Betrayals

Heath awoke in a panic, not sure where he was. His head throbbed unmercifully, his shoulder felt like it was on fire and every breath he took sent stabbing pains into his chest.

Oh, God, were his first thoughts, I’ve got to escape, can’t let them…

His eyes started to focus and instead of the ripped canvas he expected, he saw light curtains lazily flapping in the breeze. Instead of clammy, sucking mud, Heath found himself lying on a soft mattress, covered by a quilt smelling of soap and lilacs. Heath tried to sit up, but quickly aborted that plan when the motion sent fire lancing through his left shoulder. He closed his eyes, listening to the faint whinny of horses and the occasional shout that came through the open window.

Where am I? he asked himself. He’d never been in this room before, he’d swear to that, and strained to clear his fuzzy memory. A girl… Foggily, it started to come back to him. The girl, running after her dog; the spooked horse, heading straight for the girl…

The horse must’ve ran into him before he got out of the way and Heath could only hope he’d been able to push the girl away from harm. Gingerly, he tried to sit again, keeping his left arm as still as possible and breathed as heavy a sigh as he could when he finally rested semi-upright against the headboard. He lay there for a moment, then swung his legs slowly over the side of the bed, stopping when the movement increased the pounding in his head and the room started to spin.

“Young man, what do you think you’re doing?”

Heath looked up at the imperious tone and was surprised to see a petite silver haired woman standing in the doorway, hands firmly on her hips. Alarmed, Heath quickly looked down and was relieved to find he was still wearing his pants. He felt a bit exposed having no shirt, but at least the bandages covered most of his torso. Then he felt a hot blush starting at the thought that this woman might have been the one to doctor him…

“I asked you, what do you think you’re doing?”

“Uh, getting up, ma’am?” Heath offered slowly. “Reckon there’s a lot of work to be done and I ain’t gonna be much use lying around in this bed.”

“Oh, no,” she told him, advancing into the room, shaking a scolding finger in his direction. “Dr. Merar said you should be in bed and that’s just where you’re going to stay.”

“Ma’am, I really shouldn’t be here,” Heath tried again, standing and catching himself on the bedpost as the room spun alarmingly. “If you’ll just tell me where I can find my boots and shirt…”

“Not a chance.” The woman grabbed him firmly but gently by his good arm and sat him down on the bed, Heath surprised at the strength in her small frame. “Now listen here, Mr. Thomson, you saved my daughter’s life and for that I owe you a debt of gratitude. Plus, from all reports, you’re a very hard worker and we need those around here. So let’s just say I’m paying off my debts and protecting my family’s investment.”

The steely determination in her grey eyes reminded Heath of his own mother and he reluctantly acquiesced. “Yes, ma’am.” He sat uncomfortably as she fussed with the pillows, then had to ask, “Are you Mrs. Barkley, ma’am? Nick and Jarrod’s mother?”

“Yes, I am,” she told him with a proud smile. “And that gives me a wealth of experience in dealing with stubborn young men. Now, is there anything I can get you? Something to eat, perhaps? I know you may not feel like eating yet, but it’s important to keep up your strength. I have some broth on the stove; I’ll bring you up a bowl and maybe some biscuits.” With that she left the room in a whoosh of skirts, leaving Heath a bit speechless. Boy howdy, that woman’s a force to be reckoned with, Heath thought in amusement, guess she’d have to be to be a mother to someone like the boss.

In no time at all, Mrs. Barkley was back with a tray containing a bowl of savoury smelling broth and a plate of fluffy biscuits. She set it down on the table beside the bed before turning back to Heath. “Now, is there anything else you need?”

“My boots?” Heath asked hopefully.

She gave his a knowing smile. “Not until the doctor says,” she said succinctly.

Heath thought of something he did need. “Ma’am, the little girl… Is she okay?”

Mrs. Barkley smiled softly. “She’s fine, Mr. Thomson. All Audra received was a scare and, hopefully, a lesson to be more careful.”

“Glad to hear it,” Heath said thankfully. “And ma’am?” he added as she turned to leave him to his meal. “As I told your son, Jarrod, I ain’t a mister. Name’s just Heath.”

Again she smiled and again Heath thought of his mama back home in Strawberry.

“Enjoy your meal, Heath. If you need anything, just call and someone will here. I’ll be back in a while to collect the tray.”

As Heath settled back to eat, he experienced a small pang of homesickness. When I get a few days off, Mama, he thought, I’ll come home to see you. I miss you, Mama.

*

Victoria was in the dining room, polishing the silver. She always found that the task helped soothe her mind when she was agitated or worried, but this time, she had no idea what was bothering her. Audra was safe and the young man who saved her life was upstairs recuperating. The spectre of the railroad conflict that had killed her husband three years ago had again reared its ugly head, but she was confident her capable lawyer son would solve it with words this time, not with bullets. Nick was off in the hills after a wild stallion, not the safest of pursuits, but no more dangerous than some of the other day-to-day tasks of running a large ranch.

Victoria rubbed the silver chafing dish, trying to pin down her thoughts. They kept returning to the guestroom upstairs and its blond occupant, but for the life of her, Victoria couldn’t figure out why.

“Mother! Jarrod!”

Victoria gave a long-suffering sigh as she put down her polishing and went out to the foyer.

“Mother?!”

“Nicholas, must you assault my eardrums every time you enter this house?”

Nick gave his mother a charming dimpled grin as he grabbed her arms and gave her an enthusiastic kiss on the cheek. “Can I help it if I’m in a good mood?” he asked. “Now where’s that brother of mine? I’ve gotta show him ol’ Diablo. Mother, I caught that stallion and I can tell you he is amazing and that is a fact! Jarrod!” he hollered up the stairs.

“Nick, keep your voice down,” Victoria chastised him severely. “Jarrod isn’t here and we have an injured man convalescing in the guestroom at the top of the stairs.”

“Injured man?” Nick asked as he took off his gloves. “Who? And why is he in our guestroom?”

“That new hand, Heath Thomson. He saved Audra from being trampled under the hooves of one of those wild mustangs.” Victoria wondered at the brief, strangely elated expression of her son’s face before it was replaced with a look of concern.

“Audra? Is she all right? She wasn’t hurt, was she?”

Victoria placed a reassuring hand on his arm. “She’s fine, Nick, thanks to young Heath. He suffered a dislocated shoulder and a couple broken ribs, but Howard assures me he’ll be fine. But,” and she said this in a tone that brooked no argument, “you are not to force him back to work until he’s cleared by the doctor. I don’t care if this is a working ranch, Heath Thomson is going to take the time he needs to heal. Is that understood?”

“What do you think I am, Mother?” Nick said, feigning hurt. “I’d never give a man work he wasn’t fit to do.” He looked up the stairs. “Maybe I’ll go check and see how he’s doing.”

Victoria shook her head. “No, you won’t. I checked on him not that long ago and he’s sleeping. You can go thank him after dinner.”

Nick took a step towards the stairs anyway, and then turned back. “All right. You said Jarrod’s not home? Is he working late in town or something?”

Victoria sighed. “Or something. You probably haven’t heard yet, but I suppose you will soon. The railroad’s after land in the valley again. Hannibal Jordan issued notices to a handful of landowners and Jarrod headed off to Sacramento to see if he can get the governor to put a stop to it.”

Nick shook his head in frustration. “Mother, the only thing those vultures respect is force. If Pappy thinks he can just sweet-talk those politicians in the capitol and put a stop to this, he’s dead wrong. There isn’t a court in the state the railroad doesn’t own, it’s fight or nothing! Twelve men died with Father last time, dammit, how many more is it going to take?!”

“Nicholas, I will not hear that kind of language in my house!” Victoria demanded and Nick hung his head, chagrined. “We have to give Jarrod’s way a try before you go in, guns blazing! I’ve already lost your father, I don’t want to lose you too!”

“Now, Mother…”

“Don’t you ‘now Mother’ me, Nick Barkley,” she admonished him. “It may come down to a fight and you wouldn’t be your father’s son if you didn’t stand up for what you believe in. But give Jarrod a chance. If anyone can sweet-talk those politicians, it’s your brother.”

Nick smiled disarmingly. “Well, reckon that’s a fact. Pappy can charm the spots right off an appaloosa.” He slung an arm around his mother’s shoulders. “So what’s for dinner? I’m starving!”

*

“Hey there, Thomson. Mother sent me up with something for you to eat. Hear you’re stuck in bed for a while.” Nick bit back a chuckle as the blond in the bed pulled the quilt up quickly to cover himself, but not before he got an eyeful of the broad, muscular shoulders.

Maybe that was the problem. Maybe Heath was just shy and Nick’s usual cut-to-the-chase manner was spooking him. Even though it wasn’t his usual style, Nick didn’t mind a slow seduction once in a while and decided to change his tactics.

Nick set the tray down on the bedside table and sat himself on the bed next to Heath. There was no way he was going to try anything blatant, not in the house with his mother and sister nearby, but having Heath this close and unable to find an excuse to leave was just too tempting. He grabbed Heath’s good shoulder and squeezed it affectionately, ignoring the wary look in the sky-blue eyes.

“Wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you putting your life on the line to save my baby sister,” Nick told the younger cowboy, his hand starting to massage the smooth skin. Heath tensed, but didn’t say anything. “Reckon the family owes you a lot.” His hand slipped up higher to caress the side of Heath’s neck.

The blond abruptly moved, stifling a small gasp of pain. “Don’t think nothing of it,” he said quietly. “Anybody would’ve done the same.”

Nick dropped his hand back to Heath’s shoulder. “Well, if you need anything,” he said huskily, “anything at all, don’t hesitate to ask. My room’s right next door.” He gave Heath’s shoulder another slow squeeze before getting to his feet and heading for the door. As Nick opened the door, he turned back. “Remember, anything.”

Nick shut the door behind him and headed to his own room, his mind still on the occupant of the neigbouring room. He removed his black leather vest and unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt, stripping the garment off before sitting on the edge of his bed to remove his boots. Standing again, he unbuttoned his trousers and slipped them off his hips, brushing against the erection that had started when he touched Heath’s golden skin. Those touches just inflamed his desire for the young man, but Nick knew he should back off for a bit, at least until Heath’s injuries had a chance to heal.

He was grateful to Heath for saving his little sister and that selfless act made his regard for the other man increase a notch. Heath was a hard worker, never complaining, and Nick found that he missed him when Heath headed off with the captured herd. Missed not only watching his ass in those tight pants, but missed his quietness and that rare grin that graced the blond’s face when he thought no one was looking. Nick wanted to get to know Heath better, as a friend as well as a lover.

Not bothering to remove his pants further, Nick took his cock in a firm grip and squeezed slowly, pulling all the way to the tip before moving back down again. He closed his eyes as he braced himself against the bed and imagined it was Heath’s hand grabbing him, pleasuring him and he began stroke more steadily, working his shaft roughly. He pictured burying himself in Heath’s tight ass, surrounded by that delicious heat and his hips bucked into his hand as the images in his mind only fuelled the burn in his groin. His hand pumped rapidly, and with one last thrust, his body tensed, hips arching into his hand as milky streams erupted from the purple tip. Nick’s breath was ragged as he finished himself off, sinking to his knees.

“Oh, god, Heath,” he whispered, “I can’t wait until we do this for real. But I’ll take it slow, woo you and romance you until finally I can make you mine.”

*

Heath awoke with a start, sweating, heart racing as his lungs gasped for breath. It was only a nightmare, he told himself, but in his mind, he’d been eight years old again, back in the storeroom of the hotel. He could still feel his uncle’s hot breath down the back of his neck, feel the man’s hands roaming across his hips, unbuttoning his pants so he could…

Heath shook his head sharply, unmindful of the throbbing the abrupt movement caused. He wasn’t that helpless kid anymore; he was a grown man, able to defend himself. He shivered as he remembered Nick Barkley’s touches, the touches that had undoubtedly instigated the nightmare. That caress had set off an unsettling mix of revulsion and longing in the young cowboy and Heath knew he had to get away. At least he could get out from under the same roof as his tormentor and head back to his bunk with the rest of the crew where Nick couldn’t get him alone. He slowly got to his feet and started a painful search for his boots and shirt, finding them tucked neatly in the wardrobe. He said a silent apology to Mrs. Barkley for not heeding her advice to stay put and headed away from the grand mansion, back to the relative security of the bunkhouse.