Summary:  The brothers are caught in an avalanche;  this story is the aftermath.
Rating:  T  (6,725 words)

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The Brandsters have included this story by this author in our project: Preserving Their Legacy. To preserve the legacy of the author, we have decided to give their work a home in the Bonanza Brand Fanfiction Library.  The author will always be the owner of this work of fanfiction, and should they wish us to remove their story, we will.

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Avalanche

 

Chapter One

 

Pulling his black hat down low over his sun-burned face so that only his lips were visible, the boy encouraged his horse to move on through the waist-deep snow. “Come on, Cochise…you’ll be bedded down in your warm stall before long…keep on movin’ boy…”

Ears turning back in response to the boy’s voice and answering with a soft nicker, the horse picked up its pace as it led the way over the steep, tree-bare ridge.

“Adam, if that don’t beat all…” Hoss chuckled as he watched Cochise respond to his owner’s request. Following closely behind Joe, Hoss directed his horse in Cochise’s tracks. “That horse is about half human.”

“And that boy is about half horse…” Adam mused as he cast a vigilant eye on the slope below them. It wasn’t the first time and it wouldn’t be the last that Adam Cartwright regretted letting Joe talk him into taking the shortcut home across the East Ridge. The conditions on the mountainside were less than favorable and the snowpack was shifting continually with the hot afternoon sun. “Joe, why don’t you let me take the lead for a while?…”

“Now way, big brother…” Joe interrupted as he looped his horse’s reins around his saddle horn and began unbuttoning his shirt. “If you was to lead, we’d spend two weeks up here instead of two hours. I wanna get home…”

“He’s right, Adam. Joe knows this trail like the back of his hand and from the looks of things, Cochise is awful familiar with it as well.” Hoss watched as Cochise independently plodded along the trail while Joe removed his shirt, rolling up the sleeves of his long johns. “You know, Adam…I think this is the way the boy gets to town and back so quick-like when he’s sneakin’ out of the house at night.” Hoss guffawed loudly as his little brother jerked his head around and made a face at him.

“That may very well be, Hoss, but I suspect his serendipitous jaunts into town are after the snowmelt and not at this time of year.” Adam considered following Joe’s lead and removing his own heavy black work shirt. The sun was unforgiving at this altitude and although the temperature was well below freezing, the combination of the sun beating down on their heads and the reflection from the snow made it feel more like mid-July.

More than halfway across the ridge, Joe reached forward and rubbed his horse’s ears. Cochise pushed his head back against the boy’s fingers welcoming the physical contact. Adam and Hoss could hear Joe whispering to the horse as he seemed to respond in kind to every word. A moment later, legs wrapped over the pommel of his saddle, Joe leaned back until his head came to rest on Cochise’s rump. Cochise continued along, carefully picking his way across the ridge…non-plussed by the all too familiar behavior of his boy on his back.

“Joe, sit up properly and tend to your horse!” Adam spoke sharply enough for his youngest brother to hastily obey.

“I was just gonna get me a short nap…Cooch knows the way anyways…” Joe answered back but not before sitting up and beginning to unwrap his reins from the saddle horn. “I’m hot and bored…” the boy complained as he concentrated solely on untangling the long reins.

Joe’s hands were helplessly entangled in the knotted reins when the bull elk made its sudden appearance on the trail ahead of them. Cochise immediately danced backwards into Chubb, whose age and experience and alert rider enabled him to stand his ground. As the frightened elk leapt away, Cochise jerked away from Chubb and began backing up towards the edge of the precipice.

“Whoa there boy, pull him around. Pull his head around! Now, Joseph…” Hoss recognized the imminent danger and tried to quickly quiet his little brother and the horse.

Joe’s eyes widened as he felt his horse quivering beneath him. His heart beat a rapid cadence in his chest as his horse sidestepped in terror towards the steep slope. Finally freeing his hand from the knotted reins, Cochise jerked his head to the side and he lost his grip, watching helplessly as the long strips of leather fell to the ground.

“Grab the headstall, Hoss!” Adam yelled as he dismounted and tried in vain to run through the snow. Joe’s horse was perilously close to the edge of the ridge now and his terror increased with each passing second.

“Get off now, Joe…jump off boy!” Hoss yelled as he read Cochise’s eyes all too well. Hoss strained forward, attempting to grab hold of anything on the panicked horse.

Joe nodded quickly at Hoss and just as he dropped his stirrups and prepared to jump off, the sudden appearance of a second elk leaping onto the ridge in front of them pushed Cochise over the edge. All at once horse and rider disappeared, sliding backwards down the mountainside.

Chapter Two

Hoss was off his horse in a moment and the two brothers scrambled to the edge of the ridge, looking over in horror at the scene below.  Cochise was still sliding backwards, but was sinking into the snow so quickly that he had almost come to a stop.  Joe had leaned forward wrapping his arms around the horse’s neck for stability.

“Joe, get the reins, turn his head to the side…Traverse the slope!”  Adam cried out, helplessly watching from above.  Hoss tore himself away from the edge and approached Chubb, pulling the rope from his saddle.  Hurrying back, he began to uncoil it and form a lasso.

Joe struggled to lean forward and retrieve the reins so that he could regain some measure of control.  As Cochise slid down a few more yards, a startled herd of elk thundered past them from below.  Up to his withers in snow and fighting furiously against his innate desire to flee, Cochise again tried to gain purchase on the crumbling slope.  All at once Joe reached the reins and he pulled up smartly, fighting valiantly to turn the horse’s head.

From above, a rope suddenly flopped across the saddle in front of Joe.  ”Grab the rope, Little Joe…I’ll pull you up.”  Hoss called down to his brother as Adam braced himself behind Hoss to help pull Joe up the slope.

Ignoring the rope, Joe slowly pulled Cochise’s head around so that it became horizontal to the trail above.  ”I ain’t leaving Cochise…”  were Joe’s only words as he pushed the rope off the saddle and began to encourage his horse to move forward across the incline.

“Don’t be a fool, boy.  He can’t move in that snow.  You take hold of the rope this time, you hear?”  Hoss coiled the rope and began to take aim.

“I can’t leave him…”  Joe’s voice cracked as he yelled out to his brothers above.  As Cochise tried to take a step forward he immediately sank into the snowpack so that Joe’s boots were beneath the surface.

“Hoss, put a rope around him.  We’ll just have to pull him off.”  Hoss hesitated for just a moment while he considered the implications.  Carefully, keeping a steady eye on his young brother, he threw the rope over the slope.  Cursing silently when the rope fell short of its mark, Hoss recoiled it quickly and prepared to throw it again.

“Joe, we’ll figure out something to get Cochise out, but first you need to get up here where it’s safe, boy…”  Adam’s words echoed in the valley below as his young brother wiped at his eyes and again tried to urge his horse forward.

“Come on, Coochie…try to move.  You can do it, boy…”  The terrified horse quivered beneath him as he tried desperately to rear up to free its front legs.  As Joe leaned back in the saddle to allow him to pull up, his hooves cleared the snowpack for a second before he dropped back into the snow with a muffled thud.

Adam watched in horror as the fissure in the snow appeared suddenly and before he could shout a warning to his brother, the crack had spread over the entire face of the mountainside.

“AVALANCHE!” Adam screamed just as Hoss’ rope fell over the boy’s shoulders and horse and rider disappeared into the sea of snow.  Instinctively grabbing hold of Sport and Chubb’s reins, Adam watched helplessly as the mountain slid and the air filled with a snow cloud dissipating high above their heads in the bright sunlight.  As the air began to clear, Adam reached out to his brother.

“Hoss, my God.”

Hoss turned toward his oldest brother and it was then that Adam saw that Hoss’ hands were raw and bleeding from the rope burn.

“I tried to hold onto the rope, Adam.  I couldn’t pull him out.  I tried to.”  Hoss drew in a raw and choked breath.  His voice was filled with despair.  ”I lost him.  I lost Little Joe…”  Hoss began to sob softly as Adam grabbed his younger brother’s shoulders and shook him smartly.

“Hoss…Hoss.  Get a stick.  See down below…Get a stick – we have to find Joe!  We don’t have much time!”  Adam began to slide down the now bare slope towards the treeline below.

Hoss followed closely behind and within a moment they each had broken long branches from the felled trees and were hurrying towards the slide debris below them.

A moment later, climbing atop the settled snow, Adam directed the search.  Pointing to several trees and a large boulder marking the edge of the avalanche area, Adam plotted the perimeter of the search.  Working quickly, the brothers moved methodically towards the center, probing below the snowpack – praying to hit something solid as they pushed down.  After several attempts, Hoss’ boot dislodged a chunk of ice and he saw the end of the rope.

“Adam! Over here!”

Adam ran to Hoss’ side and in a frenzy of activity, the two men began dislodging the rope until it was vertical from a point of resistance beneath the snow.  Digging furiously with the stick and with their hands, the men worked with a combined formidable strength, until all at once, they saw a boot just below the surface.  Working with renewed vigor they dug even faster until they were able to grab hold of their little brother’s hips and together they pulled him out of the snow.

Chapter Three

Hoss grabbed his brother and pulled him upright, vigorously rubbing his shoulders and back.   Forcing himself to ignore the arm that hung limply at Joe’s side and the boot that was grotesquely turned to the side, Hoss worked to revive the lifeless boy.  Without a word, Adam unsheathed his knife and opened the boy’s mouth, cutting at the ice ball lodged behind his teeth.  When his mouth was cleared and his airway was open, Adam joined Hoss in massaging the boy’s extremities and torso.

Having spent the better part of their lives in the Sierras and having experienced a great many search and rescue situations at the winter mining camps, the older Cartwright brothers knew well enough not to trust the appearance of death after a snow or ice related accident.

“Come on, buddy…wake up…”  Hoss slapped his brother smartly across the face as Adam pushed simultaneously on his chest.  Jarring him again as Adam shook his shoulders roughly, a small gasp rewarded their efforts as they now continued with renewed diligence.  After another moment, the boy moaned softly and began to cough, weakly at first and then with desperation.

“Sit him up, Hoss…”  Hoss pulled his brother up and began to clap his hands on the boy’s back.

“We have to get him warm, Hoss.”  Adam removed his heavy winter coat and wrapped it around his brother’s shoulders.  ”I’ll get a fire going, Hoss…keep him breathing…we have to get those clothes off of him…”

Hoss nodded grimly as he kept rubbing his brother’s back.

By nightfall, a blazing fire lit the side of the East Ridge as Joe slept safely in his older brother’s arms.  Shivering intermittently and still barely conscious, the youngest Cartwright was breathing on his own and color was slowly creeping back into the boy’s face.  Naked under the coats and blankets enveloping him, his body temperature was nearly back to normal.  His clothes and boot had been frozen to his body when Adam and Hoss had worked to remove them.  The missing boot would be salvaged in the Spring after the snow began to melt when they would return to the mountainside to retrieve Joe’s saddle and bury his beloved Cochise.

Adam had wrapped and tied an old shirt around Joe’s chest, holding his left arm immobilized against his side.  His shoulder has been seriously dislocated and Adam had worked to set it back in place while the boy was unconscious.  Joe’s leg was badly broken and displaced and setting the bone had taken all the strength the two men could combine.  His leg was now strapped to two branches and tied with part of the rope that had been his salvation.  Adam and Hoss had both been thankful their little brother was not fully conscious during the moments they tended to his injuries.

~~~

Desperately trying to swim up through the maddening waves, but unable to find the surface, unable to get his bearings, he felt the world becoming dark around him.  Grasping, but not feeling, he clawed out at the void surrounding him.  Movement being his only defense, he pushed out at the rapidly confining surroundings that were making it nearly impossible for him to draw a breath.  Spiraling swiftly towards unconsciousness his legs and arms and chest bound so that movement was impossible…trying once more to break free…he opened his mouth and  a scream escaped his lips.

~~~

“Joseph, wake up boy…wake up, it’s okay…”  Hoss sat the boy up so that he could take a deep breath and as he gasped in the cold air, his right hand grasped Hoss’ shirt in a tight fist.

Awakened by the nightmare, Adam added more logs to the fire before joining Hoss in comforting their tortured brother.

“Joe, you are safe now…you are safe, buddy.”  Adam whispered quietly as he rubbed his shivering brother’s back.

Joe’s eyes fluttered open for the first time since the accident and he looked desperately at Hoss.  Clutching Hoss’ shirt tighter and unable to speak the horror of his memory, Hoss drew him in and closed his massive arms around him.  Coughing intermittently as the tears cascaded down his face and dampened his brother’s shirt, Joe pressed his head into Hoss’ chest until utterly exhausted, he collapsed and tumbled into slumber.

Chapter Four

The morning sun was bright as Adam prepared the horses.  After saddling the two horses and securing their gear, he took the rope and looped one end around Sport’s saddle horn and tossed the other end down the mountainside towards his brothers.

Hoss had managed to get a good bit of water into his little brother when he had awakened briefly at dawn.  After checking to be sure the splints were secure, Hoss had set about dressing Joe as best he could and rewrapping him in the dry blankets and coats.  When Hoss was sure the boy was warm, he took the end of the rope and tied it around Joe’s waist.  Signaling to Adam above him, he waited for tension to be applied to the rope.

Adam backed Sport across the ridge as Hoss supported Joe and the boy was pulled up the side of the steep mountain.  Crying out several times as his leg was jostled against the rough mountainside, Joe became more alert as the minutes crept by.  Finally Adam leaned over and lifted the boy under his arms as Hoss grabbed his legs and he was moved to the safety of the ridge.

Hoss collapsed on the ground as Joe turned his head to the side and began to cough weakly.  Lifting his head for just a moment, he collapsed back into the snow and sighed deeply.

“Adam…”  His voice was little more than a whisper.

“I’m right here, buddy.”  Adam finished securing the rope to his horse and came to kneel beside Joe.

“Co…Cochise…” Joe managed to get the word out before he was overtaken by an uncontrollable fit of coughing.  Unwilling and unable to talk to Joe about his horse, Adam turned back to the preparations at hand.

“Hoss, we need to get him home.  Let’s put him on Sport, I will ride behind.”  Adam stood to his feet grasping Joe under the arms as Hoss gently lifted his legs.  ”This ride is going to be so painful…that leg of his…”

“There ain’t nothing else we can do, Adam…we have to get him home and warm…”

With great difficulty, the two brothers lifted Joe up and onto the saddle and as his leg dropped over and hung down, he cried out in earnest.

Adam quickly climbed up behind him and wrapping one arm tightly around him, he used the other hand to hold the reins out in front of them.  Sport stepped carefully over the deep snow that covered the ridge, but despite the slow and careful speed, Adam could feel the tension in his little brother’s body as the pain cut him like a knife.  Joe pushed his head back into Adam’s chest and tried to suck in breath after breath.  Mercifully, after several minutes, he passed out and slumped against his brother.

“He’s out, Hoss.  I’m going to pick up the pace now.”  Adam moved Sport a bit faster as they made it across the steep ridge and headed down into the valley.  Joe came to a few more times, but only briefly.  They stopped just long enough to force much needed water into the boy’s mouth, and then the brothers pushed on towards home.

 

Chapter Five

Strapping on his gunbelt and grabbing his hat, Ben Cartwright opened the door to the ranch house.  Stepping out onto the wide porch and pausing to stretch, he gazed up at the bright blue expanse of sky.

“Beautiful day, ain’t it Mr. Cartwright?” Charlie Mason stepped from the side of the house holding an ax and wiping across his brow with his neckerchief.  ”Seems like the sun’s been mighty generous to us this winter…”

Ben smiled at the older man and nodded his head.  ”Couldn’t agree more, Charlie, couldn’t agree more…”  Ben’s eyes wandered off to stare at the road behind the barn.

“Ah, don’t you go worryin’ yourself about them boys of yours.  They’ll be back afore long.”  Charlie chuckled as he replaced his kerchief around his neck.  ”If’n it were just Little Joe or even Little Joe and Hoss…that was late comin’ home from Virginy City…I might join you in contemplatin’ the situation…but, with Adam alongside that youngster of yours – those boys won’t get in any trouble.”

Ben pulled his gaze away from the empty road and forced himself to smile again at his old ranch hand.  ”Right…of course.  You are right.  Still.  I might just ride out and meet them on the trail.  I…”

“You ride on out, Mr. Cartwright…I already have Buck saddled and waitin’ on you to do that very thing.”  Charlie winked at his boss and then turned back towards the woodpile, laughing loudly.

“You old coot…”  Ben joined in the laughter.  ”You think you know me so well…”

“Well, that’s because I do…”  Charlie chuckled again.  ”Oh, Boss…I’ll be leavin’ to go to my sister’s today.  I left young Prescott here…the new boy.  He’s gonna take over the barn chores while I’m gone.  He’s a good boy.  A little green, but willin’ to learn.”

“Thanks, Charlie…now you have fun in Carson City.  Let that sister of yours put some meat on your old bones!”

Ben headed for the barn as he waved goodbye to his oldest hand.  He would just ride down the road a bit.  It wouldn’t hurt to get away from the books and get a breath of fresh air…

 

Chapter Six

“Hoss, wait up!”  Adam called to his brother who was leading the way across the snow covered meadow that would lead them to the road just beyond the ranch house.  Because they were so close to home, Adam had tried desperately to continue on without complaint or rest.   Just then, Joe had flopped over his arm and Adam lacked the strength necessary to sit him up again.

“What is it, Adam?”  Hoss asked glancing behind him.  As he took in the sight behind him, he quickly pulled Chubb to a halt and jumped off, plodding through the snow to his oldest brother’s horse.

“Here, I got him now…easy…”  Hoss took hold of his youngest brother’s shoulders just before Adam lost his grip on the boy’s chest.  Turning him quickly, Hoss scooped him up and held him against his chest.  ”Can you get me a blanket, Adam?”

Adam felt as if his arms belonged to someone else.  Tingling from lack of circulation, he tried to flex his hands.  ”Sure, Hoss.  Give me just a minute…”

Climbing down from his horse with some difficulty, Adam shook his arms again before he reached behind his saddle and untied a dry blanket.  After spreading the blanket out on the snow, Hoss gently lowered his brother to the soft berth.

“Let’s try to get some water into him, Hoss,” Adam leaned over to check the splints binding his brother’s leg and arm.  Satisfied, he eased himself down on the blanket beside the boy and drew a ragged breath.  He sorely wished for a warm house, a bed, the doctor, his…

“PA!”  Hoss shouted all at once.  ”PA! Over here!”

Adam jumped to his feet as Hoss waved his arms over his head at the figure riding up the road towards them.

“PA!”  Adam joined Hoss and they both gave a shout when their father motioned back.

“Pa?”  Joe whispered in a desperately raspy voice.  A single tear dripped down his cheek as he waited for the familiar voice and touch.

Buck was cantering across the snowy meadow now.  Unwilling to push him too fast because of the icy conditions, but understanding the seriousness of the situation more and more…the closer he got to his boys…two horses…where was Cochise?  Why was Joseph laying down?  He pushed on as fast as he was able.

“Hoss…Adam!  What…what happened?”  Ben was off his horse in an instant, hurrying to his youngest son’s side.  ”Joseph?”

“Pa?”  Joe turned his head slightly to the side so that he could see his father.

Kneeling in the snow, Ben cupped his hand over Joe’s forehead and stroked the hair.  ”I’m right here, boy…right here.  Don’t you worry…We’re gonna get you home and warm.”  Ben looked his son over quickly and turned to his oldest.

“What happened?”  he hissed.

“Avalanche, Pa.  Joe was caught up in it.”  Adam found it hard to put the sentences together.  ”We pulled him out, Pa…he was hurt awfully bad.”

“How?” Ben began but stopped himself when he felt Joe’s hand brush his cheek.  Grabbing the hand and squeezing it gently, Ben turned his attentions back to the boy.  ”Joseph, I’m going to put you up on my horse and ride behind you, son..you will be home in half an hour…”

Joe nodded almost imperceptibly as his body began to shiver uncontrollably.

“We just can’t leave him out in the snow while I go to get a buckboard..his body is like ice.”  Ben spoke to noone in particular as he checked his son over quickly.  ”Hoss, give me a hand, son…”

Ben stood up and lifted his son from behind his head and Hoss gently lifted his legs.  Adam supported the boy’s back as they hurried to Ben’s horse.  With some difficulty, Joe was finally sitting in the saddle with his father right behind him.

“Joseph, lean back on me, son…”  Ben reached around and gently pulled his son into his chest.  Hoss and Adam mounted up quickly as they all set off across the meadow.  Before they had even made it to the road, Joe’s head had fallen back onto Ben’s shoulder.

When they reached the road, Hoss took off at a gallop in the direction of Virginia City.  Ben and Adam turned their horses towards home.  As Ben and Adam worried over Joe, Joe’s thoughts went to Cochise.

Chapter Seven

“Mr. Cartwright…Mr. Cartwright!”  Prescott ran out of the barn at the sound of the horses coming into the yard.  ”Mr. Cartwright…I…”  Stopping in mid-sentence, he saw his new boss holding a young man slumped over the saddle in front of him.  Prescott hurried across the yard to stand beside Adam.

“Gimme a hand, boy…”  Adam commanded as he reached up and his father handed over his little brother into his waiting arms.  Prescott quickly moved to brace Adam’s arms and between them they hurried into the house and up the stairs to Joe’s room.

Carefully placing Joe on the bed, Prescott unconsciously stepped back and gasped.  Joe’s face was almost colorless…his veins showing through beneath the translucent skin.  His whole body convulsed in a cascade of never ending tremors, the result of a combination of low body temperature and pain.  Strapped between two sturdy pine branches, the boy’s lower leg was swollen and discolored.  His left arm was wrapped tightly to his chest.

“Prescott, go boil some water, son.  Grab some blankets from the hall wardrobe and warm them in the oven.”  Ben Cartwright demanded as he hurried into the room.  Placing a hand on Adam’s shoulder and squeezing, he directed him to the bedside.  Prescott ran out into the hallway as the two men attended to Joe.

“Let’s get his clothes off, Adam.”  Ben reached for the buttons of his shirt as Adam retrieved his knife and cut away what was left of his pants.

An hour later, buried under a sea of warm blankets and surrounded by hot water bottles, Joe opened his mouth to sip the brandy his father offered.  Coughing weakly, he pushed the glass away after only taking one small sip.

“Pa…” His voice was nearly inaudible.  ”Cochise…”  Joe’s hand reached out for his father’s hand and it quickly found its mark.  As Ben squeezed the boy’s hand, he whispered his reply.

“Shhh…not a word, son.  Not now.”

Adam rubbed a hand across his face as he looked out the window towards the barn.  Willing the doctor to appear, but knowing it was much too soon, he tried to force the images of the day before from his mind.

“Mr. Cartwright, I made some broth, Sir.”  Prescott timidly walked into the room carrying a tray burdened with three steaming bowls of meat broth.

“Thank you, son.”  Ben Cartwright looked the youngster over again.  Charlie had been right about this new hand.  He was a good boy.

Placing the tray on Joe’s bedside table, the young man handed a bowl and spoon to Ben and then offered another to Adam.

“No, no thank you.”  Adam turned back to the window when a hand came to rest again upon his shoulder.  Turning his head, he met the young man’s eyes.

“You must, Sir.  For your brother.  You don’t want to get sick.”  Prescott offered the bowl again and this time Adam took it gratefully.

“For my brother.  Thank you.”  Adam watched as his father lifted Joe’s head and placed a spoonful of the hot broth in his mouth.  ”Thank you…”

Chapter Eight

Several hours later, Adam and Ben jumped to their feet at the sound of the wagon rolling past the barn.  Looking out the window, Adam announced, “Dr. Martin…Thank God.”

Ben joined his son at the window and watched Paul Martin and Hoss hurry towards the house.

A moment later the door burst open and Hoss ushered the doctor into the room.

“Ben, Adam.”  Doc Martin placed his medical bag on the bedside table and brought a hand down on his young patient’s forehead.  ”Hoss filled me in.  How’s he been?”

“We warmed him up and fed him some hot broth and brandy.  We’ve been forcing water into him.  The shivering has stopped.  Some color is returning to his face.”  Ben answered as Joe’s eyes began to flutter open.  ”His leg is very swollen and his arm…I don’t know…we kept the sling in place.”  Ben stroked his son’s cheek as the boy’s eyes found his fathers.

“Hello Little Joe.”  Dr. Martin spoke as he sat on the edge of the boy’s bed.  ”You have had quite an experience, son.”

Not willing to take his eyes off his father’s, Joe simply nodded his head.

“Pa…where…Adam?”  Joe choked the words out before being claimed by a fit of coughing.

“Joe, I’m right here, buddy.”  Adam came to stand behind his father so that Joe could see him clearly.

“Cochise…Adam…is he…is he d…”

Overcome again with a painful episode of coughing, Joe struggled to take a breath.

“Sit him up, Ben.”  Doc Martin commanded as the two men supported the boy upright on the bed until he could draw a breath.

“That’s enough talking, son.  I want to take a look at you now.”  Laying him back down, Dr.  Martin pulled back the covers.

“No!”  Joe grabbed his hand and pushed it to the side.  ”Tell me!  You have to…you have to tell me.  Tell me!”  His voice though quiet was unrelenting in nature.  ”You have to…tell me…was he…was he…buried?”  Joe pushed himself up with his right arm until he could look his brother Hoss in the eyes.  ”Hoss, tell me.  Please.”

“Joe, you tried, little brother.  You tried to save him.”  Hoss knelt beside the bed and placed a hand on his brother’s damp curls.  ”You did everything you could, buddy…”

“Hoss!”  Ben began but then stopped himself as he watched Joe lean back into his pillows.  Tears dropped from the corners of his eyes as he worked to get his breath under control.

“Hoss is right, Little Joe.  You were so brave, you did your best for him…”  Adam placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder and squeezed lightly.  ”Joe, he knew you tried.”

Closing his eyes and turning his head away from his brothers, Joe wept silently as the doctor ordered everyone out of the room.

“Young man, I could use your help.”  Doc Martin spoke to Prescott who had appeared in the doorway with more hot water.

“Ben…boys…  When I’m done in here, I’ll talk to you downstairs.  Preferably over coffee.”

Whispering a silent prayer for his youngest son, Ben reluctantly closed the door behind him.

Chapter Nine

As the three men waited patiently for the doctor to finish sipping his coffee, Prescott hurried in through the front door with a load of fresh firewood.  Placing the logs gingerly on the fire, he turned to address Ben.

“Sir, I have something to finish up in the barn.  If you don’t mind…”  Prescott began.

“Son, you’ve put in more than a full day of work.  You go on and get some shut eye now.”  Ben smiled at the young man.

“This can’t wait, Mr. Cartwright.  I’ll turn in before long, Sir.”

“If you say so.  Won’t you have a cup of coffee first?”  Ben asked, leaning forward to pour.

“No, thank you.  I best be getting back to the barn.”

“Goodnight, Prescott.”  Ben stood and shook the young man’s hand.  ”Thank you, son.”

“Goodnight, Sir.”  Prescott backed away and then hurried out the door.

“You have quite a hand there, Ben.”  Dr. Martin commented as he replaced his coffee cup on the saucer.

“Ben…boys…”  he began.  ”Joseph has a badly broken leg.  It will heal, but it will require complete rest for at least six weeks.  His arm is less complicated.  Adam did a good job of putting the shoulder back in place out on the trail.  After a few weeks, he can start to use it again.”

Dr. Martin leaned forward.  ”What worries me most are his lungs.  He was buried in that cold snow.  He already sounds a bit raspy.  We have to keep him healthy so that those bones will heal properly.  Plenty of rest.  Deep breathing, coughing, lots of water and good food.  Keep him warm and maintain a good watch on his arm and leg.”

“We will keep him in bed, Paul and we will see to it that he follows your instructions.”  Ben answered.

“He’s been through quite an ordeal, Ben.  That coupled with the loss of that animal…his recovery will not be without conflict.”  Paul Martin stood and walked over to stand beside the fire, rubbing his hands together in front of the flames.  ”When you left the room, he didn’t move again.  Just lay there staring out the window.  Not a sound.  Not a word.”

Silence hung in the room as Paul turned and placed a hand on his old friend’s shoulder.  ”Keep a close watch on that boy, Ben…”  Squeezing Ben’s shoulder one more time, Dr. Martin walked across the room to the door.

“I’ll see myself out.  I have to stop at the Jenkins on the way back.  Another baby coming…”

“Thank you, Paul.  Thank you.”  Ben followed him to the door and watched him leave.  Closing the door softly behind him, he walked to the stairs, followed by his older sons.

Chapter Ten

“Here you go, fellow…”  Prescott scooped the hot mash of oats and oil into the feed bin.  He had been around horses long enough to know what trauma could do to their digestive system.  Better safe than sorry, he thought.  As the horse began to eat contentedly, Prescott ran his hands down his left front leg again, carefully probing the swollen joint.

“You been through some kind of ordeal, boy…but you’re gonna be okay.”  Prescott wrapped the hot towels soaking in the bucket at his feet around the animal’s leg and tied it in place securely.  He stood again and ran his hands down the horse’s neck.

“You sure are a beaut.”  Prescott marveled at the healthy coat and firmly honed muscles.  ”Somebody sure does love you.  I’ll ask Mr. Cartwright about you in the morning.  Maybe he or one of his sons will recognize you.  Don’t you worry none…”

Giving the horse one last pat on the neck, Prescott blew out the lamp and returned to the bunk house.

Cochise swallowed the last of the hot mash and taking his weight off the injured leg, he closed his eyes slowly ad slept.

Chapter Eleven

Jerking upright in the bed, Joe awakened suddenly to a feeling of suffocation.  Gasping for air, he felt and heard his father’s presence beside him immediately.

“Shhh…son, it’s okay…”

“Pa…can’t…can’t…breathe.”  Joe leaned his head into his father’s chest and tried to concentrate on his breathing.

“It’s okay, son.  Take your time.  Relax.”  Ben stroked the boy’s curls as he felt the tension slowly leave the boy’s body.

“Here, son.”  Ben held the cup of brandy to his son’s lips.  ”Just a small sip.”

Obediently swallowing and enjoying the warmth the liquid generated in his throat and stomach, Joe allowed himself to be returned to his pillows.

“Pa, I can’t believe he’s gone.”  Joe mused as he looked again towards the window.  ”I still feel like he’s right out there…under my window…safe in his stall.”

“I know, son. You’re bound to feel that way for a long time.”  Ben sat quietly beside his youngest until the boy’s eyes drifted shut again.

Chapter Twelve

“Lookie what ole Hoss made for you, little brother.”  Hoss beamed as he tromped into the room carrying a tray laden with food.  ”Flapjacks!”

Joe rolled his eyes as his older brother placed the tray on Joe’s nightstand and quickly tucked a checkered napkin under Joe’s chin.

“Hoss, I’m not hungry…” Joe protested as he tried to push his brother’s hand away.

“Doc Martin said you needed to eat…and I am to see you do jest that!”  Hoss plunked the fork down into a mountainous stack of hotcakes and came up with more than a mouthful dripping with butter and syrup.

“Now are you gonna open your mouth or am I gonna have to get Adam to open it for you?”

Adam immediately moved to the other side of Joe’s bed and playfully reached for his head.

“Okay, okay!”  Joe said as he opened his mouth and allowed himself to be fed.  Hoss was ready with another bite as soon as Joe had swallowed and try as he might, he wasn’t allowed to refuse.  Finally, after a fourth mouthful, Joe turned his head to the side and clamped his mouth shut.

“The boy’s had his fill, Hoss…”  Adam said, winking at Joe.

“Well, Hoss…what are you doing?  Feeding an army?”  Ben bellowed as he walked into the room and gazed down at the plate.  A huge stack of uneaten flapjacks remained on the platter.

“You better put that food to good use, son…”  Ben laughed as he addressed Hoss and then looked at his youngest.

“I just might do that!”  Hoss laughed as he moved to Joe’s window and sat down, taking a generous bit of the flapjacks.  ”Mmmm….mmmmm.”

Joe smiled weakly as he watched Hoss and then turned to look at his father.  ”Hi, Pa…”

“Good morning, son.”  Ben answered, running his thumb across the boy’s forehead.  ”How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay, Pa…I just…”  Joe swallowed the lump rapidly building in his throat.  ”I just keep thinking…thinking of…”

“Cochise…”  Hoss whispered as he dropped the plate and its contents on the floor.

“Hoss, be careful!”  Ben scolded s he forced his attention back to Joe.

Suppressing a giggle, Joe focused his attention on his father.  ”Its just that he was so special, Pa…”

“I know son, I know…”  Ben answered quietly.

“Adam…”  Hoss looked at his oldest brother who was staring open-mouthed out in to the yard.

Down below, Prescott was leading Cochise around in the bright, morning sunlight.  Favoring his left front foot, he was led in a large circle to the right.

“Pa, if I close my eyes, I can still see him…”  Joe began weakly.

“Then close your eyes, boy!!”  Hoss quickly approached the bed and tossed the covers back.

“Hoss!  What are you doing?”  Ben grabbed his son by the shoulder and tried to turn him around.

“I don’t mean no disrespect, Pa…but there’s somethin’ I just gotta do.”

With one quick swoop, Hoss leaned down and lifted his brother into his arms.

“Hoss!”  Ben yelled.

“Put me down, Hoss…” Joe pushed against his brother’s arms.

“Pa, its okay…really…its okay.”  Adam motioned to his father to join him at the window.  Ben Cartwright laughed out loud at the scene below.

“Hoss, put me down!  Pa!  Help me…Make Hoss..”  Joe ineffectively pulled at one of Hoss’ hands.

“Joseph, do what your brother told you.  Close your eyes.”  Ben waved his finger at his son.

“But, Pa?”

“NOW!”

Joe snapped his eyes shut as Hoss moved to the window.  Throwing open the sash, Hoss leaned out into the cold air with his little brother held firmly against his chest.

“Be careful, Hoss!”  Ben couldn’t help but put a hand on Joe’s arm.

“Joe, tell us again…”  Hoss said excitedly.  ”If’n you close your eyes…what do you see?”

“Awww…come on, Hoss.”  Joe answered.  ”Put me down.”

“Joseph, tell us just one more time…”  Hoss insisted as Joe considered his family’s sudden plunge into insanity.

“I can see Cochise!”  Joe yelled impatiently.

As the boy’s words and scent drifted out into the yard below the open window, Cochise jerked his head up and pawed playfully at the ground.  The low nicker became a loud whinny and as Joe’s eyes popped open he drank in the sight below him.

“Cochise!”  he yelled.  ”Cooch!”

Prescott smiled up at his boss and his boss’ sons leaning out of the window.  The horse danced at his feet.  ”They seem to know you, fellow…”

Joe submitted to being put back to bed only after Prescott was brought into the room and assured Joe that Cochise was safe and well.  Once in bed, Joe slept and his family rested.

When Prescott returned to the barn to tend to the pinto, he found Cochise in Sport’s stall…eating his food.  Sport stood outside Chubb’s stall and the two of them seemed to be discussing the errant horse.

“Nawww….that’s impossible…”   Prescott thought.

end.