Story 8-Long Weekend Part 4

[sandymarek]

Story 8-Long Weekend Part 4

Part 8-15
“How about if you move away from that part,” Jarrod suggests, “And tell us what happened after that?”
Nodding his head “A couple of the men” Heath relays “That worked for Mr. Wheeler came over with water” swallowing hard continues “And wet me down. After they were done, they untied my hands and had me put on pants and a top that they handed me that I was to wear.”
“What about shoes or boots?” Jarrod asks.
“No,” Heath replies.
As Nick places his hand on the top of Heath’s head, he softly asks, “Then what?”
“They tied my hands in back of me,” Heath says, “And had me go into the barn with them.”
“Is that where you had to sleep?” Nick wanted to know.
Nodding his head “It was” Heath answers “In stall, I was told to go and sit. One of the two men with Mr. Wheeler shackled my left ankle that was in the wall of the barn. Others were there too.”
“Heath,” Nick mentions, “They didn’t confine you; they restrained you.”
“Heath,” Jarrod asks, “When did they let you out of the shackles?”
“When day,” Heath answers, “When time to work.”
“Did they have you shackled every night?” Jarrod wanted to know.
“When work was done for day” Heath says “I and others put back in where we were.”
“They only released you” Nick notes “When it was time for work?”
“Uh-huh,” Heath replies.
“How did they serve you your meals?” Jarrod wanted to know, “You must’ve eaten.”
“Before it was time to go back in stall,” Heath states.
“They fed you just once a day?” Nick wanted to know.
“If bad,” Heath mentions, “Not at all. Had to miss it.”
“What kind of meals did they give to you?” Nick asks.
Heath explains “It was in kettle, white, had beans in it, sometimes pieces of meat, sometimes pieces of fish, sometimes rice and sometimes, red pepper in it.”
“Sounds disgusting Heath,” Nick says to him.
“Not much say in it,” Heath replies, “Ate what they gave.”
“I know,” Nick says, “How did you eat?”
“Once finished work,” Heath explains, “Had to line up and after they tied our hands in back we were ordered to eat by putting face in kettle.”
“That is what you meant,” Nick brings up, “By eating in some other way.”
“Uh-huh,” Heath answers, nodding his head.
“They must’ve given you water,” Jarrod brings up.
“In morning,” Heath explains, “We line up and they would hand us the dipper out of bucket and pass it down the line. If we spilled any we had to wait until next time.”
“How many were there” Jarrod wanted to know “Besides yourself that worked for Mr. Wheeler?”
“Not know,” Heath replies, “All there were.”
“Were there more than three?” Jarrod inquires.
“Yes,” Heath answers.
“Did you talk to any of them?” Jarrod asks.
“No,” Heath replies.
“Why Heath?” Jarrod inquires.
“Kept silent,” Heath answers, “Sometimes hit if talked.”
“Heath” Nick says “The other night when we were at the house you said you couldn’t talk and that they couldn’t hear you, did your uncle do something like that too to keep you from talking?”
“He did,” Heath nodding his head replies.
“What about Mr. Moore,” Jarrod asks, “And Mr. Wells?”
Gazing at the ground, “They did,” Heath answers.
“And” Nick wanted to know “They kept you quiet a lot?”
“I wasn’t to talk” Heath explains, “Not unless asking me something.”
“Heath” Nick asks “Would you or could you tell us a little about that box you were in?”
“It’s in cellar” Heath explains, “Uncle had it, I had to stay there until he wanted me to come out.”
“Did he leave you tied and gagged?” Nick wanted to know.
Nodding his head “He did” Heath answers “Wasn’t to talk, had to stay put.”
“Heath,” Jarrod asks, “Did the Wheelers do that to you too?”
“They did,” Heath replies.
“What about the others?” Jarrod inquires.
“All that were there,” Heath says, “We had to stay put and quiet.”
“Didn’t they give,” Nick inquires, “You any freedom, any exercise, anything without being shackled or being tied up?”
“Uh-uh,” Heath mentions, “Except when Wheeler or Deak wanted me to go with them.”
“Why would they want you to go with them?” Jarrod asks.
“Where would they take you?” Nick wanted to know
“Play,” Heath answers.
“How?” Nick says.
“They” Heath carefully answers “They would remove shackle, tell me to get up; I would get up and go with them. Sometimes, they…they…would take me to corral, I’d have to walk while they rode their horses, they’d have me run around, they would chase me with their horses, take a rope, toss it over me. I try to get out but couldn’t, they would tighten it, they would tie hands to legs. They would take turns doing it, sometimes left me there, leave and come back. Sometimes they would have another in there and have us race and do it to the both of us.”
“Didn’t anyone know that this was going on?” Jarrod asks, “Where was the law, the sheriff who was responsible for the town that you were in?”
“Not know,” Heath replies.
“Heath,” Nick mentions, “You said the sheriff came with some men and took you away from there.”
“He did,” Heath replies, “But not then.”
“Heath,” Jarrod asks, “Did Deak live at the Wheelers?”
“He did,” Heath states, “He was there all the time.”
“Heath,” Nick inquires, “What else did Wheeler and Deak do to you?”
Gazing at the ground, “Many,” Heath replies.
“Like what Heath?” Jarrod asks.
“After working,” Heath states, “And returning to the barn, Wheeler had me go with him and Deak to his house,” looking to Jarrod and then to Nick.
“They brought you in their house?” Nick wanted to know.
“Wheeler’s room,” Heath answers.
“Then what Heath?” Jarrod asks.
“After going inside” Heath stops for a moment, closes his eyes then resumes “He and Deak had me bend down” with a faraway look in his eyes he continues “And lowered to the floor.”
Nick and Jarrod quietly watch and exchange glances as they notice the faraway look in Heath’s eyes. As tears begin forming in his eyes, “They,” he continues, “Each put their knee on back of my neck and had my face go down touch each of their boots,” sniffling, “Then told to get up and Wheeler cut the rope to my hands. He then tied them in front,” closing his eyes, “Had me go over to barrel he had in room and told me to lie down on it.”
Jarrod and Nick quietly listen as he relays the details of what occurred back then “Deak took my hands had a rope under the barrel, tied the other to my knees. Wheeler then pulled up my top and lowered my pants.”
Once again Jarrod and Nick watch the faraway look on Heath’s face as the tears go down his cheeks as he continues “Deak and Wheeler took turns swatting my bottom, first with hands then with wooden paddle. ‘Wheeler said “Did you like that? Now stay here and behave yourself, we’ll return in a little bit” sniffling he then says “He then said to Deak ‘Let’s leave him for a bit and then they left. I had to stay there until they came back and then Wheeler said ‘Let’s see how well you follow instructions. If you don’t be good, you will get more of the same. They would then both start laughing.”
“He then” Heath relays “Untied rope and had me go over to bed. They had me lie down on the bottom of bed on my back and tied my wrists over my head to the other end of bed, Deak did the same to my ankles he had them tied together and tied to end of bed,” and begins shuddering,
“How long did he keep you there?” Nick wanted to know, looking over at Jarrod who both are becoming mentally livid as they listen to his recap.
“Don’t know” Heath shuddering says “Just was there, would sleep and wake and still be there. When Wheeler slept, his feet would press into my side but I couldn’t move. I’d watch Wheeler wake and get dressed, he would come over, pee on my face” closing his eyes again “And then walk out. I was still there and then he’d come back later and I’d still be there” sniffling “He then came in with a pin.”
“Did he use that on you?” Nick wanted to know.
With tears flowing heavily down his cheeks “All over” Heath states. Nick wipes them from his eyes.
As Heath continues shuddering “Heath” Jarrod asks “Do you want us to stop? We could” as he and Nick watch as he begins sobbing heavily and trembling “Heath” Jarrod says running his hand up and down his back in a circular motion “Why don’t we stop?”
“I think we should too” Nick answers “You don’t have to tell us anymore of it. It’s too much on you. You do seem to do better telling us a little at a time. If some day, whenever you’re ready, you want to tell us then, we’ll always be here to listen no matter what time of the day or night, okay?”
Returning his gaze to the ground “I like that better” Heath says as he begins wiping the tears from his cheeks.
“Then,” Nick tells him, “We’ll stop.”
Sniffling, “I sorry,” Heath replies.
“For what?” Nick asks.
“For doing this” Heath wiping his tears replies, “Not mean to.”
“It’s alright Heath” Nick says “Come here” holding his arms out and as Heath looks at them and then at Nick, he slowly moves into them and Nick places his head on his shoulders and while holding him tightly begins rocking him and back and forth in a soothing manner, running his hands up and down his back “It’s okay Heath, it’s okay. Sh! It’s going to be alright. No one will ever hurt you again. I won’t let them. Sh! Sh!”
Jarrod on the other side of him joins in “Heath” running his hands up and down the side of his face “You don’t have to tell us any more of it.”
“Take it easy,” Nick tells him softly, “Okay?”
As he continues trembling in Nick’s arms Jarrod quickly gets up and retrieves his canteen of water, “Drink this Heath,” handing it to him.
After he takes a drink from it Jarrod asks, “You alright?” as he takes back the canteen.
As he nods his head, “Heath,” Nick then says, “I want you to do something for me, if you will.”
Wiping the tears that are still going down the sides of his cheeks, “What Nick?” Heath looking up at Nick asks.
Nick instructs him, “First, I want you to lie down.”
Looking at Nick strangely “Lie down?” Heath asks
“Yes” Nick replies “Just lie flat on your back. Have your feet go in the direction of the water and then I want you to take your head and just put it on my leg right here” showing him “You think you could do that?”
“I could,” Heath says.
Softly but firmly Nick tells him, “Do it.”
Heath does as Nick instructs him once he’s into the position he says, “Just like that. You okay?”
“I am,” Heath replies.
“Now” Nick says “All I want for you to do is just lie here just the way you are and relax okay?”
Replying “Okay,” Heath lies there in the position Nick instructed to him.
Sitting alongside of him “Now” Nick says “What I am doing is something Mother did with me and sometimes Father when I was real small” while gently running the tips of his fingers up and down Heath’s forehead “How’s that?”
“Fine,” Heath answers.
“Heath,” Jarrod then joins in, “Could I ask you something?”
Replying “Always,” Heath glances over at Jarrod on the other side of them who has his hands into his, gently running his right hand over his left.
“I know we said we would stop talking about what happened” Jarrod brings up “But will you let me ask you a few more questions. They will be rather easy.”
“You could,” Heath replies.
“Where was Wheeler’s mother,” Jarrod asks, “Mr. Wheeler’s wife while you were there?”
As Nick is brushing Heath’s hair from the forehead, back, “She was there,” Heath replies.
“Didn’t she say or do anything,” Jarrod wanted to know, “About you’re being there or what Wheeler or Mr. Wheeler was doing to you?”
“Not know,” Heath replies.
“What did she do there,” Nick asks.
“She’d come into Wheeler’s room when he wasn’t there,” Heath mentions.
“And what did she do?” Nick reiterates.
“She’d come,” Heath answers, “Feed me, clean me up.”
“Did she untie you at all?” Jarrod asks.
“Uh-uh,” Heath explains, “Just legs when she would put new pants on me.”
“And then,” Nick wanted to know, “Tie your legs back up?”
“Uh-huh,” Heath replies.
Did you see her every day?” Jarrod asks.
“Uh-uh” Heath answers “Just when she came to feed me, clean me or clean the room or make the bed.”
“What did she feed you?” Jarrod inquires.
“Oatmeal,” Heath replies.
“That’s it?” Nick asks.
“Sometimes,” Heath answers, “Stew.”
“And you had to eat that?” Nick inquires.
“I did,” Heath replies.
“Did she ever allow you to talk to her?” Jarrod asks.
“Uh-uh,” Heath replies, “I tried, she told me to keep silent.”
“She told you,” Nick mimics, “To keep silent?”
“Uh-huh” Heath replies “She would hit me, tell me no talking. When she finished feeding me, she would give me water and would tell me to open up and then I was kept silent again.”
Part 8-16
“Your uncle” Nick surmises “Was pretty bad to you and so were the Wheelers.”
Heath not answering just listens as Nick continues running his fingers up and down his forehead and down alongside of his cheeks.
“Heath,” Nick then asks, “Did your Mama know any of this?”
“Some,” Heath replies, “She asked; I tell her.”
“Who else knew what took place at the Wheelers?” Nick wanted to know.
“Sheriff,” Heath mentions, “Who took me out of there, knew some of it.”
“Heath,” Jarrod asks, “How did the sheriff learn about you being in there?”
“One of the ones being held, like me” Heath mentions “Managed to get away, I guess he somehow got out and got them to come.”
“Did you ever try to escape?” Nick asks.
“Only then” Heath explains “When they untied my hands and told me to run.”
“Did you manage to get away?” Jarrod wanted to know.
Looking away “I ran” Heath answers.
“They caught you?” Nick watching as Heath nods his head then asks “What they do to you; whip you?”
“They did,” Heath states.
“When did the sheriff come” Jarrod wanted to know “And take you out of there?”
“Not sure” Heath replies “All I know is woke up and saw him standing there.”
“Where did he go with you?” Jarrod asks.
“His home,” Heath answers.
“He brought you to his house?” Nick inquires.
Watching as Heath nods his head “And then what?” Jarrod asks.
“His wife and him” Heath mentions “Had me stay with them for a while.”
“Is that” Jarrod wanted to know “How you managed to get away from working at the Wheelers?”
“Uh-huh,” Heath replies.
“Heath” Nick brings up “The scars on your back and on the bottom of your feet, did your mother see them at all?”
“She did,” Heath answers.
“Did this sheriff,” Nick asks, “See them?”
“He did,” Heath states.
“Did your uncle” Jarrod inquires “Set up the jobs with the Wheelers?”
“He did,” Heath answers.
“So that must mean,” Jarrod says, “That your uncle knows of the Wheelers.”
“He does,” Heath states.
“Does your uncle,” Jarrod inquires, “Know that you are here?”
“No,” Heath answers.
“But your uncle knows Wheeler,” Jarrod notes, “And Deak.”
“He does,” Heath states.
“Heath,” Jarrod wanted to know, “What do the Wheelers know about your being here?”
“Being here?” Heath mimics.
“About your living at the ranch” Jarrod reiterates “What do they know about you there?”
“I’m new there” Heath notes, “And I work for Nick.”
“That’s it?” Nick asks.
Nodding his head, “Uh-huh,” Heath answers.
“What else do they know,” Nick wanted to know.
“If you put me in my place yet” Heath mentions “And been taught respect. Told them no.”
Sighing heavily “Forget that one,” Nick then says, “So, they don’t know anything about you living in the house with us? Or that Tom Barkley is your father, or that we are your brothers?”
“No,” Heath answers.
“Besides Wheeler and Deak,” Jarrod joins in with, “Who else knows that you are here?”
“Aunt Rachel,” Heath states, “And Hannah knew I was coming here.”
“Would they say anything to your uncle about you being here?” Jarrod asks.
“No,” Heath replies.
“Okay,” Jarrod says, “I guess we could stop the questions for now.”
“I do have one more question,” Nick brings up, “That I’d like to ask.”
“What’s that?” Heath asks.
“You keep mentioning Wheeler and Mr. Wheeler or the Wheeler family” Nick inquires “Is Wheeler’s first name Wheeler or does he just use that?”
“I heard them,” Heath mentions, “Call him Mark at times.”
“What about Mr. Wheeler,” Nick asks, “Does he have a first name?”
“I believe,” Heath answers, “It’s Grant.”
“Alright, thank you,” Nick replies, “That will do. Oh Heath?”
“Yeah?” Heath says.
“How you doing?” Nick asks.
“Fine” Heath replies.
Catching sight of three leaves on a small twig on the ground Nick picks it up and runs it under Heath’s nose to his mouth asking, “How’s that?”
“Fine” Heath replies.
“Uh-huh” Nick says “You probably would say you’re fine even if you weren’t huh?” looking down at him just lying there who doesn’t say anything but just looks up at Nick. Letting out a chuckle “That is what I thought” Nick retorts.
While running the leaves under his nose and all around his mouth area Nick asks, “Has anyone ever done this with you?”
“Mama,” Heath states, “Did when we were outside some.”
After a couple of seconds Jarrod and Nick exchange glances as they just quietly sit there and enjoy each other’s company and the gentle breeze. Nick continues running his fingers up and down the sides of Heath’s face and brushing his hair back. After a few minutes, “Are you okay?” Nick asks of Heath who replies, “Uh-huh,” as he is relaxing.
“Good,” Nick says, “Just relax,” as they continue sitting there just watching the creek. A few minutes later, “Heath,” Nick then asks, “Could I ask you something?”
“Sure,” Heath replies, “You ask, I tell.”
“Would you tell me about your mother?” Nick says.
Glancing up at Nick, “My mother?” Heath asks, puzzled.
“Yes” Nick says softly “I like to get an idea of what she was like, will you tell me? I just would like to know about her.”
“I’ll try” Heath answers, “Mama had long hair, kind of like Audra’s only it was brown.”
“Did she have bangs?” Nick wanted to know.
“No,” Heath describes, “Parted in middle and just went down.”
“What kinds of things did she do with you?” comes from Jarrod.
“We would sit” Heath mentions “Outside at night when dark and she didn’t work, she would sit me on her lap or I’d just sit there next to her or lie there in her arms and we’d look up at the stars and she would smile and hold me. Sometimes she would hum or sing softly to me.”
“What kinds of songs,” Nick asks as he notices a little smile on Heath’s face as he tells them about his mother, “Did she sing or hum?”
“Not know,” Heath replies, “Not ask, I would just listen to her doing that.”
“You liked that, huh?” Nick asks.
“I did,” Heath replies.
“What else did she do with you?” Jarrod wanted to know.
“We would go for walks” Heath answers “When we could. She hold my hand and we would look at the leaves or the flowers that were around, we’d sit in the room we had that we lived in and she would read to me or just talk to me and tell me how she wished things were different for us. Told me to always hold my head up high cause one day I will surprise everyone. Be proud of who I am. Always do the best I could. Sometime she tell me she wished we didn’t have to stay in Strawberry. I’d ask why don’t we go and she said we couldn’t because Uncle wouldn’t let us” Heath then stops talking and looking away.
Jarrod and Nick quietly exchange glances while listening to Heath and watching as his smile fades away as he mentions the uncle.
“Heath,” Nick quickly brings up, “I bet your mother was beautiful.”
Glancing up at Nick “She was” Heath answers proudly and as he looks over at Jarrod his smile begins returning.
“Heath,” Jarrod brings up, “You said when you were with the Wheelers; you didn’t have anything on your feet.”
“I didn’t,” Heath replies.
“Is that why Sheriff Hawkins and his wife,” Jarrod wanted to know, “Gave you the boots for your birthday?”
“No” Heath mentions “They gave me them cause they wanted me to have something new. When I was taken to them, didn’t have any at all, they got a pair from somebody and had me keep them to wear.”
“Heath,” Nick says, “There is something else I’ve been meaning to bring up but haven’t thought when the best time to talk to you about it.”
“What’s that?” Heath asks.
“Have you ever been on a cattle drive?” Nick inquires.
“I have,” Heath admits.
“In a few weeks” Nick informs him “I and many of the men will be going on one. Would you be interested in coming along? It’s not an easy thing to be going on but I thought since you are new with us and working there with me, that maybe you would like to join the men and me. It’ll also give you a chance to see what it’s like to run one and give us more time to get to know each other and I could also see how you could handle some responsibility, see if you have what it takes to take charge.”
“I would,” Heath tells him.
“I must warn you” Nick notes “That it can get a little rough out there at times. But I’ll be out there with you and make sure it doesn’t get too rough for you. Okay?”
Replying “Okay” Heath starts yawning. Nick noticing stops talking and resumes looking out at the creek along with Jarrod. Minutes later, glancing down Nick sees Heath’s eyes closed; looking over at Jarrod “Jarrod” Nick quietly calls out.
“What?” Jarrod quietly calls back.
Replying “Look” Nick glances down at Heath who has his eyes closed. Jarrod letting out a smile and then looking up at Nick who continues soothing him says “Stay with him” as he gets up, Nick asks, “Where you going?”
Replying “I’ll be right back” Jarrod takes the lunch sacks back to the cabin while Nick remains with Heath who continues to sleep.
Going inside the cabin Jarrod leaves the lunch sack on the table, checks on the fish that is soaking in the kettle, grabs a blanket and a pillow from one of the rooms, retrieves a notepad and a pen that he brought along with him and goes back to where Nick and Heath are.
Seeing Jarrod coming “Ah” Nick comments “Good idea” looking down at Heath who still has his eyes closed “Is he asleep?” Jarrod inquires.
“He’s asleep” Nick quietly mentions “Look at what he’s doing” indicating Heath’s hand gripping Nick’s.
“I think he’s beginning to trust us,” Jarrod surmises.
“With all that’s happened to” Nick mumbles “No wonder he was being so leery of us.”
“Yes, I know,” Jarrod says, “Trusting is not an easy task for him. But I have noticed that it is happening and he began making a few real big choices out there today.”
“That he did,” Nick replies, “He’s getting there.”
“Yes, he is” Jarrod then says “Nick, I was thinking of something he said a couple minutes ago.”
“What’s that?” Nick wanted to know.
“About Wheeler knows of his being here,” Jarrod mentions.
With his brow furrowed in thought, a little confused “I don’t follow you” Nick replies.
“About his working for you, I wonder if he still thinks he works for you” Jarrod mentions “Family is new to him Nick. He may be thinking all of what is happening to him now is all too good to be true.”
“Never thought of that,” Nick says, “Here, give me the blanket.”
As Jarrod hands over the blanket, Nick takes it and covers Heath up with it “Ooh” Nick lets out “That no good uncle. That no good Deak, and Wheeler. They better not come back here again or they’ll be sorry. They will never come near him again. No one will ever hurt this boy again, I won’t let them.”
“They could be trouble for him,” Jarrod reminds Nick.
“I know,” Nick replies, “I know.”
“We better keep a close eye on him for now,” Jarrod states, “And we better find out where they went off to.”
“I was thinking that” Nick mentions “And when we get back I’ll make sure the men are informed. In some ways I do want the uncle to show up, I want to take him apart and take these fists of mine” showing him “And beat the living daylights out of him.”
“Somehow” Jarrod notes, “I think you will be getting your wish. Lift his head a bit” as Nick carefully lifts Heath’s head slightly Jarrod places the pillow under his head without disturbing his sleep.
“What’s with the notepad?” Nick asks.
“I want to do some calculating,” Jarrod states.
“What kind,” Nick curiously asks.
“About him,” Jarrod then says, “Come over here, so we don’t disturb him.”
Nick carefully removing Heath’s hand from his, pats it gently and gets up to join Jarrod while letting Heath sleep. As Jarrod talks, he begins jotting notes down on the paper.
“I’ve been thinking” Jarrod informs Nick “We all know that he is not twenty-four.”
“That much we do know,” Nick notes.
“Right” Jarrod says “But until the report comes through and confirms anything we won’t know for sure, however if we use our heads, we could come out with our answers or a rough idea of how old he is as well as his birthday.”
“We do know that Father” Nick states “Went to Strawberry in April of 1851 and didn’t come home until September 1851.”
“That’s right” Jarrod says “And right now it’s 1871, so right there tells us that Heath can’t be any older than 20, so I’ve been thinking that maybe his birthday is either in April or May.”
“What made you come up with those two months?” Nick asks.
“A simple process of elimination” Jarrod points out “When Father first went to Strawberry he didn’t meet Leah right away. I mean Mother received wires and letters from him saying everything was going okay.”
“I remember a little of that,” Nick notes.
“But then,” Jarrod brings up, “Mother stopped receiving wires and letters sometime around late May meaning that is when he perhaps got hurt and somehow Leah found him and brought him to her place and helped him get well. So, if that is what happened and I calculate my thinking correctly that tells us father and Leah started having a romantic interlude and if that is what happened and take into account it takes a woman nine months to carry a baby, that right there brings his birthday to February.”
“I don’t think it would’ve happened then,” Nick speculates.
“I don’t think so either,” Jarrod says, “Too soon and it would’ve probably taken Father some time to recuperate fully and I think as it was happening he and her started finding feelings for one another.”
“Makes sense,” Nick remarks.
“So I was thinking” Jarrod mentions “That brings us to June. However that doesn’t necessarily mean it happened then either. I picture Father was recuperating and while it was happening he and Leah started slowly finding feelings for each other. So if it did happen in June then that would mean he was born in March. But somehow I think it was too soon. Then it brings us to July and August. If it was July that would mean Heath was born in April and if it was August that means is he is born in May which is my guess.”
“How do you figure?” Nick asks.
“From my calculating” Jarrod notes “I think Father and Leah shared that moment in August because I remember Mother receiving a wire from him, just before he left there letting her know he was coming home, just before her birthday and it would’ve taken him a good couple of days to get here from Strawberry which means he would’ve left the first week of September.”
“That does make sense” Nick joins in with “And Father would’ve realized what he had done and even though it happened it probably scared him too, knowing he had Mother and us at home, and I think I remember her getting the wire. I remember seeing her crying after it was delivered.”
“Right” Jarrod says “Which means he realized then he made that mistake and never thought it to be possible; I mean it only takes one moment to do it.”
“You know” Nick brings up “There is something Heath has told me about his mother saying he was her golden little angel, that he was a special gift from God.”
“Maybe” Jarrod says “There was something to that; just something that was meant to be and it would’ve taken place in late August, right before he was to come back home.”
“So,” Nick speculates, “That means Heath’s birthday is more likely in May.”
“That is my conclusion” Jarrod brings up “And I believe he was conceived in 1851 just before Father came home and was born 1852.”
“So,” Nick surmises, “He is eighteen going on nineteen.”
“That’s what I think and it does make sense” Jarrod then says “And you know what else it means?”
“It means,” Nick replies, “That he entered the war when he was eleven and was there until he was thirteen.”
“Exactly” Jarrod says “And I’ve also been thinking that he went to work for the Wheelers when he got out perhaps somewhere between fourteen and seventeen; seeing the war ended in 1865.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure of that” Nick retorts “I mean that uncle probably kept him locked up somewhere down in his cellar, that’s what he keeps saying and he had to go with that Mr. Moore and Mr. Wells and they delivered him to the Wheelers. And Father hired Wheeler and Deak in November 1869 which right there brings Heath’s age down to 17.”
“Heath” Jarrod brings up “Did say that Sheriff Hawkins took him out of the Wheelers and brought him to his place and he stayed with him and his wife for a while and while there they gave him a birthday party, that he was 14 so he had to be 13 working for the Wheelers.”
“That’s true too,” Nick notes.
“So” Jarrod says “Perhaps he went to work for the Wheelers right after getting home from being in that medical facility.”
“That’s what I’ve been thinking” Nick brings up “I want to find out more about those two too; find out where they went.”
“I’d like to know that myself,” Jarrod states.
“Did you notice the features on his face changing,” Nick says, “When we went from talking about his mother and going to his uncle?”
“I did,” Jarrod replies.
Shaking his head in disbelief “An eleven year old kid in a war, being taught” Nick brings up “To shoot and kill.”
“Remember at the Sempleworth’s,” Jarrod notes, “He was a good shooter.”
“That must have been where he got it from,” Nick surmises.
“That’s my thinking” Jarrod says “And learning little things about Heath, I’ve noticed that whatever he does or is doing he does completely with accuracy and does extremely well.”
“Yes” Nick hissing and exhaling heavily replies, “Heath, an eleven year old kid, being taught and trained to shoot and kill. Gene is thirteen years old and he still hasn’t touched a gun as of yet. And he wants me to teach him.”
“Are you going to?” Jarrod asks.
“I don’t know” Nick brings up “I promised him I would but I keep prolonging it, in a way I don’t really want him to yet.”
“You know Nick” Jarrod mentions “There were many stories of children as young as ten that were participating in the war. I heard that there were also children inside Andersonville. I don’t see Carterson being any different.”
“He did say,” Nick says, “He was a marshal-in-training.”
“Maybe” Jarrod brings up “The sheriff who took him to his house was teaching him to become a marshal.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” Nick notes, “And it does seem to make sense.”
“And” Jarrod points out “If he is eighteen years old as I think Nick, he is an eighteen year old boy. He never had an opportunity to be a boy, he went from boyhood to manhood in an instant.”
Still shaking his head in disgust “A boy who never ever had a chance to be one; it’s disgusting” Nick looking over at Heath who is still sound asleep says “You realize the one person that he had and needed the most, he wasn’t even able to have either. I wonder who raised him.”
“My guess is he did” Jarrod surmises “To the best of his ability he just grew himself up.”
“A boy who never got to be a boy” Nick hisses “A boy who would watch the other kids play and they wouldn’t play or have anything to do with him. It’s pretty sad. Father should have known about him, Father should have gone to Strawberry and see how Leah was making out. If he had, then he would’ve learned about him and he wouldn’t have had to live that way.”
“I know,” Jarrod says, “But what’s done is done, all we could do is be here and pick up the pieces.”
“A thirteen, fourteen year old kid” Nick angrily brings up “At the hands of the Wheelers, being restrained and beaten by all them, including his uncle. It’s disgusting what they did to him.”
“Yes it is” Jarrod notes “It’s horrifying and I believe there is a lot more than what he just told us. That explains some of what is going on inside his head, why he has those nightmares.”
“Yes, I know,” Nick says, “But I am not going to ask him anymore it’s too much on him.”
“I agree,” Jarrod replies, “But he does have to get it out somehow Nick.”
Exhaling deeply “I know that too” Nick says “But pressing him now for any answers isn’t the way to get them. It just hurts him more. Let’s keep talking to him a little at a time and if he wants to share something with us then we just have to be patient and be there for him when he does.”
“Patient?” Jarrod mimics, “You?”
“With him” Nick mentions “I have learned to start being a little patient. I know that he has too much eating at him inside and that it is probably tearing him apart but we do have to take it slow. I do want to find out when his birthday is and when I do, that boy is going to have the biggest and best birthday party anyone has ever had and I am going to make sure of it.”
Glancing over at Heath still asleep “There is one other thing I’ve been thinking about,” Jarrod brings up.
“What’s that?” Nick asks.
“His mother died,” Jarrod says.
“I know that,” Nick replies.
“But when did she die?” Jarrod wanted to know.
“I believe,” Nick states, “Right before he came here.”
“Right!” Jarrod then says “And how did he handle it? I mean the one person he had that meant everything to him died. When Father died it was a horrible day for all of us.”
“It was the worse day of my life,” Nick notes.
“Mine too,” Jarrod says, “But when we got the news how did we handle it?”
“I went and got drunk” Nick states “Until Duke came and straightened me out. Audra was crying and Gene beat up the barn pretty good.”
“I threw everything around in the study” Jarrod replies “And sat down and just sat there in a daze, didn’t want to do anything and Mother she would cry or snap at any one of us at any given time. And you, you just started getting back to your old self. Six months later. Now, tell me, how did he handle the news? What did he do? I wonder if he ever really grieved.”
“He came here” Nick says “So perhaps he got his anger out by his riding out to here.”
“That could be” Jarrod remarks “But if he hasn’t then he never really grieved.”
Just then seeing Heath beginning to move about, “Hey look,” Nick announces, “He’s waking up.”
Replying “We’ll continue this another time” Jarrod and Nick get up and cross to Heath’s side with Nick saying “Well hello, sleepyhead.”
Glancing up at Nick, “I slept?” Heath asks as he sits up with Nick responding, “Uh-huh.”
“Where did the pillow come from?” Heath inquires with Jarrod answering, “I went back to the cabin and got it for you.”
“Why’d’you do that?” Heath wanted to know.
“I just” Jarrod says “Thought you could use it while you took your little nap.”
“Do you feel better?” Nick asks.
“I do,” Heath replies.
“Would you like to go back to the cabin,” Jarrod asks, “We could start working on your school lessons.”
“We could,” Heath answers.
Smiling down at him “Come on” Jarrod says as he helps him get back on his feet. Nick takes the blanket and after folding it up, grabs the pillow.
Walking back to the cabin Heath lets out a sneeze, both Jarrod and Nick tell him “God bless you” as they glance over at each other.
Back in Stockton school is dismissed for the day. As the kids exit the building and come down the stairs Gene calls out to Irving who asks, “What is it Gene?”
“What are you doing tomorrow?” Gene wanted to know.
“Not sure yet,” Irving asks, “What about you?”
“So far I don’t have anything planned,” Gene suggests, “Would you like to hang out and do something?”
“Sure,” Irving then says, “How about if you come by in the morning and then we’ll see what we could do?”
“See you then,” Gene then tells him.
Coming down the stairs next Jessie asks of Audra, “What are you doing tomorrow?”
“Haven’t thought that far ahead,” Audra answers.
“Would you like to come over to the house?” Jessie offers.
“I’d like that,” Audra then says, “Let me ask my mother if she says I could then I will be over in the morning. How’s that?”
“Fine,” Jessie replies, “I’ll see you then. If not, I’ll see you on Monday.”
Going their separate ways, Jessie heads towards the store while Audra heads for the livery where she meets up with Gene. Retrieving their horses they ride back to the ranch together.
Up at Pine Lake Nick goes to take a nap while Jarrod works on school lessons with Heath. As Heath takes a seat on the couch per Jarrod’s request, Nick heads to one of the bedrooms. Grabbing a book, Jarrod joins Heath on the couch and begins showing him the cover asking Heath what it says.
Reading the words and pronouncing it the best he could Heath says, “My fir…firs…fir…sss (hissing as he makes out the s)…t a-b-c bow…ard book.
It reads: My first a b c board book.
Listening to him Jarrod tells him to sound out the word apple and board.
After a couple tries and getting it right Jarrod opens up the book and has him sounding out words that go with each of the pictures. As Heath has a hard time with some of the words (apron, avocado, abacus, and acorns), Jarrod assists him. They then proceed onto the b words (boat, bowl, bear, belt, ball, baby, beads, beans, butterfly, buttons and banana).
Continuing on with the lesson Jarrod turns the page to the letter c, Heath does well with cake, cow, comb and crab but as he has a hard time sounding out cucumber, cactus, clown and crown, Jarrod helps him with sounding it out as well as shows him the pictures to them once again.
Moving onto the next page of d, Heath does very well with drum, doll and dog. Jarrod assists him with sounding out daffodil and points to the dress that is in the picture. Going to the letter e, Heath is able to make out eggs, but once again Jarrod helps him with elephant and envelope.
Turning to the next page they do the letter f with Heath not having any trouble with frog, fish, fox, fork or fan. Moving to g, Heath sounds out goat okay and says the word glass as Jarrod points to it and grapes with Jarrod helping him with goose and gorilla.
Going to the next page to H, Heath manages to say horse while looking at the picture as Jarrod points to it, as well as hat and hammer. Jarrod assists him with honey. Moving onto the letter I, Heath reads ice and ink but needs help with ice cream.
Moving to the letter J, Heath is able to say jam but needs help with juice. Going onto the letter k, Heath makes out key and kite.
Jarrod then asks, “Have you ever built or flown a kite before?”
“No,” Heath answers.
“Perhaps when we get back,” Jarrod suggests, “We could work on that.”
Going back to the lessons he points to the king and as Heath makes out king Jarrod assists him with kangaroo, while Heath is able to sound out kitten as he looks at the picture. Turning to the page to L, Heath makes out the words lamb, lion, lemons, with Jarrod helping as well as leaves and lady bug.
Moving to M, Heath makes out mouse, and moth by looking at the picture, Jarrod helps him with mushrooms. Going to N, Heath reads nail under the picture, nest, net and nuts with Jarrod helping him with needle and necklace. Going to O, Heath says owl and looking at orange from the picture is able to make out the word with Jarrod assisting him with ostrich and octopus.
Turning the page to letter P, Heath makes out peas, pig, plate, Jarrod helps him with penguin, peach, pineapple, potatoes and paint brush. Moving to letter Q, Jarrod helps with the word quilt and queen. Moving to R, Heath manages to say rose, ring, rabbit, looking at the picture of the rabbit and Jarrod helps him with ribbon and ruler.
Going to letter S, Heath makes out stars, socks and spoon, Jarrod helps with spade, slippers, seahorse and Heath manages to make out snail and scissors looking at the picture as Jarrod underlines the word with his fingers.
Moving to T, Jarrod helps with tortoise, tomato, towel but Heath manages to sound out train, tiger and toothbrush, looking at each of the pictures.
Going to U, Heath makes out umbrella, looking at the picture with Jarrod showing him the word underneath-V, Jarrod helps with violin.
“What are these?” Jarrod asks of Heath as he points to them who answers “Vegetables” looking at the picture and being coaxed along as he sounds out the word.
Going to W, Heath makes out worm, wood, wire but is helped with watering can, walrus, wheel, whistle and watch. Turning to x, Jarrod helps Heath with Xylophone, moving to Y, Heath makes out yak and makes out 0 for zero to which Jarrod corrects him on the letter z, but he is able to say zipper and zebra by looking at the picture.
Jarrod then asks of Heath “Do you know what a zebra is?” with Heath replying, “I do.”
“Interesting,” Jarrod asks, “Where did you learn about a zebra?”
“Aunt Rachel,” Heath mentions, “She has books and showed me zebra.”
“Aunt Rachel,” Jarrod brings up, “Was a big influence in your life, huh?”
“She was,” Heath admits.
“Maybe” Jarrod says “One day we could go to Strawberry and I could meet her.”
“I’d like that,” Heath replies.
Closing the book “Well” Jarrod then says “We came to the last page of the book, do you know what that means?”
“Lesson is over?” Heath asks.
“Not quite” Jarrod says “It means we ran out of words for this book, but you see how apple has two p’s in it as well as zipper?”
“I do,” Heath answers.
Getting out the notepad and handing it to Heath “Here” Jarrod goes to explain how he wants him to write down words that have double letters in them, he then gets up to let him work on the lesson.
Back at the ranch Gene and Audra come home from school and hand off their horses to Ciego while they go into the house.
As they walk in the front door they call out, “Mother,” to which Audra adds, “We’re home.”
Greeting them as she enters the room she asks, “How was school?”
“Went fine,” comes from Audra while Gene replies, “It went okay.”
“Any homework?” Victoria asks in which Audra answers, “No, not tonight.”
Victoria then goes on to tell Gene to change his clothes and start working on cleaning up the mess he created inside the barn.
While Gene goes up the stairs Victoria asks Audra if she had any plans to which she replies, “Not right now, why?”
Victoria then goes on to suggest they work on their knitting for a little bit while Gene is outside cleaning up the barn.
Back up at the cabin Jarrod goes over to see how Heath is doing with making out words using the notepad he gave to him.
Nick waking up from his nap comes out of the bedroom asking, “How’s it going in the school room?”
“Going very well. He does very well with three and four letter words. I had to help him with a couple of the two syllable ones” Jarrod then says “How was your nap?”
Yawning “Well needed” Nick replies “Much better now. I needed that in the worse way. I will start dinner while you two continue on with the lessons.”
“I peeled the potatoes and carrots,” Jarrod notes, “I figured that was two less things you had to do.”
After thanking him Nick goes into the kitchen to work on dinner while Jarrod continues with the lessons.
Back at the ranch Gene is busy cleaning out the barn while Audra and Victoria are sitting in the parlor working on their knitting.
Up at the cabin Nick is cooking and Jarrod is having Heath work on double letters. Next he starts having him write each of their names starting with Nick’s.
As Jarrod watches Heath write them down he asks him to do his in which he spells ‘Jard’. Coming over and observing Nick lets out a laugh seeing the spelling of “Jard.”
Glaring up at Nick, “Nick,” Jarrod says with Nick apologizing.
Jarrod then goes to explain to Heath that his name has double letters within his name. Writing his name again this time Heath spells it ‘Jar-red.’
“That’s a little better” Jarrod mentions “But my name is spelled J-a-r-r-o-d.”
As he re-writes it Heath sounds out Jarrod’s name. Jarrod then has Heath go down the line starting with Audra followed by Gene doing his both as Gene and Eugene, Victoria, Silas, Duke and ending with Bobby, assisting when needed.
Once he finishes Jarrod has him using the notepad to spell out words that require double letters while he goes to assist Nick with getting dinner on the table.
At the ranch after Gene finishes cleaning up the barn he walks back to the house where he finds Victoria and Audra working on their knitting.
“Did you finish?” Victoria asks in which Gene replies, “Just did.”
“Very good Gene” Victoria then says “Please do me a favor and don’t ever do something like that again.”
“I won’t Mother,” Gene vows.
Victoria then tells him “Now why don’t you go upstairs and get cleaned up for dinner?”
Replying, “I will,” Gene exits the parlor and ascends the stairs.
Back at the cabin the brothers take their places around the table and as they are about to start eating Nick says “Let me know how you like it. Before you answer that remember I worked hard at putting it together, so you better” he growls.
Trying the fish, “Not bad,” comes from Jarrod with Heath replying, “Good.”
As he stops for a moment, “You’re both not just saying it?” Nick asks.
“No,” Heath responds, “I like; real good,” with Jarrod adding, “It is good.”
“How about the potatoes?” Nick then asks with Heath replying “Good. Could I have the ketchup?”
“Ketchup,” Nick inquires, “What are you putting ketchup on?”
“Potatoes,” Heath answers.
“You,” Jarrod wanted to know, “Like ketchup on mashed potatoes?”
“I do,” Heath states.
“What about the fish?” Jarrod asks with Heath replying “Not need ketchup. Like fish the way it is.”
Showing a small grin “So you really like it?” Nick asks “You’re not just saying it Heath?”
“No” Heath replies “I like; you did good.”
“I must agree,” Jarrod notes, “You did an excellent job on the entire dinner Nick, you won’t get any complaints from me.”
“Me either,” Heath adds.
“Well thank you; I am glad to hear that,” Nick says, “What do you want to do after dinner?”
“We could so some poker?” Jarrod suggests.
“We could,” Nick says, “How does that sound to you Heath?”
“Good,” Heath replies, “I like poker.”
“And,” Nick notes, “You’re real good at it too.”
“We could do something else,” Heath says.
“No,” Nick replies, “We could play poker, I don’t mind.”
Back at the ranch Audra, Gene and Victoria are eating their dinner together in the dining room.
As Victoria mentions how quiet it is Gene says, “That’s because there’s just us again.”
Victoria then asks what they like to talk about or what their plans for the weekend are with Audra mentioning she was thinking of going into town to visit with Jessie while Gene wants to go and hang out with Irving. Telling them they could do so after they finish doing their chores she suggests they ride into town together and come back together in which they both agree to.
They then wonder how Jarrod and Nick are making out up at Pine Lake with Heath with Victoria assuring them they are making sure Heath has a good time.
Up at the cabin the brothers have now moved to their cake. As Heath is eating the frosting, “How is it?” Jarrod asks with Heath replying, “Good,” while eating a couple of spoonful’s from the bowl.
Watching in amusement, “You really are enjoying that?” Nick inquires.
“I am,” Heath states, “Frosting real good,” as he continues devouring it.
“Be sure” Nick advises “To tell Mother and Silas when we get back how much you liked it.”
“I will,” Heath vows.
After finishing their dinner Nick cleans up while Jarrod and Heath work on roasting marshmallows.
Once they sit down together after everything is done, “Mmm,” Nick remarks, “These are delicious,” as he indulges in the roasted marshmallows.
“I like them,” comes from Heath and, “I do too,” from Jarrod.
Looking over at Heath, “I figured you would Heath,” Nick says, “You tend to like anything sweet.”
“I do,” Heath admits.
After they finish the roasted marshmallows they move onto a round of poker with Heath once again winning many of the dealt hands in between them snacking on the popcorn that they have in the middle of the table.
Raking in the money he’s won, “Your deal, Nick,” Heath says.
Retorting “Thanks for telling me that Heath” Nick picks up the deck and begins shuffling them.
Being a little discouraged after losing the hand, “Well,” Nick barks, “You did it to me again,” as he places his hand on the table.
As he rakes his winnings in, “Sorry,” Heath replies sympathetically.
“Hey Heath,” Nick counters, “This is the name of the game. I may want to win, but hey, if you win, you win.”
Heath then asks, “Want to play something else? We could.”
“Do you want to?” Jarrod counters.
“If you like,” Heath answers.
Changing games they switch to playing gin rummy with Jarrod taking the deck and dealing them out.
In between taking their turns Jarrod says, “Heath, could I ask you something?”
“You ask,” Heath replies, “I tell.”
In between picking up a card and putting one down Jarrod brings up “I know you are very good at poker and that you learned how to play while serving in the war but how is it that you are that good? Who taught you to play the game so well?’
“Yeah Heath” Nick joins in with “Who taught you how to play so well, I’d like to know.”
“Some” Heath explains “I learned on my own. The game itself was taught to me by a couple of the men. I would watch them play. Then one day one of the men Boomer that was what we called him and Alan and Pete asked me to sit with them and they showed me the deck and told me the cards and then how to play the game. I also played a little when in Carterson.”
“I see,” Nick replies.
“You,” Jarrod notes, “Said you learned some of it on your own.”
“I did,” Heath answers.
“Could you tell us more” Jarrod asks “I mean how did you learn on your own?”
“They showed me the game” Heath explains “But sometimes I would watch them play and would notice when they had a good hand and won like Nick would do and get excited and also notice their faces or their hands how they moved them depending on how they were doing.”
“So” Nick brings up “You could tell when someone had a good hand over a bad hand.”
“Yes,” Heath answers.
Patting him on the back playfully, “Very observant Heath,” Jarrod says.
Watching as Heath begins to blush “Hey Heath” Nick mentions “You’re blushing.”
Bashfully, “I am,” Heath asks.
Smiling, “You are,” Nick replies with Jarrod adding, “It’s good to see.”
Shortly after going back to the card game “Heath” Nick brings up “Seeing you slept out here last night I thought that I would sleep out here tonight and you could sleep on the cot in the bedroom. How’s that sound to you?”
“Okay,” Heath replies.
“In the morning,” Jarrod mentions, “We could get in some fishing using a pole.”
“How about after we finish here we go sit around the fireplace,” Nick suggests, “And eat what’s left of the popcorn and maybe tell stories.”
“Stories?” Heath mimics.
“Yeah stories” Nick reiterates “I don’t mean the kind out of book I mean us just telling stories of what happened to you before you came here and I don’t mean what happened at the Wheelers. You must have some good moments growing up and we could tell you some of ours, we could even do ghost stories or things you heard. Alright?”
“Alright,” Heath replies, “I could do that.”
“Nick,” Jarrod comments, “I think that is an excellent idea.”
“Glad you like it,” Nick says as he continues on with the card game.
Back at the house after finishing their card game Audra and Gene getting up from their seats give Victoria a good night kiss as they exit the room and head up the stairs. Up at Pine Lake finishing their card game the brothers are now seated around the fireplace enjoying their freshly popped popcorn while conversing.
Trying to get Heath to open up, “Come on Heath,” Nick says, “There must be something you like to bring up. How about if you tell us something you did when you were real small.”
“Not much to tell,” Heath replies.
“How about a dream,” Nick brings up, “I am sure you must’ve had a few of those in your day and I don’t mean the nightmares.”
“Had dreams,” Heath states.
“Could you tell us about them,” Jarrod softly asks.
Letting out a deep sigh and then looking down at the floor, “I had dreams of leaving Strawberry,” Heath mentions.
“In which you did,” Nick confirms.
After drawing his legs up and wrapping his arms around his legs with his chin resting on his arms “Before coming here” Heath brings up “And before knowing any of you existed there were days, many days I’d sit and think and wonder, what it would be like to have brothers and sisters.”
“Which you do have,” Jarrod points out.
“Yes” Heath notes “But I didn’t always have you. Up until I came I didn’t know too much about you being here and you didn’t know anything about me. I never knew too much about what a family was. I only had Mama, me, Aunt Rachel and Hannah.”
“True,” Nick replies.
“Heath,” Jarrod then brings up, “Being in the war and in Carterson, you must’ve moved about quite a bit.”
“I did,” Heath answers.
“You grew up together,” Heath asks, “What was it like?”
Shrugging “Never thought about it Heath” Nick admits “For us, I guess it was just natural for us to be together. As brothers growing up we were inseparable. Nick and Jarrod.”
“We did quite a bit together,” Jarrod adds, “Wrestle, talk, go into town together.”
“If someone picked a fight with Jarrod” Nick notes “He had to answer to me too.”
“If someone,” Jarrod adds, “Picked a fight with Nick then he had to answer to me.”
“That is part of us being brothers” Nick says “Being there for the other when needed. Sometimes on occasion we fought with each other but that too is part of being brothers.”
“When we did fight” Jarrod mentions “Sometimes we would chase each other around the house or the outside.”
“What would you fight about,” Heath wondered.
“Anything,” Nick replies, “But whatever we fought about we would make up later.”
“What would you talk about?” Heath asks.
“We would talk about girls,” Jarrod answers, “We would want to go out with, going to school together we would talk about what we wanted to do once we finished school.”
“Nick,” Heath asks as he looks over at him, “Did you always know you wanted to be a rancher?”
“I did yes” Nick replies “It didn’t occur to me until I was perhaps Gene’s age but I always enjoyed working the ranch and just knew that is what I wanted to be doing once I got older.”
“Heath,” Jarrod asks, “Do you like girls? I mean like going out with one?”
“I like them” Heath admits “Haven’t had many opportunities to be with one.”
“How come Heath?” Nick asks.
Shrugging “Many didn’t want much to do with me” Heath explains “Sometimes when I’d talk to one, sometimes their mother or father or both would tell me not to bother with their daughter or stay away from her; they didn’t want my kind bothering with them.”
“What about Libby?” Jarrod inquires, “You mentioned her in the saloon.”
“She was okay” Heath mentions “She and I were friends. We didn’t get to hang around much due to me being in the hotel a lot or me being gone, but whenever we got time we would do a little together and have fun. She didn’t mind being around the likes of me.”
“What kind of fun,” Nick asks, “Did you do?”
“Tree climbing,” Heath answers, “Play tag, have races on who could beat who.”
“Was that before you went into the war?” Nick wanted to know.
“It was,” Heath nodding his head replies.
“You haven’t,” Nick inquires, “Been out with any since?”
“There was Lupe,” Heath notes.
“And where is she?” Nick asks.
“Mexico,” Heath answers.
“Mexico?” Nick mimics.
“Uh-huh,” Heath replies.
“Was that before or after you went into the war?” Nick asks.
“After,” Heath states.
“Was that,” Jarrod joins in with, “After you worked for the Wheelers?”
“It was,” Heath admits.
“Was that after Sheriff Hawkins,” Nick asks, “Brought you back home?”
“It was,” Heath answers.
“Did you like her?” Jarrod wanted to know with Heath replying, “I did.”
“Heath,” Nick brings up, “Wait until some of the local girls get to meet you, you’ll probably break half the town’s hearts.”
“I don’t know about that Nick” Heath says “I think after meeting me and knowing who I am, they probably won’t want much to do with me.”
“For those” Nick mentions “Who do then I’d say they don’t deserve you. But I am sure it’ll happen. Just be patient.”
“I agree Heath,” Jarrod adds.
After a couple minutes of talking and telling various stories around the fireplace “Heath” Nick says “How about we try telling some ghost stories?”
“Okay,” Heath answers.
“Heath,” Jarrod asks, “Would you like hearing stories that we’ve heard that are supposedly true?”
“I would,” Heath replies.
“How about” Nick suggests “If we each take a turn and tell whatever comes to mind. It doesn’t matter if they are real or made up or if you heard from someone or actually witnessed them?”
“Good idea,” Jarrod says.
“Now Heath” Nick goes on to say “If anytime it gets too much for you just let us know alright and we’ll stop.”
“Okay,” Heath replies.
“Now how about if Jarrod goes first,” Nick suggests.
“Why me?” Jarrod inquires.
“You’re the oldest,” Nick states, “That way Heath could be last and could hear how it goes.”
“Good thinking Nick” Jarrod says “Let’s see” thinking he comes out with “How about if I start off with something I heard to be true while on the east coast, it had to do with a lost colony.”
“What happened?” Nick wanted to know.
“It happened in 1586” Jarrod goes on to say “Long before we were ever thought of. There were fifteen Englishmen that came to this country and settled on Roanoke Island, off the coast of North Carolina to establish claim to the island.”
As Heath is listening intently to the story Nick asks “So, what’s so strange about that? People have always come here from other countries to settle.”
“I know that Nick” Jarrod says “But from what I’ve been told is that the following year, 117 additional settlers, men, women and children arrived to find that the original fifteen men that came here had disappeared without a trace.”
“Where did they go?” Heath wanted to know.
“No one knows Heath” Jarrod replies “But then three years later in 1590 after the 117 settlers came an English supply ship came to Roanoke Island with provisions for the settlers to find out the entire colony disappeared.”
“I didn’t know that,” Nick goes on to say.
“Not only that Nick” Jarrod continues “Heath, but the only clue from what I remembered hearing they left behind was the word ’Croatian’ it’s possible that the settlers were worried about attackers or settlers from other countries who wanted to claim the island and they sought safety with the nearby friendly Indians that were there. However, why there weren’t any messages left behind other than the words on the tree, no one knows. And from what I understand is that today there are still about 12,000 Croatian Indians in North Carolina but they are nothing like other American Indians. These Indians, the Robinson County Indians have light skin, blue or gray eyes and English names. And they speak English but their dialect of English contains expressions that have not been around or used since the 1500’s.”
“Incredible,” Nick comments.
“No one knows” Heath asks “Where these Indians came from or how they got there?”
“No Heath,” Jarrod answers, “They don’t. Maybe the missing English settlers that arrived first, intermarried with the original tribe and these unusual Indians of today are the descendants. But there isn’t any proof.”
“That is strange Jarrod,” Nick notes.
“Isn’t it?” Jarrod says.
“I find it interesting,” Heath mentions.
“I have to admit” Nick confides “I do find it fascinating. To know about things and not having any real explanations makes one wonder.”
“It does,” Heath replies.
Raising an eyebrow “Maybe that explains why I remembered it so well. How about us going onto another one?” Jarrod insists with Nick replying “I’m for that.”
“I am too,” Heath joins in with.
“I was hoping you would be,” Jarrod says, “Brother Nick, it’s your turn.”
Exhaling heavily “I know, I know” Nick retorts “Okay, let’s see what comes to mind.”
“Tell anything,” Heath brings up.
“Thank you Heath,” Nick replies.
“You’re welcomed Nick,” Heath says.
Nick smiles at Heath while exchanging glances with Jarrod “Okay, here’s one” Nick blurts out “Have you heard of the Bermuda Triangle?”
“I have,” Heath answers.
“So have I,” Jarrod says.
“I guess many in the world have heard about that one,” Nick quips.
“I think so too, Nick,” Jarrod states.
“Okay, let’s see” Nick says “Seeing we were mentioning settlers from England how about if I bring up something regarding Egypt that I do wonder about.”
“I know this one,” Jarrod replies.
Glancing over at Jarrod “Of course you would” looking over at Heath Nick says “Heath, do you know what Egypt is?”
“No,” Heath answers.
“It’s a country on the other side of the world” Nick says “And over there they have what is known as pyramids. From what I heard is that ancient Egyptians long before the ones living there now buried their royalty in these pyramids under millions and millions tons of rock because they believed this would assure them of a life of peace and wealth and then after they died an eternal life for their soul” Nick then asks of Heath “Do you know what eternal is?”
“No,” Heath replies.
“It means living forever,” Nick states, “Never dying.”
“Oh,” Heath then says, “Go on Nick, I like to hear more.”
Watching as Heath is really paying attention to what he is saying “The largest pyramid” Nick goes on with “That was ever built is called the Pyramid of Cheap or the Great Pyramid and it’s in a town or a city called Giza, Egypt and from what I understand is that it was built about 5,000 years ago. Now, that’s longer than any of us have been around. Now do you want to know what is so strange or odd about it?”
“I do,” Heath answers, “What?”
“How was it built?” Nick asks.
“You’re telling it,” Heath answers, “How?”
Smiling and letting out a chuckle, “Good one Heath,” Jarrod retorts.
Exchanging a smile with Jarrod as Heath is listening intently “Okay” Nick says “Well, the pyramids are so high that they are about 450 feet tall, that’s taller than any structure that is known to be built and the base covers about 13 acres, approximately 1/3 size of the ranch’s property and it took I believe 2 million stone blocks or more weighing anywhere from 2 to 5 tons a piece that is real heavy.”
“It is,” Heath states.
“So the big question is how would they carry those big stone blocks and better yet, they would also have to be cut and ferried across the Nile,” Nick says.
“What’s the Nile?” Heath asks.
“It’s a river over on the other side of the world, supposedly the longest around” Nick then asks “Do you know what a ferry is?”
“No,” Heath replies.
“It’s a type of boat,” Nick explains, “Somehow the Egyptians took these stones across the river and dragged them up to the base of the pyramid, up a ramp surrounding each layer of the pyramid. Now that’s about 6 million tons of rock that had to be moved in this way, and from what I heard it took maybe 400,000 men and twenty years to complete the job. But how could they have lifted those rocks?”
“I don’t know,” Heath shrugging answers.
“I don’t either” Nick says “Not to mention them being so heavy and someone cutting them. You couldn’t very well use scissors on them or a typical hand saw.”
“No,” Heath replies, “Not if they were that heavy they couldn’t have.”
“They also” Nick goes on with “Placed those stones so accurately, so perfect without using any proper tools to work with.”
“That is an interesting question Nick,” Jarrod joins in with, “I often wondered that myself. And to this day I still think about it from time to time.”
“If no one back then,” Heath brings up, “Could carry them being so heavy then how could they have built the pyramid as they had?”
“That is what puzzles me” Nick says “But I heard it told that maybe some people or some other race of beings came here from another world.”
“Another world?” Heath mimics.
“Yeah,” Nick replies, “From up in the sky.”
“Do you think there could be people or a race of beings that live up there in the sky that could come here?” Heath curiously asks.
“One could never know Heath” Nick replies “I mean it is a big world up there and when you look up at the stars they do go on forever, so who could say.”
“I did always say I wanted to go up there,” Heath mentions.
“You did,” Nick says, “And if there was a way to do it, I wouldn’t mind going up there myself, see what is up there besides the dark sky and the stars.”
“If it was possible,” Jarrod joins in with, “I wouldn’t mind that either. I too would like to know what else is up there.”
“Maybe,” Heath notes, “One day it will happen.”
“Maybe one day,” Jarrod reiterates.
“So” Heath brings up “Whoever it was that told you this story thinks that maybe people came here from another world, from out of the sky and built these pyramids?”
“Yes,” Nick replies, “However there isn’t any proof whether they did or didn’t but you have to admit it’s hard to believe someone from this Earth could have built them so I think it a big possibility and from what I understand one day they will return to finish what they started.”
“That is something to think about,” Heath notes.
“It is” Nick replies “But how about if we go onto that question some other day and right now how about if you tell us something you heard” looking over at Heath.
“I could do that,” Heath notes, “You did say we take turns.”
Smiling, “I did,” Nick replies.
“I have a story” Heath goes on to say “That is real and when I first heard it, it did bother me for a long time.”
“I thought you said” Nick reminds him “You don’t get scared listening to ghost stories.”
“I don’t,” Heath explains, “However when I heard the one I am going to tell you, it did bother me.”
“When it bothered you,” Nick wants to know, “Did you tell anybody that was with you about it?”
“No,” Heath answers, “Kept it to myself.”
“Heath,” Jarrod encourages, “Why don’t you tell us?”
Shrugging, “Okay,” Heath says, “It had to do or has to do with a town or a village called Dudley town.”
“Dudley Town?” Nick mimics, “Never heard of it.”
“What happened?” Jarrod asks.
“From what I know of it,” Heath says, “Is that there is a curse on the town.”
“A curse?” Nick baffly asks.
“Yes,” Heath reiterates, “A curse, Nick.”
“Do you believe in them Heath?” Nick wanted to know.
“I do yes,” Heath states, “And when I finish you may believe in them too.”
“Heath,” Jarrod says, “Continue.”
“Yes please,” Nick replies, “Continue I want to hear this.”
“Want to know how the town got its name?” Heath asks.
Shrugging “Sure” comes from Nick with Jarrod inquiring, “How Heath?”
“From three brothers” Heath states “Who supposedly moved or traveled to there which is why it’s called that and from what I know of it that it has a curse on the entire town.”
“Because of them?” Nick wanted to know.
“Yes” Heath answers “Because somehow when they went there they brought it there. It’s been said that other Dudley family members is where the curse began. They ran a lot of bad luck. Someone named Thomas Griffis bought a piece of land in this town and later on sold a piece of it to one of the Dudley brothers so they could start a farm of their own. Then two other Dudley brothers came and bought land nearby and then later on another Dudley came and joined the family.”



“So that is how they got the name Dudley town?” Nick asks, “From the Dudley brothers that came and lived there?”
“Yes” Heath replies “From what I know is that the town was never any good for farming but the settlers would come and try moving into the area. They had a family called Tanner, Jones, Pattersons, Dibbles, Porters who all went to live in the town. The town grew larger than any mining camp or town because of some iron ore they discovered there.”
“You have a good memory,” Nick notes.
“Yes,” Jarrod concurs, “I have to agree. Please continue.”
“Once all these families moved in” Heath mentions “Something started to happen.”
“What’s that Heath?” Jarrod asks.
“Strange deaths,” Heath shivering says, “And other strange things began as well.”
“Like what?” Nick wanted to know.
“One of the Dudley boys, Abiel” Heath states “Lost his entire fortune and his mind.”
“You mean he went crazy?” Nick asks.
“Something like that” Heath continues “He then eventually died from being insane. His good friend, Gershon Hollister was killed while building a new barn at the home of William Tanner who was Abiel’s next door neighbor. Tanner was also said to have gone crazy. Then a family called Carter moved into the area and lived in a house that was owned by Abiel Dudley. Some kind of sickness took the lives of the Carter family. But the survivors of the Carter home eventually moved out of Dudley town and it was said that the bad things that happened in Dudley town followed right along with them.”
“Like what?” Jarrod inquires.
“Not sure” Heath answers “But said that some Indians killed Nathaniel Carter, his wife and their baby. The Carter’s other three children were taken away where the two daughters were ransomed.”
“Were they eventually let go,” Nick asks, “Or did their captors kill them?”
“Don’t know all of it” Heath says “But what I remember is the third one, the Carter’s son David, remained with the captors and married an Indian girl and later returned to get his education. He survived and from what I heard is that the curse that killed his family somehow managed to escape him and he became a judge.”
“Interesting,” Jarrod comments.
“But then other things began to happen,” Heath mentions.
“Like what?” Nick asks.
“A General Herman Swift,” Heath notes, “Who served in a war.”
“The Civil War,” Jarrod inquires.
“No,” Heath answers, “A different one.”
“What happened?” Nick asks.
“His wife,” Heath explains, “Was struck by lightning while standing on the front porch of their home in Dudley town.”
“Did she die?” Jarrod wanted to know with Heath replying, “She did and then the general went insane after that.”
“Seems,” Nick speculates, “A lot of people went insane, gone crazy.”
“They did,” Heath states, “Some said they thought perhaps something was in the water they were using.”
“That could be,” Jarrod comments.
“Is there anything else?” Nick asks.
“No” shaking his head “That is all that was said” Heath says “But it sure is strange.”
“There is no denying that,” Nick replies, “But as you said could’ve just been a strange case of bad luck.”
“Maybe,” Heath remarks.
“Heath,” Jarrod asks, “Do you know where this Dudley town is?”
“No,” Heath replies, “Just know of it.”
“Would you like to find it” Nick asks “And see what happens if we went there?”
“No thank you Nick” Heath replies “I rather not. Where ever Dudley town is, let it stay right where it is, I want to stay as far away from it as I could.”
“I guess it,” Nick notes, “Really freaks you out.”
“It does,” Heath admits.
“Maybe whoever it was that told you this” Nick brings up “Did it just to scare you, did you think of that?”
“They wouldn’t do that” Heath states “And I think now, I could say, I had enough ghost story telling for now.”
“I think we have too,” Jarrod says.
“I think so too,” Nick adds, “And we’ll stop.”
*For anyone interested the stories Jarrod and Nick told were stories that are true, that I either heard or read about years ago, and the story Heath told is also real. Dudley town is in the state of Connecticut where I live. I only had Heath mention up until the early 1800's because they right now are in 1871. But if you would like to learn more about Dudley town, go to either WWW.Ghosttowns.com or WWW.ghostvillage.com or go to google.com and they will bring you to them. Also you if you want go to The WWW.Warrens.net They are ghost chasers, and have been there. If you want to learn more about them. Sandy.
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