An Angel On Earth

 

(A Big Valley-Touched By An Angel Crossover Story)

 

By:  Kenda

 

 

Prologue

 

     The two women sat atop their horses on a distant hill that rose high above the surrounding ground.  Using the tip of one finger Monica nudged the brim of her cowboy hat further back on her forehead.  Even here, on California’s range, her Irish brogue came through loud and clear.

 

     “I feel just like John Wayne, Tess.”

 

     The plump black woman eyed her friend.  “John Wayne?”

 

     “Oh yes.”  The young angel swung her right arm in a circle high above her head as though she was getting ready to toss a rope.  “I can see the doggies right in front of me.”

 

     “Doggies?”

 

     “Calves, Tess.  Little cows.  Wee ones that need to be returned to the herd.”

 

     “I know what doggies are, Angel Girl.  And would you put your arm down.  You look like Phil Jackson signaling Michael Jordan to make a basket.”

 

     “Now that was a fun assignment.”

 

     “By virtue of the fact that it didn’t involve me sittin’ my big old butt on a horse, I’d have to agree.”

 

     “Aw, Tess, what’s wrong?  Don’t you like Noah?”

     “I like Noah just fine.  It’s this horse I’m not too fond of.”

 

     “Tess, that’s your horse’s name.  Noah.”

 

     “Oh.  Well...I suppose that makes sense since the Noah I’m acquainted with does have a soft spot for animals.  But I’d sure like to get a hold of the man who first decided these creatures made for good transportation, ‘cause to tell you the truth, Angel Girl, this here horse ain’t near as comfortable as those plush leather seats in my red convertible.” 

 

     “Then why aren’t we using it?”

 

     “Because we’ve gone back in time, child.  Mr. Ford hasn’t invented the automobile yet, which explains our current means of travel.”

 

     “How exciting.  Am I going to ride the range?  Be a rootin’ tootin’ cowgirl?  Maybe tour with a Wild West show?”

 

     “None of the above.   Your role is to guide another angel through his first assignment.”

 

     “Really?  Who?”

 

     “I don’t know.  I haven’t been told all the details yet.  But there,” Tess pointed to a flat piece of ground far below them,  “there goes the young man who will become the focus of our work.”

 

     “He’s a cowboy.”

 

     “He surely is.”

 

     “And a handsome one at that; riding a fine horse and wearing a beautiful coat.  The sign of a man who spares no expense.”

 

     “Don’t let looks deceive you, Angel Girl.  This one had a humble beginning and he’s never forgotten where he came from.  He has no doubts that if all he now possesses was taken from him tomorrow, he wouldn’t suffer for a moment provided he still has his family by his side.”

 

     “He sounds like a man who knows what really matters in this world.  Why does he need us?”

     “Although Heath Barkley...”

 

     “Is that his name?”

 

     “Yes.”

 

     “Heath Barkley.  Ah, a strong name of the Scottish highlands it is.  And because of that I’d venture to say he’s a strong man.”

 

     “If by a strong man you mean Mr. Barkley has lived through his fair share of trials and come out a victor, you’re correct, Angel Girl.  But this time...well this time...”

 

     Seemingly from nowhere another rider joined the pair.  Monica turned in the saddle to greet her blond colleague.

 

     “Andrew, what are you doing here?” 

 

     The Angel Of Death shrugged his shoulders.

 

“God will reveal that to all of us in due time, Monica, including me.  However; I’ve been told I’ll be assisting many people in making the final journey into their Father’s loving arms.”

 

     “Including Heath Barkley?”

     The handsome angel nodded as he looked at the lone rider below.      “Yes.  Including Heath Barkley.”

    

 

 

Chapter 1

  

 

     Heath’s horse trotted underneath him.  According to the calendar it was early spring, but patches of snow still clung to the ground.  The cowboy used the reins to guide the animal around the slick spots that remained from the icy rain that had fallen a week ago.  The slate gray sky was flat and lifeless, belaying any signs of green grass and tree buds.  A chilly wind blew across the desolate hillside making it feel more like January than April.

 

     Heath used one gloved hand to pull his fur-lined collar closer around his neck.  The expensive sheepskin coat had been a Christmas present from the woman he now called mother.  Three years had passed since he'd first come to live with his father's family.  He thought back to the bitter, angry man he'd been when he'd arrived. and how a tiny, regal lady had changed him.

 

     Victoria Barkley didn't have to accept him.  After all, Heath was the product of her husband's extramarital affair.  Granted, by virtue of that Victoria's sons and daughter were Heath's half-siblings, but when he'd come to the Barkley ranch that day in January of 1876 it hadn't been with the intention of forming a bond with this family he didn't know.  Heath was ashamed now, to acknowledge he'd come to claim what was his.  He'd grown up poor, the illegitimate child of a young woman who had worked hard all her short life to provide for him and raise him right.  His mother, Leah Thomson, had been beautiful woman.  A woman who could have gone far in this world had she not given birth out of wedlock and then been forced to make a living for herself and her child in a small town that offered few prospects to a person of her position.  Ironically enough, Leah and Victoria shared an identical build and similar features. 

 

     It was Victoria who stopped Heath from leaving three years earlier.  After all the uproar with the railroad was over Nick handed him a bank draft for more money than he'd ever seen in his life.  Heath would have ridden away that day with that draft in his pocket and never seen his siblings again had it not been for Victoria's challenge. He was headed for the door when she appeared seemingly out of nowhere and spoke in a quiet tone of steel.

 

     "You're angry with your father, young man, and I don't blame you.  I'm angry with him, too.  But it will do neither of us any good to harbor ill-will against a man who is incapable of defending himself.  If Tom were alive, perhaps he'd have an explanation for us, but he's dead and it's quite possible we'll never have any answers.  We both have to learn to live with that fact, Heath."

 

     Heath turned around and stared at the woman across the wide foyer.  When he'd arrived at the ranch five days earlier he'd never given Tom Barkley's widow a thought.  Never considered what his appearance would do to a woman who had assumed her husband had been faithful to her throughout twenty-eight years of marriage.  Ever since Heath had come to discover who his father was he'd felt only hate for the wealthy rancher.  He'd never thought further as to what the news of his existence would do to the wife and children Tom Barkley had left behind. 

 

     The blond man saw the hurt in Victoria's eyes that day.  But he also saw an inner strength not unlike the strength he'd seen in his own mother's eyes when he was a child. 

 

     "The only way you can really get to know your father now is by getting to know Jarrod, Nick, Audra, and Eugene.  By getting to know your brothers and sister."

 

     Heath didn't reply, not certain what it was the woman was proposing.

 

     She saw his confusion and gave him a soft smile.  "You can stay here, Heath.  For as long as you'd like.  Whether it be a day, a week, a year. . .or for much longer than that, you owe this to yourself.  I sense the hatred that's inside you slices deep into your heart.  Let the boys and Audra help you see another side of the man who is father to all of you."

 

     Heath stood in that foyer unable to move.  Staying at the Barkley ranch had been the last thing on his mind.  He hadn't been in residence a week, yet he and Nick already had a strong dislike for one another.  Nick made it no secret he was anxious to see Heath go.  The blond man wasn't sure how the rest of his siblings felt, but if nothing else Heath knew they were shocked and hurt, and blamed him for the desecration of their father's memory no matter how true his story might be.

 

     Victoria seemed able to read his thoughts.  Or maybe he was more like his half-brothers than he knew, meaning she could discern the fleeting emotions on his face.

 

     "It won't be easy, I can promise you that.  Tom was a well-respected man in this valley.  There will be many people who doubt your word.  Doubt that you are who you say you are.  But myself, I've never worried about what other people say, and after the hard life you've been forced to live I'm willing to bet you don't put much stock in the gossip of others either.  As far as your brothers and sister go," Victoria shrugged her shoulders, "it will take time for them to accept you.  Maybe they never will.  Or maybe you'll never come to accept them."

 

     After a long pause Heath spoke for the first time.  "Jarrod, Audra, and Eugene...I guess I could give it a try with them.  But Nick...well Nick and I haven't exactly hit it off."

 

     Heath thought he saw a twinkle in Victoria's eyes as a slight smile danced around her lips.

 

"You hate each other."

 

     Heath nodded, hiding his own smile.

 

"That's pretty much the size of it."

 

     Victoria raised an eyebrow.  "Perhaps the two of you are more alike than you know."
    

"Ma'am?"

    

"You both have the Barkley temper."

 

     Heath had no answer for the woman, but then he got the impression she didn't expect one. 

 

     "So what will it be?"

     Heath thought a long moment before replying.  He hadn't admitted fear to anyone, not even himself, since he was a child.  Not when he was eight and worked far beneath the earth in Strawberry’s mines, not when he was sixteen and left home for places unknown, not when he was seventeen and fighting Reb soldiers, nor when he spent eight months in atrocious conditions in a POW camp, nor when he was scouting Apaches for a wagon train, or was the deputy sheriff in the town of Jubilee.  But in truth what Victoria Barkley was proposing to him was scarier than all those other things combined.  He already felt so out of place.  How would he ever fit in with the brothers and sister who had grown up with everything he'd grown up without?  Would they go on resenting him for hurting their mother and soiling their father's name, or would they slowly get to know him?  And even if they did get to know each other, would they come to like him, and him them?  Maybe it would be easier to just leave.  After all, he did get what he came for, the portion of Tom Barkley's wealth that was his birthright.

 

     And that's when his mother's face came to mind.  Leah Thomson had always been so brave and strong no matter how difficult things became.  She'd never run from anything.  Not even the narrow minded attitudes of a small town, nor the malicious gossip she was the focal point of because she'd birthed an illegitimate child and then kept him, as opposed to sending him off to an orphanage when he was no more than hours old.  Heath knew his mother would be ashamed of him if she saw how he'd conducted himself the last five days.  She'd remind him that she'd raised him better than that.  That she hadn't raised him to hurt good people.  To hurt people who had nothing to do with his pain.  And she'd remind him that above all else, she'd always taught him to be an honorable man and to never feel sorry for himself.  Because his mother taught him all those lessons, Heath was well aware of what she’d want him to do now.

 

     "I...I guess I'll stay on a while.  If that's okay with you."

     "I wouldn't have asked you to if it wasn't."

 

     Heath nodded and turned toward the door.  He was exhausted, both physically and emotionally.  All he wanted to do was lie down on his bunk in the ten-man bunk house where he'd been put up the first day he'd ridden onto the property under the guise of ranch hand.

 

     "Where are you going?"  Victoria asked.

 

     "To the bunkhouse."

     "Good idea.  Get your things together, then come back here.  I'll be waiting."

 

     "Ma'am?"

 

     "And please quit calling me ma'am.  It makes me feel like an old woman.  You may call me Victoria if you'd like."

 

     "Ummm...thank you.  But why do you want me to come back in here with my stuff?"

     "Because I need to show you to your room.  And you look tired.  Nicholas has been working you like a dog ever since you arrived.  Perhaps you'd like to take a nap before dinner."

 

     If Heath was understanding the woman correctly she was proposing that he sleep in her home and share dinner with her family.  The thought of it unnerved him.

 

     "No...I'll...I'll just stay with the other men.  I--"

     Victoria's voice held no room for argument.     "Heath, your Tom's son just like Jarrod, Nick, and Eugene are his sons.  For as long as you choose to stay on the ranch then this house is just as much yours as it is theirs.  Now please get your things so you have a chance to rest before dinner."

 

     Heath hesitated, then finally nodded his consent.  If he was going to become a part of his new family perhaps plunging right in was the only way.  He didn't say a word when he took the bank draft out of his pocket and handed it to Victoria, nor did he see the smile on her face when he walked away from her that afternoon, but he felt it.

 

     That same smile had been bestowed on Heath many times during the intervening years.  It held the same amount of warmth and love when given to him as it did when it was given to his half siblings.  Heath still found it remarkable that this woman, who had every reason to hate him, had grown to love him as much as she did her own children and never hesitated to call him son.

 

     Heath coaxed his horse up the steep hill.  At the top he would come to a road.  From there the forty additional miles he needed to travel to reach home could be covered at a faster pace.  The tools in his saddlebags clanged together.  He'd been gone from the ranch house for three weeks.  With spring came the opportunity to pasture the cattle farther from the main buildings.  They needed new grass and alfalfa to grow fat for the fall market.  Since November they'd been kept in the pastures close to home so they could seek shelter from the snows and rains of winter in the many lean-to buildings the Barkleys had scattered about.  Plus the closer the animals were to the ranch the easier it was to feed and water them should the winter be so harsh that the ground was covered with snow and the running streams covered with ice. 

 

     Each spring, before the cattle were turned out to roam as far from the main ranch as they desired, someone had to check the fence lines on all the boundaries to make certain they were in good condition.  It was a lonely job, and often a cold one if the warm winds of March were slow in coming as they were this year.  Nick and Heath had drawn straws for the job, and for the second year in a row Heath lost.  He wasn't so certain Nick hadn't rigged the game somehow, but after some good natured teasing thrown his older brother's way Heath packed his bedroll, accepted the food Silas readied for him, and loaded his saddle bags with the necessary equipment.  Heath Barkley had never been afraid of work, and while sleeping outside for three weeks during the fussy month of April might be considered a hardship by some, Heath considered it a Sunday picnic when compared to the time he'd spent in Carterson Prison during the war.

 

     Heath thought of his family and how much he missed them as he softly plunked the heels of his boots into his horse's sides.  It was amusing, in an ironic sort of way, that he was lonely for the very people he had been so belligerent to when he first arrived.  But Jarrod had grown to be a trusted advisor and respected friend.  At eight years older than Heath, Jarrod was the kind of big brother Heath had dreamed of having as a little boy.

 

     Audra, well once Audra had forgiven Heath for the upset he'd caused they'd quickly formed a bond that wasn't easily penetrated.  Heath wasn't really sure why that was so.  In large part he attributed it to Audra's kind heart.  The young woman couldn't stand to see another person treated like an outcast, and Lord knows Heath had spent much of his life playing that role.  With five years separating them he and Audra were closer in age than she was to either Jarrod or Nick, who were thirteen and nine years her senior, so maybe that had something to do with their bond as well.  All Heath knew for certain was that somewhere along the line he and Audra had become companions who enjoyed a nightly game of cards or checkers, or a long horseback ride on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

 

     Eugene he wasn't as close to as he was the rest of his siblings, but not because of any discord that existed between them.  Gene had been a college student back when Heath first arrived, so other than summer break and two weeks at Christmas time Heath rarely saw him.  After Gene graduated from Berkeley with a degree in animal husbandry, he'd accepted a position at a university in England where he'd brought his knowledge of veterinary medicine and American ranching techniques to the British.  He had a great love for the British Isles and last August he'd married the daughter of one of his English colleagues.  In truth the family doubted the young man would ever live in the States again, which was why Victoria and Audra were making plans for an annual voyage abroad.    

 

     Heath had to shake his head and smile when he thought of Nick.  Victoria Barkley had been right about the temper the two men shared, though Nick was quicker to anger than Heath, and was the one who more often than not went off 'half-cocked' as Jarrod liked to say.  God knows the two of them, Nick and Heath, had butted heads like a couple of stubborn rams throughout the first year Heath was with the family.  But on the other hand, within a few days of Victoria having extended her invitation to Heath, it became apparent Nick was not going to allow anyone to speak ill of him.  How many fist fights Nick got into on his behalf Heath didn't know, but by the end of that first year they'd grown to be best friends.  They still butted heads occasionally, and every so often got into a good old-fashioned shouting match, but despite all that they worked side by side each day to run the ranch.  Because of that work, and through it their constant contact, their friendship had come to be so strong that an outsider would have assumed they'd grown up together just like most brothers do.  If Heath had ever told any of those outside observers how young his relationship with Nick really was, or told about its rocky start, they never would have believed him.

 

     Heath felt the ground level out beneath him as Charger crested the hill.  The dirt road now lay before them.  He looked up at the sky, but without the sun it was hard to tell what time it was.  He pulled his watch out of his coat pocket and flicked the button that would allow the cover to pop up. Three-thirty.  With the cloud cover as it was he would roughly have two more hours of light by which to travel by.  He'd go a little farther, then rest his horse for a few minutes.  Now that he was on the final leg of his journey he was anxious to make it home.  If the weather held and he wasn't pelted by any rain or snow he should arrive at the ranch within forty-eight hours.

 

     The blond man looked up the road.  A wagon was pulled over to the side, a man crouched beside its back wheel.

 

     "So much for gettin' home within the next couple of days," Heath muttered.   He urged Charger forward causing the animal to break into a cross between a trot and a run.  When they came along side the wagon Heath pulled back on the reins.

 

     "Howdy.  Need some help?"

     The man looked up, the brim of his hat shading a weathered face.

 

     "Only if you got a miracle in them saddle bags, mister."

 

     Heath swung off his horse and looped the reins around one of the wagon's wooden slats.  He smiled at the little girl sitting in the back of the wagon amidst boxes of groceries and supplies, then tipped his hat to the woman perched on the wagon's seat cradling a well-wrapped infant in her arms.

 

     "A miracle?"  Heath questioned, crouching beside the man.

 

     "The axle broke.  Slipped right outta the wheel there, see.  I got some wood amongst the supplies I bought in town today, but my tools are at home and that's four miles away.  I can't hardly leave my wife and children here by themselves, it'll be dark fore I get back.  But my Caroline’s sick with a bad cold.  I hate to make her walk that far."

 

     The little girl with the blond braids, whom Heath estimated to be seven years old, coughed into her hands. 

 

"I'm okay, Papa.  Really I am.  I can walk if I have to."

 

     Heath smiled at the child with the bright blue eyes.  He reached out a hand and tweaked her nose. 

 

"Well, Miss Caroline, I don't think that'll be necessary.  I do believe this is your lucky day."

"Really?"

    

"Really."

Heath undid the leather strap on one of his saddlebags while talking to Caroline’s father.  "I've been riding the range fixing fence line.  I've got about every tool in these two saddlebags a man can think of.  If you'll grab the wood you said you have we can get to work."

 

     "Well, thank you, sir," the man said.  "That's mighty kind of you."

 

     "No need to thank me.  Nor to call me sir.  The name's Heath Barkley."

 

     The man held out a hand to Heath.  "Will.  Will Atkins."

 

     While Mr. Atkins got the wood he needed Heath pulled his gloves off and tucked them underneath his saddle.  He reached in the saddlebags and pulled out a hammer, chisel, and nails.  He then dipped deep in a coat pocket and came up with two squares of chocolate wrapped in gold paper.  He held the candy out to Caroline.

 

     "Here, Miss Caroline.  I told you it was your lucky day."

     "For me?"  The little girl scooted across the wagon floor on her knees. 

 

     "Yep, for you.  My little sister, who's almost as pretty as you, slipped those in my pocket when I left home three weeks ago.  She knows how much I love chocolate."

 

     "It's chocolate?"  The youngster marveled.  "Real chocolate?"

     Heath knew just how the child felt.  When he was a boy real chocolate was a treat he rarely experienced.  His mother couldn't afford such luxuries.  The penny candies he occasionally received were of the hard variety like peppermints or butter rums.  When Audra had found that out, and found out what a passion he had for chocolate, she never ceased to take the opportunity to surprise him with a pocketful of Godiva's imported all the way from New York City.

 

     "Oh, Mr. Barkley, please take those back," Mrs. Atkins said.   "Caroline doesn't need them.  Chocolate is so expensive.  They're yours."

 

     "No, no.  I've had my fill.  If I eat anymore of it my sister will have to sew me a new pair of pants."  Heath winked at Caroline.  "And if you've ever seen the result of Audra's sewing you'd know I'd end up with a pair of pants that has three legs."

 

     The child giggled, then coughed until she was red in the face.  When the tight, unproductive spasm passed she turned to her mother.  "Please, Ma, can I eat one piece now?"

 

     "Well, if Mr. Barkley insists that you have it then yes, you may eat one piece now.  But give me the other one and we'll save it for your after supper treat."

 

     The child handed her mother one piece of candy then carefully unwrapped the other.  She folded the gold paper and tucked it in her coat pocket.  It was so pretty.  Maybe she'd find something to wrap with it someday.  A present of some sort for her baby brother, Clint William.  Caroline took small licks of the solid square of milk chocolate, making it last as long as she could.

 

     Within thirty minutes Heath and Will had the wagon fixed.  Heath turned to put his tools away.

 

     "That should do you, Mr. Atkins.  I wouldn't take this wagon too far from home until you've had a chance to put a new axle in there, but I think it'll hold for now."

 

     "Thank you, Mr. Barkley.  I appreciate your help.  And I'm sorry about delaying you."

 

     "No problem there.  My horse needed the rest anyway.  I'll ride along with you until you turn off for home."

 

     "Would you come for supper, Mr. Barkley?"  Mrs. Atkins called down from her perch.  "It won't be anything fancy, but I left some stew simmering over the coals before we set out for Laton this morning."

 

     Heath knew Laton was a town of about four hundred people three miles behind them and over the next ridge.  It had been years since he'd been there, and though he could have rented a room at the Laton Hotel and ridden out each morning to do the necessary work on the fences, he'd chosen not to simply because it added extra miles to each day's journey. 

 

     "No, thank you, ma'am.  I'd like to press on.  I'm hoping to be home within the next couple days."

 

     "I understand."  The woman turned, careful not to jostle the sleeping baby boy she was still holding.  "Caroline, thank Mr. Barkley for his help and for the chocolate."

 

     The little girl got on her knees and scooted to the wagon's side once again.  She wrapped her arms around Heath's neck and gave him a cold kiss on the cheek. 

 

"Thank you, Mr. Barkley."  She turned her head away and coughed into her bare hands.  When she could speak again she added,  "The candy was the most wonderful thing I've ever tasted."

 

     "I'm glad to hear that, Miss Caroline."

     The child ran her hands over the warm fur of Heath's coat collar and then down the soft tan hide of the sleeves. 

 

"Oooh, it's so beautiful and soft.  Where'd you get it?"

     "My mother gave it to me for Christmas."

 

     "Wow!  Both the chocolates and this pretty coat.  Your family must love you a lot, Mr. Barkley."

 

     Heath laughed.  "Well now, Miss Caroline, I guess they do at that."

 

     Heath gently tugged on one braid, then untied Charger from the wagon.  He swung himself up in the saddle and rode along side the family until they parted ways with him two and a half miles down the road.

 

     "We'll be fine from here, Mr. Barkley," Will assured.  "Even if I do have trouble now we're within a quarter mile of home.  Caroline can ride on my back if need be."

 

     Heath nodded and said a final goodbye.  With a wave and wink to Caroline he kicked his horse in the sides and headed off at a trot.

 

     The little girl watched until Heath was out of sight.  She curled up in the straw her papa had put in the wagon's bed that morning for her comfort, and wrapped her coat closer to her body.

 

     "Ma, I don't feel good."

 

     Mrs. Atkins glanced over her shoulder.  "The chocolate Mr. Barkley gave you must be churning in your tummy."

 

     "No, my tummy's fine.  I'm hot and cold both at the same time and my chest hurts."

 

     Ellen Atkins twisted in her seat and laid a hand on her daughter's forehead.  She turned to her husband. 

 

"Will, she's hot.  Really hot."

     Will swatted the horses with the reins.

 

"I'll hurry us on home so you can get some stew in her and get her to bed."  He glanced at his wife's pinched features.  "Now don't be frettin' so.  She just has a cold."

 

     Ellen smiled down at her little girl.  The child's face was suddenly flushed and her eyes overly bright.  She hoped to God her husband was right.  She hoped all Caroline had was a cold.  Just a good old fashioned cold.

 

_________________________________________

 

 

     No one was around when Heath stalled his horse at ten o'clock on Monday night.  That didn't surprise him. By this time most of the ranch hands were done for the day.  About the only people you found in the big barn this late was either Nick or himself.

 

     The blond man stretched, putting a hand to the small of his back.  It had been a long time since he'd spent three weeks in the saddle.  He relieved his horse of the burdens of saddle, blanket, saddlebags, and rifle sheath, then led the gelding to his stall.  He brushed the animal down before filling his feed pan and water trough.

 

     "There you go, Charger," Heath rubbed the bay's nose. "You look like you're comfortable for the night meaning I can now get comfortable for the night."

 

     The house was dark when Heath approached with his rifle clutched loosely in his right hand, and his saddlebags slung over his left shoulder.  He swore he'd seen lights on when he'd ridden up the lane a half hour earlier, but maybe everyone had gone to bed since then.  They knew to expect him home sometime this week, but of course they wouldn't have been able to predict the exact day and time of his return.

 

     Heath shut the big front door as quietly as he could.  He knew the house well enough to make his way to the round table that sat to his left.  He laid his rifle and saddle bags down, being careful not to knock over the vase of flowers residing in the center of the table. 

 

     The man wondered if there were any leftovers from dinner hiding somewhere in the kitchen.  Hot food, a hot bath, and a warm bed all sounded so appealing he didn't know which he wanted to seek out first. 

 

     Heath fished around in his coat pocket for a matchstick.  Oil lamps were mounted on various spots of the walls, all he had to do was find one and then he'd have some light.  He glanced toward the stairs that led to the bedrooms, but no lights came from above. Everyone must be asleep like he'd suspected.      

 

     The blond man was just about to strike his match when he felt two soft hands cover his eyes.

 

     "Welcome home, sweetheart!"

 

     Before Heath could turn around lamps were lit all around him.  Jarrod stood in one corner of the parlor, Nick in another.  Silas was in the foyer, having lit that lamp for the family.

 

     The black man bustled off toward the kitchen. "I'll get Mr. Heath's dinner, Mrs. Barkley.  And cake and coffee for everyone."

 

     Heath felt his brothers clap him on the back as his mother hugged him.

 

     "Welcome home, Heath," came Jarrod's quiet voice from his left shoulder.

 

     "Welcome home, little brother!"  Nick boomed from his right.  "And I'd better not find out you hightailed it to San Francisco instead of riding the range like you were supposed to be doing."

 

     Heath half turned from within the confines of Victoria's arms.

 

"Don't you worry none along those lines. I was riding the range even though I've got a sneakin’' suspicion it was you who was supposed to be doin' that job."

 

     "Me?  Hey now, you lost fair and square."

 

     "Oh yeah," Heath nodded.  "I know first hand just how fair and square Nick Barkley can be."

 

     The teasing went on as Heath tried to disengage himself from Victoria's grasp.

 

"Mother, you don't wanna do that.  I'm in bad need of a bath.  Your clothes are gonna smell like three weeks worth of trail dust."

 

     Heath felt the petite woman's lips brush his cheek.  "Oh, I don't care what my clothes end up smelling like.  I'm just so happy to see you.  We've missed you so."

 

     Heath returned the kiss with one of his own.  "I've missed all of you, too."

 

     From the dining room Silas called,  "Mr. Heath's supper is on the table!"

 

     Nick looked at Jarrod and winked.  "Come on, Jarrod.  If we beat Heath there we can eat again."

 

     "Sounds good to me."

 

     "Oh, you two, stop teasing your brother," Victoria scolded the departing men.  "Besides, after Heath's eaten we'll all have a slice of celebration cake."

     "Celebration cake?"  Heath questioned.  "What are we celebratin'?"

 

     Audra slipped up behind Heath to give him a backwards hug.

 

"Your return.  And it's chocolate cake with chocolate icing.  Your favorite.  As a big welcome home from all of us."

 

     Heath moved so he could wrap his arms around both women.

 

"Well I sure wasn't expectin' this.  As a matter of fact I thought all of you had gone to bed."

 

     "That's what we wanted you to think," Audra smiled.  "We've been watching for you since Sunday night.  When Nick saw you ride up we waited until you went in the barn then blew out all the lamps."  The young woman put a hand in Heath's coat pocket.  "And speaking of chocolate did you find the surprises I sent along with you?"

 

     "Every single one of them."  Heath kissed his sister's temple in appreciation.  "And I ate 'em all but the last two.  Those I gave to a pretty little gal I ran across on the trail."

     Audra raised an eyebrow and looked across Heath's body at her mother.  "A pretty little gal, huh?  And you had to give her my chocolates to convince her of your charm?"

     Heath laughed.  "No, not exactly.  Miss Caroline Atkins was a little young for courtin', Sis.  She couldn't have been more than six years old.  Seven tops.  Her family's wagon had broken down.  I stopped and helped her father repair it.  Your chocolates made her day."

 

     "Then I'll have to surprise you with more some time soon.  But for now we'd better get you in the dining room before Nick eats your supper, and polishes off that cake to boot."

 

     "Yes," Victoria agreed.  "We'd better do that.  And while we're eating I'll have Silas draw you a hot bath and turn down your bed."

 

     Heath kissed the woman's cheek.  "You spoil me too much."

 

     Victoria squeezed the man's arm.  "None of my children can ever possibly be too spoiled by their mother."

 

     A warm feeling coursed through Heath's insides at Victoria's words and at the thought of this little party that had been put together in honor of his homecoming.

 

     Caroline had been right.  His family loved him a lot.

 

 

Chapter 2

 

 

     The weekend following Heath’s return spring was finally toying with the valley.  The sun shone brightly and the temperatures warmed to a comfortable seventy degrees.  The Barkley family attended services at the Congregational Church in Stockton just like they did every Sunday.  Their Sunday family meal would be in the evening, a habit that had started long ago when the Jarrod and Nick had reached courting age and didn't always want to return to the ranch with their parents after the service let out at noon.  

 

     Victoria said goodbye to her offspring on the church steps.  Jarrod was going to put in a few hours at his office that afternoon while Audra was being squired to lunch by a handsome suitor.  Exactly what Nick and Heath were doing Victoria didn't know, but she imagined it involved the two young women with the big picnic basket she'd seen them walk off the church grounds with.

 

     Garland Manners and his wife Opal stopped to talk to Victoria as the three of them awaited their turn to shake hands with the minister.

 

     "I see you're alone today, Victoria," Garland said.