No Price too High

Author: zephiey

Disclaimer: No infringement intended. All characters in this fiction are owed by their respective copyright holders.

Rating: T

Summary: No price is too high for a life.

No Price too High

Nick slumped against the post, the pain across his back telling him that he was still alive. Moving to his hands and knees he struggled to get up and inside. Refusing to allow anyone to help he placed one foot in front of the other until he reached his cot. Falling down onto it he felt the soft hands clean the whip marks and apply the salve to his back. He did not have to turn his head to see who it was, he already knew. She had been taking care of him since the first time he felt the lash across his back. The first time he prevented that bastard from beating a child. Now as before she spread the healing salve over him, singing softly. He couldn't understand the words, she said that they were Gaelic but they comforted him just the same.

She knew the instant he passed out. His hands no longer gripped the edge of the cot in pain instead they lay limp. Wiping the last of the salve off her hands she smoothed his hair back off his face. Looking into his face she felt the tears fall from her eyes at the pain that this man endured for them. She knew that one day they would kill him. One day he would not be able to get up after the lashings. She prayed that day would never come but she knew that unless they escaped, it would eventually come. Katie lay down next to Nick's cot and taking his large hand in hers she prayed harder tonight than she had in her twelve short years of life.

Nick looked up at the sun. The day was hot. As hot as yesterday and more than likely as hot as tomorrow. The sweat dripping down his back irritated the new lash marks but there was nothing he could do about that. Picking the sledgehammer back up Nick began to beat a rhythm out on the rocks.

One…two…three…

One…two…three…

One…two….three…stop, wait.

He watched as Kenneth picked up the smashed rocks, placing them in the basket and carrying them to the mine car.

One…two….three…

One…two….three…

One….two….three…stop, wait.

He winked as Sarah picked up the rocks, placed them in the basket and carried them to the mine car. Sarah turned as she walked away gracing him with a smile, her two front teeth missing.

One….two….three…

One….two….three…

One….two….three…..stop, wait.

Nick bent down and whispered something in Cora's ear that caused her face to light up. Nick felt his heart constrict at the joy written across it from such a simple promise. Hearing the noon bell Nick picked up Robbie and setting him on his shoulder he ignored the pain as he carried him back to camp.

Nick took his place as last in line. He made sure that he was last at every meal. As the bottom of the kettle was scraped Nick took the chunk of bread that was offered to him. Looking up into the eyes of Harmon he nodded his head in thanks. Walking to where the children sat, Nick took a few bites from the thick stew and a few bites from the bread before giving each of the children a portion of his meager lunch. Feeling her gaze on him he looked up into her blue eyes, the silent admonishment from her answered with a slight shrug of his shoulders and a quick smile.

Taking his bowl to the wash area Nick heard the whispered admonishment from Javier.

"You need to eat, mi amigo. How long do you think you can help the ninos if you do not keep your strength up?"

"I'm fine", Nick whispered fiercely.

"Si', you are fine until they take that lash to your back again. Do you think your hermanos will arrive soon?", Javier asked.

"Yes, they will", Nick replied. Silently, Nick prayed that they would not arrive to late.

The next two days Nick, the children and everyone else in the camp worked from sunup to sundown. The heat was unbearable and Nick found ways to keep the weakest of the children on the lightest of duties. When the guards came around he made it look as if all twelve children were working hard.

Walking back to the camp for the evening meal, Nick noticed that Katie was missing. Glancing around trying to find her he heard her scream. Shoving Robbie into Javier's arms Nick ran toward the scream. The sight that greeted him caused a blinding rage to overcome him. Throwing himself at Tanner, the guard, Nick began beating him. All the frustrations, the anger and the injustice fueled his rage until Tanner lay at his feet, broken and bloody. Before Nick was able to check on Katie, the guards grabbed him pulling his arms behind him.

Kneeling down next to Tanner, Simpson pronounced the guard dead. Looking up at Nick, Simpson smiled evilly.

"Well, Mr. Barkley it seems that you're not only a thief but a murderer as well. Take him to the yard", Simpson ordered. "Bring the girl."

Securing Nick between the two posts, the guards moved aside and Simpson waited until everyone had gathered. Thirty men and children stood waiting. At his signal, the beating began. Cries from the children could be heard as the whip struck Nick's back. Again and again the sound of the whip whistling through the air before it struck the skin was heard. The first ten lashes were given their severity marked on Nick's bloodied back. Another ten were given, the blood from them mixing with the first ten. Finally during the third set of ten Nick lost consciousness, his body hanging from the two posts as limp as a ragdoll. The guards began to unlock him from the posts.

"Leave him", Simpson ordered.

The moon shone bright in the night sky. It's light shining down upon the hanging body of the man that Javier had come to admire. He could see that Nick drifted in and out of consciousness, his head lolling from one side to another. Javier noticed the small shape crossing the yard to the platform.

Madre de Dios, Javier thought, if they catch her they will beat her! Turning the lamp off Javier slowly opened the door of the bunkhouse. Creeping out he made his way across the yard, trying to stay in the shadows. Reaching the platform he put his hand over her mouth.

"Shh, nina…", Javier whispered. "What are you doing? If they catch you they will punish you right along with him."

"It doesn't matter", Katie answered, the pain in her eyes evident even in the moonlight. "It's because of me that he is here. If I hadn't screamed he wouldn't have killed Tanner. I should have just gone with Tanner…."

"No nina, Tanner deserved what he got. Nick knew what he was going to do to you. You and I both know that Nick would not have stood by and let it happen", Javier whispered. "So do not blame yourself. You brought him water, no?"

Shaking her head yes she added, "And some herbs that will help with the pain. I need to get him to drink it."

"Give it to me nina, I will make sure he drinks it. Now go, before you get caught. Go!", Javier urged.

Knowing that Javier was right Katie slipped off the platform and made her way back to the bunkhouse. Javier waited until she was inside before moving in front of Nick and shaking him awake.

"Nick, Nick", Javier whispered urgently.

"Javi…", Nick moaned.

"Shh, mi amigo, Katie has sent some medicine for you. I need you to drink this", Javier urged. Tipping Nick's head back Javier poured the water into his mouth. Making sure that he swallowed all of it Javier whispered, "I need to go, mi amigo. Before they catch me."

"Go", groaned Nick.

Looking at his face once more Javier sent a silent prayer to the heavens before slipping off the platform and across the yard to the bunkhouse.

The heat was relentless the flies just as bad. The smell of blood enticed them to the body of the man hanging in the yard. He could feel the blood dried on his back, the heat from the sun burning the exposed skin. He knew that death was stalking him, he could feel him on the outer edges. He knew that Death was waiting until he weakened. Weakened enough that he could entice him into his arms with promises of peace. But he couldn't weaken, he couldn’t give up. He had to protect the children….The children!

He could see the children playing, hear their laughter, see their smiles. He saw his mother standing there holding a fair-haired little boy, her eyes shining with love. He saw Pappy holding the hand of a little red-headed girl while she toddled unevenly. He saw Heath surrounded by dark-haired and fair-haired boys and girls, laughing at their antics. He watched as Audra and Eugene sat reading to the children. He heard their voices.

He tried to walk toward the scene but the closer he got the sadder the children became. They no longer laughed but cried and whimpered. The clothes they wore now were nothing but rags. He could see the bruises and welts from the beatings. He tried to comfort them but they cringed from him. He reached for the older girl, trying to get her to understand that he wanted to help. But she slipped from his grasp. He saw a man walking through the children, slapping them, beating them. He reached the older girl and grabbed her arm dragging her behind him. Nick watched as she turned around, her face Katie's face, her eyes dead. Opening his mouth Nick screamed NO!

"Nick, Nick wake up, come on Nick wake up", Heath yelled! "Jarrod!"

Running into the room Jarrod grabbed Nick's arms as he thrashed around on the bed.

"Nick", Jarrod yelled, "your safe, your safe!"

"Jarrod?…..Heath?…. where am I?", Nick asked his voice hoarse.

"Your safe at the hotel. We freed you and the children two days ago", Heath answered.

"It took us longer than we thought to find the camp", Jarrod explained. "I'm sorry Nick, when we got there and saw you…."

"It's ok Pappy…you got there in time..", Nick whispered. "The children?"

"All fine Nick, Katie made sure that all of them were taken care of", Heath answered.

"Katie ok?", Nick whispered.

"Katie is fine. Mother is with her", Heath answered. "Now you rest, there are a lot of people that want to see you, brother."

"Hmm…..kay", Nick mumbled falling back to sleep.

Before leaving the room both men placed a kiss atop their brother's hair and said a silent prayer of thanks.

The End