Summary:  On a horse buying trip the brothers experience, a Carson City Earthquake

Rating:  K  (5,600 words)

Carson City Earthquake

It had been a hard winter and the four Cartwrights had been trapped inside by snow for more than four weeks, struggling out to do the barn chores but not able to leave the house otherwise. As the weather improved finally the brothers headed out to check on the stock while Ben went to town to get the mail and at least a few essential supplies for Hop Sing. For now he could only take a pack horse, not al all sure that the road was clear enough for a wagon.

All four found the going hard, enough snow to make traveling difficult and the brothers found in places they had to dismount and lead their horses. Hoss uncomplainingly took the lead on the grounds that he broke a better trail. For a while Adam let him but then seeing Hoss stagger slightly, he moved forward to take over and one glance at his brother’s face stopped Hoss arguing. Some ten minutes later they reached a more sheltered area and were able to ride again. They spent a busy day but at least were able to confirm that most of the cattle had survived and headed home well satisfied with their day’s work although very tired.

Ben had found the road to town just about passable but it would be a few days yet before a wagon would get through. He put a list of stores into Will Cass before heading over to the Bank. There he completed some business but more importantly caught up with the news in town and by the time he had collected the mail and bought the Territorial Enterprise he was ready for a meal. Seeing Dan de Quille wandering up the street Ben caught up his friend and invited Dan to join him. With the weather improving a large influx of would-be miners had already started coming in from California. Some had been there the previous year but been driven out by the bad weather and others were first timers. Dan surprised Ben with his prediction that Virginia City would grow to ten thousand or more by mid-summer. After lunch Ben collected the stores and then headed on home wanting to get there before dark.

In fact he beat his sons home and had unpacked and was sitting by the fire with the newspaper and coffee when the brothers came in noisily but cheerful. Adam grinned at his father “Cattle are far better than we dared hope but the three of us are cold and Hoss at least is starving.”

“Why don’t you go and get into some dry clothes and I’ll get Hop Sing to make coffee.” He looked at his big son, “I think he has some doughnuts Hoss, if you’re sure it won’t spoil your appetite for supper?”

Hoss yawned widely but then grinned, “I can guarantee that Pa but you can see how much I need food.”

“Go wash up son.”

Over dinner they swapped news and then settled down to a quiet evening. Adam had snaffled the Territorial Enterprise while his brothers played checkers and Ben settled with a pipe. A few minutes later Adam looked up “Pa did you see this announcement about a horse auction down at Carson next Thursday?”

Ben shook his head, “Early in the year for an auction.”

“Could be the bad weather has left some people short of feed so they are selling early. Could be some bargains.” Adam read out the details of the advert and caught his brothers’ attention from their game.

Ben studied his pipe hearing the eagerness in his eldest son’s voice “We did say that we would need some extra mounts this year, but I thought you were going to round up some of the wild horses.”

“We would probably still need to do that but if this advert is right could be some good stock at the auction. It’s only a day’s ride down to check it out and we have feed unlike many of the others.”

Adam didn’t push any further knowing that his father would make up his own mind but waited impatiently and seeing his youngest brother about to jump in he shook his head at Joe and Hoss almost simultaneously kicked him. Eventually Ben made up his mind, “Can’t do any harm to check it out as long as we agree on a maximum investment. Alright Adam you ride down on Thursday see what you can pick up.”

Joe couldn’t be quiet any longer, “Can I go too Pa?”

“Adam is quite capable of picking out stock and bringing them home on his own. He is the best judge of horseflesh on the ranch.”

Joe frowned, glaring at his eldest brother muttering “It ain’t fair he always gets to go.”

Luckily only Hoss could hear him as Adam spoke up, “Pa it would make sense for Joe to come too. He is a good judge of horses, just needs a little more experience and he can’t get that if he doesn’t attend sales.”

Joe was surprised to hear his eldest brother speak up for him but for once had the sense to keep quiet, hoping his Pa would agree. Ben considered Adam and then twisted slightly to look at the younger boys. They had survived the winter reasonably well, but inevitably stuck in the house close together for weeks on end there had been some friction particularly between the eldest and youngest with Hoss as ever acting peacemaker.

Ben made up his mind, “Alright Joe you can go with your brother as long as you get back on Thursday and just to ensure you both make it and get home on time, I’m going to send Hoss to keep an eye on you.”

Hoss looked up with delight at that and Ben settled with his pipe knowing he had made all three of his sons happy.

Later as they got a snack Joe expressed his surprise at Adam’s support to Hoss but he was taken aback at the reaction. Hoss frowned at him “Joe you ever stop to think!” he shook his head and sighed, “Sure Adam tries to stop you sometimes, usually when you got some hair brained scheme that’s gonna get you in trouble or you’re trying to get out of doing your share. But I don’t reckon he’s ever once not supported you if you ask for something sensible, even if on occasion it means he don’t get to do what he wants”

For once Joe was speechless but as he settled down in bed and thought back over the last couple of years he realized that Hoss had a point.

That Thursday opened bright and clear, for once Joe was up early without any nagging from his brothers and down at breakfast even before his father. Ben was amused to find his youngest son at table but didn’t say anything and for once his eldest sons coming in from the barn forbore to comment.

The brothers set off in good time for the Auction which was to be at midday, but Adam wanted to check over the horses on sale before the auction started. As they rode Adam asked his little brother what horses he thought the ranch needed and Hoss sat back amused as Adam cross questioned Joe without Joe noticing, as his little brother waxed lyrical on the stock they could get to start a breeding herd on the ranch. Adam gently brought him down to earth a little by reminding him that they had a limited budget and needed some good cowponies, preferably trained, but as Adam strongly supported the breeding herd in the long term there was complete agreement between the brothers for once.

As they had reached Carson City in good time Adam bought three beers before they went to check out the stock. It went down well after the long ride and Joe suggested another one but at the expression on Adam’s face he back tracked “Guess we can get one later.”

Adam smiled “I think it’s time we checked out the stock for sale.” He led the way over and let Joe take the lead in looking over the animals. There were some thirty animals for sale and Adam immediately discounted about ten of them. The others were possible but there were three outstanding animals, in particular a bay stallion with very strong lines. He waited until Joe had checked each of them and then beckoned his brothers over to a quiet corner “Well Joe what do you think?”

“It’s your decision. “ Joe said sulkily and Hoss sighed expecting an argument but Adam just moved closer and gripping Joe’s arm forced him to turn and face him.

“Joe Pa wanted you to come so you could get experience. If I don’t agree with your choice then I’ll speak up quick enough but I want to hear which ones you would choose and how much you would be willing to bid on them, that’s how you get experience.”

It was far more than Joe had expected and he looked at his brother in surprise and then grinned broadly “Thanks Adam.”

“You’re welcome little brother now let’s have your thoughts.”

Adam was not surprised to hear Joe pick out the same three first choices but he did have to warn Joe that his suggested prices might be optimistic and they had to have some sound cowponies too. “If you could only have one of the three which would you choose?”

“That bay stallion he’s a beauty and we need another breeding stallion.”

“Okay Joe you can bid on him but if it goes over $400 you stop. Depending on how much we have to pay for him you may be able to get one or other of the mares but probably not both. We need 8 cowponies and they come first, then if we have anything left we’ll got for those mares.”

“Me bid?” Joe squeaked

“Experience little brother, but I’ll be right next to you so you don’t get carried away.”

Hoss laughed “Seem to remember when I was about ten you got into a lot of trouble at an auction Adam.”

Adam nodded “I was scared Pa was gonna tan my britches even at my advanced age! But he understood just how easy it was to get involved, carried away, nd refuse to give in even when the price was far too high.”

Hoss added, “The order suits us. That stallion is up first and the mares at the end.”

“George Drake has been selling horses for years he knows how to get people in promptly and keep them until the end. The stallion was bound to be first or last, just lucky for us that he opted to bring it up first. Leastways we’ll know how much we have left to spend.” Adam grinned, “Right little brother, now remember you don’t show too much interest and don’t jump in with the first bid. I can see at least three others who may well bid but I think we have a good chance.”

Joe took his words to heart and although eager he managed to hide it and when he thought he ought to jump in he looked at his brother, who shook his head slightly. The bidding was desultory and the stallion was about to be knocked down at $220 when Adam nodded and Joe went in at £225. The erstwhile successful bidder frowned but he kept with Joe for another three rounds until the price reached $255 and then shook his head. Joe hardly dared breathe but his brothers could feel his delight as the stallion was his at a bid well below their agreed maximum. Adam was pleased to see that Joe managed to hide his delight and he settled to watch as Joe went for cowponies. Joe had got three out of the next seven, two of them ones they weren’t interested in but two Adam would have taken but the price was a little high and he was pleased to see Joe pull out.

The Auctioneer had just had a rather attractive chestnut gelding brought in when suddenly the whole earth seemed to shake. The horse went wild rearing and kicking out and as the world shook men were thrown off their feet. Adam yelled at his brothers to get down and then seeing the wall of the stable collapsing he threw himself over Joe to protect his younger brother. Everything went dark and he knew no more.

Hoss was slow to react and he was thrown to the ground and for a minute was stunned and winded, only aware of dust all round him and the very ground feeling unstable, Then he became aware that Joe was calling to him and shaking his head he pushed a couple of planks which had landed on him away and lurched to his feet. Everything swayed round him but Hoss wasn’t sure whether that was him or the ground itself. Scared for his brothers he rubbed at his eyes trying to clear them calling out hoarsely “Adam, Joe where are you?”

Hoss couldn’t work out what had happened, the corral wasn’t there any longer and the stable seemed to have been flattened but for now all he was concerned with was his brothers. Hearing Joe’s voice he slumped to his knees and began frantically pulling at the planks and bricks that he could see. As he saw black cloth, Hoss redoubled his efforts until he had cleared Adam’s head, red blood all too obvious trickling down his brother’s face. Hoss rubbed his hand across his mouth trying to get rid of the grit from his face and then lent forward again only to find the earth suddenly moving again and he lent forward to protect his brother, scared for both of them as he called for Joe.

Joe had been winded by his brother landing on him and he was still struggling for breath but hearing Hoss as the very ground seemed to move under him, he got a grip on himself. “Okay Hoss. Adam’s on top of me, he ain’t moving, but I can feel him breathing.”

Hoss knuckled the dirt from his eyes and frantically pulled at the rubble covering Adam, relying on his little brother’s statement that Adam was alive. As he cleared it he could finally see Joe looking up at him and then it didn’t take long for the two working together to clear Joe so that as Hoss eased Adam up Joe could slide out from under.

Joe scrambled to his feet, coughing as the dust got to him and for a moment he stared round at a scene he didn’t recognize. There were animals rearing and pulling against their ropes while others were hightailing it down the street; people seemed to be aimlessly rushing around in every direction, or gathered in groups round fallen bodies. There was a strange silence broken only by the keening of one woman over by the remains of the store. Joe tried to fit what he could see to the town that he knew well, where he had been standing a few moments earlier but then Hoss brought him back to the immediate problem, “Can you help me get this beam off him?”

Joe shook his head trying to clear it and moved over to balance rather precariously on some rubble and got to the other end of the beam that Hoss was indicating. Between them they managed to lift it and edge it free from Adam and as they did so Adam moaned as he fought his way back to consciousness. Joe moved clear and went over to the nearby water trough. There was a layer of dust on the surface but the trough still contained water and he wet his neckerchief and came back to gently bathe the blood away from his brother’s forehead. Hoss frowned but Joe forced a grin “Old Granite Head will be fine, just knocked out I think.”

Adam heard that and responded. “Less of the Old.” he complained, “What happened?”

“Easy big brother you got one big lump there. Jest takes it easy until we’re sure nothing’s broken.”

Adam took Hoss’ advice and slowly tried moving his limbs, breathing was enough to tell him he’d probably got a cracked rib or two but that would heal. Eventually he managed to force his eyes open squinting against the brightness, a severe headache, and double vision enough to warn him to move really slowly but sure nothing was broken. “Did you fall on me Hoss or just a building? I think I have bruises on bruises.”

Joe grinned, “It was a building big brother and you fell on me, so you gave me a fair number of bruises too.”

Adam slowly looked round and remembered, “An earthquake and I wanted to come to Carson City today of all days.”

“Yeah and dragged us with you.” Joe complained.

Adam managed to glare at him despite his inability to really open his eyes and Joe, wiped the fresh trickle of blood, “Okay we both wanted to come.

Hoss more practical asked “Reckon you can make it to your feet with my help?”

Adam nodded and then wished he hadn’t as the world swayed round him so he just mumbled “Take it slow.” With both his brothers helping he got to his feet and eased over to a part standing wall, leaning against it as he surveyed the area.

At the ranch many of the animals had reacted and Ben had come out of the house to see what had disturbed them but he barely felt anything and didn’t realize that there had even been an earthquake. Slowly as nothing more happened the animals settled and Ben went back into his accounts, slightly uneasy but seeing no reason for concern.

Hoss told Joe to go and check on their horses which they had tied up back in a clump of trees as the livery stable was full. He had taken the stallion over and warned Joe he’d put it a little distance away as Sport had not taken to the intruder, and the cowponies were there too. Hoss added “Bring our canteens reckon we could all do with a drink.”

Joe nodded and hurried over to the trees. He was pleased to find that the animals had settled down and all of them were waiting patiently, cropping the grass, so Joe grabbed the canteens and went back to his brothers. Adam was very grateful for a chance to wash out his mouth and he took a couple of sips but he was feeling nauseous so he pushed the canteen away. Hoss considered him with concern, “Need to get you to a bed big brother.”

Adam waved at the chaos in front of them, the initial panic was beginning to subside but he was sure there were many people much more in need of help than he was. “I’ll be fine just need to rest for a bit. Maybe you’d better go see how bad it is, who needs help.”

Hoss looked at Joe but his little brother just shrugged, it might have been phrased as a suggestion but that tone of voice said Adam didn’t want arguments. Joe gripped Adam’s arm, “Let’s get you sitting down so you can’t fall and make it worse and then Hoss and I will check things out okay?”

Hoss helped ease his brother down and put one of the canteens next to him, “Right now you just stay put and we’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Not going anywhere. You just be careful.”

Hoss stared down doubtfully at Adam but he knew he would only annoy him if he fussed anymore and so with Joe he headed into the main street, determined to check back every few minutes whatever Adam thought.

Joe suggested that they split up but for the moment Hoss wanted at least one brother where he could see him. The main street was even more chaotic, little groups around injured people and others trying to force their way into one of the saloons and a store. Abe Curry was trying to organize people to help at one of the smaller stores where the front had collapsed trapping people inside and he welcomed Hoss, knowing both his reliability and his strength. Joe and Hoss both helped out and after about twenty minutes they had managed to clear enough of a path, safely propped up, to bring out those trapped inside. Hoss looked around at the mess, everything had descended from the shelves onto the floor causing most of the injuries. Then his attention was attracted to a jar of candies, the top had popped off but the jar was unbroken and he remembered a little group of kids who had been cowering together at the corner of the street. Hoss pulled out a couple of dollars and having emptied some of the candies into a bag he put the money in the jar and put the top on. He couldn’t resist slipping a couple into his own mouth and then he emerged and going over to the kids tried to reassure them, before passing out the candies to share between them.

Joe had been helping to check over the injured and he straightened up as Hoss joined him. “One broken leg, a dislocated shoulder, otherwise its cuts and bruises. According to Abe that’s about the same as else where. So far noone seems to have been killed, guess we were lucky.”

“I was wondering how far this earth movement spread, wonder if the ranch has been hit?” Hoss said.

Joe stared at him as though he was mad, “We’ve never had anything like this on the ranch.”

“Don’t ever remember anything here either Little Joe. First time for everything.”

Joe shook his head, “No, the ranch is miles away.”

Before Hoss could push it there was another request for help and the brothers turned to the heavy work of pulling beams out of the way to release two scared but unhurt saloon girls. Joe was all for stopping to chat but Hoss pulled him away, “Time we checked on Adam, come on.”

The brothers returned to where they had left their brother but to their surprise there was no sign of him, just the canteen lying on the ground. Hoss stared around as though he expected Adam to appear while Joe yelled for his brother. In fact Adam hadn’t gone very far, just two houses over, but he had heard a child call out and was incapable of sitting still with a child in trouble even if he did feel rotten.

Adam had been talking to the little girl and elicited the fact that her name was Molly. He also found out that she was six, her leg was trapped and her dolly was broken. Talking to him had calmed the little girl but weakened by the head blow and with very sore ribs Adam was making slow progress in clearing a path to the child. He was relieved to hear Joe’s call and yelled back “Over here.”

Hoss was the first to reach him and glared at his brother “What was it about stay put that you didn’t understand?”

“I heard a little girl crying.”

Joe grinned at Hoss, “You couldn’t expect him to stay put with that provocation! Where is she Adam?”

Adam called out “Molly can you talk to me.”

“I’m scared Adam.”

“It’s alright darling; my brothers are here they’ll have you out in no time.”

“And my dolly?”

Joe answered “Of course with your dolly, just take it easy.”

Hoss was considering the rubble and he started to move some of the larger pieces which had defied Adam. Within ten minutes they had cleared enough that they could look through a gap and see the little girl. Adam told her to take off her shoe and that cleared her leg and she was able to pull her shoe out and put it back on. Adam had stopped trying to do any of the physical work but now he intervened. “Hoss if you use that beam over there as a lever do you think you could lift that door enough for her to slip out?”

Hoss considered it and then grinned “Sure I can.” He did exactly as Adam suggested but they hit a snag as the little girl was too scared to move. Hoss let the door down again and considered the major job needed to clear enough of the rubble to actually lift the door away. “Guess we do it the long way.”

Joe shook his head, “If you can lift it up again I’ll go in and she’ll come out with me, won’t you Molly?”

Adam was considering some of the rubble further up the building which had moved slightly and was scared that it would come down, perhaps crush the little girl or even worse his brother too. Joe followed his gaze, “We need to do it now Hoss.”

Adam swallowed hard but he knew Joe had to try, “Be real careful little brother. Okay Hoss lift now. Molly you come with my brother, Joe will look after you.”

Joe slithered through the gap hesitating for a moment as his belt caught on something but then he was in and the little girl grabbed his arm. Joe eased free and picked up the broken dolly pushing it inside his jacket, “Right Molly out we go.” He eased her down and the little girl crawled out ahead of him with Joe doing what he could to protect her. In fact she got through much more easily than he did, a slight six year old, and Adam had her in his arms by the time Joe got to his feet. Adam was drawn but he smiled at his little brother “Well done Joe. Now you need to finish the job and find her parents.”

“My Pa runs the General Store.” Molly said helpfully and Hoss knelt down next to Adam “Your Pa is Jeb Walker?”

Molly nodded and Hoss said “I know Jeb he was helping out with the injured, his stores a mess.”

“Where’s your mother?”

“She went to the dressmaker, but I don’t sit quiet so she left me to play, long as I promised not to go outside.” Molly started to cry “I’ll be in trouble; I wasn’t supposed to leave the room.”

Adam got out a handkerchief and dried her eyes, “I am sure your Pa will understand, you haven’t done anything wrong.”

Hoss took her hand “Come on Molly let’s go find your folks. Adam do you reckon you can stay put this time?”

Adam smiled, his head thumping, “I’ll try.”

“Right Joe you go get the horses and once I’ve delivered this one I think we’d better get big brother home. You up for it Adam?”

“Yeah sounds good.”

Jeb had just found his wife and realized that his daughter wasn’t with her when Hoss appeared. His wife had been knocked out and had a blood stained bandage round her head but she ran over seeing Molly and the little girl hugged her Mother. Jeb gave a sigh of relief and came over more slowly. Hoss said “Your house is a complete wreck I’m afraid, but Molly’s major problem is a broken dolly.”

Molly spoke up, “Adam and his brothers pulled all the stuff away and Joe got me out.”

Hoss saw Jeb was speechless, “No real problem Jeb, just needed to clear a path, glad she’s okay. I’ll see you later, need to get Adam home.”

Hoss managed to raid a sheet to tear up for bandages and when he got back to Adam he tore up the sheeting and strapped up Adam’s ribs, having checked for himself that none appeared to be broken, maybe cracked or maybe just badly bruised. Either way the strapping helped and Adam regained a little colour, although he was still seeing double if he moved at all. Hoss gave him the canteen but Adam only rinsed out his mouth not wanting to start feeling sick again.

Then Hoss got to his feet impatiently “Where is that boy, he only had to fetch the horses?”

“There’s the four new ones as well as our three. That stallion may be a bit of handful. I’m fine why don’t you go and give him a hand.”

“Promise you’ll stay put.”

“Yeah.”

Hoss was furious when he got to the horses to find six of the horses still there, only Cochise was missing. He organized the new ones on a pair of lead reins and mounting Chub, took Sports reins, keeping him on one side, the cowponies in the middle and the new stallion on his other side, returning to Adam. Hoss’ face didn’t bode well for his little brother when Joe turned up.

Adam frowned, “Where’s Joe?”

“I don’t know but when I get my hands on him…..”

“Take it easy maybe found someone else in trouble.” Adam forced a smile, “Extra half hour to rest won’t do me any harm.”

“You sure you’re up to riding home? I could try and organize a bed here.”

“People far worse off than me gonna need what beds are available.”

“In fact seems not many serious injuries and noone killed, according to Abe Curry.”

“That’s good to hear.” Adam closed his eyes for a minute hoping Joe would hurry up; he just wanted to get home to his own bed.

It was nearly quarter of an hour later before Joe rode in, triumphant with a string of horses in tow. Adam looked up and tried to make sense of what he was seeing, Joe had the two mares that they had wanted and six cowponies, only one of which was not up to standard. Joe swung down from Cochise, grinning hugely.

Hoss frowned wondering just how they were going to get all the horses home with Adam hurt. Adam asked “How did you get them Joe?”

“I saw them grazing out beyond the trees where we’d left ours. Cochise helped me round them up.”

“Then you’d better take them back to Mike O’Brien, they all belong to him.”

Little Joe grinned even wider “I know and I’ve already seen him. He was very annoyed at not being able to sell them at auction so I offered him $100 for them.”

Hoss burst out laughing at that, “I imagine he told you where to go! He would have been expecting that for each of the mares, let alone the geldings.”

“He did, but then he said that I could have the lot for $250 he just wanted to go home, so I paid him and got the bills of sale and they are all ours.”

Adam whistled softly at that, “One heck of a deal Joe, well done. Pa is gonna be real pleased you’ve got some great stock for less than half the maximum we had to spend.”

Hoss frowned “Yeah sure, but just how are we gonna get all these horses home?”

Joe looked smug “Oh I’ve got a plan.”

Adam squinted at his little brother, “Maybe you ought to tell Hoss before he explodes.”

“No need to tell him, here it comes.” Joe pointed to his friend Mitch who was approaching them. Mitch had been in town and helping out so seeing him Joe had asked for help in driving the horses back. Mitch came over “You okay Adam?”

“Yeah but I’ll be glad to get home.”

The extra pair of hands made all the difference and Joe took the stallion and one string of geldings, while Mitch took the mares and the other string of geldings leaving Hoss to concentrate on supporting his brother as far as he could. At first Adam was determined to control Sport himself but after a while as the ride made his headache worse, he had to stop to be sick and then gave way and let Hoss take Sport’s reins.

Traveling slowly for Adam’s sake it seemed to take forever to get home and it was well dark before they reached the ranch house.

Ben had told them to be back promptly and when they still hadn’t appeared by supper time he was getting cross with his sons. He had effectively given them the day off and they had agreed to be home promptly but not lived up to it. Hop Sing tried to suggest that the horses had delayed the brothers but Ben just glared at him and Hop Sing went back to the kitchen to put the food in the warming oven.

When he heard the horse coming in Ben moved out into the yard to give the brothers a piece of his mind but his mood changed instantly as he saw Hoss bring Sport to a stop and move to support his eldest brother. Questions could wait; he concentrated on helping Adam into the house.

The other two and Mitch got the horses settled with the help of a couple of the hands and then came in. Adam was resting on the sofa while Ben was looking very bemused. He had just asked what had happened and Adam replied “It’s a long story Pa but basically just a small earthquake in Carson City.”

“What has Joseph done now?”

Joe was struck speechless at the accusation but Adam just smiled “Not this time Pa, This time it was a real Earthquake!”

The End

Tags:  Adam Cartwright, Ben Cartwright, earthquake, Hoss Cartwright, Joe / Little Joe Cartwright