Jarrod mentions, “We don’t know how old he is and I wonder if even he does. He did clam up when you asked him when his birth date was so there is that possibility that he doesn’t know.”
“I must say,” Duke says, “That he doesn’t look twenty-four to me.”
“He doesn’t look twenty-four to any of us,” Jarrod states.
“If he’s not twenty-four,” Nick brings up, “I wonder where he got that idea from.”
“Good question” Jarrod says “I’m sure when the time comes we’ll find that out. And we’ll see what happens between now and the time that report comes in. Maybe by that time we will have no more use for it and will just be put away or something but for now I still need to have it pursued. It may answer questions he can’t.”
“Well,” Nick replies, “You do what you must but I don’t want any part of it. I know I wanted it pursued but I’ve changed my mind and rather the information came directly from him and when I go and work with him I will see what I could find out and then just take it from there.”
“I think that is the best way to go,” Duke joins in, “Well I’ll see you both later.”
<p>
Before he goes Nick asks him to do a fast run around the ranch in which he answers “Sure thing” and upon going their separate ways just as Jarrod heads to the barn he calls out to Nick who shifts his position and upon facing him asks, “What?”
“I may have given you a harder time over accepting Heath” Jarrod states “And even though I did accept him sooner than you in all fairness to you I was not that much different than you. I didn’t tell you any of this right off because as the eldest I do have a moral obligation to this family just as much as you do and as I mentioned before Audra and Gene are watching everything we are doing so I must do certain things whether I like to or not. I just kept a lot to myself. When I took him into town on Friday, I never introduced him around as my brother. I only said he was living or staying with us. I guess at the time I wasn’t really ready to accept him into the family as I’d like to have everyone to believe.”
Nick asks of Jarrod, “Are you now?”
“Very much so” Jarrod answers with assurance “I finally came to terms with it the moment I heard some of the guests talking badly about him. It should never have waited that long; it should have happened a lot sooner but that is when it did happen.”
“Then” Nick says “We both better start letting people that we see and know that he is our new brother and sooner the better.”
Nodding his head, “Agreed,” Jarrod answers, “I just wanted you to know that and that you heard it from me.”
Squeezing his shoulder “We may not always see eye to eye on everything” Nick notes “But we are still brothers and its okay. As we all know this took us all by complete surprise but I guess now in our own strange way we are ready to face the music.”
Jarrod says, “We are, yes.”
“And,” Nick points out, “We are all in this together.”
“Yes! We are all now” Jarrod states, “All for one and one for all.”
Smiling, “Well put,” Nick exclaims.
<p>
While Jarrod goes to get Jingo saddled up Nick returns to the house and is met by Victoria handing him a lunch for Heath. Thanking her “I will make sure he is eating his lunch” Nick informs her who then asks, “Where is Jarrod going?”
“Into town,” Nick mentions, “To see if there is anything on that investigation he has going and wanted to find out if there are any cases for him.”
“How do you feel about that Nick?” Victoria inquires.
tbc
