“Well Cooch it aint getting any better, but then again it aint getting any worse either. Whatya think?,”

The trail had narrowed, but Joe could see beyond that it widened and looked more accommodating to both horse and rider. It was just the stretch ahead that was giving him cause for concern. Deciding it would be better to dismount and walk ahead of his horse. He was thankfull the drop on one side of the trail wasn’t too steep. With his fear of heights Joe wasn’t too happy about having to look down. No, it wasn’t that the drop was steep it just looked unsafe. It sloped down a fair way into an old dried up river bed. The earth though looked too sandy and unstable. It didn’t seem to Joe as if the ground could support itself. Loose boulders and stones lay precariously here and there. Joe thought he wouldn’t have been surprised if the lightest of rainfall or even a simple breeze would have started the whole side of the draw to collapse. Dropping Cochise’s rein he patted her chest and told her to stay. Which was unnecessary as the animal had been trained to being ground tied. The horse pointed her ears and gave Joe a look as if to say that she was the part of the twosome that did as she was told. Treading with care, he gingerly made his way forward. There were many cracks on the path out of which various grasses had taken root which only added to the widening of each fissure. Before he had taken no more than about a dozen steps the side of the path crumbled beneath his feet. Frozen in his tracks Joe held his breath…then slowly raising one he carefully placed it down immediately behind the other and in that manner and without any further mishap he back tracked his footsteps to his horse.

“What’d ya think about that Cooch, don’t look to be able to take my weight do it? Don’t see how even big brother Hoss or you could get across there?” this one sided conversation with his horse slowed his thudding heartbeat and rapid pulse. “ come on gal, best go an tell granite head he was right after all.”

Turning Cooch to face in the opposite direction. Joe made to mount, placing a foot in the stirrup he was about to raise himself from the ground. The animal had felt it first. A slight movement of the earth beneath her hooves. Backing away, Cooch lifted both front legs in a half rear. Thinking that it would be easier to lead his horse to safety. Joe tried to remove his foot from the stirrup. This time both horse and rider felt the ground tremble beneath them. “take it easy now Cooch…easy.” Skittering away from the paths edge Cooch swerved and twisted which caused the leather stirrup to twist trapping Joe’s foot and placing her at an angle. Fearing that the Cooch would slip Joe Struggled to straighten up the horse and also to release his foot. Joe spoke softly almost cooing “easy Cooch, easy gal. It’s OK, easy now.” Joe could see the white circling the animals deep brown eye. Her nostrils flared in fear. Cooch’s terrifying shriek of fear blasted Joe’s eardrums as the ground gave way beneath them. Both horse and rider toppled sideways and became part of the land as it slid down the draw into the waiting waterless river bed.

The horses high pitched whinny of fear was taken up by a flock of birds that rose from the
shelter of a thicket of trees growing along side the river bed into which the moving earth was gradually descending.

Slowly the horse slithered down the side of the track. Joe with one foot still encased in the leather stirrup had no choice but to hang on. Grimacing in pain he helplessly was dragged alongside the animal. Managing to wrench himself away from the panic stricken animal by sheer will power and the force of pushing both legs against Cooch’s flank. Joe struggled desperately to free his foot. It felt as if his leg was being torn from it’s socket. Cooch slithered into a large boulder which for a brief moment halted her slithering body. Stunned the animal lay still. The damage was done when the stirrup twisted in the opposite direction the leather loosened around Joe’s ankle. He pulled with all the strength he could muster…the bone snapped. In agony and just before the boulder that had halted the animals movement gave way to the equine pressure. He slipped the useless foot from his boot.

Freed at last from the stirrup and now separated from his horse. Joe and Cochise both continued to be dragged on a back breaking descent down the side of the draw. Cochise tumbled completely over. Hooves flaying, in a desperate struggle to right herself. One front hoof came into contact with the side of Joe’s head.

The agony in Joe’s leg, knee and ankle. The many scraped lacerations on his jacket-less back caused as he was dragged over the loose gravel and sharp stones became superfluous, meaningless.

The last thing he was aware of was the screeching of the birds and the desperate whinnying of Cochise. His eyes stared at the blue, blue sky above him which was pitted with black. flapping ever circling dots. Then the silence began. A well of pain free, total and utter black nothingness.

***********************************

Within moments of hearing the harrowing cry of the animal. Adam and Hoss were watching their brothers horse roll over and over. The black and white animal became a part of the mass of earth as downward it slid into the basin of the valley and the river bed. For the most part of the way dragging their brother with her. Tail, mane and hooves flaying in panic as she tried hard to get to her feet. Adam and Hoss helpless to do anything saw the pony’s foreleg strike Joe’s head. Up till that moment they could see he too was trying to find his feet. Finally wrenching his leg free from the twisted stirrup. For one moment he looked to be safe until Cochise in her panic struck her best friend knocking him senseless. Joe’s lifeless body slipped down amid the small boulders and rocks. Bouncing and skittering along beside both horse and rider. Caring not whom they collided with or penetrated with their sharp points and jagged edges.

Wisely Adam halted Hoss’s attempt to follow the still moving ground down to his brother’s side. He realising that the big man scurrying down the already loosened cliff side would only cause further havoc. Adam remained firm against Hoss’s arguments.

Hoss gave his brother a side ward glance. He knew Adam was right but the call to scramble down to his brothers aid as strong.

“You hear me Hoss?” staring hard into those two, concerned, sorrowful blue eyes Adam repeated and strengthened his words.

“You hear me Hoss, you don’t know what more you will bring down… stay here…stay right here. There was a small cut off a way back. l’ll try getting down that way, stay here, you hear me?”

Hoss broke his gaze from Joe and Cochise. Adam’s look of desperation prompted the big man to cast his eyes in a different direction. He took in the lay of the land seeing now that Adam’s thinking was the only option.

“What’s keeping ya, don’t worry l aint going no place,”

Both Sport and Chubb were softly snorting and whinnying as if giving encouragement to their fallen stable companion. Cooch returned their calls as she struggled in vain to gain a footing. Joseph Cartwright, on the other hand lay motionless. Curled in against the boulder that had brought his downward slide to a halt, as if he was snuggled up to his pillow.

Hoss, his blue eyes swimming with worry tracked the back of the yellow jacket till it was out of sight. He then turned his eyes to the devastation before him. Joe was still curled up against the pillow, white boulder. It was as if he were in bed. Only his left arm was splayed at an unnatural angle, and a bootless foot looked suspiciously to be broken. Cooch had slithered as far as she could go, along with the rest of the slide into river bed. She lay groaning, thrashing her head from side to side.

“Easy gal, easy,” Hoss called through his cupped hands…please God, he prayed don’t do this. “easy now Coochie, lay still,” as if she had heard him or maybe, more than likely she had responded to Chubb who frequently gave deep neighs and snickers. Which ever sounds she took notice of the horse ceased in it’s frenzied movements and looked up toward both Hoss and Chubb.

“That’s it gal, easy. Lay quiet now. Take a breather.”

Hoss could still see his brother’s unmoving body. His shredded shirt, bloodied red showed stark and clear against the white of the surrounding boulders. Again cupping his hands to his mouth he shouted to his brother.

“Hey Joe? Shortshanks? Little Joe?” there was no response. He returned his attention to the panting mare “there’s a gal, steady now, rest a spell.”

Hoss had no idea if his words were of any help to the animal but they were of great help to himself. Just standing and not being able to go to either his brother or his brothers horses aid. To think that either one or both of them could be at this very moment dying in front of his eyes was more than unbearable. Wrenched with guilt he could do nothing else but stand, watch and pray.

“Don’t ya fret gal, ole Hoss’ll be with ya before yer know it,”

As he spoke the black and white flanks that had been rising and falling at an alarming rate were
slowing to a normal rhythm. The animals head lay quiet as if she were listening for further instruction.

The warmth of the day was not uncomfortable, yet perspiration poured down from under the big white Stetson, trickling into his eyes and down his neck, soaking into the collar of his shirt. Removing his hat he wiped the inside band with the dirty kerchief he had removed from his back pocket, using it to also wipe his face and the back of his neck. Before he slammed the hat back in place he scrubbed the now sodden cloth over his thinning hair.

A small smile played around his mouth. Almost silently he muttered the words.

“That’s it gal, go easy, take yer time.”

Proud as a caring parent watching it’s small child’s first tottering steps Hoss urged on the brave little pinto. After a brief struggle the mare gamely made it to her feet. Sniffing the air, she dipped her head to snort at her offending leg. Tossing her head high a whinnying call of triumph rent the air. With another toss of her head she set her black and white mane flying, glistening in the sunlight. She again snorted and tentatively stepped forward. Her nose dipping with each stride, she slowly, hobbled her way back up the fallen mound of earth.

“What ya doing now, no…no stay where ya are, no need for…” Hoss could only watch in stunned amazement.

Gingerly stepping and nodding, the animals off fore was lamed. Yet she still made her way up the fallen mound of dirt and rubble to Joe’s inanimate form. Nuzzling at Joe’s back, she sniffed and threw up her head, the black and white mane flinging from side to side. Snuffling her large nose through Joe’s hair, Hoss watched as a pathway was blown through the chestnut curls. Still his brother lay as still as death.

Now it was in his mind to go down. Regardless of Adam’s warning, he couldn’t just stay standing put where he was. Little Joe could be dead or dying how could he stay where he was. Tentatively he placed a foot over the edge testing with the tip of his boot. The ground moved beneath him, he snatched his foot back and cursed out loud. It was at that moment Adam appeared cantering along the river bed. Jumping from the saddle he dropped the reins leaving Sport standing. Slowly at first he scrambled up and over the fallen earth. He gained speed as the ground beneath him remained stable. Tossing aside small stones and any other debris that impeded his ascent. Quickly he scrambled up the debris of rocks, gravel, shale and dirt. Cochise snickered at the humans arrival, understanding help was at hand.

Running his hands down the pinto’s shoulder Adam whispered words of nonsense that he thought Joe would have said. Then giving her a sharp slap on her rump she snorted and gingerly made her way down to where Sport was waiting.

Squatting down Adam could immediately see there was no great blood loss. Yes the kids back was lacerated and it appeared his arm was broken. He wasn’t though laying in a pool of blood. Gently he rolled Joe away from the boulder he was cuddled up to. Carefully he brought the broken left arm to the side of his brothers body.

Above on the upper path Hoss watched, his blue eyes fixed to every movement. He dared not call down to his brother. He prayed…he prayed as he had never prayed before.

Adam’s fingers probed under Joe’s jaw line. Finally he found what he was searching for. The pulsating throb of life, rapid but strong. He had to sit back and take a gasp of breathe. Joe was alive, the relief swept through his body rendering him almost dizzy. Suddenly he remembered Hoss, he looked up to where the big man was standing a look of horror fixed on his round face.

“He’s alive Hoss. Get down here brother, come down the same way l did,”

Raising his eyes to heaven Hoss thanked the Lord for answering his prayers and noted over the next rise a puff of smoke coming from the chimney of a small homestead.

“What’dya think Adam?”

“It looks like Cochise caught him,” Adam stated the obvious as they had both seen the horse’s hoof connect with their brothers head. A curved gash at the side of Joe’s forehead oozed sluggishly the ruby red blood dribbling down his temple. Down the side of his face. Some pooling into his ear, the rest trickling onward down his cheek and neck. Adam parted the thick curls the wound extended under Joe’s hair and across his scalp almost forming the complete shape of a horseshoe. .

“How far up does it go?”

“Far enough, he’s definitely concussed,” Adam didn’t dare make any conjecture as to any other serious damage the blow might be responsible for, “a broken an arm. Who knows what else. His left leg looks a mess. His back, well it’s torn up.” (and please God let it not be broken) he left that unspoken, “he badly needs a doctor and Turner’s Town is about twenty miles away. Why the hell did he take his jacket off, it would have saved his back.”

“He must have been hot, it was a warm morning, don’t expect he was thinking much about falling down the side of a cliff.” Hoss gave a valid explanation.

“You didn’t take your jacket off did you?” Adam questioned

“No Adam, guess l didn’t feel that warm,”

“l didn’t take my jacket off did l?” Hoss decided Adam was showing signs of shock. His questions seemed to be bordering on the ridiculous.

“Reckon you weren’t too hot either brother,”

“l hate to move him but we can’t leave him here, he needs shelter.” Adam spoke his thoughts for no other reason than to keep himself focused and his big brother from asking questions he couldn’t answer.

“What if we roll him onto a bed roll or blanket, we could gently lift him down to that set of trees where the horses are?”

“You’re right Hoss, we have to take the chance. If we’re gentle and move him slowly and
carefully,” Adam was now speaking to himself as Hoss had scrambled back down to the safety of the tree line. Within moments he had snagged the items required and a canteen, which Adam in his haste to get to Little Joe had forgotten.

“Hoss he needs a doctor.” Adam repeated his earlier words. Hoss was more than sure that his elder brother was not his usual, steady, dependable self.

“The doc’s miles away Adam. l did see sign of a homestead or ranch over the rise. Smoke coming from the chimney an all l reckons somebody’s about. Don’t seem too far, maybe we can get help? a wagon or something?”

Sitting back on his haunches Adam gave Hoss a sidelong glance of incredulity.

“Are you sure, l didn’t see anything?”

“Brother l’m positive, l see it from up there, yer can see the smoke from here,”

Adam stood and looked to the horizon to where his brothers eye’s were focused. Sure enough a slim stream of smoke rose upward from behind the trees. The brothers shared a tight grin and once more squatted down beside the lifeless form of their younger brother. Adam took the handed canteen and inwardly cursed himself for being so remiss. That is the first thing he should have thought about. Very slightly Hoss lifted Joe’s head and after cupping water into his hand Adam drizzled it over Joe’s lips. The unconscious boy made no effort to drink or lick his lips or move his mouth the water dribbled down his chin. Both brothers shared a more than worried look.

“Lets get him moved, the quicker l can get help the better.”

First removing any stones Hoss smoothed the dirt as best he could then laid the bed roll on the prepared area. Gently and with the tenderest of care the two brothers lifted their youngest sibling. Placing his inert, battered body into the centre of the blanket, then taking a corner in each hand they slowly walked to the shelter of the trees and laid the oblivious bundle onto the safer, sheltered ground.

“You OK, l’ll be back soon as l can,”

“Sure, l aint going no where’s. l’ll see ter some of them cuts an check on Cochise.”