I'm so sorry that I haven't updated Another Brick since july, but don't worry the story will be finished it seems that it's getting longer and longer I will post new chapter only when it will be finished, meanwhile I've got this idea and its plot bunny kept yelling at me till I started to write (don't worry it's nearly finished). Thanks to all my loyal readers I hope you enjoy it. Thanks also to my beta Anita

It was a crisp, autumn afternoon when a blond man riding double with his son approached the gate leading to the Barkley's ranch. The man was in his mid-thirties, his clothes were worn as well as his son's. He was too thin and his face was showing the anxiety he felt for the upcoming meeting. He heard the Barkleys were fair when hiring, but he wasn't sure that they would hire a cowhand with a small kid to look after, but he would do anything to keep his son with him.

When he first arrived in Stockton, he noticed the odd looks some of its inhabitants gave to him, Maybe he had lived here in the past but he couldn't tell, he was a man with no past/ He was found by his future wife in a cold winter night nearly dying, and when she asked about his name he couldn't give one, it had been seven years since then, but he still didn't remembered anything. The only things that popped up in his brain were two names Nick and Heath. He decided to call himself Nick, he didn't know if it was his real name or someone he had known in the past maybe it was a question that would have gone unanswered . When his son was born he named him Heath, a tie for his forgotten past.

It was the rumbling of his son's stomach that brought him back to the real world.

"Heath, don't worry when we arrive at the Barkley's I will ask for some leftovers." He hated this situation he wasn't able to feed his own son, and soon it would be winter and they didn't have clothes warm enough to afford the cold season. He prayed that the foreman would hire him, Heath was old enough to look after himself and he could always tell that his son could work as well in the stables or doing chores around the ranch, it wouldn't be the first time and wouldn't be the last time that his son had earned his keep.

"Papa I ain't hungry..." but his small lie was covered by another rumble from his stomach.

"Heath, you are hungry it's been yesterday that you have eaten something, when we get to the Barkley's, I'm pretty sure that they will give you something."

"But Papa, you didn't eat yesterday, for sure you are hungry too?"

"Heath you are a growing boy and you need to eat."

"Excuse me, I'm looking for the foreman, I've heard that you are looking for some hands." He asked when he arrived at the ranch.

The man looked at the stranger and was shocked at the similarities between him and the deceased Mr. Barkley, he simply pointed in the direction of the stables. "Ask for Duke McCall," was all he managed to say.

When he arrived at the stables there was one man, ready to mount a horse.

"Mr. McCall?" he asked hoping he was the right man.

Duke turned around at the sound of the familiar voice, it had been years since he had heard it, he was changed but he was sure that in front of him stood his friend who disappeared seven years ago. The man in front of him seemed not to recognize him, "maybe it's only someone that looks like him." he thought.

"Mr. McCall." he repeated for the second time.

"Yes?" he replied.

"My name is Nick, I've heard that the Barkley's are hiring and I was hoping that were some places left."

'It's him, I'm sure but why he doesn't recognize me and why he wants to be hired and who's the kid with him?' he thought.

"Yes we are hiring, but I think it's better that we speak in the study, please follow me, you can hitch your horse here." He croaked out.

The man followed Duke in the big house, meanwhile Duke was hoping that she wasn't around it would be a great shock to see him alive when everyone thought that he had died.

"Papa, I've never saw a house so big." Whispered Heath in awe as soon as they entered in the mansion.

Nick was puzzled, it was strange for a simple hiring he was conducted in the master house, but he followed Mr. McCall amazed at the grandeur of the house.

As soon they entered in the study, Duke closed the door behind him and readied himself to face his friend, it was clear that he didn't remembered him, 'maybe he lost his memory, I've heard that someone could lose his memory but I've never thought it was possible.'

"Mr. McCall as I said before I'm looking for work and I'm willing to do everything..."

"Sorry to interrupt but I didn't catch your name..."

"My name is Winter, Nick Winter. As I said before I'm willing to do everything even mucking stables; all I ask is room and board, for my kid and myself."

"You don't ask for much, if I may what's happened to the kid's mother?" asked Duke while thinking on much his friend changed even in his behavior.

"My wife died nearly two years ago and..." He was interrupted by some yelling coming from outside the room.

"Where's the bastard! He got guts..."

"Sorry Mr. Winter, I'll be back immediately." He said while leaving the room hastily

He met with Nick in the foyer, stopping him from entering the study.

"Duke, some hand just told me that he's alive and he's back towing a kid, for sure he got balls to come here after seven years as nothing had happened, she will be devastated, she always said that he didn't died that he was still alive and now he pops up..."

"Nick simmer down for the grace of God, it's not as it seems. He doesn't know who he is, he just came here only because he heard that we were hiring and he told me that his name is Nick Winter; I reckon he lost his memory somehow. "

"This is crazy, how can you be sure that he's not making it up?"

"Nick I looked at him when he introduced himself and he didn't recognize me. a bit and I saw his eyes he is lying. I think right now that you should come with me and see what's going to happen."

"All right I will follow your lead."

"Mr. Winter, this is Nick Barkley and before hiring he want to ask you some questions."

"Nice to meet you." He said extending his hand

Nick was barely able to mask his shock, to be face to face with his brother that he thought dead, he had changed and it was pretty creepy to introduce himself to his own brother.

"Duke just told me that you are looking for a job, do you have any references, where did you work before coming here?"

"I worked for a spell in a mining town called Midas, but after a cave in, where I busted my leg, I was fired, after that I did some ranch work around the valley but I wasn't able to keep the works for long.." He added with a whisper. "I'm a strong worker all I ask is a chance, I don't like begging but I have a my son to think of and lately lady luck wasn't at my side, since my wife's death everything seemed to go down hill from there."

"I'm sorry for your loss, before the mine where did you work?"

"I had a small ranch up north with my wife and my brother-in-law, but the bank took everything some months after her death."

"Where do you hail from?"

"I don't know, my wife found me during a winter storm seriously wounded and she nursed me back to health, when I regained consciousness I didn't know who I was, I could recall only two names; Nick and Heath, so I picked Nick and since I was found during a winter storm I found appropriate to chose Winter as a surname."

Nick was speechless, here in front of him was his, once proud, brother begging for some work, all the anger inside him was gone after hearing his story, he really didn't what to do, even thought the person in front of him was his brother he was a stranger changed by the last seven years. He decided to stick with his "boss" part hoping that she wasn't around and decided to peek in the study.

"So you said that you were fired in the mine, can you tell me the reason?"

"As I said there was a cave in, and I broke my leg badly, at first the foreman didn't fire me but he wanted to hire Heath in my place as a charge boy...I refused; mines aren't a place for children."

'My God he worked in his own mine and nearly died there,' Nick thought.

"Mr. Barkley I know you own the Midas mine, and I don't know your opinion regarding kids working in a mine but I would rather go begging in the streets rather than allow my son work as a charge boy, so when I refused his offer he fired me, the next couple of months were pretty grim, I couldn't move and work, there was my brother-in-law that helped sending money but it wasn't enough so my kid started to work in the stables; it was the only way to keep food on our table and pay the medical expenses."

"Mr. Winter, it's Barkley's policy that no one under twelve is allowed to work in our mines and I can assure you that the Midas' foreman will be fired as soon as possible." Nick found it harder each passing minute to maintain this charade, all he wanted was to engulf his brother in a big hug and tell him the truth about his identity, but he wasn't sure about his reaction.

"Mr. Barkley, all I want is a place to work, Heath can do chores around, I wish I could send him to school but if you need him around, I can teach myself his numbers and letters, he's only six but he will earn his keep, he can share my bunk and he's old enough to look after himself when I'm away on the range."

"Mr. Winter i didn't say I wouldn't hire you but..." Nick wasn't able to maintain his composure anymore, here in front of him there was his brother begging for a job, he decided to tell him the truth when he was interrupted.

"I understand Mr. Barkley, you don't want a kid around, I will take my leave then; I only ask if you have some leftovers, we...I mean Heath hasn't eaten since yesterday."

This was too much, his eyes were brimming with unshed tears, Nick Winter was puzzled by Mr. Barkley's reaction, he seemed on the verge on crying and Mr. McCall kept on looking at him as he had a second head.

"Mr. Winter don't worry pretty soon everything will be all right, there's one thing I've wanted to tell since I saw you..." Nick revelation was interupped by a voice from the door frame. The stranger had his back to the door and the newcomer wasn't able to see him in the face.

"Nick, he's back, isn't he. I've told you that he wasn't dead that he was alive somewhere but couldn't come back."

At these words, Nick Winter turned around and faced Victoria Barkley.

"Oh my God, you are alive I always prayed for your safe return." She said while embracing him for the time after more than seven years.

"Ma'am, do I know you?" He asked puzzled, her face was familiar but he couldn't place and for sure she resembled his deceased wife Leah.

"Tom, I'm Victoria your wife."