Summary:  The Cartwright family is trapped by Indians.
Rating:  G   9,410 words

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The Siege

 

 

Ben shifted in his saddle, rubbed his eyes wearily and then gave his youngest son an annoyed look. ‘Joseph watch where you’re riding please!’ he snapped.

 

Joe gave his father a surprised look and pulled his pinto away from the man’s mount. ‘Sorry Pa,’ he said. ‘But I was just taking a look at them mountains over there.  Do ya reckon we’ll reach em by nightfall?’

 

‘I sure hope so son,’ replied Ben. ‘I don’t like the idea of camping out here in the open.’  He looked around at the flat land that surrounded them.  Arizona was different to what they were used to in so many ways and it sure took some getting used to.  This trip to sell those horses had certainly brought it home to him just how vast this land out here was and he longed for the pine-covered mountains of home. There was something about this land around here that gave him an uneasy feeling and he wondered just how the people who had chosen this part of the country to settle in put up with it.

 

It was an unforgiving land and seemed to have an air of hostility about it.  Whether that came from the lack of relief from the flatness or the lack of vegetation, Ben wasn’t sure.  It was a lot more wild and untamed than what they were used to though and he knew that he would breathe a lot easier when they finally left it behind.

 

He glanced over at his middle son who was riding to his left. Hoss had been unusually quiet during the past few hours … not that any of them had had much of a chance to speak their mind with Joseph prattling on the way he usually did … and Ben was becoming a bit concerned about him. ‘Hoss?’ he said. ‘Are you all right son?’

 

Hoss gave his father a half-hearted smile. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘Just a bit tired Pa.  It’s been a long trip and I’m gonna be glad ta get home I reckon.’

 

Ben nodded. ‘I know how you feel,’ he replied. ‘I’ll be glad too.’  He studied his son for a while longer. ‘Are you sure it’s just that?’ he persisted. ‘You don’t look one hundred percent.’

 

Hoss took a deep breath. ‘Well ta tell the truth Pa I do kinda feel a bit under the weather.  I’ll be okay when we get home though.  Don’t worry.’

 

Ben smiled at him. ‘It’s my job to worry remember?’  He gave Joe another annoyed look. ‘Joseph … I said to watch where you’re riding!’

 

Joe gave his father another apologetic look. ‘Sorry Pa,’ he said and straightened his horse again. ‘But it’s exciting country round here, don’t ya reckon?  There’s lots to see.’

 

Ben shook his head. This youngest son of his found excitement in anything and he envied the boy his enthusiasm, even if it was a little hard to take at times.  ‘Yes son,’ he said. ‘But just concentrate on where you’re riding please.’

 

Joe gave his father a grin and trotted ahead to catch up with his older brother Adam who was riding a little ahead of them. ‘Hey Adam,’ he called. ‘What’s them mountains called again?’

 

‘Pinaleno,’ replied Adam gruffly. It had been a long day and he was tired of his younger brother’s constant questions.  This was Joe’s first trip down Arizona way and he was obviously interested in finding out as much about the place as he could, but his constant questions and remarks wore very thin with his older brother at times. ‘I already told you that,’ he said.

 

‘I know,’ replied Joe in a bright voice. ‘But I forgot.  Is that near where the Gila River starts from?’

 

‘Yes.’

 

Joe looked around. ‘It don’t look like they get much rain around here,’ he observed.

 

‘That’s why they call it a desert,’ replied Adam sarcastically.

 

‘Yeah I reckon so,’ said Joe, his brother’s sarcasm completely lost on him. ‘Hey do ya think that we might run across some of them Apache Indians that they have around here?’

 

Adam lifted his eyebrow. ‘You’d better pray we don’t,’ he muttered.

 

Joe looked surprised. ‘But I’d like ta see some of em,’ he said. ‘Not up close like of course … but you never know, cause we might …’

 

‘Don’t even think about it,’ replied his brother. ‘The Apaches are very different to the Paiutes Joe.  They aren’t exactly what you’d call friendly.’

 

‘Well neither are the Paiutes sometimes,’ replied his brother in a defensive tone.

 

‘The Apaches aren’t friendly any of the time,’ said Adam shortly. ‘Believe me brother you don’t want to come across any of them, no matter how far away.’

 

Joe gave his brother a sulky look. ‘Well I reckon they wouldn’t be that bad,’ he said and looked over his shoulder at Hoss. ‘Don’t ya reckon Hoss?’

 

Hoss looked up wearily. ‘What?’ he asked.

 

‘Them Apaches,’ explained Joe. ‘They wouldn’t be that bad,’ repeated Joe. ‘Wouldn’t ya like to see one of em?’  Hoss slumped down in the saddle and said nothing. ‘Hey Hoss …’ persisted Joe. ‘I asked ya if …’

 

‘Joseph leave your brother alone,’ interrupted Ben.

 

Joe looked hurt. ‘Well I was just asking,’ he said. ‘Hey Pa?’

 

‘Yes?’

 

‘How far do ya reckon it is to them mountains now?’

 

Ben sighed, longing for some peace and quiet, but knowing that his chances of that with Joseph around were not high. ‘I’m not sure son,’ he said.

 

Adam turned in his saddle and stopped momentarily, allowing his father to catch up with him. ‘What is it Adam?’ asked Ben in a low voice.

 

Adam glanced over his shoulder at Joe who had fallen back in step with Hoss and was busy talking to him. ‘I’m not sure,’ he replied. ‘I just have a uneasy feeling.’  He stared out over the flat land around them thoughtfully. ‘Probably just my imagination, but I could have sworn I saw something up there.’  He pointed to the distant hills and he and his father stared at them for a few moments before he shook his head ‘Nothing,’ he said. ‘I’m just tired and jumpy is all.’  He indicated his youngest brother with his thumb who was still chattering away to an unresponsive Hoss. ‘Pa can’t you shut him up for a while?’ he asked.

 

Ben rolled his eyes in sympathy. ‘He’s just excited,’ he said. ‘He’s never been down this way before.’

 

Adam made a face. ‘Tell me about it,’ he said. ‘He hasn’t shut up for hours.  I’m about ready to gag him soon.’

 

Ben gave a short laugh. ‘We’ll be back in Nevada in a few days,’ he said. ‘He’ll settle down then. He’s just …’ he stopped and stared into the hills again. ‘Did you see that?’

 

‘Yes,’ replied Adam. He gave his father an anxious look. ‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’

 

Ben nodded and glanced over his shoulder at his youngest two sons. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘I think we’d better hurry our pace a bit.  That was a definite signal.  Someone is up there all right.’  He drew in his breath as he spied another spark of light from the hills.  It was the Apache way he knew to signal to one another over distances with a piece of glass or metal if they could get hold of some.  He had heard stories of men who’d been attacked without knowing that they’d been trailed for days in this way and he had no intention of himself or his sons being one of them.

 

‘Come on boys,’ he said over his shoulder in what he hoped was a casual voice. ‘Let’s pick up the pace a bit.’

 

Joe grinned at his father, always ready to get moving faster.  Hoss gave the man a resigned look and nodded briefly before urging his horse to a faster gait.  Ben gave Adam a reassuring look and urged his own horse forward towards the distant mountains.

 

 

==========

 

 

Half an hour later, Ben and Adam were convinced that they were being watched, and probably followed as well.  There had been several more signals from the distant hills, each from a different position.  Ben decided that there were probably quite a few Apaches up there and the thought of it made him decidedly uneasy. ‘Come on Joe,’ he said impatiently as his youngest son stopped and bent over in the saddle as he began to adjust his cinch. ‘Leave that for later.’

 

Joe gave his father a surprised look. ‘Huh?’ he said. ‘But you always tell us that if our equipment needs …’

 

‘I know what I always tell you,’ replied his father impatiently. ‘But this is different.  Now get moving!’

 

Hoss looked startled. ‘What’s going on?’ he asked. ‘You and Adam have been riding like the devil was on our tails for the last few miles Pa.  Can’t we just slow down fer a bit?  I’m not feeling too good.’ He mopped his brow with his bandanna as he gave his father a puzzled look.

 

‘I’m sorry son, but we have to get moving,’ replied Ben, staring up into the mountains again.

 

Hoss followed his father’s line of vision. ‘What’s wrong Pa?’ he asked. ‘Trouble?’

 

‘Could be,’ replied his father. ‘It’s best to keep moving just in case.’

 

‘What?’ asked Little Joe excitedly. ‘Is it some of them Apaches?’  He scanned the hills. ‘Where?’

 

‘I said to get moving!’ ordered his father. ‘Now both of you ride!  We need to get to the mountains as soon as possible.’  He thumped Hoss’ horse on the rump to move him and gave Joe a stern look as he motioned with his thumb. Both young men rode forward immediately to catch up with Adam, their father close on their tails.

 

Suddenly Adam turned in the saddle and pointed to the left, his face saying everything that they needed to know.  Ben didn’t even have to glance in that direction to tell that their pursuers had come out into the open and he uttered one word before spurring his mount forward in a dead gallop. ‘Ride!’ he shouted.

 

The four Cartwrights all rode as if their lives depended on it … which indeed they did.  Ben glanced over his shoulder a couple of times and saw to his dismay that there were at least twenty Apaches following them and it would be useless to stand and fight.  Their only hope lay in reaching the mountains ahead of them and finding a safe place to hole down and defend themselves.  He noticed Adam also scanning the slopes as they reached them and knew that his eldest son was thinking the same way that he was.  He wasn’t surprised, for it was usually like this.  He and Adam didn’t even have to say anything at times to know what the other one was thinking and he knew without a doubt that he could depend on his eldest son to make the right decisions in a crisis.

 

Hoss and Joe followed their older brother without hesitation, years of trust also ingrained into them. They knew that his judgement was sound as was their father’s and they relied on him as they always had to make the decisions that would be best for them all.  Ben brought up the rear, not willing to allow any of his boys to have their back to the approaching Indians without him being there to protect them as he always had.

 

Adam pointed to a break in the rocks without speaking and all three of Ben’s sons rode upwards with their father following close behind them.  The Apaches were gaining ground fast and Ben didn’t know if they would make it in time, and as the thought entered his brain he began to pray soundlessly … not for himself, but for his three boys whom he loved more than his own life. Look after them Lord, he prayed. Help them get to safety.

 

Within minutes Adam had found what he’d had hoped for … a natural fortress consisting of a ring of rocks which presented enough cover for them to make a stand.  He motioned to his two brothers to follow and dismounted quickly, making sure that his horse was well secured before he sought a position from which he could see the approaching Apaches.  By the time Ben had arrived, all three of his sons were hunkered down in position and had begun to fire off their pistols.  He secured his horse and took up a position in between Hoss and Joe who were firing in all directions.

 

Within minutes the Apaches halted and began to turn back. ‘We beat em back!’ called out Little Joe with a grin. ‘See that?’

 

‘Not so fast little brother,’ called back Adam as he re-loaded his pistol. ‘They won’t be giving up that fast!’

 

Sure enough, within minutes the Indians had returned and the firing began all over again. Ben counted at least thirty this time and his heart sank as he realised just how outnumbered they were. Around him his sons continued to fire and several Indians fell to the ground before the group retreated once more.

 

‘That’s it for now I think,’ he muttered.

 

‘How do ya know Pa?’ asked Little Joe. ‘They could come back again.’

 

Ben shook his head and pointed to the sky where the sun was disappearing over the horizon. ‘They won’t fight at night,’ he said. ‘Their gods aren’t as powerful when the sun goes down.’  He shook his head as Adam came over to join them. ‘No … we’ve got a few hours now to wait.’

 

‘Why don’t we just ride on Pa?’ asked Hoss. ‘They won’t see us in the dark.’

 

‘They sure will,’ interrupted Adam as he scanned the area quickly. ‘They may not believe in fighting at night unless they have to, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be watching.’  He looked up the mountain behind them. ‘They’ve probably already surrounded us.  There’s no getting out up there.’

 

There was silence as his words sank in and Little Joe swallowed. ‘What do we do then?’ he asked, trying to still the tremor in his voice.

 

Adam shook his head. ‘We wait it out,’ he said simply. ‘We’ve got no other choice.’

 

Ben rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he looked around in the fading light. ‘At least we’ve got shelter here,’ he said. ‘It’s a veritable fortress.’  It was true.  As well as being surrounded by the rocks which provided them with cover, their view of the area was a very good one.  No Indian would be able to come up towards them without being seen and if they tried to descend from above they would be quickly spotted as well.

 

‘Looks like we’ll be spending the night,’ he said. ‘We may as well make ourselves comfortable boys.’  He went over to the horses and began to take off their bedrolls and canteens and noticed that Adam immediately joined him to do the same.

 

‘How much water do we have?’ asked Adam softly as he shook his canteen. ‘Mine is just about empty.’

 

‘So is Hoss’,’ replied his father. ‘Joe’s is half full though and I’ve got nearly a whole canteen.’

 

‘Won’t last long,’ said Adam in the same soft voice.  Ben thought how amazing it was that whenever they were in a problem situation his eldest immediately took over the protective role along with his father.  It probably came from years of helping to bring up his younger brothers … Ben knew that in many ways his eldest son felt just as responsible for the younger two as he himself did.

 

‘No,’ he said shortly. ‘We’ve got plenty of beans though.  At least we won’t go hungry.’

 

‘Not enough water to cook them in,’ Adam pointed out.

 

Ben stopped and considered the situation. ‘No,’ he admitted. ‘You’re right of course.’

 

‘Hey Pa!’  Ben turned at the sound of his youngest son’s voice. ‘Look what I found over here!’

 

‘Joseph get down!’ called back Ben crossly as he noticed his son’s curly head bobbing up and down. Did the boy not realise exactly what was going on and how serious it was? He walked over to where his son was gesturing wildly to him.

 

‘Look!’ said Little Joe excitedly. ‘Water!’

 

Ben looked.  The smallest trickle of water was running from between the rocks.  So small that it was easily missed and if not for Joe’s young and observant eyes he thought that he could easily have done so. ‘Good boy!’ he said, slapping the youngster on the back.

 

Joe grinned at his father proudly. ‘It’s hardly enough,’ muttered Hoss as he wiped his face with his bandanna again.

 

‘It’s enough,’ replied Adam. He put one of the canteens underneath the flow and wedged it between a couple of rocks to hold it in position. ‘It’ll take quite a while, but eventually it’ll fill up,’ he said. ‘It’ll keep us alive at least.’

 

‘We can fill all the canteens for when we leave in the morning,’ said Joe proudly.

 

Ben patted his son on the back again.  He didn’t have the heart to tell him that they most likely wouldn’t be riding out in the morning. He looked up at the darkening sky and said a silent prayer as he thought about how unlikely it was that they were going to be riding out at all.

 

 

==========

 

 

‘Hoss I want you to lie down for a while,’ said his father. ‘There’s no point in all of us keeping watch and you look like you need some rest.’

 

‘I’m all right Pa,’ said Hoss, looking anything but fine.

 

‘Do as I say please,’ replied his father. ‘I’ll take first watch and Adam will relieve me later on.  You and Joe get some rest now.’

 

‘I can take a watch!’ interrupted Little Joe.

 

‘I know you can,’ said his father. ‘But later on son.  Get some rest now the both of you.  You too Adam,’ he said. ‘I’ll wake you later.’

 

Adam nodded and went to lie down under cover of the rocks.  He knew the sensible thing to do was to share the resources that they had and he didn’t spend time arguing about it.

 

‘Okay,’ said Hoss taking his lead from his older brother as he usually did.  ‘Come on Joe.’

 

‘But …’ began Little Joe.  He stopped as he looked at his father’s expression and followed Hoss with a sigh.  Ben shook his head as he leant against the rock and stared out into the darkness.  Joe never could do anything without arguing the point and he was certain that the youngster just didn’t understand the seriousness of their situation even now.

 

As his eyes scanned the blackness beyond, Ben’s mind wandered backwards over time and he smiled as he thought about all the times he’d had to curb that youngster’s exuberance and attempt to moderate his high spirits. Yet it was those very qualities that made the boy so endearing to so many people.

 

He looked over his shoulder at Hoss.  His son was obviously not well and Ben hoped that tomorrow would see a change in him for the better.  His heart constricted as he realised with a start that it may not make any difference anyway, as their chances of getting out of this were not looking good.

 

At least thirty Apaches surrounded them and come what may, tomorrow was going to be very difficult. He agreed with Adam in that there seemed to be no way out of this place.  They didn’t have the resources to fight so many and they didn’t have the resources to stay here for long either.  Ben glanced over at his three sleeping boys again. Was this how it was all to end? Here on this lonely mountain so far from home? Ben had always thought that he had many years ahead of him on The Ponderosa … time to settle back and watch his sons mature and perhaps provide him with grandchildren in the future.  Was none of that to be?  Was the Cartwright name to be forever lost in this solitary place?

 

He looked at Adam, sleeping with his hat over his face.  Solid and dependable Adam who had always been by his side … every step of the way from Boston all those years ago.  He was a son to be proud of … intelligent and resourceful with a great aptitude for work and life. Hoss lying next to him … snoring as usual.  There was something special about that middle boy of his.  He had such a capacity for love and his gentle nature endeared him to all that he came into contact with.  And Joseph, even now tossing in his sleep as he muttered under his breath.  Joseph … his baby son … his delight.  Was his young life to be snuffed out so cruelly in this way?

 

Ben’s heart constricted again and he put his head down for a few moments on the rock in front of him as he prayed.  ‘Please God,’ he muttered. ‘Don’t let it all end like this.  Please keep my boys safe!’

 

 

==========

 

 

Adam turned sharply at the sound of someone behind him and lifted his gun. ‘It’s only me,’ said his father as he squatted down next to his father and peered into the dawn light. ‘See anything?’

 

Adam wiped his hand over his weary eyes. ‘No,’ he said. ‘Nothing. They’re out there though. They won’t give up as easily as that.’  He looked up at the sky across which streaks of sunlight were appearing. ‘It’ll start again soon.’

 

Ben nodded in agreement. ‘Yes,’ he said and checked his gun before looking over his shoulder to where Little Joe was bent over his brother and wiping Hoss’ face with his neckcloth. ‘Hoss has a fever,’ he said.

 

Adam nodded. ‘I thought so,’ he said.  He looked over at his brothers as well. ‘Joe has no idea how serious this is, does he?’ he asked.

 

Ben shook his head as he stared at his youngest son. ‘No,’ he replied. ‘He hasn’t realised. Probably just as well though. You know your brother.  Everything is … well …. an adventure to him.’

 

Adam gave a rueful smile before wiping his eyes again. ‘I suppose it’s a good way to be,’ he said. ‘Especially right about now.’

 

Ben put his hand on his son’s shoulder. ‘You and I both know the chances of surviving this Adam,’ he said in a low voice. ‘While I have the chance I just want to say …’

 

Adam gave his father a pleading look. ‘Pa please don’t,’ he said in a strangled tone. ‘I don’t think I could handle it right about now.’

 

Ben nodded, understanding his son’s reluctance to become sentimental at this time.  They both had to remain strong for Joe and Hoss and Adam probably would not want to lose control in front of his brothers. Instead of continuing he patted his eldest son on the shoulder and stared off into the distance, his eyes straining for any movement down the hill.

 

‘Pa?’

 

Ben turned to see Little Joe scrunching over towards him. ‘Yes son?’ he said.

 

‘Hoss is worse I think.  Shouldn’t one of us ride for help before it gets too light?’

 

‘And just where would you suggest we ride to?’ asked Adam in a strained voice.

 

Ben tightened his grip on his son’s shoulder and shook his head at him. ‘Joe, its best if we all stay together,’ he said quietly.

 

‘But Pa,’ replied Little Joe. ‘I could ride west and ….’

 

‘No Joseph,’ said his father sternly. ‘I said we all stay here!’

 

Little Joe frowned. ‘I don’t know why we just don’t all take off,’ he muttered. ‘There ain’t no Apaches out there now anyhow.’  He looked down the hill. ‘They probably all took off ages ago in the middle of the night.’

 

At that moment a group of Apache warriors appeared over the horizon and all three Cartwrights straightened up as they tried to get a better look at them. ‘What were you saying?’ asked Adam sarcastically as he cocked his gun.

 

Little Joe strained his neck to get a better look and Ben pushed him down again. ‘Get on over there,’ he said urgently. ‘You cover us from the back while Adam and I take each side here.’

 

‘But they’re down there,’ insisted Little Joe. ‘Not up the back.’

 

‘Joseph … This is no time to argue with me!  Get moving!’

 

Little Joe shrugged his shoulders and moved to the back of the area and took up his position so that he was covering Hoss as well.  Within minutes the first of the arrows landed in their small compound and the sound of bullets began to assault the air. With one last glance over his shoulder at Joe and Hoss, Ben’s attention was then completely taken up with trying to fend the approaching Indians off for the next half hour.  He knew that Adam was doing the same as he was and only using his bullets when he had a real chance of hitting something, but from behind him he could hear Little Joe firing with great abandon. ‘Joe!’ he called out after a while. ‘Keep your firing down to a minimum.  We’ve got to conserve our bullets.’

 

‘Okay Pa!’ called back Little Joe as he lifted his gun and shot an Indian directly in the stomach.  The man fell down to the right of their compound amongst the rocks.

 

After a while the Apaches retreated back over the hill and Adam put his face down on the rock in front of him and breathed deeply for a few minutes. ‘Everyone all right?’ asked Ben as he tried to still his own breathing.  He could feel his heart nearly bursting out of his chest with the exertion and the strain of the moment.

 

‘I’m fine,’ said Adam beside him.  Ben glanced over to Hoss who raised his hand in acknowledgement of his father’s words. ‘Joseph?’ he said sharply as he scanned the area for his youngest son. ‘Joseph!’  He stood up as he felt the blood draining away from his face and realised that Little Joe was nowhere to be seen. ‘Joseph!’ he called again, his voice raised with his anxiety.

 

Adam stood up beside him and also scanned the area quickly. ‘Hoss!’ called Ben. ‘Where is your brother?’

 

Hoss pointed to a clump of rocks behind him. ‘He went up there Pa,’ he said weakly. ‘I told him not to, but he didn’t listen to me.’

 

Ben ran over to the rocks, followed closely by Adam.  As he approached them he felt his heart begin to beat wildly again and with each step he dreaded what he might find behind them. Suddenly his youngest son’s curly head poked up from behind the largest rock, followed by his grinning face. ‘What on earth…’ Ben said. ‘Joseph … come down from there!’

 

Little Joe scrambled down from the rocks and smiled at his father. ‘I’m okay Pa,’ he assured the man.

 

‘What on earth are you playing at?’ demanded Ben angrily. ‘You could have been killed, exposed up there like that!’  He grabbed hold of the youngster’s arm and shook him in his frustration.

 

‘It’s okay Pa,’ Joe assured his father. ‘I was only getting these.’  He held out a handful of arrows and a bow to show his father. ‘The brave I shot fell up there and I wanted to get them.’  He looked at them with shining eyes. ‘Boy … I can’t wait to show my friends these real Apache arrows!’

 

Adam shook his head and gave his younger brother a disgusted look. ‘Do you realise what …’ he began to shout.

 

‘I should skin you alive for trying something like that!’ shouted Ben, cutting across his eldest son. ‘Get back down there and stop your nonsense!’

 

Little Joe gave his father a hurt look and went to show his treasures to Hoss. ‘Don’t know what they’re both going on about,’ he said to his brother in a low voice. ‘I was okay.’

 

‘That was a plain dumb thing ta do shortshanks,’ replied Hoss wearily as he took the arrows from his brother and put them on the ground. ‘Pa’s right… you coulda been killed.’

 

‘Yeah but I wasn’t!’ replied Little Joe defensively. ‘They’d all gone by then anyhow.’  Hoss just shook his head and closed his eyes.

 

‘Son?’ said his father as he came to kneel next to him. ‘How are you feeling?’

 

Hoss looked up at his father. ‘Bad Pa,’ he admitted. ‘I’m feeling worse bout not being able ta help much though.’

 

Ben patted him on the shoulder. ‘We’re doing just fine,’ he said reassuringly, but without any conviction in his voice. ‘You just rest while you can.’  He wet the neckcloth that Joe had been using for his brother and wiped it over his face again. ‘Want a drink?’ he asked.  Hoss nodded and Ben took the canteen that was lying beside his son and held it to his lips while he gave him a drink.  He shook it slightly before putting the stopper back on it and shook his head as he realised that it was just about empty.  He glanced over to the crevasse in the rock where the slight trickle of water was still seeping into the canteen that Adam had left there and hoped that it would be enough.

 

‘Pa?’  Little Joe’s voice sounded in his ear and he turned towards him.

 

‘Yes?’

 

‘You want me to get some food ready for us?’

 

Ben looked strangely at the boy and realised just how lucky the youngster was to be oblivious to the enormity of their situation. ‘Not right now son,’ he said. ‘The Apaches will be back as soon as they’ve regrouped themselves.’

 

‘I think we got six,’ said Adam from his position overlooking the rocks. ‘There’s still a lot left though.’ He checked his bullets again.

 

Ben walked over and took his rifle from his horse and then Hoss’ as well.  He reached into his saddlebag and pulled out the last of his ammunition. ‘We need to check how much we’ve got left,’ he said. ‘Adam?’

 

‘There’s one box in my saddlebag,’ said Adam as he stood up and walked over to his horse to get it out.

 

‘Joe?’ asked Ben as he checked Hoss’ saddlebag as well.  There was no answer, so he looked over his shoulder at his youngest son who was checking the canteen. ‘How much ammunition have you got left Joe?’ he asked.

 

‘Only what’s in my rifle and this,’ said Little Joe, patting his holster. ‘Don’t worry Pa, it’ll be enough.’  He took the canteen from the rock and replaced it with an empty one. ‘This is full now,’ he said delightedly. ‘You were right Adam.’

 

Adam nodded and said nothing as he continued to organise his ammunition. He looked up to see Little Joe carrying the canteen over to the horses. ‘What are you doing with that?’ he asked.

 

‘I’m gonna give em a drink,’ replied Joe. ‘They ain’t had none since last night.’

 

Adam strode over and took the canteen from his brother’s hand. ‘Don’t be stupid!’ he said crossly. ‘We don’t have enough.’

 

Joe looked at his older brother crossly. ‘They’re thirsty,’ he said defensively. ‘They need to drink!’

 

‘So do we,’ said Adam as he put the stopper back on the canteen. ‘Don’t you get it?  We don’t have enough to keep alive and let the horses drink too.’

 

Little Joe put his hands on his hips as he glared back at his brother. ‘I don’t care!’ he said crossly. ‘I’ll give my share to Cochise and the others and if you cared enough you’d do the same for Sport too.’

 

‘It’s not a matter of caring,’ replied Adam crossly. ‘It’s just common sense!  For heaven’s sake, why don’t you grow up?’

 

‘Joe, your brother is right,’ said Ben. ‘We just don’t have enough son.’  His eyes glanced over to Hoss who was moaning quietly. ‘We’re going to need it.’

 

Little Joe glanced over at his brother as well and then looked back at his father and nodded ‘I understand,’ he said. ‘But I still don’t mind giving my share to …’

 

‘Grow up!’ repeated Adam crossly. ‘This isn’t a game you know Joe!  They are real Indians out there and you just …’

 

‘Adam that’s enough!’ interrupted his father. He walked over and put his hand on Joe’s shoulder. ‘Why don’t you go back over there and keep watch son?’ he said.  Little Joe gave his older brother a dark look before nodding at his father and walking away. ‘There was no need for that,’ said Ben as he turned to Adam. ‘He’s just a boy and he’s scared.’

 

Adam put the canteen down. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said shortly. ‘But we’re all scared Pa.’ He bent down and began to wipe Hoss’ face.  Ben sighed and bent his head, as he said another silent prayer for them all.

 

 

==========

 

 

During the remainder of that day the Apaches came at them at regular intervals.  Each time they managed to shoot a few of them, but Ben suspected that there were many more out there still to come.  He wondered how much longer they could keep up the effort of fending their enemies off and when darkness finally arrived bringing with it some breathing space, he was eternally grateful that they’d managed to survive the day unharmed.

 

‘You want me to fix some food for us now Pa?’ asked Adam as the sun sank behind the mountains behind them.

 

Ben nodded and continued to watch down below. ‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘Use the last of the beans in my saddlebag.’  His heart sank as he realised that this would be the last of their food.  Without it they might survive a few days, but beyond that …. He grimaced as he realised the chances of them dying of starvation were minimal as they probably wouldn’t make it even that far.  They had tried their best to conserve what little ammunition they had throughout the day, but the cold fact was that they had very little left at all. Once the last of their bullets were gone, they would be easy prey for the Apaches down below.

 

Suddenly an arrow whizzed past his shoulder and he turned quickly and pointed his gun in the direction that it had come from, surprised to see the startled face of none other than his youngest son staring back at him in the ever-increasing gloom. ‘What are you doing?’ he demanded.

 

‘I was just practising,’ explained Little Joe as he swallowed. ‘I thought …’

 

‘The trouble is that you don’t think!’ interrupted Adam crossly. ‘Quit playing stupid games, why don’t you?’

 

Little Joe hung his head and stared at the ground. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said quietly. ‘I didn’t mean anything by it.’

 

Adam shook his head and turned back to the fireplace where he was cooking. Joe gave both his brother and father a sorrowful look and walked over to the rocks behind them and took up his position on guard again. After a moment’s hesitation, Ben went over and sat beside him. ‘Adam doesn’t mean to be angry with you,’ he said after a moment’s silence. ‘We’re all on edge and that wasn’t the most sensible thing to do, you must admit.’

 

Joe looked at his father sadly. ‘I said I was sorry,’ he said. ‘I just thought that maybe if I could learn to use it I could shoot it when …’ he swallowed, ‘ … when our bullets run out.’  He looked deeply into his father’s eyes. ‘We ain’t gonna get out of this, are we Pa?’ he asked.

 

Ben took a deep breath and let it out again before answering. ‘We’re going to try our best son,’ he said gently.

 

Little Joe shook his head. ‘But it ain’t gonna be enough, is it?’ he asked.

 

Ben bit his lip, not knowing what to say to him.  His son looked so young and vulnerable as he stared at him through the darkness and at that moment Ben would have given anything to be able to give the boy an encouraging answer. ‘I don’t know,’ he said finally.

 

Little Joe nodded and stared out into the darkness. ‘Well, at least we’re all together,’ he said in a whisper.

 

Ben put his arm around him and gave him a hug, ‘Yes,’ he said simply. There was silence for a few moments as father and son stared out into the darkness together.

 

‘I know that Adam thinks I’m just a stupid kid,’ said Little Joe finally.

 

‘No he doesn’t,’ said Ben soothingly. ‘I told you before, he’s just worried that’s all.’

 

‘Yeah he does Pa,’ said Little Joe. ‘He always does.’  He looked earnestly into his father’s eyes. ‘But I ain’t playing Pa … not really.  I was just trying to … well, you know.  I don’t know what else ta do … and ….’  He took a deep breath. ‘There’s no point just sitting here waiting to die, is there?’  He searched his father’s face hoping to see some understanding there. ‘I just thought that I should try anything I could think of.  That’s the main reason I got them arrows.’

 

Ben gave the youngster a smile. ‘Joe, we all deal with things differently,’ he said. ‘Your brother Adam … Hoss … all of us are different. Adam is … well he’s very serious about things, you know that.  He doesn’t mean anything by it.’

 

Joe nodded. ‘I know,’ he said. ‘But …’

 

‘Supper’s ready,’ called Adam from the fireplace.

 

‘You go on over and eat first son,’ said Ben. ‘I’ll have some when you’ve finished.’ He gave the boy an encouraging pat on the back. ‘Go on.’

 

Joe stood up, walked over to the fire and took the plate that Adam held out for him.  ‘Thanks,’ he said as he sat down to eat.

 

‘Make the most of it,’ replied his older brother. ‘It’s the last of what we have.’

 

Little Joe nodded as he ate. ‘What about Hoss?’ he asked, indicating their sleeping brother with his thumb.

 

‘I’ve saved him some for when he wakes up,’ replied Adam as he began to eat his own. ‘We all need to keep our strength up for tomorrow.’

 

‘How many more Apaches do ya think are out there Adam?’ asked Little Joe.

 

Adam shrugged. ‘Hard to say,’ he said. ‘We got a few more today, but there’s still a lot of them.  I haven’t been able to get a good look to count.’  He hesitated as he looked at his younger brother.  The fire flickering in front of them cast shadows on the boy’s face and he looked positively eerie in the gloom that surrounded them.  ‘I’m sorry I sounded off like that at you before,’ he said.

 

Joe grinned at him. ‘That’s all right,’ he said. ‘Pa explained.  He said that we’re all worried.’

 

Adam shot the youngster a sharp look. ‘I can’t tell you that I think we’re going to get out of this,’ he said.

 

Little Joe studied the beans on his plate and Adam noticed that his bottom lip was quivering slightly. ‘I know,’ the youngster said finally in a trembling voice. ‘I already figured that out.’

 

Adam cleared his throat, not knowing what to say to his brother.  It was strange how for all his eloquence he never knew what to say to people when things got too emotional.  He envied his youngest brother’s ability to be so open with his thoughts, but it just didn’t come easily to him. ‘It’ll be okay,’ he said finally, knowing that they both knew that it wouldn’t be.

 

Joe nodded and said nothing.

 

 

==========

 

 

That night was one of the longest that Ben had ever known.  Try as he would to get some sleep when one or other of the boys was on watch, he couldn’t.  All he could think about what the next day might bring and he knew that it was on everyone else’s mind as well.  He got up several times during the night to bathe Hoss’ face and noticed that his son seemed to be getting worse.  The fever was higher and he wondered if it would ever break. Perhaps the boy would just drift off and never come back to him?  His heart constricted as he looked down at the face of this middle son of his.  Hoss was always so undemanding, so willing to be the one doing for everyone else … it was unusual for him to be the one needing his father’s care so much now.  Ben thought back to that fateful day when he had cradled this boy’s mother in his arms as she lay dying.  He had promised her to look after this son of theirs … and now look at what he had brought him too.  Was Inger’s son to die as she had?  Was he to have his life snuffed out of him by the flight of an arrow?  Ben prayed that it would never come to that, but in his heart he knew that by that very next night they all might have met their fate in the same way.

 

‘Look after him my love,’ he whispered softly as he wiped the young man’s hot face. ‘Look after all of them.’  He stood up and went to sit next to Adam.

 

‘This is right about the time that the cavalry is supposed to arrive and save us,’ said Adam in a bitter voice. ‘I guess that won’t be happening though.’

 

Ben tried to smile. ‘I guess not,’ he admitted. ‘There’s not much chance of it.’

 

‘Pa?’

 

‘Yes son?’

 

‘I’ve been thinking about things … You know ….’  Adam searched for the words to express to his father how he felt. ‘I’ve been so lucky in my life you know Pa.’

 

‘Lucky son?’

 

‘Yeah.’  Adam looked over at his father and cleared his throat self-consciously. ‘To have you as a Pa … I don’t say it very often and I just wanted you to know that.’  He smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

 

Ben put his arm around his son and was pleased that for once he didn’t shrug him off or even tense up.  Instead he leaned in slightly towards his father as if finding comfort in his touch. ‘I’m the lucky one son,’ Ben said softly. ‘I’ve been blessed to have you as a son.  Hoss and Little Joe too.’

 

‘I guess it takes something like this for us to say what’s really in our hearts at times,’ said Adam. ‘At least … well for me it does.’  He cleared his throat again. ‘You know what I mean Pa.’

 

Ben nodded in the darkness. ‘Yes I know what you mean son,’ he said. ‘You really don’t have to say it to make me understand.’

 

Adam nodded. ‘I hope that Joe and Hoss understand the way I really feel about them,’ he said. ‘I can’t always say … well it’s hard to tell them …’  He looked at his father. ‘You know?’

 

Ben nodded. ‘I know,’ he said.

 

Adam glanced over at Hoss lying on the ground. ‘He’s not looking too good.’

 

Ben shook his head. ‘No.’

 

‘We’re not going to have enough ammunition to last one more day you know.’

 

‘I know.’

 

There was silence.

 

 

==========

 

 

Another day dawned and brought with it trepidation in the hearts of the Cartwrights. As Ben peered into the dawn light he wondered if this would be last one that he ever saw.  He watched as the rays of sunlight lit up the land around him and smiled as he noticed three rays coming through the clouds. It almost looked as if they were coming from heaven itself and he liked to think that they were coming from his three loves who he knew were looking down over himself and their boys.

 

Suddenly he felt the worry of the last few days leave him with the thought and he turned and smiled at Adam and Joe who were sitting by the fireplace. ‘Its getting light boys,’ he said. ‘We’d best get ready.’

 

Adam nodded and took up his position on the other side of the clearing.  Joe tried to smile at his father, but his bottom lip began to tremble and he hung his head instead.  Ben strode over and cupped his son’s chin in his hand as he lifted his head and looked into his eyes. ‘Remember Joseph,’ he said in a strong voice. ‘We’re all together and that’s what counts. You said so yourself.’

 

Little Joe swallowed and smiled at his father, the tears standing in his eyes as he did so. ‘I love you Pa,’ he said.

 

‘I love you too son,’ said Ben in a loud voice. ‘I love all of you.’  He looked over at Adam and smiled and then bent down next to Hoss. ‘Lie still son,’ he said as he stroked his forehead. ‘Close your eyes and get some rest.’  Hoss smiled back at his father, thinking how illogical his words were under the circumstances, yet how like his father it was to say such a thing.

 

‘Love ya Pa,’ he mumbled.

 

Ben patted him on the shoulder and then took his position up behind the rocks again.  Within minutes they could hear the familiar whooping of the Apaches as they advanced upon them and everything became frantic again as the arrows fell around them and the shots rang out.

 

It was Adam who first ran out of ammunition.  As he lifted his gun and pointed it towards an advancing Apache it clicked on an empty chamber and he gave his father a swift and despairing look.  Ben turned sharply and shot at the Indian, hitting him directly in the chest.  He fell at his feet and before he had time to think about it another Apache came forward and he was forced to defend himself from the other side.  He sensed rather than saw a movement beside him, but didn’t have time to turn as he fired a couple more shots at the advancing Indians.

 

At the back on the clearing, Little Joe fired carefully, trying to make every shot count. He also sensed a movement behind him and turned sharply to see that an Apache had come through the rocks and was creeping towards Hoss who lay defenceless on the ground.  Before he could move however, Adam launched himself on the Apache and knocked him off his feet. Joe watched as the two men rolled over and over in the dirt, each trying to gain control of the knife that the Indian was holding.  He waited, trying to get a clear shot at the Apache but each time he thought he was about to, the man rolled over again and Adam’s body obscured his. Suddenly there was a yell and Adam slumped down onto the ground, the knife sticking out of his shoulder.  The Apache straightened up over him, but just as he was about to drive the knife in further, Joe let fire and shot the man.  The Indian slumped forward, his body falling on top of Adam’s.

 

Joe bounded forward and pushed the Apache away before pulling the knife out of his brother’s shoulder. Adam groaned at the movement and closed his eyes momentarily before opening them again and nodding at his brother. ‘Thanks buddy,’ he said.

 

Joe nodded back at him and then turned again, not having time to say anything else before the next Indian was upon them.  Adam picked up the knife, which still showed traces of his own blood, and bent over Hoss as he prepared himself to defend his brother with the only weapon he had left.

 

Joe shot once more and the next Indian fell to the ground.  Behind him, his father was still firing.  As Joe raised his gun again he heard it click into an empty chamber and he lowered it with a sinking feeling in his stomach.  He had nothing left now and he knew that the end must be near.  Behind him the sound of shots continued as his father continued to fire with the last of his bullets and Joe put his face against the rough rock face in front of him and prayed silently that it would end quickly and without too much pain.

 

As if his thoughts had been spoken aloud, the shooting behind him suddenly stopped and he turned to see his father crouched over and working his way towards them.  ‘They’ve stopped again for a while,’ the man said simply and went straight over to Adam to check his shoulder.

 

Adam allowed his father to rip his shirt away from the wound and push the cloth that they’d been using for Hoss against it to stop the bleeding. ‘I’ll be all right Pa,’ he said softly. Ben said nothing, but continued to attend to his son.  Beside them, Hoss opened his eyes and stared at them silently.

 

Joe scrunched over to his father. ‘We’re both out of bullets Pa,’ he said. ‘Have you got any left?’

 

Ben handed his gun over and motioned for his son to check it. Joe opened the cartridge and took two bullets out and stared at them as they lay on his palm. ‘Two,’ he said in a low voice. ‘Just two Pa.’

 

Ben nodded and said nothing. ‘They’ll be back in a few minutes,’ he said as he continued to hold the cloth to Adam’s wound. ‘Take my gun and keep it son.’

 

Little Joe shook his head. ‘No Pa,’ he said as he reloaded the gun and tried to hand it back to his father. ‘It’s yours.’

 

Ben looked at the scared boy in front of him, knowing that the gun held a certain amount of security for him, even though it was just about useless now. ‘You keep it now Joe,’ he said.

 

Little Joe swallowed and tried not allow the tears that were standing in his eyes to fall. He nodded and scrunched in closer to his father and brothers as if to find comfort in their presence.

 

‘You’re a good boy Joseph,’ said his father ‘Always remember that I love you son.’ He patted Hoss on the shoulder and smiled at Adam. ‘I love you all,’ he said.

 

There was silence as the Cartwrights strained their ears for the sound that told them that the Apaches were once again coming.  They waited for several minutes and heard nothing, the silence becoming more unbearable the longer it stretched.  Ben looked over at the dead Apache lying beside them. ‘He was a man of importance,’ he said.

 

Adam stared at the man also and noticed for the first time the marks on his chest and the elaborate headpiece that he was wearing. ‘Looks like he might have been their leader,’ he mused. ‘Maybe they’ll give up without him.’

 

‘Or maybe they’ll be even more determined to avenge him,’ said Ben.

 

Joe reached over and picked up the arrows next to the man. ‘These might come in handy,’ he said and then added as he saw the look on Adam’s face. ‘Well its all we’ve got, ain’t it?’

 

‘I suppose so,’ Adam acknowledged and winced as a stab of pain went through his shoulder. He put a hand up to it and winced again.

 

‘Keep still,’ instructed his father. ‘You’ll start the bleeding again.’

 

‘They’re taking a long time,’ said Little Joe.  ‘What do ya think they’re doing?’

 

Everyone listened to the silence around them. ‘Seems mighty strange,’ said Ben finally.

 

Little Joe moved away from the rock. ‘Well I’m gonna see,’ he said. ‘I can’t stand this!’

 

‘Joseph!’ Ben reached for his son as he moved away from him, but failed to grab him in time. The youngster made for the front of the clearing and crouched behind the rocks as he craned his neck and tried to look around them to see what was happening.

 

‘Joseph!’ Ben called again.  He felt Adam go limp in his arms and looked down to see that his son had lost consciousness from the pain.  He laid him down gently on the ground and began to make his way towards Joe. Suddenly an Indian appeared on the rock above his son and Ben called out to him again frantically. ‘Joseph! Above you!’

 

Little Joe looked up and fired at the man, hitting him in the shoulder.  The Apache staggered for a moment and then regained his balance.  He drew an arrow back on his bow and pointed it at Joe just as the youngster fired the last of his bullets and hit the Indian directly in the chest.  The man fell backwards and there was silence.

 

‘Well at least I didn’t waste the last two bullets,’ said Little Joe ruefully as he gave the gun one last look and then dropped it to the ground.

 

Ben grabbed his son by the shoulders. ‘Are you alright son?’ he asked.

 

Little Joe nodded his head just as there was a movement behind them and his eyes widened as he saw another Indian appear over his father’s head.  Ben turned just in time to see the man draw an arrow directly at them and his last thought was for his son as he tried to shield the boy with his own body.  He waited for the pain of the arrow to pierce through him and everything around him seemed to stand still for a moment.  He watched as if detached from the scene as the Apache fell forward at his feet, an arrow sticking into his back.

 

Ben looked over and saw Hoss seated in front of the fire, Joe’s collected arrows around him and the bow in his hand. ‘Told you they would come in handy,’ said Joe from behind his father.

 

 

==========

 

 

They waited all that day and into the night, but the Apaches never came back.  Whether or not it was because they’d killed their leader or because there simply weren’t enough of them left, the Cartwrights would never know. To tell the truth, none of them really cared … It was enough that they were gone.

 

As the next dawn broke, Ben rose and walked to the front of the clearing to make sure.  He knew that he was taking a risk, but there didn’t seem to be any option at this point and he would have walked down the hill and given himself up to the Apaches if it had meant saving his sons.  As he stood there looking into the approaching day and noticed that the Apaches were indeed gone, he looked up at the sky and saw again three rays of sunlight appearing through the clouds. ‘Thank you my loves,’ he whispered. ‘Thank you for giving me back my boys.’

 

 

==========

 

 

‘Joseph please watch where you’re riding,’ said Ben as he tried to still his own horse and that of Adam’s beside him.

 

‘Sorry Pa,’ replied his son. ‘You okay Hoss?’

 

Hoss gave his brother a small smile. ‘Better than I was,’ he said. ‘I’d be even better if you’d stop asking.’

 

Joe gave his brother a wide grin. ‘Hey Pa?’ he said excitedly.

 

‘Yes?’ replied Ben as he put a hand on Adam’s shoulder in an attempt to straighten his son in the saddle. Adam gave him a small smile and groaned quietly as the pain in his shoulder made him wince yet again.

 

‘We’re there,’ replied Little Joe as he pointed to the small township in front of them.

 

‘Thank the Lord,’ said Ben fervently. ‘We’re there boys! We made it!’  He smiled at them all with joy in his heart.  Adam nodded slightly as he tried to overcome the pain that was washing through him and Hoss visibly straightened in his saddle.  He looked better than he had for days and Ben’s heart rejoiced in the fact that both his sons would now have a doctor’s care.

 

‘Sure did!’ agreed Little Joe with another wide grin.  He fingered the Apache bow that hung around his back and glanced down at the arrows that stuck out of the end of his saddlebag. ‘Reckon we’ll be able to get some more ammunition here so we won’t be needing these no more.’  He grinned at his father. ‘I can hardly wait to show em to my friends when we get home.’

 

Ben shook his head as his youngest son sprang forward on his horse. He picked up Adam’s reins again and led his son’s horse forward towards the small town in front of them.

 

 

 

The End