Patty Wilkinson Writing, traveling, having fun and meeting up with friends old and new!

#8The Runaway

#8The Runaway

By

Patty Wilkinson

(Some violence, strong language and adult themes)

It was a warm Sunday afternoon in early fall.

Slim Sherman, the tall, blond owner of the Sherman ranch and Relay Station was relaxing in the living room with a good book, while Mrs Daisy Cooper his motherly housekeeper was busy baking in the kitchen just off the main room.Meanwhile Mike Williams his young ward was playing quietly in his room and peace reigned.

Suddenly the front door flew open and was slammed shut again as Jess Harper, Slim’s best friend and partner in the ranch, marched in his face like thunder and deep blue eyes flashing with anger.

“Women!” he exploded.

Slim looked up from his book, a faint smile on his face.

“Well you’re back kind of early Jess,” he said,” I thought you had a date with Suzy Morgan this afternoon?”

“So did I,” he growled,” but it seems like she had other ideas, when I got there her Pa said she’d taken off with Pete Jackson, for a ride in his new buggy. Said she wouldn’t be long and I should wait. Well, Hell Slim there is only so much a man can take to hear about garldarn pipes.”

“Pipes,” asked Slim looking puzzled.

“Yeah sure, old man Morgan collects these ancient carved smokin’ pipes, got hundreds of ‘em, and I had to hear about every dad gum one ,” he spat.

“So did she turn up?”

“Dunno, after an hour or so I’d had enough, came home,” he finished lamely.

“Well, guess it’s a sign she likes you pard,” said Slim grinning at his partner.

“How do ya figure that?” asked Jess looking puzzled.

“Well, she’s trying to make you jealous, sure sign a woman fancies a man.”

“Slim, were talkin’ about Suzy Morgan here. She’s the biggest tease in Wyoming and been out with half the men in it too. None of them gets to do more than hold her hand and she don’t care whose feelings she stomps on in the process,” he finished angrily.

“So why have you been dating her on and off for the last 6 months?” asked Slim in exasperation.

Jess gave Slim an astonished look.

” ‘Cos she’s kinda cute of course,” he said before going into their shared room to wash up, leaving Slim shaking his head in amusement.

Two minutes later he charged out of the bedroom with a loudly protesting racoon under his arm and yelled for Mike.

The boy popped his head out of his room.

”You want me Jess? “

Jess, thrust the offending animal into the boy’s arms and yelled,” will ya keep this darned critter out of my bed Mike, how many times do I have ta tell ya?”

“Sorry Jess,” said the boy with down cast eyes, “ I guess he just likes your room”.

“Yeah, well iffen I find him in here again there will be a racoon shaped hole in the yard with him in it,” growled Jess.

The young lad looked up into Jess’s face,” you wouldn’t …bury him alive, Jess?” he whispered.

“No not alive,” confirmed Jess before turning on heel and entering his room again slamming the door behind him.

Mike turned to Slim, “he wouldn’t do that would he Slim?”

“Heck no, you know he wouldn’t, he loves that little ‘coon as much as you do, you know that, he’s just mad.”

“How so?” asked the youngster his little blond head on one side an enquiring look in his eyes.

“Oh just ‘Women Trouble’ Mike,” he said with a grin.

Having lived with a couple of bachelors for several years now Mike was quite familiar with the problem and said,” oh is that all, “and went off to play again.

Daisy, who was far more than just a housekeeper to her beloved ‘boys’ put her head around the door and smiling across at Slim said,” that boy is growing up fast it won’t be long before he has girl friend troubles of his own.”

Then nodding to Jess’s closed door said,” is he alright, he was a bit harsh with Mike that’s not like him, he is absolutely devoted to the boy.”

“It’s Ok Daisy,” Slim replied,” Mike realises he’s just in a temper because Suzy has been playing games with him again.”

“Um,” she said, it’s more than that though, he’s been on a short fuse for a few weeks now, even for Jess.”

The Harper temper was legendary and when he first arrived and Slim gave him a job as a ranch hand several years ago he came with the reputation of a fast gun and even faster temper. But with the hard life Jess had experienced in his youth, losing his family in a horrendous fire, going on the drift and getting the reputation of a gunslinger then falling foul of the law it, was hardly surprising that he was sometimes short tempered.

But he also came with a wonderful sense of humour, a twinkle in those deep blue eyes and had proved to be the loyalist and best buddy Slim had ever had. And yes if he was a bit hard to live with occasionally, well then he was sure worth it.

“I guess he’s just pretty tired,” Slim responded.” I figure we both are. It’s tough work bringing all the steers down to the low pastures for the winter you know Daisy. Plus I don’t think he’s still recovered completely from that fall he had from that ornery mustang he was breaking back in the summer.”

Jess was responsible for all the horse breaking at the ranch. A few weeks back he had experienced a horrific accident when a stallion had thrown him and then come back and stomped on him crushing several ribs and the wounds had taken a long time to heal.

“Oh dear,” she said,” I’d no idea he was still hurting from that.”

“Well you know Jess; he’d have to be half dead before he’d complain. Don’t say anything Daisy, you know him he’d just work his butt off to prove us wrong, stubborn as he is,” he finished fondly.

“So you don’t think you can get him to take it easy?” asked the now anxious Daisy.

”No, I’ll just try and do a bit more of the work without him noticing, but I’ll sure be glad when we get all those no good steers down and we can relax for a while,” he said giving his housekeeper and good friend a weary smile.

Now looking serious she said, “I’ve been meaning to tell you Slim I had a long chat with Mike the other night. He was saying how he really wanted to pull his weight more around here. Apparently he’s asked you and Jess and you both said no, and I think he’s really upset about it.”

Slim gave a deep sigh.

” I know Daisy, and it will be great when he can be more of a help in a few years time, but he is still a little boy of 10 years old and Jess and I can’t risk him doing the jobs he wants to. Things like mustang breaking and bringing the steers down, heck that’s man’s work Daisy and I’m afraid he just isn’t ready for it yet.”

Seeing the worried look on her sweet old face he said,” don’t fret, I’ll have a word with the boy, explain and maybe we can find him some easier work around the ranch.”

Little did Slim realise that Mike’s door was ajar and the youngster’s ears had pricked up at the mention of his name and he did what he had been told not to do, he listened at the door and was less than happy with what he heard.

Turning back into his room and closing the door softly, his mouth set in a determined line he walked to the window and looked out to the corral.

“I’ll show ‘em,” he whispered,” I ain’t just a little boy, I can do a man’s work,” and with that went and fed the racoon and told him all about the plan he was hatching.

A few minutes later Jess came out of his room and having changed from his Sunday courting clothes into his work a day blue shirt and denims, tapped at Mike’s door and entered , closing it quietly behind him,

“Hey, Tiger,” he said looking over at his young charge who was still tending to the racoon.

The boy gave him a small smile,” Hi Jess, you OK?”

“Sure and I’m sorry the way I sounded off at you Mike, I didn’t mean it. You know I would never hurt old Bandit there don’t you?”

“Sure,” said the boy beaming at his friend and coming to plump himself down beside Jess who was sitting on the boy’s bed.

“Jess,”he started, in a small voice” can I ask you something?”

“Sure, anything ya like Tiger.”

“Well, when I said I wanted to help with the Mustangs and go on the round up , bringing the steers down, you just said, ‘No Mike you’re too young’, you didn’t explain as to why not.”

Then looking up beseechingly into Jess’s face said, “Well I ain’t too young Jess honest, I can do it.”

Jess smiled down at the boy.

“ I guess we didn’t explain properly and I’m sorry about that. See its like this Mike, with the Mustang breaking, it’s real dangerous, you saw how badly hurt I was last month and Me and Slim an’ Aunt Daisy don’t want to see you hurt that way too. But I figure by next Spring when we bring the next batch of Mustangs in, well you could help me school ‘em on once they’re green broke, what do ya say to that? “

“Oh yes please Jess, I could do that I’m sure.”

“As to the round up, well its real hard work Mike, you’ve seen how beat up me and Slim are when we get back every night, not to mention our poor old mounts. Traveller and Alamo are pretty much done in most days. I feel real sorry for them. We have to drive them so darn hard you see Mike, you need a real strong fast mount for rounding up those ornery steers and truth is your little pony Patch, well he ain’t up to it boy, too old and too slow.”

“He ain’t slow,” the boy protested defending his beloved mount.

“Well maybe not for everyday riding Mike, but it takes a real special horse for drovin’. Anyways, Slim and I thought we’d get you a working horse in another couple of years, when you’ve grown a bit, got the strength to handle him, maybe a quarter horse cross and then you’ll be a real help around here,” he finished smiling down at the boy.

“Thanks Jess,” the boy said quietly,” but I sure wish I could be a help now.”

“Well heck you are! All the chores you do like feeding the chickens and chopping the wood, that a real big help. And know what else you’re good at buddy? “

Mike shook his head.

“Why fishing of course and I’ve a mind to wander down to the creek for an hour or so before supper and see how they’re biting, like to come?”

“Sure would,” said the boy excitedly, all thought of work dismissed from his mind.

Jess picked him up and carrying under his arm , banged back into the living room and addressing his partner said,” Me and Mike are goin’ down the creek wanna come?”

“Sure would,” said Slim grinning across at them and putting his book to one side.

”Hey Daisy we’re going fishing, back for supper,” and the happy trio marched off leaving Daisy smiling after them.

One thing about Jess’s temper spats they never lasted long she thought smiling to herself as she went back to her baking.

Once they were all sitting on the bank of the river inlet with their fishing lines in the water, Slim opened the subject of Mike working on the cattle drive again.

“It’s OK Slim,” the young lad said,” Jess has explained all about it and I understand now.”

Then quickly changing the subject said,” would it be OK if I went over to Jamie’s place for the day tomorrow, we thought we might have a breakfast cook out?”

“Well sure,” said Slim,” I guess, if it’s OK with your Aunt Daisy and Jamie’s Pa, you can ride Patch over there, it’s only a mile or so, but you have to be back by supper time OK?” he said giving the boy a firm look.

“Oh yeah, I’ll be back by supper,” the boy promised.

Then suddenly Jess got a bite and all their attention returned to fishing and the conversation about the proposed visit forgotten.

Chapter 2

Sure I’ll be home long before supper thought Mike as he saddled up his pony and rode out at first light.

The night before the adults had agreed to let him ride over in time for an early breakfast with his best friend and he assured them that Jamie’s Pa knew all about it.

Mike relished the day ahead of him all the more because he should really have been in school. The term would have started over two weeks ago if it hadn’t been for the fact that the new School Master had met with a nasty accident during the holidays and was laid up with a broken leg.

All the children had rejoiced when the School Board had confirmed they couldn’t find a replacement in time for the new school year, but the pupils and their teacher were due to return the following week and Mike aimed to make the most of this bonus time.

Jumping up on his pony he kicked him on to a brisk trot and headed West, in the opposite direction to Jamie’s home.

He rode his mount towards the distant foothills where he knew the remaining steers were waiting to be driven down to the lower pastures and that’s exactly what he aimed to do.

He figured he could make it up there long before Jess and Slim as they needed to be at the Relay Station for the early morning Stage and he figured that would give him enough of a head start to be able to round up the steers and be driving them back down by the time his guardians arrived on the scene

‘I’ll show ‘em ‘he thought.

He was generally a very truthful child and it went against the grain having to lie to those he loved, but heck he had to do something to convince them he wasn’t a little baby anymore. Anyway he thought, they’ll be that pleased when they see me with the rest off the stock, guess they’ll forget to be sore at me, and grinning to himself he pushed his mount on to greater speed.

By the time they got as far as the lake the little pony was puffing and so Mike decided to stop and water him and have a rest and drink himself.

They were just approaching the lake when disaster struck in the form of a Rattler.

One minute the boy was sitting on his pony looking out towards the lake and the next Patch reared up, panic stricken, and tipped the boy unceremoniously off and bolted. The coiled Rattler that had spooked the horse slunk off into the undergrowth and the boy lay there in the early morning sunshine motionless.

It was several hours later when a strange looking man dressed in buckskin, with a long straggly beard and fur hat, leaned over the boy.

After a few minutes when it was obvious the child was deeply unconscious he gently picked him up and carried him up the bank back to the road and his covered wagon where his wife was sitting.

Flinging down the canteens he had gone to fill at the lakeside he put the child down on the ground as his wife jumped down from the wagon her hand up to her mouth as she gave a little cry of shock.

“Oh Tobias whatever do you have there?” she asked.

“Not so much a what, as a who,” he said turning to grin at her. “Young boy, guess he’s taken a tumble off his pony and got a nasty crack on the head for his trouble too.”

“Oh the poor child,” the woman said at once,” here give me that canteen and I’ll bathe his head. Bandages, in the wagon, Tobias, quickly now fetch the bandages.”

Tobias did as he was bid and Rebecca tended to the boy and once she wiped his forehead with the cool water he stared to stir and opening his big blue eyes stared at the two strangely dressed pair in horror before screaming.

” Ma… Pa, where are my Ma and Pa, what have you done with them?” he cried before bursting into tears.

“Hey boy, take it easy,” said Rebecca softly,” ain’t no Ma ands Pa around, just you and the tracks of a pony. He seems to have dumped you off and left you. So where do you live boy and we’ll take you home?” she finished with a kindly smile.

After a while Mike sat up and looked around him before replying.

”I don’t live anywhere Ma’am, that is, we are on the Wagon Train heading West, so my home is a wagon…but I don’t see it and Ma and Pa , they wouldn’t have gone without me.”

Rebecca and Tobias exchanged a look, before Tobias answered him saying gently, “Well that can’t be so boy because there ain’t been any Wagon Train down this trail in over four years, last one ended in an Indian massacre and they changed the route.”

“No, no that can’t be true,” shouted the boy hysterically, “they are here let me see them.” and looking wildly from one to the other broke down in tears again.

Rebecca looked desperately at Tobias, “What shall we do, take him to the law, let them sort it out?”

“Are you crazy woman , go to the law with 20 flagons of boot leg whisky on board, not to mention a certain amount of other goods that have passed to our hands , not necessarily legally. Hell no, we’ll leave him here someone will be along, take pity on the kid.”

“Why Tobias Finnegan, we may not be the most law abiding of citizens but I would like to think we still had some good Christian charity in our bones. No we’ll just take the boy with us, back to the mountains.”

“Are you crazy, this little ragamuffin, ain’t got no flesh on him, he’ll hardly be much use.”

“He’s a mite puny now, but give him a couple of summers and some good mountain cooking and he’ll grow up pretty good. You’re always saying all the hunting and skinning of the beasts is getting too much for you. Well I guess you’ve got yourself a ready made hand here and all for free.”

Tobias looked down at the boy,” well I don’t know, maybe someone’s looking for him, he’s a nice looking boy. “

“Nah,” she replied, ”I guess as he’s a bit simple, saying he’s on the Wagon Train, probably glad to see the back of him iffen he’s a little crazy.”

“Ok you win,” he said lifting an angry and loudly protesting Mike up, he put him in the back of the wagon. Then took off at a pace, heading for the distant mountain range and home.

Just so as the boy didn’t try and jump out of the moving wagon and hurt himself Tobias had bound his hands and feet until they were well away from the road and were headed towards the mountains and as dusk fell they made camp, untied him and took him to sit with them by the fire.

Mike sat by the camp fire huddled in a blanket and looked into the flames in abject misery, his head ached something fierce and he just wanted his Ma.

Where were they he wondered, he had been on the wagon he was sure and then Pa had said he could ride old Jody their spare horse and go and fetch some firewood. But he hadn’t gone far had he, and what had Tobias said about a pony. He didn’t own a pony, although Pa had promised him one when they hit California. But where were his Ma and Pa, the question just kept going round and round in his brain until he finally fell into a fitful sleep, huddled in a blanket by the camp fire.

Chapter 3

Slim and Jess rode into the yard at supper time feeling exhausted but triumphant. They had brought the last of the cattle down and now they decided to relax for a week or so before starting the many preparations necessary to get the stock and ranch ready for the coming winter.

“How about we get Josh and Dave Harrington, in to do the Relay teams and feed the stock?” Slim said referring to neighbours sons always happy to help out for a small wage. “Then we couldtake off camping with Mike for a few days,” he said, as they were rubbing down their mounts, prior to going in to supper.

“Sounds like a good idea to me,” said Jess grinning across at his friend, ”I guess Daisy would like a break from us too,” he laughed.

As they entered the ranch house Daisy popped her head out of the kitchen from where a delicious smell was emanating and said,” is Mike with you?”

“No, why isn’t he back yet?” asked Slim casting an anxious glance at Jess.

“No and I’m getting a little worried,” she replied ,” he promised to be back by supper time and its way beyond that now.”

“Yeah, sorry,” said Jess, “guess we are a bit late, just needed to get the last lot of steers down”.

Then turning to Slim said,” guess I’ll saddle up again and go and meet him.”

“OK,” said Slim,” thanks buddy, we’ll wait supper for you,” and with that Jess disappeared and in a few minutes they heard Traveller leaving the yard at a gallop.

He was back remarkably quickly and as soon as he entered the ranch Slim and Daisy knew there was something seriously wrong.

He was white as a sheet and banged in through the door looking around the room as if searching for something.

” He’s not back?” he asked, his troubled eyes moving from Daisy to Slim and back.

“No,” they said in unison.

Slim moved forwards and saw his partner looked shaken.

“What’s up buddy,” he asked quietly.

Sinking down on a chair as though his legs would no longer hold him, he looked up into his friend’s worried eyes and faces,” Billy Jefferson hasn’t cast eyes on him all day, in fact Jamie is sick, had the Chicken Pox for over a week, there were certainly no plans for Mike to visit that’s for sure.”

Daisy whimpered, her hand shooting to her mouth,” Oh my,” she said “where can he be?”

“Good question”, said Jess,” but I’m sure gonna tan his hide when we catch up with him, come on Slim, lets see if I can track him before it gets too dark.”

Slim walked across to Daisy and kissed her cheek gently.

” It’s OK,” he said softly “we’ll find him,” before following Jess out of the door and across to the barn to fetch Alamo, and after a minute Daisy heard them leaving the yard at a gallop.

It didn’t take Jess long to pick up Patch’s hoof prints in the soft dust of the road and they followed them until they branched off heading for the lake and they exchanged a look of consternation.

” Hell, he knows better than to go off swimming on his own,” said Jess, his voice harsh with anxiety.

Spurring their mounts on, they stopped, once the lake was in view, scanning the empty countryside before continuing on more slowly.

Jess dismounted as they came near to the shore and then stopped and bent down looking intently at the tracks.

He had been taught to track by a good Indian friend many years ago and Slim always said he could track a light footed angel, and he didn’t disappoint today.

Looking up at Slim still still seated on Alamo, he said,” looks like something spooked Patch, see how the grounds trampled and then he took off that a way,” he said nodding his head away from the lake.

He stayed squatting, looking around at the ground, then suddenly put a finger out and touched a rock and gave a sharp intake of breath.

“What is it pard?” asked Slim looking at his partner’s shocked face.

Jess shook his head in almost disbelief, “It’s blood Slim,” he said looking stricken,” looks like Mike’s been hurt,” and with that he turned and jumped up on Traveler in one smooth movement and followed the little pony’s tracks.

It didn’t take them long to spot the animal, contentedly grazing on a patch of lush grass.

Slim checked him over and he seemed fine, the saddle was still in place, but there was no sign of Mike.

Dusk was falling by now and they quartered the area calling and calling, then stopping and straining their ears for a reply, but all they heard was a deep silence.

“I just don’t get it,” said Jess who was standing at the edge of the lake staring across to the horizon,” he can’t have wandered far, especially if he’s hurt……unless.”

“Unless what Jess?” asked Slim coming over and standing by his friend.

“Unless he came to the lake edge to get some water to tend his wound and fell in….my God Slim he could have drowned,” he finished turning anguished eyes on his buddy.

“No don’t say that, he’s a strong swimmer and besides it’s shallow here, at the edge,” replied Slim, quickly.

Jess looked at the muddy bank, but there were a variety of tracks there old and new, where folk had come down to water their horses and he couldn’t make out Mike’s footprints.

Jess just shook his head sadly and continued to look across the lake.

After a minute Slim said,” look it will be dark soon, we’d better head back and then ride to Laramie at first light get Mort to organise a proper search party”.

Jess turned on his partner at that.

”No,” he yelled I ain’t leaving, I’ll light a fire, he may have fallen asleep somewhere and wake up and see it”….then more quietly “I can’t leave him Slim, not here all alone in the dark.”

Slim reached across and squeezed his shoulder.

”I know how you feel Jess, I feel the same, but we can’t leave Daisy there alone all night not knowing either way. I have to go back. I’ll ride to town tomorrow, Mort Corey is a damn good Sheriff as well as our friend, he’ll get a good bunch of men together and we’ll find him, I promise you.”

After he had left Jess made a large fire and lay down beside it using his saddle as a pillow, but he didn’t sleep and was up and searching again at dawn.

When Slim rode in he had over 20 men with him, some friends, others parents of Mike’s school friends, but the majority just regular citizens who were touched by the disappearance of the little boy from the Sherman Ranch.

Slim was well known and respected in the town and Jess too was highly regarded by the good town’s people, often deputising for Mort helping to keep the town safe. All this was reflected in the large size of the search party.

While Mort organized them into smaller groups so they could cover every square inch of the surrounding countryside, Slim walked over to Jess who was huddled in front the camp fire and on closer inspection he saw he was shivering and his hair was soaking wet.

He sucked in a shocked breath.

” Hey Jess have you been in?” he asked gesturing towards the icy cold waters of the lake.

He just nodded looking into the fire and then looked up at his friend with tired eyes.

“I had to check it Slim, had to find out.”

“And….?”

“I don’t know I swam a good mile either way, but it’s so deep Slim, so dang dark I just couldn’t tell, I tried feeling around on the bottom and nothing.”

Then turning his eyes to the far horizon,” I just don’t know, but I don’t feel he’s dead Slim, I’d know it if he were.”

They continued searching until it was almost dark and then Mort had to call a halt.

When Jess realized that the Sheriff was all for calling it a day he was furious.

” You can’t stop Mort please,” he yelled “we’ve gotta carry on.”

Mort took him to one side and exchanged an anxious look with Slim.

“Jess,” he said gently, “we’ve turned over the whole area, not once but twice and we’ve searched further than the boy could possibly have walked, he’s just not here, you have to be reasonable.”

“Well maybe I’m not feelin’ any too reasonable,” growled Jess in reply.

Mort turned away shaking his head sorrowfully, then turned back and tried again.

” Look Jess you’ve got to face facts, if he isn’t here then well….” and he looked out across the lake.

“He ain’t dead,” said Jess furiously,” he ain’t I tell you, I’d know if he were, I’d just know.”

“There is one other possibility,” Mort said suddenly the light of hope shining in his eyes;” maybe somebody came down to water their horse and found the boy, and took him off to look after him.”

Jess’s head shot up at that.

”Yeah, I suppose, but if they’d gone to Laramie we’d have heard….. someone would have ridden out, the whole town’s probably talkin’ about it.”

“Uh”, he replied,” but could have been going the other way, heading for Rawlins, or the mountains, could have been travelling folk…anyone really. As soon as I get back to town I’ll wire the Sheriff of Rawlins and get some missing posters printed, someone may have seen something,” he finished,” try not to fret too much Jess”, and with that he mounted up and headed the search party back towards town.

Chapter 4

Mort Corey’s words rattled around in Jess’s head over the following weeks as time went on and there was still no sign of Mike. He wasn’t so much fretting as grieving and it was taking its toll on him.

The first few days after Mike went missing Jess insisted on returning to the lake everyday, until Slim lost patience with him.

“Jess will you just face it he isn’t there,” he said irritably one day as his partner set off again.

Jess turned on him and said angrily,” we decided to take a week off, have a holiday, take the boy camping remember? Well I guess I can spend my holiday how I want,” and marched off to saddle his horse and set off again, returning after dark, disheartened and morose.

A couple of days after Mike had disappeared, Slim found Jess in front of the fire, on his favourite rocker, with his head in his hands. He put a hand on his shoulder and said gently, “you OK buddy? “

Jess shook his head slightly and then looking up at Slim his eyes full of pain said, “I’ve just remembered how I laid into him about that wretched ‘coon being in my bed, you don’t think that was it do you Slim….why he ran away?”

“Hell, no, he knew you didn’t mean it,” replied Slim softly.

Suddenly Jess leapt up and ran into Mike’s room, followed by a mystified Slim.

Jess was kneeling by the racoon’s cage and opening the door put a tentative hand out to the prone body. With all the worry about the boy nobody had remembered to feed or water the critter.

“Is he dead? “ Slim asked tentatively.

Jess nodded raising saddened eyes to Slim,” he loved old Bandit,” he said, his voice choked with emotion.

He picked up the limp little body meaning to go and bury him.

Then he felt the slightest of movements.

” Hang on,” he said,” I don’t think he’s done for yet,” and running into the kitchen with the animal in his arms he proceeded to clean it’s mouth with a damp cloth and eventually get some moisture into the little body. After a while the racoon opened its eyes and looked around in a dazed manner and Jess gave a huge sigh of relief.

From then on he nurtured the little critter, day and night, until it was back to its usual robust health, spoon feeding it, giving water from an old baby bottle Daisy supplied and even keeping it warm inside his shirt.

Late one night Daisy couldn’t sleep, which had become a regular occurrence since the loss of Mike and she got up for a drink.

However she was surprised when to find Jess, sitting in his rocker by the fire andadministering some water to the small animal, then sit stroking it gently.

After a minute she walked over and said, “why are you up so late dear, I know you love animals, even this little minx. But he’s on the mend now you know and he doesn’t need nursing around the clock anymore.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” he said quietly then looking deeply into her kind old eyes, said,” I just need to be sure he’s well, for when Mike comes home ya see Daisy?”

His simple faith brought tears to her eyes.

”Oh Jess,” she said and leaning over she kissed him gently on the forehead before retiring to bed.

*******

Each member of the family dealt with the trauma in their own way.

Daisy couldn’t eat, but still made huge meals for her two ‘boys’ neither of which were hungry either. She lost weight and had black shadows under her eyes and for the first time since she had moved to the ranch she looked her age.

She desperately tried to nurture and care for Slim and Jess, compensating for not having Mike to fuss over. They knew in their hearts it was her way of coping with the situation and so they tried to be gentle with her and not complain when she was over fussy.

She was constantly reminding Jess to take care and wrap up warm, until one day she pushed him too far and he turned on her a shouted ,” For God’s sake I’m not a child Daisy!”

The minute the words were out of his mouth her regretted them. He had never once lost his temper with Daisy since she moved to the ranch, and now when she needed him most he had abused her and he felt totally devastated.

He ran across the room, throwing his arms around her and held her tight.

“I’m so, so sorry I didn’t mean it,” he gasped.

Then pushing her gently away so that he could see into her eyes he felt a stab of pain as he saw the tears there, but even as they ran down her papery cheeks she forgave him.

” It’s alright dear, I know you didn’t mean it…none of us are quite ourselves just now.”

She was also constantly washing and mending the boy’s clothes and one day Slim could stand it no longer. On entering the ranch he saw her once more bent over a pair of the Mike’s jeans applying a patch and he stormed out, feeling totally bereft.

Jess, who had been sitting by the fire with Daisy exchanged a look with her and went out to where Slim was sitting moodily out on the porch.

“What is it?” asked Jess slumping down in the chair next to him.

Slim turned an anguished face towards his friend.

”Why is she doing that Jess, he’s either at the bottom of the lake, or someone’s taken him, either way he isn’t coming back to wear those jeans.”

“You don’t know that for sure,” said Jess stubbornly, “we could still hear something, get a reply to one of the posters.”

Slim looked out to the horizon before turning back to his partner.

“Do you think it was all our fault?” he asked.” He ran away because we didn’t let him help bring the cattle down?”

“Could be, but Hell Slim we were just doing what we thought was best for him, being good parents, he could have got hurt easy, same with the Mustang breaking.”

“Yeah ,I guess you’re right”, replied Slim giving his buddy a sad smile.

“Anyways,” continued Jess,” I wanted him to have a proper childhood, doing stuff like cook outs with his buddies.

Then more quietly,” I didn’t get a childhood you know that Slim. Pa had us kids working out in the fields pretty near as soon as we could walk. Hell and iffen we didn’t pull our weight we got a good beating.” Then turning sad eyes on Slim said,” I sure didn’t want that kind of life for the boy, I just wanted for him to be happy,” he finished quietly.

So as Slim spent the days and weeks after Mike’s disappearance worrying about why he went, worrying about where he was, what he was doing and worrying about the family he had left, Jess just tried to blot the whole sorry business out.

He started disappearing off to town once or twice a week and coming home much the worse for wear after spending the afternoon and most of the night in the Saloon; his only company a bottle of Red Eye.

If friends approached and tried to offer their condolences on his sad loss, they soon wished they hadn’t bothered and after a while most folk gave him a wide berth.

Old To barkeep and friend tried to persuade him to take it a bit easy but could have saved his breath after the surly response he had, being merely a request for another bottle.

Then one night as Jess stood at the bar downing his fifth drink he overheard a conversation at the table behind him.

Charlie Jones a wastrel and gossip was none too fond of Slim and Jess after they had refused to give him a job a few years back.

Now Charlie, who hadn’t noticed Jess at the bar, said in a loud voice to his companion, “Looks like Sherman and Harper will have to go down the children’s home and fetch back some more, cheap, labour seeing as how the last kid upped and drowned on them.”

Quick as a flash, Jess turned and grabbing Charlie by the shirt front dragged him out of his chair and laid a right to the chin which sent him flying way across the bar.

He strode after him and dragging him up again smashed his fist into his face and watched in distain as blood gushed from the man’s nose.

Then Charlie’s companion pitched in and Jess merely tossed him across the bar and when he came back for more laid a haymaker on him. That sent him flying into another drinker and then all hell was let loose and a free for all ensued.

Suddenly a shot was fired and Mort Corey stood there with his deputy and after assessing the situation he grabbed hold of a very unsteady Charlie and giving Jess a hard look told him to step across the road to his office, where he threw him in a cell, to cool off.

At Jess’s protests Mort merely said they would discuss it in the morning when his friend was sober and clanging the cell door shut left, turning off the light.

The following morning Jess sat, pale and shakingopposite Mort, a cup of coffee in his hand which he put unsteadily to his lips before drinking deeply.

“Well,” said Mort,” what have you got to say for yourself?”

Jess looked across at Mort angrily.He was bowed but not beaten and his stubborn streak came to the fore as usual.

“It weren’t my fault Mort,” he growled,” I was provoked”.

“Oh?” said Mort casting a sceptical eye on his friend.

After Jess repeated exactly what Charlie had said, Mort gave a low whistle.

”I guess I can kinda see your point,” he said,” but even so I can’t have you coming in and ripping the town apart this way Jess. Hell, with your temper you might have called him out and we’d be looking at a murder charge, not just drunk and disorderly!”

Jess bowed his head and decided discretion was the better part of valour and said,” I guess you’re right Mort and I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, until the next time,” he said looking anxiously at his buddy.

” Hell, I know how much you’re hurting Jess, I was there the day he was lost, I miss the little fellah too, but you’re going to have to get it together boy, you understand?”

Jess nodded and looked up into Mort’s kindly eyes.

” Yeah”, he said,” I understand.”

That had been over a week ago and although Jess had returned to town his behaviour had been exemplary and he just sat quietly getting drunk before staggering up onto Traveller and heading for home.

Slim was just about at his wits end with his best friend’s behaviour, he had laid into him verbally when he arrived home beat up the previous week.

As he had staggered into the ranch the following morning after his stay in the cell, Daisy and Slim had still been sitting at the table having their morning coffee.

Daisy leapt up and gave him a shocked look, “Oh Jess, what ever happened to you, your poor face,” and set about tending him.

After his previous outburst, when she had been fussing him, Jess kept his mouth tight shut and accepted her ministrations patiently. After she had finished bathing his face and fussing he finally escaped to the yard and was leaning on the corral fence feeling nauseous after the drinking session when Slim came and stood behind him.

Instead of the sympathy he expected his partner turned on him angrily.

” I know all about the fight you got yourself into last night. Mose was here earlier and filled me in, and that you spent the night in Mort’s cell. I guess if you got yourself into a mess it’s because of the amount of liquor you’re putting away Jess and that’s down to you. What I won’t have is you coming back here all beat up and worrying Daisy sick….don’t you think she’s got enough to fret about right now without your crazy antics?” he finished crossly.

Jess gave him a hurt look and then muttered,” Guess so,” before wandering off to the barn to start his chores.

Slim marched after him and grabbing him by the shoulder swung him around roughly to face him.

” Is that all you’ve got to say?” he yelled furiously.

“Hell what do ya want me to say Slim?” he replied,” I’m sorry OK,” and with that he walked off leaving Slim looking after him, shaking his head sadly.

The following week when he came home worse for wear Slim was waiting for him by the barn and as Jess dismounted and staggered a bit he said,” hey Partner, what is this a reception committee?” before entering the barn and starting to tend his horse.

Following him in to the barn he watched Jess working on his horse for a few minutes before saying grimly “You’re drunk…..again.”

Jess turned from where he was rubbing down Traveller, his eyes blazing.

”Who are you my Ma?” he yelled.

“It seems to me if your Ma and Pa had talked some sense into you when you were younger you wouldn’t be looking for the answers to life’s problems at the bottom of a whiskey bottle!” Slim yelled furiously.

The minute the words were out he regretted them; he knew the hellish life Jess had, growing up on the pan handle knowing poverty and violence from a young age, his father too fond of the bottle and beating his offspring, his mother old and defeated before her time.

Jess turned to look at him and for a moment. He looked so angry that Slim thought he was going to punch him and then he saw the look change to deep hurt and turning back to his horse he muttered, ”I guess you’re right there, I was a bit short on tender

lovin’ care, growing up.”

“Jess I’m sorry I didn’t mean that,” said Slim quickly.” But just tell me, why…why are you doing this to yourself? You’re not a drinker Jess, can’t take that Red Eye whiskey, hell you chuck it back up all night, you look like death the next day, what in hell is it all about? “

Jess turned back and gave his friend a sad look.

Then after a moment hereplied.

”About trying to forget this whole sorry mess,” he said quietly. “There comes a time about half way down a bottle, when the pain goes and you can forget…….. just for a little while, that’s why Slim,” and with that he turned back to his horse.

“Jess, please you must see…….”

Jess turned again and broke in.

“Yeah I see alright Slim, I see I ain’t coping none too well. Now will ya please just leave it for tonight, I’m kinda tired.”

Slim opened his mouth to say something more, but Jess had turned his back on him again and he could tell he was wasting his time and so reluctantly he retired to bed.

The following morning when he awoke Jess’s bed hadn’t been slept in and he was just wondering if he had passed out in the barn when the door opened quietly and Jess came in.

Slim sat up in bed and stared at him.

” Hell you’re a mess buddy.”

Jess looked filthy, he hadn’t shaved for a week or more and his shirt looked like he’d spilled a glass or two of whiskey down the front.

” And you stink like a Still,” he finished brutally.

Jess threw him a sheepish look and pulling his shirt off chucked it in the direction of the wash basket before turning to start washing.

“You sleep in the barn?” asked Slim

Jess nodded and the simple movement seemed incredibly painful as Slim saw him close his eyes and flinch.

“Yeah, figured I was nearer the out house in the barn so I bunked in with Trav,” he replied.

“Sick all night again?” asked Slim sympathetically.

“Yeah, and got a head like a mule has stomped on it too,” he whispered,” and no one but myself to blame, I know,” he finished gruffly.

Then he started lathering his face ready for shaving, as he picked up the razor Slim noticed how much his hands were shaking.

” Do ya need a hand buddy?” he said, afraid he would cut himself.

“Nah, I can manage,” Jess replied. ”Anywaysthe mood you’re in with me right now you might be tempted to cut my throat ,”he said glancing over at Slim with a cheeky little grin and a twinkle in his deep blue eyes.

Slim retuned the smile and thought thank God at least he hasn’t completely lost his sense of humour.

After a while Jess finished shaving with minimal damage and once he had completed washing he turned to Slim and said softly,” It’s over Slim, I won’t be touching another drop of liquor until Christmas Day.”

“Well thank God for that,” replied Slim earnestly.

Suddenly Jess’s grin froze on his face…”oh no,” he said quietly, “Christmas…..without Mike.”

Slim looked back at him and shook his head sadly.

”It won’t seem right," he said softly.

Jess had a look of deep despair on his face, “Christmas, his Birthday, and Thanksgiving…..will it never end Slim….this missing and hoping will it never end?”

Slim shook his head sadly and thought back to the first Christmas he had experienced with Jess.

They were living with Andy, Slim’s kid brother and old Jonsey a family friend and as Christmas advanced Andy especially got more and more excited, but strangely Jess seemed to get more and more withdrawn.

When the time came to go and fetch a tree and then dress it he just sat and watched an unfathomable expression on his face, and after Andy had gone to bed, Slim went and sat by his new buddy.

“What’s wrong Jess, homesick because it’s Christmas?”

In those early days Slim knew little of Jess’s past and it was a long time before he trusted Slim enough to open up and reveal some of his horrific memories.

Jess had replied quietly,” Ain’t got no home Slim, no family left and Pa didn’t believe in Christmas anyways when we were kids, it was just another day.” Then turning to look into Slim’s shocked face said softly,” guess I’m a bit out of my depth here Slim, figure you’re gonna have to help me out some, what you do, all these family traditions you and Andy talk about…it’s …well its kinda hard for me Slim,” he finished quietly.

Well Slim and Andy helped him out and by the following Christmas he sure got in the swing of things. Then everything changed a few years later with Andy off at college and Jonsey moved out East to look out for him. And then there was the first Christmas with Mike.

Probably because of his difficult past it was Jess who understood the boy’s bewilderment and sadness as Christmas approached knowing it was the first one since his parents had been killed in the Indian massacre.

It was a particularly horrendous attack and Mike had only been spared as he had left the Wagon Train to collect some firewood. On hearing all the shouting and gun shots he had peered through the branches of a thicketwhere he was hiding and saw an arrow pierce his mothers heart and another kill his father and then, one by one, all thefriends and neighbours he had known on the train were slaughtered.

Knowing all this Slim, Jess and Daisy had been determined to make it a happy Christmas for the boy.

As he had retired on Christmas night he had turned to his new family his eyes alight with joy and said,” That was the best Christmas, thank you so much,” and hugged them all one by one.

Slim looked across at Jess and knew he was remembering that first Christmas with Mike tooand he thought at what Jess had said, would this pain never end, would the loss stay with them for ever?

If only we knew thought Slim sadly, one way or the other, if only we knew what has happened to our boy.

Chapter 5

At about the same time that Slim and Jess were having their conversation an elderly rancher, Jed Porter, was driving his buckboard into the town of Rawlins to stock up on supplies for the coming winter. Jed got into town very rarely now and so he enjoyed a good mooch around, a drink in the saloon and was happy to chew the fat with anyone who had the time.

Thus it was that after visiting the mercantile, he strode across the street to look at the wanted posters in the Sheriff’s office window. Then something caught his eye. It was a tatty old poster bleached from the sunlight but it was the image that caught the old man’s eye, that of a young blond boy with large eyes and a friendly smile. The artist that had produced the poster was the father of one of Mike’s school friends and knew the boy well and the likeness was uncanny.

After staring at it for a few minutes Jed pushed the office door open and entered. The Sheriff was new in post and eager to oblige.” Good morning sir he said with a welcoming smile can I help you?”

“No,” replied Jed,” but I think I may be able to help you,” and taking the seat that was offered he started to recount his tale.

“My name is Jed Porter,” he said “and I own a spread about 10 miles south of town, just by the trail that leads up to the mountain range.”

The Sheriff nodded in acknowledgement,” yes I know the area.”

“Well then,” continued Jed,” it must be about two months back, I had a visit from Tobias and Rebecca Finnegan, Mountain Folk, he’s a trapper. Last of a breed,” he said smiling nostalgically, “time was there were about thirty Mountain families up there, now it’s down to two or three. Anyways, he’s married to a lovely lady, half Arapaho, half American and they are a devoted couple, but never had any children, sadly.”

The Sheriff’s eyes were beginning to glaze slightly,” yes sir? ”he asked enquiringly.

“So,” continued old Jed,” I thought it kinda funny when they called around to do a bit of trading and they had this young boy with them.”

“A young boy?”

“Yeah sure the very same as on your poster out there,” he said, briskly,” that’s what I’m trying to tell ya, they’ve got that Mike Williams in the poster, living up the mountain with them”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Well I’m positive. See she tried to pass him off as her younger brothers child, said he’d been orphaned and they’d taken him on. Well the child looked kinda sad and when I asked him about it he did say his Ma and Pa were gone, had left him. Well, that didn’t sound right and then Tobias told the boy to watch his tongue. ‘Hush up Michael,’ he said. Well the poster said the lad was from Laramie and that is just where the couple had been to trade their furs, I’m a telling you mister, it’s the same boy.”

The Sheriff quickly wired Mort Corey and suggested the boy’s family make there way out to visit with the Mountain people and if they could verify that the child was indeed theirs, then the Sheriff would be happy to step in and return the boy to his rightful family.

Meanwhile back up the mountain Mike had settled into his new life and found Aunt Rebecca as he called her kind and caring, where as Tobias could be very strict and not as fun loving as his Pa had been, but he too was fair and mostly kind.

The boy sorely missed his parents and cried himself to sleep most nights at first as he wracked his brains as to why they had left him alone and hurt. His last memory of them was his Pa saying he was old enough now to and go and fetch the firewood for the night’s fire. He had taken old Jody, riding him out with a big pannier on his back for the wood and the next thing he remembered was Aunt Rebecca and Uncle Tobias leaning over him.

When he slept he had strange dreams about people he didn’t know, particularly a tall blond man who seemed to smile at him and then a younger dark haired man with deep blue eyes. Mike felt calm and happy in his presence and would awaken from the dream crying, now for the blue eyed man though, not just his Ma and Pa, although he didn’t even know his name.

As time went on Tobias took him about the mountain with him and showed him how to set the beaver traps and the best place to shoot dear and he gradually began to accept his role as Tobias’s helper.

One day he was talking to Aunt Rebecca when he mentioned the fact that she wore moccasins.

”Well of course dear,” she said casually”, I am half Arapaho you see my mother wore them when she was a girl.”

For some reason Mike was unsure of, Rebecca’s native American ancestry made him feel uncomfortable, although he liked hearing the stories she told about the birds and animals of the mountains passed down to her by her Indian mother.

One day thinking the boy would find it interesting she showed him her own bow and arrow that she had been taught to shoot as a girl and she offered to show Mike how to shoot at a target for fun. To her surprise the boy drew back in fear when she showed him the beautifully carved bow and sharp tipped arrows with their pretty flights made from bird’s feathers.

He backed away from her looking terrified.

”Why whatever is the matter Mike?” she asked looking shocked, “I’m not going to hurt you, I just thought you would like to learn how to use it.”

The boy just shook his head, unable to say why he was so fearful and so in the end Rebecca hid the offending item away in the cupboard by the front door, and peace was restored.

As the days turned to weeks and the weeks to months Rebecca became more and more fond of the boy and he seemed to her like the son she had never been granted.

Tobias too saw him as a son rather than just an extra pair of hands around the place.

As to Mike hebecame accustomed to his lot and apart from the dreadful feeling of loss he still had for his parents and the haunting dreams about the two men who seemed so full of life and laughter, he came to terms with everything and settled down to the new routine.

In the evenings they would sit together in front of a blazing fire and Rebecca would recount her old Indian stories while Tobias read or just sat smoking his pipe, enjoying the stories alongside Mike.

One night though he took out a piece of wood and a knife and started witling the wood into a small horse as a gift for Mike.

As the boy sat and watched Tobias go about his task a look of intense concentration on his face he suddenly remembered a night in front of another fire and the man with the dark hair and blue eyes was doing exactly the same thing.He was witling away, making a wooden animal for him, the same look of rapt concentration on his face.

Then he’d looked up and given Mike that loving smile that he remembered so well, the one from his dreams and the pain of loss almost made him cry out…..who was he, he wondered as he looked sadly into the fire.

Chapter 6

The weeks after Jess had made his pledge to stay away from the strong liquor dragged on by and he kept his promise, but started working from dawn to dusk, trying desperately to blot out the thoughts about Mike’s disappearance that constantly haunted him.

He would get back to the ranch weary to the bone and crash out into a troubled sleep almost as soon as supper was over and Slim missed his company sitting out on the porch in the evening.

He knew that some days Jess was late back because he had spent hours searching the area around the lake again, after his work was done. But he got so angry if Slim said he was wasting his time, he kept silent and let him continue if that’s what he felt he must do.

Slim tried to spend more time with Daisy knowing how devastated she was at the loss of her surrogate youngest ‘son’.

One evening they were sitting alone by the fire with Jess having long since retired, when she broached a subject that had been troubling her for some time.

Looking across at Slim, who was using his own method of escaping from the harsh realities of the situation, by getting engrossed in a book, she said quietly,” Can we talk Slim?”

He put the book down at once and giving her an encouraging smile, said,” of course Daisy, what’s on your mind?”

She took a deep breath and then taking her courage in both hands, said, “Slim when I first came here you employed me as a Housekeeper to care for Mike and I know that was what the judge recommended, said the boy needed a motherly presence.”

Slim gave her a puzzled look,” well that’s right Daisy, and you were…… I mean are, a fantastic caring surrogate mother to him,” he finished smiling warmly at her.

“Yes , but Slim dear, I hate to even think this…but maybe, just maybe he won’t return to us, have you considered that? “

He nodded sadly and said,” I guess.”

She looked into the embers of the fire and gave a huge sigh before turning sad eyes on him.

“Then Slim I think maybe I should leave, you employed me to care for Mike and if I can no longer do that, well I feel I’m taking advantage of your good nature.”

Slim’s head shot up like he’d been hit and he looked at her in amazement.

” Daisy, you’re kidding,” he said eventually,” Jess and me……well I guess we just couldn’t manage without you! I don’t mean all the cleaning and washing and cooking you do for us either. It’s everything else. The way you always know when we’re troubled and try and help, with your wise advice, how you look after us, nurse us with the loving care of a Ma, hell I know for sure Jess wouldn’t be around if you hadn’t cared for him day and night that time he had the lung fever so bad, even Doc Sam said that.”

She just looked down blushing, genuinely surprised by his emotional outburst.

Then looking across his eyes unnaturally bright, he said very softly,” surely you know ol’ Jess and me look on you as a Ma…you must know that Daisy.”

After a few minutes a single tear ran down her cheek.

“Yes I do, of course I do,” she said softly,” I just think this whole business with Mike has made us all feel very vulnerable and act out of character. Don’t listen to the silly ramblings of an old woman, of course I’ll stay,” and with that she gave him a watery smile as he reached over and gave her hand a squeeze.

*******

The following day, breakfast was the usual quiet event that it had been ever since Mike had gone.

Before, the ranch house would echo with laughter and lively discussion at the start of the day. Now more often than not Jess was heavy eyed after all the extra hours he was putting in and Slim and Daisy just didn’t feel up to making the effort to talk much.

After the meal was finished Jess excused himself and went and stood on the porch looking out across the surrounding hills to the distant horizon.

A few minutes later Slim came out and joining him saw his serious expression and said gently, “what’s up Jess?”

His friend turned and said,” I thought I might go out as far as the foothills beyond the lake this afternoon, have another look around.”

Suddenly Slim lost his composure and with uncharacteristic anger turned on Jess and said, “Goddamn it Jess will you quit lookin’ for him, he ain’t out there …if he was we’d have found him by now, just accept…..”

“Accept what,” growled Jess,” that he’s dead? Can’t do that Slim and I can’t just sit around here waiting for him to turn up…I’ve gotta try and find him,” then more gently

” can’t ya see that?”

Slim just shook his head sadly, but said nothing.

After a few minutes Jess walked away and stood leaning against the corral fence looking out to the distant horizon again and bowed his head.

” God if you’re listening, will ya please help us out here some and bring him home?” he whispered.

He was so deep in thought it was a few minutes before he was aware a rider was coming down the trail at a gallop and looking up he saw Mort Cory ride into the yard at a fair lick.

He rode over to where Jess was standing and jumping down tethered his mount to the corral fence, before turning and giving Jess a grin.

Slim strode over and said,” what brings you out here so early Mort,” and turning and patting the Sheriff’s mount, “and riding this poor old fellah into the ground and all.”

Mort gave him a sheepish grin and said, “Yeah, guess I did push him some, but figured you’d want to hear my news as soon as possible.”

Both men looked at him intently.

“What it is Mort?” asked Jess very quietly, hardly daring to think it might be good news at last.

Turning to Jess he said,” I figure we should go inside, think Miss Daisy will need to hear this too.”

Once they were seated around the ranch table all eyes were upon Mort and he started to speak, very carefully. Looking at each of them in turn he said,” Now I don’t want to get your hopes up too much, but …….I’ve had a wire from the Sheriff over at Rawlins this morning and he reckons that an old man by the name of Jed Porter spotted Mike travelling with some mountain folk, a couple of months back.”

Jess leapt up immediately and exploded, “a couple of months back, then why the Hell didn’t he say somethin’?”

“Now calm yourself,” said Mort easily, “the man’s only just seen the Missing Poster, told the Sheriff right away, seems Mike is holed up with these folk up on the mountain just south of Rawlins….that’s if it is Mike ,”he said firmly,” we only have this old man’s say so from that poster”.

“Well that’s good enough for me”, said Slim,” come on Jess”

Turning to Daisy, he said,” can you fix us food for a couple of days, figure we could make it in that time, huh Jess?”

Jess’s eyes were sparkling in anticipation.

“I figure I could do it in a day,” he said,” but guess we’ll need the horses in reasonable shape to bring us all back, so yeah, two days should do it.”

Mort looked over to his good friends.

” Just don’t get your hopes up too high,” he said softly,” I sure don’t want to make things any worse than they are, but I guess there’s an outside chance it could be Mike…guess you have to check it out anyways. I just wish I could come with you, but Lon, the deputy, is due to go out to visit his sick Pa tomorrow and so I can’t leave town right now.”

Then turning he gave Jess a firm look. ”

“And I don’t want to hear from the Rawlins’ Sheriff that there have been any repercussions to this business Jess, seems like these are good, God fearing folk, and probably took the boy in as a kindness.”

“Like Hell!” yelled Jess angrily.

”Mike wouldn’t have gone off with them willingly, looks like they abducted him and I reckon that’s an answerable crime Mort.”

“Well that’s as may be , but just get the facts first Jess before you go wading in , the way you do , fists first and brain second.”

“Oh yes,” said Daisy softly, “don’t start fighting Jess, just get him home.”

He looked at her worried old face and said kindly, “don’t fret Daisy, I won’t do anything.”

Before turning away and saying, under his breath for Slim’s ears only,” less they’ve harmed him in some way and then I guess it’ll be more than just my fists this Mountain Man will be having to worry about.”

Once they were all packed up and ready to go Daisy and Mort came out onto the porch to see them off and Slim gave Daisy a big hug and said quietly,” You OK?”

She smiled up into his handsome troubled face, and with a brave smile nodded and said, “Yes dear…. and Slim, what ever the outcome I’ll be here waiting for you all.”

He nodded and with a small smile turned and mounted Alamo, and then Jess came and joined them on the porch.

“I’ve just been checking on Bandit. Are you OK to care for him until we get back Daisy?”

The little racoon was fully recovered now and quite a handful.

She nodded her assurance and on looking at her more closely Jess saw her bottom lip tremble and tears welling up.

Leaning forwards he kissed her gently on the forehead, but said nothing.

Pulling back he looked at Mort and slightly tipped his head towards the ranch and raised an eyebrow.

Mort gave a tiny nod back and then turning to Daisy said in a hearty voice,” I guess ol’ Lon can hold the fort a mite longer, you know Miss Daisy and if there is any of that coffee and pie left, well I’d be most obliged.”

Daisy had seen the little gesture Jess had made and was deeply touched that he should notice her distress at their leaving, and muster Mort to stay and comfort her after they had ridden away.

“Off you go then you two,” she said bravely,” the sooner you are gone, sooner you’ll be home,” and with that took Mort’s offered arm and disappeared into the ranch house.

Before they set off on the road to Rawlins they stopped at the Harrington place and again asked the sons Dave and Josh to cover the Relay Station work and tend the stock while they were away and the boys were happy to earn some extra cash to spend over the Thanksgiving holiday, at the end of the month.

It was now late fall with winter threatening and although they had been enjoying the benefits of an Indian Summer there was a chill wind in the air and the threat of bad weather to come, as the pair set off on their long journey West towards the Mountains.

They made good time and were over half way to their destination by dusk and Slim reined Alamo in as they crested a steep bank and looked out at the miles of flat open countryside beyond reaching to the distant mountain foothills. Just below them a small stream meandered and there was some cover from a few scrub bushes and windblown trees. Jess drew Traveller in beside him and following his partners gaze said, “Thinking of callin’ it a day?”

Slim nodded,” Guess we’ve pushed pretty hard today Jess, I figure if we bunk down now we can head off at first light.”

He waited for Jess to argue, knowing if he could, he would have just ridden on through the night, but to his surprise his friend simply nodded and kneed Traveller on towards the meandering stream below.

Later they lay on their bedrolls close up to the fire as the wind had got up and it had turned cold and the air damp and chilly,

Jess was lying on his back looking up at the stars and turning to Slim said quietly,” Daisy was real upset when we left you know. I figure she’s worried about what we’re gonna find…..or not find,” he finished reflectively.

Slim looked across from where he was propped up against his saddle, finishing the last of his coffee.

” Yeah I know”. Then quietly,”she said she was thinking of leaving, if we didn’t find Mike.”

“What!” said Jess sitting up and peering through the dark at his friend,” why….she can’t do that, did you tell her Slim, she can’t up and go. Hell I’d miss her something fierce, what is she thinkin’?” he finished, sounding upset.

“It’s OK,” said Slim quickly,” I told her that, said how important she is to us all and then she saw sense, said she wasn’t thinking straight, said she’d stay, whatever…well, what ever the outcome”

Jess gave a sigh of relief and lay back down again and resumed his contemplation of thestars, after a few minutes he said,” I guess none of us have been thinking too straight since Mike went, especially me.”

He turned on his side then to see his buddy better.

Then very quietly said,” I’m sorry Slim, about all the times I’ve gone and left you with the chores while I’ve been off on a wild goose chase… but I just couldn’t do nothin’……ya know?”

“Sure, I understand pard. Hell, I admire you, you never gave up hope did you Jess, always believed he was alive out there somewhere.”

“Guess I was afraid to give up,” said Jess softly,” afraid to face the alternative.”

“Well, let’s hope it won’t ever come to that and we’ll find him safe and sound tomorrow,” Slim replied.

“I sure hope so,” said Jess sleepily and after a while they drifted off to sleep under the stars, as the cold wind blew and the fire crackled and somewhere far off in the hills a lone wolf called.

The following morning they were up and on their way at first light.

They made good time and hit Jed Porters place by late morning and he wasted no time in telling the two cowboys the way to the Finnegan’s place.

“Up the trail a couple of miles, then turn off to your right just past the big pine and their cabin is half a mile or so along there,” he said.

“Much obliged,” said Slim tipping his hat to the old timer.

Jess reined Traveller in beside where the man was standing out on his porch and said, “And thank you for telling the Sheriff about it Mr. I guess we’re real indebted to you.”

The old man gave him a toothless grin.

“That’s OK boy,” he said,” I guess this young Mike means a lot to you both, legal guardians you say?”

“Yes, a hell of a lot,” said Jess with feeling. “Sure we’re his legal guardians,” and patting his jacket pocket said,” we’ve got the paper work to prove it.”

“Uh”, said the old man a twinkle in his eye,” guess you’ll be needing something a mite more persuasive than a bit of paper to git the boy back from Rebecca and Tobias. They’ve got fond of the boy, right fond of him. I guess they see him as the son Rebecca always wanted and couldn’t have.”

Then leaning back on his stick and looking the two friends up and down said finally, “Well I wish you luck boys that’s for sure, but watch your backs ‘cos that Tobias is mighty free with his ol’ huntin’ rifle…don’t care whether the prey has got four legs or two, iffen he’s riled some, if you get my meaning.”

“Oh yeah”, said Jess, nodding and giving him an assessing look

”I guess we know what you mean, but figure we’re kinda riled ourselves, right now.”

“I can see that son, well take care”, and with that he headed inside and Slim and Jess rode off in the direction of the mountain man’s cabin, Jess looking every bit as though he was ready for a fight.

A little while later, Slim reined in Alamo and Jess stopped beside him.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“You,” said Slim giving him a cool look.

” Listen Jess, I know how upset you are about all this business, but if these folks are fond of Mike, I guess we need to take things easy, try not to upset them too much you know?”

“What!” exploded Jess, “after they’ve taken Mike and kept him all this time and the living Hell we’ve been through? Not knowing if he was alive or dead and you want me to take things easy with them …are you crazy?”

“Jess, just hear me out will ya. If this Tobias is as trigger happy as the old man said, well the last thing we want is him opening fire and Mike getting caught up in it.”

Jess was quiet for a few minutes and the grudgingly said,” Yeah, I guess that makes sense”.

“So just let me do the talking, OK?” said Slim.

“Suppose, but if the boy is hurt….. “

“Let’s just take it one step at a time huh Jess”, and with that Slim kicked Alamo on up the mountainside.

Chapter 7

It was early afternoon when the cabin finally came into view. It was a small shabby place set in a clearing amongst some large old pine trees and there was a lean to barn with a small corral next to it and a couple of sad looking horses grazing on the meagre grass.

The sun had come out again and the two friends were hot and weary as they rode up.

As promised Jess held back a little and as Slim approached within a few yards of the homestead a tall, bearded man of about 40, clothed from head to toe in buckskin came out of the door.

Levelling an old hunting rifle at Slim’s belly, said, “Hold it right there Mr.”

Slim reined his mount in and said,” No need for that, we don’t mean you any harm”.

“Well you ain’t gonna get the chance to do me any,” replied the man gruffly, “‘cos you ain’t staying; now turn that there horse of yours around and head off back down the trail pronto”.

“Now just a minute!” yelled Jess,

Slim turned on him and said,” Jess!”

Jess just pulled his hat down more firmly and shifted in the saddle, but said nothing.

The door opened again and a terrified woman stood there glancing from her husband to the cowboys, a look of fear etched on her face.

Looking over at the woman Slim tried again.

“Look Mrs Finnegan , we have reason to belief you have found our ward Mike Williams, who disappeared from theLaramie area over two months ago, little chap about so high,” he said gesturing with his hand,” blond hair and blue eyes.”

Before she could reply her husband answered for her.

“Nope,” said the man stubbornly, “ain’t seen him.”

“Well that’s not what your neighbour, Mr Porter, is saying,” said Jess harshly,” he’s saying there is a boy meets that description up here and I want to see him right now,” he roared, suddenly losing what little patience he had managed to muster.

“There ain’t nobody here, but my dead brother in law’s boy,” he said,” now I’m goin’ to be a tellin’ you for the last time. Do you get off of my land or do I blow your heads off?”

Just then there was the patter of feet running and Mike appeared around the side of the cabin and being unaware of what was happening ran towards Tobias and said,” I’ve stacked all the logs now Uncle can I….” But then he stopped in his tracks as he saw Tobias pointing his gun and turning, surveyed the two strangers.

Slim let out a gasp as he saw the boy.

He had changed so much, he seemed to be a good head taller and had lost weight, his hair was long and unkempt and he too, was dressed in buckskin.

Jess let out a strangled cry.

“Mike,” and leapt from his horse and ran forwards and would have taken the boy in his arms if Tobias hadn’t thrust the riffle at him.

“Hold it right there Mr. unless you want the boy to see your brains splattered all around,” he said viciously.

As Jess and Slim stared at the boy he stared back, but there was no surprised joy in his eyes as he looked at them, in fact there was no recognition in his eyes at all.

“Mike,” said Jess very quietly,” It’s, Jess and Slim, come to fetch you home. “

Mike looked from Jess to Slim and back and then over to Tobias a puzzled look on his face.

“Well,” said Tobias,” do you know these men, son?”

Mike turned back and looked closely at them again, the sun was behind them, making their faces difficult to see and they both had their hats on so he couldn’t make out their hair colour.

He peered at them again before shaking his head,” No, I guess not he said.”

“Well I think you have your answer folks,” said Tobias with a wolfish grin,” now I think it’s time you were leaving.”

Jess squatted down a few feet from Mike and tipped his hat back and looking deeply into the boys eyes said softly,” It’s OK Tiger, you’re not in trouble, we just want you home where you belong.”

Mike looked into the man’s deep blue eyes and saw the black hair where his hat was tipped back, and something in the way he looked, that loving smile, what was it…..Mike struggled to remember and then it came to him, he was the man in the dream…but who was he?

“Come here,” said Jess very gently reaching out a hand to the boy.

Just then there was a whistling noise and suddenly Jess collapsed backwards with a harsh cry of agony as an arrow penetrated his chest.

Mike looked on in horror, and then time seemed to stand still for him and he was suddenly remembering something in the past, he was hiding in a thicket and he heard that whistling sound time after time and the dull thud as arrow after arrow found its target and his parents and all the members of the Wagon Train were slaughtered.

Then he was lying in a wagon and there were the Japanese performers who had found him lost and weary on the trail days later.

Next thing he was at the Sherman Ranch and the blond haired rancher was smiling down at him.

” Hi I’m Slim Sherman and this is Jess Harper,” he’d said, and the dark haired rancher with the concerned deep blue eyes, looked down at him and gave him that lovely smile.

Suddenly Mike sprang into action and hurled himself at Jess’s recumbent, bleeding body and kneeling beside him screamed.

” Jess! Jess!”

Then turning to give Rebecca an agonised look said, “you’ve killed my best friend, you’ve killed Jess.”

Rebecca stood there, the bow still in her hands a look of shocked horror on her face…

“I never meant….” she whispered,” I never meant that, I just wanted to scare him off…..”

Slim had leapt off Alamo and knelt by his partner cradling him in his arms looking fearfully into the white face, eyes squeezed shut, his mouth a tight line of pain.

After a second he opened his eyes and looked directly at Mike.

” It’s OK Tiger,” he whispered,” it’s OK.”

Tobias had thrown his rifle down and coming over to the injured man helped Slim carry him into the house, apologising profusely, suddenly all his anger gone.

They lay the now unconscious, Jess on a couch in front of the fire and Rebecca went and fetched a bowl of cool water and a cloth and tenderly wiped his face, before glancing over at her husband.

”Can you get it out,” she whispered, referring to the arrow that was still embedded inJess’s chest.

Slim shook his head.

”It can’t be done, only way is to push it straight through,” and then quietly,” and I don’t think he’d survive that.”

Rebecca looked over at him from where she was tending his friend.

”No,” she said, “you don’t understand, it is only a target practice arrow, there is no arrow head, it is just sharpened wood.”

Slim gave a sigh of relief, and turned to Tobias.

“So have you done this before?”

He nodded grimly.

“It’s not the removal of these arrows as is the problem, it’s the damage they’ve done and the bleeding after,” he finished.

Jess was already bleeding badly and had come to again and was obviously in considerable pain.

He reached up to Slim and whispered,” for God’s sake will ya get the damn thing out.”

Slim looked over to Tobias again and the big man finally advanced on Jess.

He pushed Rebecca gently out of the way and sat beside the dark haired cowboy.

Looking down he said,” this is gonna hurt boy, but I’ll be as quick as I can.”

Then gesturing to Slim to hold his partner down, he grabbed hold of the arrow and after a few minutes managed to pull it cleanly out.

Jess yelled and Mike ran forwards, but Slim turned and caught him.

”It’s Ok Mike, Tobias is helping…… the arrow had to come out.”

Then turning back to Jess he saw that mercifully he had finally passed out again.

Rebecca returned to her place beside Jess and staunched the flow of blood with a cloth, but it quickly soaked through and she called to Tobias to hold it in place while she went for more bandages.

Slim and Mike looked on in alarm as the blood continued to seep out.

Tobias applied more pressure, but the bleeding continued and then Jess woke up again and looked down in consternation at the fast growing stain covering the cloth.

Rebecca returned and looked worried, then turning to Tobias said,” I could try some Staghorn, that is very good medicine for bleeding I think.”

Tobias nodded sagely in agreement, but Slim looked worried.

“Now hang on,” he said, “what is this stuff, a stag’s horn dadgum it how’s that supposed to help?”

Jess gave a weak smile.

”It’s Ok Slim,” he said quietly,” the Indians call it Stag horn, we call it Club Moss, it’s just a herbal cure, like a powder, usually works pretty good.”

Rebecca smiled uncertainly down at him,”you know about our Indian medicines?” she asked

“Sure,” replied Jess softly,” I was injured real bad and was picked up by some Arapaho Indians and they took me in and fixed me up real good. I stayed with them for six months or more and learnt so much, trackin’, horse whisperin’”…… but then he drifted off again.

Rebecca hurried away and then returned with the herbal powders and deftly administered them before bandaging Jess’s chest tightly.

Sitting back she looked across to Slim and said softly,” that should work; we’ll just have to wait…… I am so, so sorry, I never meant to hurt him. I just panicked when I thought he were going to grab the boy.”

Slim just nodded and looked down at his best friend, and said softly,

"You OK buddy?”

But Jess was asleep and so after one final sad look at him Rebecca went to make the others some food, while Slim took her place sitting beside Jess with Mike.

A little while later she called them to supper but Mike refused to leave Jess, so they left him perched at the bottom of the couch, with strict instructions to call over if Jess woke up.

Once the meal was nearly over, Tobias looked over to Slim.

” I guess we need to talk. We were wrong bringing the boy here, I know that now and I’m ….well I’m truly sorry. We found him out near a lake on the Laramie road, with a nasty bang on the head. His pony had tipped him off I guess. Anyways, we asked him where he lived and he said he was with his Ma and Pa on the Wagon Train, didn’t make any sense,” he said looking at Slim.

Slim gave a low whistle and explained all about the Indian attack and how Mike had subsequently come to be adopted by himself and Jess.

Rebecca broke in at that.

“That explains why he was so terrified of my bow and arrows,” she said, “oh the poor boy. It’s a wonder he wasn’t frightened of me too, after what happened,” she whispered and began to weep quietly.

“It isn’t the way he’s been brought up,” said Slim quietly. “You heard what Jess said, about living with the Arapaho, we have a lot of respect for the Indian people, can’t judge everyone by what others have done in the past.”

Then he continued,” like me and Jess fought on different sides in the War, but guess he’s as close as a brother to me now,” and he cast an anxious look to the other side of the room where Jess was still sleeping.

“It’s all my fault,” Rebecca said,” it was I who suggested we bring him home with us…I always wanted a son and I supposed I just saw the opportunity and took it, without considering the consequences.”

Then she suddenly looked at Slim her eyes open wide in shock, and her hand shot to her mouth.

“When I think what I have put you both through, it must have been terrible losing him like that, I am so, so sorry.”

“Well its sure not been easy,” he agreed, momentarily glad Jess was out of it, knowing the colourful language he would have used to describe the last few months.

“I can understand why you did it though,” he said, “especially when he said he was with the Wagon Train, you must have thought he was crazy, beats me as to why he should say a strange thing like that though, he’s been with us nigh on four years.”

Tobias looked thoughtful, then said,” I’ve heard of this before, happened tofriend of mine, got a real bad bang on the head, fell off a Mustang he was bustin,’ and forgot every darn thing, even his name. Then dang me, he was at a visiting rodeo and a man was up on a Palomino, exactly the same as Bill was thrown from and , well I guess something just clicked and he remembered everything again…darnedest thing I ever saw.”

“Guess it could have been the same with Mike,” pondered Slim,” the blow to the head blotted out the last few years and he could only remember living with his folks and then when Jess was shot it brought it all back in a flash.”

“Seems that way,” said Tobias,” but I should take it real easy when you mention it to him Slim, if I remember right, Bill got real distressed for a while until he got used to his life again.”

“Yeah, “said Slim,” I will be careful,” and he looked back at Mike who had now cuddled down on the couch next to Jess, and in his sleep Jess had flung an arm around him and held the boy close.

Rebecca followed Slim’s gaze and said quietly,” he loves you both very much I can see that, and you him,” she finished looking back at Slim.

He just nodded and said softly, ”we’re a family Rebecca, guess we look out for each,” other and with that he excused himself from the table and went and sat over by Jess and Mike looking down at his friend with worry etched on his face.

A while later Rebecca and Tobias retired to bed in the only other room and as Mike seemed so comfortable cuddled down with Jess, Slim took Mike’s bed in an alcove near the fireplace and was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

When Jess awoke the next morning it took him a minute or two to remember where he was and then he felt Mike’s warm little body cuddled up to him and gave a sigh of relief as he remembered the events of the previous day.

Mike had been tearful and refused to let Slim or Jess out of his sight since his memory had returned, but he had hardly spoken. Now as Jess looked down at him he suddenly awoke his big blue eyes looked into Jess’s.

“Hey you OK Tiger?” asked Jess softly.

The boy nodded yes.

“Been kinda quiet since we found ya,” went on Jess.

The youngster looked away and then back at Jess and finally said,” I feel so bad Jess”.

“Why buddy”, he replied softly,” we ain’t mad at you for takin’ off, we sure were, but guess we’ve forgiven you now.”

“No not that,” said the boy, “although I am real sorry about that too, no it’s………”

“What Tiger?”

“Well I forgot you Jess, you and Slim and Aunt Daisy, how could I do that, how could I forget you?” and a tear ran down the boys cheek and then he started sobbing in earnest.

The sound awoke Slim and he leapt out of bed and ran to the couch, at first he thought Jess was sicker, or even dead.

But then, when he saw his partner sitting up, holding the boy who was crying miserably he said, “I guess we can leave telling him off for running away until another time huh Jess?”

Jess looked hurt.

”I ain’t been tellin’ him off,” he said, ”the boy’s upset because he forgot us.”

“Is that all,” smiled Slim and taking Mike gently on his knee told him all about Tobias’s friend and the bump on the head.

“Guess it was the same with you Mike” , he said, “when ol’ Patch tipped you off, that bang on the head made you forget everything after you left the Wagon Train to collect the wood. Then the shock of seeing Jess shot, the way your Ma and Pa were, well that brought your memory back. The little boy frowned and thought about it for a minute and then said, “Yeah, I think you are right it was the noise…. that did it.”

“What noise was that Mike?” asked Jess softly.

“The arrow,” he replied” that sort of whistle they make, I heard that and then it sort of thudded into your chest…just like it did to my Pa,” and then he broke down crying hysterically andSlim held him tightly stroking his hair, until he finally calmed down and fell asleep again.

Slim carried him over to his own bed and tucked him in before coming over to check on Jess and was not surprised to see him blinking back tears too.

”Poor little fellah,” he said softly, ”I guess we forget everything he’s been through sometimes.”

“Yeah, I know,” said Slim, “he’s just so resilient and cheerful usually, but I reckon all this has really upset him.”

“Yeah,” said Jess angrily,” when I think what that couple are responsible for,” he growled sitting up his fists clenched.

“Easy,” said Slim, “I know you’re mad, but I think Rebecca was driven to it, she was desperate for a child and so when the opportunity came along….”

“That ain’t no excuse,” said Jess angrily,” we all want thing we can’t have, doesn’t mean we just go and take ‘em……not a little kid like that Slim, that ain’t right,” he finished sadly.

“I guess you’re right,” his friend agreed,” but Rebecca and Tobias, they really love the boy you can see it in their eyes. I figure just taking him away will be a big enough punishment for them you know Jess, without involving the law. “

Jess thought about it for a few minutes before reluctantly agreeing.

”I guess they’ve looked after him well enough,” he said,” and me too, so yeah, let’s just take the boy and get off home.”

“Whoa,” said Slim,” you aren’t going anywhere; until I’m sure you’re not going to bleed to death on me, on the trail.”

“Aw, Slim….”

“Never mind ‘aw Slim,’ you could have died yesterday Jess and I’m not taking any risks.”

Then sitting down on a chair pulled up by the couch he looked at his partner properly. His eyes looked very bright and he was flushed with a slick of sweat on his face.

Reaching over Slim pushed Jess’s unruly black hair back and felt his forehead.

” You’re a mite warm Jess,” he said with a worried frown,” how are you feeling?”

Jess rested back on the cushion he was using as a pillow and looked up at the ceiling “felt better,” he admitted.

“Uh, I thought so,” said Slim who had been surprised at the lack of fuss his friend had made about taking retribution on the Rebecca and Tobias, and figured he was feeling pretty bad.

Just then Rebecca came in and with a shy smile came over and after looking at Jess she exchanged a worried glance with Slim before hurrying away towards the kitchen.

She returned a while later with a cup in her hands and asked Slim to help Jess to sit up before offering him the drink.

“Here,” she said softly,” you have a fever Jess and this will help.”

He took it from her and sniffed it suspiciously.

Then he looked up at Mike who had woken up at the sound of the adults talking. He got up and wandered over to Jess and sat down at the end of the sofa surveying the scene. After a moment he turned to Rebecca and said,” Have you made him some Snake Grass tea Aunt Rebecca?”

“What?” asked a shocked looking Slim.

“It’s alright,” said Rebecca smiling across at him.” the white man’s name for it is Yarrow and I make an infusion…a tea and it helps with a fever.”

Then turning back to Jess said,” please try it, I only want to help you.”

Jess took a sip and pulled a face which made Mike laugh.

“Go on Jess,” he encouraged,” it tastes real bad I know, but it sure works, when I had a fever Aunt Rebecca gave it me and I was fine in no time.”

Slim and Jess both cast her a worried look and Slim said,” The boy was sick?”

“Yes,” acknowledged Rebecca,” just a chill, but I nursed him and he was fine again in a few days.”

Jess couldn’t bear the thought of the boy being sick and him not there to care for him, but tried to push the thought away, and with a determined look drained the cup and returned it to Rebecca saying thank you.

Mike and Slim exchanged a smile knowing what a dreadful patient Jess usually was, but said nothing.

Before long he fell asleep and that set the pattern for the next couple of days, but by the third day he awoke looking bright eyed andhealthy and got up and washed without help.

He ventured outside that evening and sniffed the airbefore turning to Slim.

“There’s snow a coming Slim and we have to take off for home, whether I’m ready or not, else we’ll be here all dang winter.”

Slim gave him an anxious look.

“Are you sure you’re OK to ride pard?”

“Sure I…..”

But their conversation was suddenly interrupted as a rider came down the trail and reining his mount in he pushed his hat back and with a broad grin said, ”Howdy folks, guess you must be Harper and Sherman?”

Slim nodded and noticing the badge on the man’s vest said,” and you are the Rawlins Sheriff?”

“The very same,” said the man jumping down and offering his hand to both men,” Red Smith at your service, Smitty to my friends.”

“Well please to meet you,” said Jess” and we sure appreciate you wiring us with the details of how to find the boy.”

“You’re very welcome,” he replied warmly, “so it was the right child then?”

“Oh sure,” said Slim handing the Sheriff the adoption papers.

Just then Mike ran out of the cabin and hurled himself at Jess throwing his arms around his waist and grinning up said, “Aunt Rebecca says supper is nearly ready Jess.”

The Sheriff handed the papers back to Slim after a cursory glance.

”I guess there is no denying he’s your boy,” he said grinning across at Jess and Mike.

Then looking more serious said,” so tell me gentlemen how do you want to deal with this matter? It seems Tobias and Rebecca abducted the boy. That is they made no reasonable effort to find his folk, and so I guess that’s a felony. It could mean a jail sentence if you aim to prosecute?”

Slim and Jess exchanged looks and then Slim responded.

“Well as far as I’m concerned I guess we’ve got the boy back safely and no real harm done.”

Then turning to his partner said, “Jess? “

Jess looked back and then down at Mike, then moved away a little looking out down the trail.

After a few minutes he turned back and said gruffly, ”no I guess, I won’t press charges either.”

The Sheriff nodded and said,” if you are both sure. It’s getting late I’ll drop by again tomorrow and read them the riot act, and you can be certain they won’t ever do anything like this again.”

“That’s good enough for me,” responded Slim, but Jess just nodded.

“Safe journey home,” said the Sheriff and promising to wire Laramie with the good news, he remounted.

”I shouldn’t leave it too long either, snow is on the way,” and with a cherry wave he rode off back down the trail.

Jess turned to Slim with a faint smile.

”See even the locals say it’s gonna snow, guess we’re out of here at first light partner,” he said before turning to go in for supper.

Chapter 8

The following morning all three were up early and packed ready to go by the time Rebecca served breakfast. Mike could hardly contain his excitement about going home and talked none stop about seeing all his animals again and of course his beloved Aunt Daisy.

Slim saw Rebecca’s eyes fill with tears at this and making the excuse of checking their gear took Mike outside to help him saddle the horses.

Rebecca’s distress had not been missed by Jess either and he gently took her hand as it rested on the table near him and giving it a kindly squeezehe said softly,” I guess you’ve got kinda attached to the little fellah huh?”

Then looking deeply into her eyes said,” I’m finding it real hard to forgive you folks for taking him,” and turning to include Tobias continued,” but you’ve looked after him well and I thank you for that. I guess the way you feel about him now, you can imagine the Hell we’ve all been through these months, searching and searching for him, it was ….well it was real bad,” he finished his voice thick with emotion.

He took a deep breath and then said, ”so when we ride out with him today, I guess the way you’ll be hurting, well, that will be enough punishment, so we’ve told Sheriff Smith there will be no charges made.”

At that Tobias drew a deep breath.

“Well thank God for that,” he sighed. “And yes, we will both miss Mike something fierce”, he continued,” thank you for being so understanding about this business Jess, much appreciated,” he finished humbly.

At that Rebecca gave a sob and excusing herself she ran from the room.

Tobias looked over at Jess.

“She’s taking all this bad, real bad. Only thing she’s ever wanted is a young ‘un, but guess it’s not to be,” he finished sadly.

Jess looked down and then said softly, “I guess I could have been a bit more understanding, mind if I talk to her? “

Tobias gestured with his hand, go ahead and so Jess left the table and went to find Rebecca in the kitchen.

She was at the sink washing up when he entered and spinning round to face him, pinneda cheerful smile on her face and said, “You off now?”

“In a minute……..Rebecca I’m sorry, I….well I just want you to know I understand how hard this is for you, and I’ve been thinking, if it’s OK with the others, how would you like to come and stay at the ranch for a few days next year when you come over to Laramie on your trading trip?”

She looked up at him with astonishment.

“Are you sure Jess, what you said before about finding it hard to forgive…well I would understand if you never wanted to see us again.”

He shook his head,” I can see you love the boy and it’s OK, I guess I will forgive you, just give me some time, huh?”

With that she threw herself into his arms.

” Thank you oh, thank you,” she whispered before reaching up and kissing him on the cheek,” and we’d love to visit if it is alright with everyone.”

Rebecca and Jess joined the others outside, with the horses saddled and ready to go, and Slim was surprised to see Jess had a friendly arm around Rebecca’s shoulders and a grin on his face. When he explained about the invitation Slim gave him a grateful smile, knowing how difficult it would have been for his partner to do this kindness.

Mike ran and hugged Rebecca and Tobias and said how great it would be for them to visit him, before giving his little thank you for having me speech, which had been part of Daisy’s in put on good manners. Considering the circumstances both Slim and Jess found it rather inappropriate, and exchanged a look but said nothing.

As Jess mounted he gave a small gasp of pain and clutched his chest, before immediately regaining his composure, but Slim had not missed his partner’s obvious discomfort and turning to him said softly,” Jess I….”

But Jess cut in quickly, in a low voice, “I’m OK Slim, we’ve got to go, you know that, just leave it.”

Rebecca had returned to the house and now she came running out again with a small parcel and handed it to Slim, and said quietly for his ears only.

” A selection of my herbs, with instructions as to their use” , and then more quietly still, “look after him Slim, he really isn’t well enough to travel.” Then with a small smile,” but guess I’ve seen enough of his stubborn side to know there will be no arguing with him, anyway please take these they may be of some use,” and with that went and stood with Tobias to wave them off.

Mike ran and gave them a final hug before Slim pulled him up in front of him in the saddle and with a last smile he spurred on Alamo, towards the mountain trail.

Jess reined Traveller in beside the couple and looked down at them.

” I’ll get Daisy to write you, tell you what he gets up to…. if you’d like?” he said softly.

Rebecca was too moved to speak, but just nodded her head enthusiastically, as a tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.

“Thank you,” she finally managed.

Jess nodded back, and giving her a faint smile.

He touched his hat andsaid,” be seein’ ya”, and with that turned Traveller and spurred him on to catch up with Slim and Mike.

The going was slow as Slim could see Jess was in obvious pain and so he kept the pace to a walk, giving the reason as to the extra weight Alamo was having to carry with Mike on board. So by early evening they had only travelled about a third of the journey instead of the halfway mark which they had achieved on their way out.

As Jess slid from the saddle Slim could see he was weary and he stood there for a moment holding onto Traveller for support.

Slim dismounted and walking over to his friend took him by the arm and led him to a large boulder and sat him down.

” Stay here ,”he said,” while Mike and I deal with the horses and then I’ll come back and start a fire.”

Jess opened his mouth as if to protest, but Slim got there first.

”Hey… don’t argue with me Jess,” he said sharply and Jess sat back down exhausted, and kept his mouth shut.

It had turned bitterly cold and there was a chill wind blowing and so Mike and Slim built a large fire that was soon warming them and cooking a hot meal. Slim had put water to boil and now he passed a tin cup over to Jess who was lying against his saddle looking completely done in. He took it expecting coffee and nearly choked as the acrid liquid hit the back of his throat.

“What in Hell!” he exploded.

“Getit down ya,” said Slim firmly,” it’s one of Miss Rebecca’s herbal potions and I reckon you’re in need of it, so justdrink it down and you can have some coffee.”

“Aw Slim”, started Jess and then Mike piped up,

“You always say I have to take my medicine like a man when I’m sick Jess, figure you should too,” he said with a cheeky grin.

“Why you…..” barked Jess leaning over to give him a clip, which Mike dodged easily, still grinning.

Jess gave a big sigh and downed the liquid and after shuddering passed the cup back to Slim to be refilled with the promised coffee.

Later that night after Mike was asleep, Jess and Slim lay having a last coffee.

Jess looked over at his friend,” you’re not fooling me, you know,” he said quietly.

“What are you talking about?” asked Slim arching his eyebrows and looking innocent.

“The pace we’ve been goin’ today,” he replied, “ain’t nothin’ to do with Alamo carrying two, it’s ‘cos you think I can’t go any faster isn’t it Slim?”

His friend didn’t reply and so Jess took it as an affirmative.

“Look,”he said, “why don’t you take the boy and ride off tomorrow and I’ll follow you, take my time and…. “

“No,” broke in Slim harshly”, I’m not leaving you Jess.”

“But…… “

“No, that’s final, you’re still pretty sick buddy and I’m not abandoning you out here, Hell Jess you couldn’t even lift your saddle the way you are right now, so leave it.”

Then more softly, “It will be OK, now get some sleep and we’ll set off at first light”.

Jess nodded and lay down quietly, before looking back across at his friend and saying softly,” thanks partner.”

The following day as they set out, the first white flakes started flying through the air like soft white feathers until the wind caught them sending them whipping painfully against the rider’s faces. They stopped to put on their rain slickers, Slim draping his around Mike to keep him as dry as possible and they continued their journey, upping the pace a little at Jess’s insistence.

By the time they stopped at lunchtime in the shelter of some scrubby trees the storm had increased to almost blizzard conditions and the snow was beginning to lie deeply in places where it had drifted making the going difficult. They didn’t think it worth trying to start a fire and just took a short break before setting off again into the unrelenting wind and snow.

They continued riding until by mid afternoon it was almost dark and the deep grey storm clouds kept rolling in and the snow fell thicker and thicker until it was almost impossible to see in front of them. Slim reined in Alamo and waited for Jess to catch up with him and shouting across the noise of the wind said,” I guess we’re going to have to stop for the night here, just can’t see the way to go anymore.”

Jess pulled his hat down more firmly and nodded in agreement.

They were now out on a stretch of open plain and they knew there would be no decent shelter for at least another 30 miles, but they managed to find a rocky outcrop and a few more stunted trees and made camp there, keeping their horses in close as they stood looking miserable with their rumps to the weather.

Jess went over to Traveller and found him a sugar lump and stroked his muzzle fondly.

“Poor ol’ fellah,” he said softly, “guess you’re not enjoying this anymore than the rest of us”, and then sadly turned back to the fire where Slim was desperately trying to heat up some beans over the sulky guttering flames.

The snow was still falling and water dripped from their hats and made everything wet and cold. They decided to bunk down as soon as they had eaten to try and keep warm and Jess took Mike into his bedroll and covered himalmost completely with his rain slicker in an attempt to keep him dry and held the boy close to keep him as warm as possible.

Mike lay there quietly his eyes heavy and then said,” this is some adventure, huh Jess?”

“Sure is”, said his friend sleepily

Then,” I guess Aunt Daisy will love hearing all about it”, he said yawning.

Jess cast a glance over to Slim and they both smiled.

“Yeah, that she will,” said Jess softly, just imagining the old lady’s horror stricken expression at them being stuck out in the middle of a blizzard with no shelter, but the boy was already asleep.

He wasn’t quite as enthusiastic when he woke up the following morning feeling cold and hungry, but the two ranchers rallied around and had managed to keep a fire going with some wood they had stored undercover, the night before, and with coffee and bacon under their belts they felt better able to face the coming day.

The snow had stopped as they rode out and they set a course for the distant hills and Laramie. They made pretty good time even though the going was hard where the snow lay with the wind constantly blowing it into deep drifts. However later in the day it started snowing again, in earnest and it was impossible to see their way ahead.

Jess reined in and gave Slim a worried look as he stopped beside him.

“I don’t like it Slim,” he said,” I can’t see us making it back to the ranch tonight,” and then glancing down at Mike who was still riding in front of Slim, he said,”I think we should head for the old line cabin on Solomon’s Ridge and hole up there until morning.”

Slim got his drift and glancing down at Mike, who was looking pale and tired, said, “We don’t want to spend another night in the open that’s for sure, think you can find your way?”

“I reckon,” he said, and with that spurred Traveller off the trail and made for a distant rocky outcrop.

As they stopped for a short break halfway there, they suddenly heard the lonely sound of a howling wolf and then the call was taken up by one, two, and then maybe a dozen other animals.

Jess gave Slim an anxious look, for the wolves to be down from the mountains meant they were hungry and looking for food and a pack of fully grown hungry wolves could be a pretty dangerous thing to behold as Slim and Jess both knew.

Mike looked really frightened.

“They won’t…... they won’t find us will they Slim?” he stuttered.

“Heck no,” said Slim, more cheerfully than he felt,” but guess we’ll move on now and get to the line cabin, reckon there’s plenty of wood stored there from our last hunting trip and we’ll be warm as toast before you know it Tiger, “and with that he threw him back up on Alamo and jumping up behind him they took off again, the distant call of the wolves slowly getting louder as they came closer and closer.

They rode on towards the line cabin and it was in sight when the wolves’ calls became much louder and on turning Slim saw a pack of about ten or fifteen animals chasing after them. He spurred Alamo on to catch up with Jess and the two of them reined in and looked back.

“ I don’t like the look of ‘em,” yelled Jess above the moaning wind,” take off for the cabin Slim, get the boy inside, I’ll sort them out,” and with only a seconds hesitation Slim took off at speed.

Jess turned towards the wolves and taking his rifle out fired above their heads and the animals faltered and then stopped. Jess fired again and they turned and ran into some bushes, before gradually turning back towards the riders, walking slowly their hackles up and teeth bared.

This time Jess took careful aim and shot the nearest wolf and it fell instantly, the others turning tail and disappearing into the fast falling snow. With one last look Jess turned Traveller towards the swiftly retreating back of Alamo and the distant cabin.

They arrived within a few minutes and while Slim put the horses in the lean to barn, Jess took Mike inside and set a fire and lit the lamps as it was growing dark even though it was only afternoon, the rolling storm clouds making it seem like dusk.

By the time Slim returned the fire was crackling in the old stone fireplace and the coffee pot was in place. He glanced at Jess who was squatting be the fire, putting more logs on, and as he looked up and gave Slim a welcoming smile, he saw how bone weary he looked.

“You OK pard?” he asked quietly.

Jess just nodded and said nothing.

Mike was very quiet too and after a few minutes Slim pulled one of the old cots in front of the fire and gestured for Mike to get on it and then he fetched a blanket from a chest by the door and wrapped it around the boy, who was shivering in spite of the blazing fire.

” Hot meal and then bed, Mike”, he said firmly.

Some time later, Slim fixed them some beans which he insisted Mike eat even though he could hardly keep his eyes open and as soon as he was done he lay down, with the cot pulled near the fire, and was asleep in a few minutes.

“Poor little fellah,” said Jess softly,” guess he’s pretty much done in.”

Slim nodded.

” We sure could do with getting him home as soon as we can,” and then after pausing looked over at his friend,” you too Jess, your still hurting some from that arrow puncture aren’t you?”

Jess nodded slightly,” some I guess,” he said softly.

Just then they heard the wolves begin to howl again and Slim went to the window and looked out anxiously and turning back into the room he asked, “how many were there Jess?”

“Too many, twelve, maybe fifteen, fully grown and hungry Slim, I shot over their heads, but it didn’t stop ‘em too much. Shot one dead and they thought about it, but decided to keep on following us I guess.”

After a minute he stood up and shrugged on his jacket.

“Where are you going?” asked Slim looking worried.

“Just out to the barn, check the horses are OK, “he replied tersely.

As he pushed open the barn door there was a soft whinny from Traveller ,who blew down his nose in greeting.

Jess went over and scratched him behind the ear and offered him a sugar lump before entering the neighbouring stall and doing the same to Alamo, talking softly all the while to the two horses.

He saw Traveller’s ears flicking at the sound of the nearby wolves and he stamped impatiently a couple of times and Jess returned to his stall to reassure him.

“Steady fellah, you’re not afraid of those ol’ puppy dogs are you?” he whispered and the horse settled again.

Before he returned to the cabin Jess checked the wooden shutters that acted like a window in the barn wall, which opened in high summer allowing a cooling draft through. They were firmly shut and after looking around one last time to be sure all was secure he left and started to make his way back to the welcoming fire. Although the snow had stopped the wind had got up and was howling in competition with the wolves and shuddering Jess opened the cabin door and closed it firmly behind him.

“All OK?” asked Slim

“Sure,” he said quietly,” I’m none too happy about those ol’ wolves though, got Trav spooked some.”

“Well I guess we are all locked up pretty good, lets turn in and make an early start tomorrow,” said Slim yawning and pulling the other two cots near the fire they settled down as best they could.

It must have been a couple of hours later when they were awoken by shrill neighing coming from the barn and Jess was up and at the door in a moment, turning he called back to Slim,” stay with Mike”, and with that ran out of the cabin to the barn and on pulling the door open, his heart stood still at what he saw.

The wolves had broken in through the old wooden shutters and tried to attack the horses and as Jess watched Traveller rose up rearing and then came down hard, his hooves trampling on the prone body of one of the wolves. Even as he watched another jumped in through the window space and made for Alamo, but Jess drew his gun and shot him between the eyes and he fell dead at his feet.

He had left the barn door flapping open behind him in the wind and suddenly something hit him from behind with such force he fell flat on his face and then he heard a sinister growling as the wolf that had downed him started to bite into the back of his jacket.

Rolling over quickly he started wrestling with the animal and then managed to get both feet up and kick it hard in its belly and it was thrown across the barn. He had just drawn his gun again, when a shot rang out and Slim stood by the barn door, the rifle in his hands.

Then all hell was let lose, as one after another the wolves kept returning, circling around the cabin wailing and barking in frenzy. Slim ran back to the cabin and made sure Mike was safe and Jess stayed in the barn and within and hour most of the pack lay dead and the others had disappeared into the dark night……

Once the wolves had retreatedJess ran to the cabin and as soon as he was sure Mike was safe, he returned to the barn and checked the horses carefully for any damage, but apart from being obviously very nervous they had not been hurt at all.

Jess and Slim removed the dead beasts from the barn as their smell was making the horses restless and then Jess insisted he would stay with the horses over night to keep them safe in case of any return visits form the remaining wolves.

“Are you sure Jess; it’s freezing in here,” said Slim.

“I’ll be OK,” said Jess and getting an old blanket he hung it across the broken window and then fetching his bedroll from the cabin set it down in the hay near the horses, and below the broken window so he would get a good shot if the wolves returned .With his rifle beside him, he bedded down after bidding Slim goodnight and fell into an uneasy doze almost at once as he was so exhausted.

Slim returned reluctantly to the cabin, but knew it was not worth arguing with Jess’s stubborn streak and he also knew there was no way he would leave Traveller and Alamo alone again after the vicious attack by the wolves.

Mike seemed to have taken this latest adventure in his stride and Slim hoped that this would not be another of the tales he would be relating to Daisy on their return home and with that final thought drifted off to sleep.

He awoke at first light and after stoking up the fire and putting the coffee pot on, left Mike sleeping and went out to the barn to wake Jess.

The wind was still raging and blowing the snow around making deep drifts and it took him a little while to pull the barn door open against the drifted snow.

The first thing he noticed when he entered was the bitter cold and he saw the horses’ breath as they snorted in welcome. Then he noticed how light it seemed and looking up saw the blanket had blown down in the night and the cold wind was blowing in through the broken shutters.

He walked across to where Jess was laying just below the window and looking down at him he took a sharp intake of breath.

His partner was lying very still and was white as a sheet. He squatted down beside him and said quietly “Jess; wake up pard, coffee’s on. “

He didn’t’ stir and suddenly Slim had a very bad feeling, he was just too still. Hesitantly putting his hand out he touched Jess’s face and recoiled in horror at the icy cold skin. Looking more closely he could see a faint blue tinge around his mouth and leaning further forward he could see no sign of breathing and after sliding a hand inside his shirt, could feel no heart beat either.

Grabbing hold of him by his shoulders he shook him at first gently, then more roughly, yelling his name, but Jess remained completely still.

Slim suddenly let go and sat back on his heels surveying his best friends lifeless form.

“Oh no,” he whispered shaking his head, “please God no…….”

He stood up backing away from him and turning went and stared out of the window at the freezing countryside beyond, his heart feeling like a stone, the tears freely rolling down his cheeks.

“I never thought it would be like this,” he said softly, “gunned down in a shoot out, or fallin’ off a Mustang, but not like this, to freeze to death.”

He turned back with angry eyes and yelled at his friend.

” Why you goddamn stupid fool, why?”

But he knew the reason, knew that he would never have left Traveller while the threat of the wolves lingered.

He returned to his best friend and sank to his knees beside him and bowed his head, then another thought struck him….. Mike, oh no he had to break it to Mike.

What had he said when Rebecca had shot Jess……” you’ve killed Jess, you’ve killed my best friend.”

Then he remembered how the boy had refused to leave him all that night and the thought of having to tell him this terrible news was just too much to bear and he buried his head into his hands.

The horses stamping their feet, impatient for their feed, brought him back to his senses and sadly he began to pull Jess’s blanket over him to cover the body.

Then, as he did so, something made him stop as he looked down at Jess’s chest. There was a very small patch of red on his blue shirt and as he watched the tiny patch became slightly larger. Slim leaned forwards and on ripping open his buddy’s shirt saw the dressing covering the arrow wound was wet with blood and it continued to ooze, sluggishly.

Slim held his breath and suddenly remembered being in this situation with Jess once before. He’d thought he was dead after he had been badly injured and Doc Sam, their friend and physician, was there and he had said, smiling triumphantly at Slim,” the dead don’t bleed.”

No, “the dead don’t bleed,” Slim repeated in a whisper.

He was maybe a whisker away from death, but not yet…no not quite yet.

Slim somehow managed to pick his partner up and staggering under his weight made it back to the cabin, and placed him gently on one of the cots beside the fire andas he came in Mike woke up and stared wide eyed at Jess.

“What’s wrong,” he said looking terrified” is he sick Slim?”

Slim turned to the boy and knew he had to be honest. Kneeling down beside him he saidsoftly,” Yes he is Mike , real sick, he’s gotten himselfway too cold out in that barn and you and me have got to warm him up again OK buddy?”

“OK,” said the boy quietly, obviously overwhelmed by this new train of events.

Slim put some water to boil on the fire and after setting Mike to tearing up a sheet into bandages, he started to remove Jess’s clothes and after stripping him off proceeded to cover his chilled body with the cloths soaked in the hot water. He continued for what seemed like hours and once he felt a little warmer to the touch he covered him with as many blankets as he could find and stoked up the fire so that it was blazing and the small cabin was really warm.

He kept feeling for a pulse and was eventually rewarded by a very weak one but his breathing was still shallow and irregular. Gradually as he started to warm up a little he began shivering and shaking uncontrollably and was very restless tossing, turning and trying to throw the blankets off.

Slim sat patiently beside him, covering him up and stoking the fire and after a while Jess finally opened his eyes and looked wildly around him.

“Hey buddy, you gave us a turn there,” Slim said gently, but as Jess looked up at him, Slim could see no recognition in his eyes, and he pulled away and continued to look fearfully around the cabin.

“Jess it’s me Slim,” he said softly.

Jess looked back into his eyes again, but as Slim tried to tend him he pushed him roughly away, “get off,” he yelled looking terrified.

He tried to get up, but Slim pushed him gently down and seeing how weak he was, felt even more concerned, and was shocked at how fragile his partner seemed to be.

“Just lay still will ya Jess,” he said in exasperation.

Finally after some time, there was the light of recognition in his eyes,” Ssslim?” he slurred.

“Yeah pard it’s me. You got yourself real cold out in the barn, just been tryin’ to warm you up some that’s all,” replied Slim.

Jess half sat up, but he was still shaking and then started coughing badly, struggling to catch his breath

“Take it easy,” said Slim,” it’s OK just rest.”

“Trav? “asked Jess in a whisper.

“He’s fine, it’s morning Jess, the wolves are all long gone, now will ya rest, you need to lay down pard, come on,” and with that he gently pushed him back down on the cot.

Jess was still shivering and Mike, who had just woken up from a nap, came and sat beside him looking anxiously at his friend.

“He’s awful cold Slim,” he said quietly, “will he be OK? “

“Sure,” said Slim more cheerfully than he felt,” he just need some time Tiger and he’ll be fine.”

Slim looked down at his partner and felt rocked to the core by what had occurred over the last few hours and feeling exhausted sat down on the edge of the cot and raked his hand through his blond hair.

Jess lay still and then seemed to suddenly become more aware of the situation and with a weak grin said,” Sorry Slim, guess you were right, it was a mite chilly in the barn.”

Slim looked wearily at his friend and then couldn’t help smiling,” you can say that again partner,” he said quietly.

It wasn’t until much later that the full truth, about the night’s events were finally revealed to Jess.

It took most of the day to finally warm him up completely and as he rested Mike and Slim took the opportunity of tidying up the corpses of the dead wolves and collecting more firewood.

Slim had also hoped to get something for the pot as their food supplies were dwindling fast, but after an hour or so, hunting in the bitter cold, they were forced to admit defeat and return to the cabin empty handed.

After a scratch meal of dried meat and beans Slim tucked an exhausted Mike into bed and then sat by the fire with Jess to enjoy a last coffee before retiring for the night.

“Guess we’d better get moving tomorrow, “Jess said looking over at his partner, “unless you’re gonna cook up wolf stew for supper.”

Slim nodded,” I guess so, but are you sure you are fit enough?”

The wolf attack had opened up the arrow wound and it was still bleeding a little even though Slim had dressed and bandaged it tightly.

“I’m fine will ya stop your fussin’,” said Jess grinning across at his friend.

Suddenly Slim lost his temper; he was exhausted and emotionally bruised after all the events of the previous day and turning on Jess said, angrily, “you just don’t get it do you? Hell Jess you were dead… couldn’t find a pulse or a heart beat……. I really thought you were dead,” he paused before continuing as Jess looked at him; his eyes open wide in shock.

“I was just about to cover you over with the blanket, leave you out there in the cold, come back in, break it to the boy, and then later load you on Traveller, take you home and ride in with you like that….. and tell Daisy.”

He swallowed deeply before continuing, “I could see it all, her face, the way she’d have taken it…so damn bad Jess, then burying you up on the hill with my folks,” he whispered.

“If it hadn’t been for that tiny little blood stain on your shirt, telling me that maybe…… just maybe I could pull you back….if it hadn’t been for that well, you’d be dead now Jess, it was that damn close……so don’t you go telling me to stop fussing, because I figure right now I’ve got every right,” he concluded and closing his eyes tightly, he took a deep breath, before looking over at Jess, anger mingled with fear in his gaze.

Jess just stared back looking shocked to the core and finally he whispered,” I’m sorry Slim, I didn’t realise…..then gave a soft whistle,” thanks pard,” he said,” guess I owe you an apology.”

Chapter 9

The following morning they were up early and on the trail soon after sun rise. But they were all pretty quiet and subdued because of the events of the previous hours.It was a calm bright morning after the storm of the day before and so they made good time and hoped to reach home before nightfall.

It wasn’t until they were within a few hours ride of home that Slim reined in his horse and said to Jess,” I think we might have a problem buddy.”

Jess looked over to where Slim had glanced down at Mike, riding in front of him and he understood at once.

The boy looked heavy eyed and was decidedly flushed and sickly looking.

“What do ya want to do?” asked Jess at once.

“Not sure,” said Slim “, but I guess the Morgan place is a damn sight nearer than the ranch, figure wecould head for there, hole up for a while until he’s feeling better?”

“OK, I guess that makes sense,” replied Jess reluctantly, and with that they made for their neighbour’s ranch, slowing their pace in deference to Mike’s obvious discomfort.

Jess himself was feeling pretty uncomfortable too, but not in the same way as Mike.

He was embarrassed at the thought of meeting Mr Morgan after their last encounter.

It had been shortly after Mike’s disappearance and Jess had been standing at the bar in the saloon, well on the way to oblivion, when old man Morgan had come and stood beside him and offered his sympathy over the loss of the boy.

Jess was in no mood for company or indeed sympathy and had turned the full force of the Harper temper on his sometime girlfriend’s father, who had retired, obviously hurt, to the far end of the bar and left Jess in peace.

As he thought back he blushed at the remembrance of his rudeness and also the way he had neglected Suzy and as their destination came into view he shuddered in anticipation of the reception he knew would await him.

However it was Mike’s health that was important now and looking across at the boy he was shocked to see just how much his condition had worsened during the ride to their neighbour’s ranch .Slim now seemed to be holding him tightly and his head lolled back against Slim’s shoulder, his eyes closed and his face flushed and damp with sweat. Jess’s heart lurched at the sight of him and he exchanged a worried look with his partner as they rode into the ranch yard.

As they arrived and gently lifted the boy down, the front door opened and Mrs Morgan stood there, her eyes opening wide in shock at the appearance of the trio.

She quickly pulled herself together and said,” Oh the poor wee laddie, bring him away inside Slim, come in dear, Jess come along in.”

Her friendly greeting warmed Jess’s heart and he remembered what a lovely lady Mrs Morgan was, with the wonderful Scottish accent she had never lost even after thirty years of living in the new world.

Her kind loving nature was only matched by her fastidiousness however and once Mike was deposited on a large couch by the fire the two cowboys had to back track and remove their boots and guns.

They exchanged a small smile but said nothing and before long the conversation they were expecting was played out. After looking at the pair more in sorrow than in anger she suggested kindly that they might like to make use of’ the facilities’, before joining her and Mike in the sitting room.

By that she meant that they use the hot tub she had, had installed out back and which was the envy of all her neighbours.

Mrs Morgan had come to the country with her parents and shortly after her arrival met Mr Morgan and the rest was history. She did however come with very high standards from her upbringing in a smart Edinburgh suburb and insisted on the latest plumbing from back East, before she had agreed to the marriage.

The blood stains on Jess’s shirt hadn’t escaped her beady eye either and as he turned to wash up as requested she said, “Oh and Jess, as soon as you have cleaned yourself up dear, I’ll be tending to that nasty wound on your chest.”

“I’m fine really Ma’am,” stammered Jess, having been ministered to by Mrs Morgan once before and not keen to repeat the experience.

“I’m sure you are dear,” she replied kindly,” but I’ll take a look anyway, you know Miss Daisy would never forgive me if I didn’t look after you boys properly,” and with that she dismissed them as she went to tend to Mike.

“Aw Slim,” whispered Jess as they made their way from the room,” I’d rather tackle those dang wolves again than be’ looked at’ by Ma Morgan. She practically finished me off last time. I tell you, having her treat you, it makes you appreciate Daisy, that’s for sure,” he concluded with feeling.

Once they were cleaned up, they returned to the sitting room and Mrs Morgan re dressed Jess’s wound as promised, and insisted in cleaning it with iodine which he confided to Slim later stung like blazes. However both friends were more concerned with Mike’s condition and were relieved to hear that Doc Sam was due to visit shortly.

“Suzy has been ill,” said Mrs Morgan and Sam it coming to check her over, so luckily he can look at this young man too, although I think it is just a severe chill.”

At the mention of Suzy being ill Jess’s head had shot up and he said,” I’m sorry to hear that Mrs Morgan, nothing serious I hope?”

She gave him a speculative look, but just said,” a severe dose of the flu, she has been extremely ill, but is on the mend now, thank you dear.”

Then more gently,” she missed your visits Jess, maybe you will pop up and see her while you are staying with us?”

“Sure,” said Jess quickly,” and thank you for putting us up. I guess we just couldn’t travel any further with this little fellah being so sick.”

Just then there was a knock at the door and Doc Sam Baker breezed in, stopping in his tracks when he saw Jess and Slim.

“Well this is a sight for sore eyes,” he said grinning at the pair,” I heard tell from Mort Corey as to how you’d found Mike, but we’d expected you back sooner.”

Then looking around, “so, where is that little parcel of trouble?”

Slim gestured to the couch and Sam sucked in a deep breath as he looked down at the flushed face

Quickly kneeling beside the boy he examined him thoroughly and after a while stood up and looked over at the friends, a warm smile on his face.

“He’s OK,” he said, “no sign of lung fever, just got himself a nasty chill, keep him warm, lots of fluids and I guess he’ll be wanting to go out snowballing in a day or two.”

“Thank God for that,” whispered Jess, and Slim came across and pumped Sam’s hand.

“Thanks Sam,” he said warmly and with a friendly smile the doctor went off to see his other patient.

It was some time later, after Sam had left, promising to deliver the news of their impending arrival to Daisy, that Mr Morgan returned to the ranch at the end of the working day.

This was the moment Jess had been dreading and so he was immensely grateful when Mr Morgan greeted him warmly. He was obviously delighted to hear that Mike had returned safely and went and sat with the boy for some time, up in a little room next to Suzy’s.

It wasn’t until after supper, when Mrs Morgan had retired and Slim was sitting with Mike, that Jess had the opportunity for a quiet word with Mr Morgan.

They were sitting in front of the fire enjoying a last cup of coffee when Jess said,

“I guess I owe you an apology Mr Morgan.”

“It’s alright boy,” the old rancher said quickly, taking a puff on his pipe.

“No it ain’t ,”returned Jess quickly,” I was damn rude to you that day in the saloon and I’m truly sorry.”

“It’s OK Jess,” he said, ”I guess it was the drink talking.”

Jess flushed and hung his head in shame, before looking his neighbour in the eye and saying quietly,” I reckon I was auditioning for the role of Town Drunk there for a while.”

“You decided not to take the part though boy, that’s the main thing.” he replied.

Jess nodded,” not touched a drop these last couple of months,” he agreed,” but I feel real ashamed for the way I was…..just couldn’t cope I guess”, he finished softly.

Mr Morgan looked over at him as if wondering whether to disclose something or not and then seemed to decide.

“A man has to find his own road out of Hell, Jess. I understand boy……..more than you know.”

There was a long pause and then he continued,” we lost a boy, about the same age as young Mike there, when we lived back East. He fell from his pony, hit his head… and well, that was it.”

Jess looked across, shock etched on his face.

Morgan continued, ”I did the same as you for a while, hit the bottle, nearly lost everything, it had the Hell of an effect on the family. My wife…well she was in bits as you can imagine…and as for Suzy, well……..”

“She took it badly?” asked Jess softly.

“Yeah, real bad, he was a couple of years older than her, she worshipped him. I sometimes think that’s why she is the way she is, with all these boyfriends you know Jess,” he said looking thoughtfully across at his young friend.

Jess must have looked surprised, because Mr Morgan continued, “Oh yes I know what she’d like Jess, one boy after another, always searching …. Guess she’s searching for someone that matches up to her big brother and that’s why she seems so fickle. I know the reputation she’s getting as a tease leads a man on and then drops him like a stone, and I’m not happy about it…… not happy at all.”

Then looking intently at Jess he said, “the only one out of the bunch that knows how to handle her is you Jess, you won’t stand for any of her nonsense and I kinda like that in a man.”

Jess looked surprised again and then recovering said,” I’m fond of your daughter, real fond of her, but I guess I’m not the settling down type, sir. “

Morgan grinned across at Jess,” Hell, I’m not asking you to marry her Jess, just knock a bit of sense into that pretty little head of hers, make her see she can’t go around stomping on these boys feelings, because pretty soon one of then is gonna stomp right back and I’m worried about her Jess, real worried.”

“What are you asking?” asked Jess a frown creasing his brow.

“Well what I’m hoping for, is that she’ll settle down to going out with you for a while. She has strong feelings for you Jess, I know that, she’s confided in her Ma. That’s what all that Tomfoolery about going off with Jackson was all about, she was just trying to make you jealous.”

“I figured as much,” said Jess quietly.

“So,” went on Morgan, “I thought if she got attached to you, real attached, then maybe she would see what a proper relationship should be about and stop playing these childish games.”

Jess thought about it for a while and then said,” I like spending time with your daughter and I guess we could be real good together, but I won’t string her along, as I said I ain’t in the market for a wife right now, and I’ll make that clear to her and…well if she is OK with that, then yeah, I’ll date her some. “

“Thank you Jess,” the older man said,” I just want to see her stop playing around all the time, quieten down a little, that’s all.”

Secretly he thought to himself, ‘and once our Suzy uses her charms on him, then just maybe he’ll change his mind about settling down .Yes , young Jess Harper would make a pretty good son in law thought the old man sagely, pretty damn good.’

The following morning Mike had bounced back as Sam had predicted, but Mrs Morgan insisted he stay in the warm for another day before attempting the journey home.

After breakfast Jess asked to visit Suzy and Mrs Morgan took him up to her bedroom and after taking him in left them together, leaving the door wide open as a matter of propriety.

Suzy was sitting up supported by huge white fluffy pillows, her beautiful face, pale and drawn.

Jess sat down gently on the edge of the bed and said softly,” hey sweetheart I’m real sorry to hear you’ve been so ill.”

She smiled across at him.

”I hear tell from Mike you haven’t been too good your self,” she replied casting him a worried look,” said you nearly froze to death staying out in the barn all night, what were you thinking of Jess?” she said , fear making her voice harsher than she meant.

“Thinking of my horse,” he said quietly,” you know me and ol’ Traveller, couldn’t leave him out there all alone for wolf bait now could I?” he asked, his blue eyes twinkling and a look of innocence flitting across his handsome features.

“Oh you,” she said chuckling. Then more seriously, “Anyway Jess Harper I have a bone to pick with you, you haven’t been near me in months.”

“Well you know about Mike going missing, I was kinda busy with all that,” he replied vaguely

“I could have helped,” she said softly, “that’s what friends are for isn’t it?”

“Are we?” asked Jess quietly.

“Are we what? “

“Are we friends?” he replied.

“Well, sure I thought we were.”

“Seems to me you were more interested in checking out Jackson’s new buggy, than seeing me,” he said with a frown.

She looked down blushing deeply,” yes well, I was just being silly, playing games,” she said softly.

Jess gave her a serious look and then said firmly,” I don’t do that Suzy, and you know it. If you want to go out for a while, properly, see how we get on, well, that’s fine by me. But I won’t be a party to your games and I don’t want ya seeing every other guy in Laramie either…is that clear?”

Suzy raised innocent eyes to Jess and nodded her head,” I understand,” she said softly.

Then,” and so Jess…… how many babies do you want?”

Jess’s head shot up and he looked at her in horror, “what he exploded……..you’re kidding!”

“Yes I am,” she said trying to stifle her giggles, “sure got you worried though didn’t I!”

“Suzy Morgan, you just watch your step, sick or not I figure another joke like that and you’ll end up over my knee.”

“Oh I do like a masterful man,” she said, rolling her eyes and making no attempt to hide her laughter now, and Jess finally joined in and that’s how Mike found them a few minutes later with tears streaming down their faces from laughing.

” Grown ups,” he said in bewilderment shaking his head, “they sure act strange sometimes.”

Epilogue

It was late summer and Slim and Jess were sitting out on the porch with a cup of coffee a piece eagerly waiting for their visitors to arrive.

Rebecca and Tobias were passing through on their trading trip to Laramie and then would stop and stay at the ranch for a few days on their return journey.

Slim looked off to the horizon scanning it for the tell tale sign of a dust cloud that would herald the arrival of their wagon and thought back to the day the three of them had finally returnedto the ranch after Mike’s adventures.

The day after Jess had made a commitment to see more of Suzy, Mike was well enough to travel and they had returned home, arriving just before dusk. As they rode in they could see lights in the windows and smoke issuing from the chimney and it sure felt good to be home.

As they reined in their mounts Daisy came running out and threw her arms open wide as Mike jumped down from Alamo and fell into her embrace. She held him close, tears streaming down her cheeks, and then Jess and Slim dismounted and came over and hugged and kissed her and they finally entered the house and never had any of them felt so darned glad to be home.

Mike regaled Daisy with tales of sleeping out in blizzards to wolf attacks and Jess’s near demise and she seemed to take it all in her stride. After a while though Jess could see the strain was beginning to tell and he took Mike off to bed before retiring himself.

As he passed through the living room he leaned over Daisy, where she was sitting by the fire with Slim, and kissed her gently on the forehead , saying, ”sure is good to be home Daisy”

“It’s good to have you back dear,” she said softly a tear in her eye, and he went off to bed exhausted.

After he had gone she turned to Slim, “are you alright dear?” she asked softly.

He nodded his head and then said quietly, “But I sure as Hell never want to go through that again Daisy.” She knew instinctively which bit of the horrific adventure he was referring to at once.

“Did you really think he was dead?” she said gently.

He nodded, unable to speak for a moment and then, “yeah, I couldn’t find a pulse or a heart beat…it was only that little drop of blood on his shirt…..” Then giving Daisy an agonised look he said,” if I hadn’t seen that and remembered what Sam had told me…..well we’d be digging a grave now Daisy.”

She took a shocked breath and looking across and her beloved older ‘son’, said,

“ but you did see it and he’s here and well, thank God, so try and put it behind you now Slim, I think we all need to move on,” she finished squeezing his hand affectionately.

He gave a deep sigh.

“ I’ll try,” he said,” but I guess this whole business will always be with us, but I figure we’ll all appreciate each other even more because of it, so that has to be a good thing.”

And Daisy nodded in agreement.

All this had been months ago and everything had finally returned to normal at the Sherman Ranch and Relay Station, but the feelings of deep kindred love and caring persisted and they all looked out for each other just a little more than before.

Suddenly Slim saw the covered wagon in the distance and he and Jess leapt up and called to Daisy and Mike, who came running out of the house as the wagon pulled up.

Daisy beamed in welcome as she felt she knew Rebecca well after exchanging correspondence with her over the months.

Tobias smiled at their welcome and leaping down pumped everyone by the hand before turning to help Rebecca down. As he did so there was a sharp intake of breath from the amassed company as it was obvious that she was heavily pregnant.

Jess was the first to speak and said,” Hey how did that happen?” And then blushed deeply at Tobias’s laughing reply”, well, in the usual way, Jess!”

“No, I mean…” Jess stuttered, looking for the right words,” I mean I thought you couldn’t have children?” he said looking at Rebecca in wonder.

Her face was alight with joy, “So did I,” she said, coming and taking his hand,” but I guess the Good Lord finally heard our prayers.”

Jess leaned over and kissed her gently on the cheek,” I’m so glad,” he whispered.

Then everyone surrounded the happy couple congratulating them and Daisy ushered them into the house for a good long visit.

It was a couple of months later when Mose delivered a letter from the couple, addressed to all at the Sherman Ranch. As the everyone gathered around, Slim tore the envelope open and his face relaxed into an excited grin.

” Well, what is it?” asked Jess unable to stand the suspense.

“It’s from Tobias,” said Slim happily, “and they’ve had a boy a beautiful big healthy boy,” and they all gave a huge cheer.

Later that evening Jess and Slim were sitting out on the porch enjoying a last coffee before retiring for the night and Slim gave Jess a speculative look.

” You sure seemed pleased about Rebecca’s baby,” he said.

“Well, sure,” said Jess grinning back,” it’s all they ever wanted; sure I’m pleased for them, why wouldn’t I be? “

“Oh no reason just didn’t realise you were so keen on babies that’s all,” he said casually.

Jess gave him a puzzled look,” well I’m not, generally,” he agreed.

“Funny that,” said Slim, with a smirk,” not what I’ve heard, I heard tell, that you can’t wait to start a family.”

“What!” erupted Jess turning scarlet.

Slim looked over at him, a huge grin suddenly forming on his handsome face.

”Yeah, Suzy said to tease ya, ‘bout it!” and was rewarded by a none too light clip around the ear.

“Just you wait ‘til I see that girl,” he said darkly as he went off to bed muttering “babies” and shaking his head in mock horror, leaving Slim grinning broadly after him.

The End

Thank you for reading!