Hoss was trucking along. Every now and again he stopped to check the tracks that he was following. The pain in his head was starting to subside, but the pain in his heart wasn’t. He couldn’t help but start thinking of the what if’s. What if they had seriously hurt Sam? He had promised to keep her safe. What if… What if… he couldn’t bring himself to think the worst.

——————————–

Sam was still unconscious, bouncing around in the saddle with Rooster. “We gotta water the horses, Rooster.” Billy stated, slowing his horse.

“Yeah, where?” Rooster snapped, slowing his horse to match Billy’s pace.

Billy snorted, “There’s gotta be somewhere near here.”

Rooster shook his head, “Look, we’re less that an hour away from Cal’s cabin. We can water the horses there and get our pay. Then we can hit Trinity.”

Billy sighed and took a drink of his canteen. He stopped mid-drink and looked back, “Someone’s comin’ up.” He said.

Rooster pointed. They took their horses off the trail and stopped. They watched Eddy slow as she approached where the kidnappers had stopped. She looked around, sending Cashe two-stepping and dancing in a circle.

Billy smiled. He had always admired the younger Parker girl. He looked from Rooster to Eddy. He then slowly climbed off his mount and crept up to the bush, watching her. When the white horse stopped and stood still, Eddy looked around again. This was when Billy took his chance. He ran up and pulled Eddy to the ground. They rolled around on the ground until Eddy came up on one knee her gun in hand, pointing it at Billy. He held his hands up.

Eddy clicked the hammer back, “Where’s my sister?” she growled at him.

That was when Rooster rode out, “Right here, Eddy.” He smirked. Sam was coming in and out of consciousness by this point.

“Either you let her go or you’re gonna have one dead partner.” Eddy said standing up, gun still trained on Billy. Her heart was going a mile a minute. She was relieved to find her sister, but now she had to get Sam out of this mess and get back to the Ponderosa.

“You ain’t gonna kill him, Parker.” Rooster said, drawing Eddy’s attention back to him. “Cause if ya shoot him, I’m gonna kill your ornery sister.” He said and pulled his gun, pointing it at Sam.

Eddy frowned in anger, but she was thinking quick. She could take the chance and shoot Rooster, but she might also hit her sister. That was a chance she wasn’t willing to take. While the Mexican stand off was happening and Eddy was thinking about her options, Billy pulled his gun and tackled Eddy, hitting her in the right brow with the butt end of his gun.

“Hey, lookey at what I won myself.” Billy said, sporting a big slick smile as he looked down at Eddy.

“Just get your rope so you can tie her up and we can head to the cabin, you knucklehead.” Rooster said, rolling his eyes.

Billy walked over to his horse, grabbed his rope and made his way back to Eddy. She was sprawled out in the dirt. It was now apparent as to where Billy had hit her. Right above the right eye. There was now a nasty deep cut and her eye was turning black. Billy tied her up, threw her over his saddle and mounted up. He went to grab Cashe when Rooster stopped him.

“He’s a useless horse. Just leave him.” Rooster grumbled. “Now let’s get going!”

——————————–

Joe had Cochise at a full run and had for a while now. His mind was flashing back to memories that he shared with Hoss. The schemes they had pulled together, or rather the schemes that Joe had talked Hoss into. Joe gave a little smile at that thought. They had gotten into a lot of mischief together. But his smile soon faded as the cold, harsh realization hit home that his brother, his best friend was gone. No more would they laugh together, cry together, spend days fishing or riding together. Joe knew his life would never again be complete. They had, had so many plans together, so many things that they never got to do together. No, there was no way that Hoss was gone. This could not be happening.

Joe sniffed and wiped the tears from his cheeks, “C’mon Cooch,” He said, his voice hoarse with emotion.

As he came barrelling around a corner he pulled the reins back, stopping Cochise. He looked on in total disbelief. Was it true what he was seeing? “Let’s go.” He said and tapped the side of Cochise.

As he got closer, he knew what he was seeing was true. He knew that big shape anywhere. “Hoss!” Joe yelled as he jumped from Cochise, who had yet to stop. He stumbled on the ground but managed to take off on foot.

Hoss, who was kneeling down looking at tracks, turned just in time to get tackled by Little Joe. Hoss was confused by the situation and was wondering why his little brother was giving him a bear hug and crying. “Little Joe, what’s going on?” Hoss asked, pushing Joe away by the shoulders so that he could look at him.

“I-I-I’m so glad you’re okay.” Joe said, with a huge smile on his face. “Pa said that you’d been…” He pushed Hoss’ hands off his shoulders and gave the big man a hug. “I thought I was never going to see you again.”

“Now, now, little brother, I’m okay.” He smiled. There had always been a special bond between these two and Hoss felt the love coming from his little brother.

Joe pulled away and wiped his eyes, “Pa said that he heard Sam this morning saying that you had been killed. But I knew it couldn’t be true.”

Hoss looked down at Joe, “Sam?” He asked, frowning.

“Yeah. What’s going on, brother?” Joe asked. Then he noticed the bandana tied around Hoss’ head. “Hoss, what happened?!”

“I got shot and they took Sam.” Hoss said bluntly.

“That’s why Sam thinks you’re…” Joe still couldn’t say the words out loud. Even with Hoss beside him, alive and well, he just couldn’t use the word dead in regards to Hoss.

Hoss frowned. “I reckon so.” He never even considered that Sam had thought he was dead. Unconscious maybe but not dead. “We need to get going. I have to find Sam.”

Joe looked around for Cochise. That’s when he noticed her grazing on a nearby tree. He walked over, took hold of the reins and made his way back to Hoss.

The two brothers mounted up and Joe looked over at Hoss. “I’m really happy you’re okay, Hoss. I didn’t know what I was gonna do if…”

“Hey, we’ll have time enough for that later, little brother. Right now, I need to find Sam.”

Joe nodded as they started off. He knew now that they would have time. Joe knew he wasn’t going to take one precious moment, that he would have with his brother, for granted. Not after how close he came to losing him.

————————————————–

Ben and Adam were back on the trail. They were traveling at a steady pace hoping they would catch up with Eddy.

As they came to a stand of trees, Adam noticed something up ahead. “Pa, look there.” he pointed.

Ben looked to where Adam was pointing. That’s when he noticed it. “It looks like Eddy’s horse.”

They started off and stopped when they caught up with Cashe. Adam jumped down from Sport and walked over to him. He took hold of the reins and looked around.

Ben dismounted from Buck. Both he and Adam thoroughly searched the area for Eddy but she was nowhere to be found.

Adam checked out the ground. There were definite signs of a struggle but he was having difficulty deciphering the tracks. “I can’t make heads nor tales of these tracks. I wish Hoss was here, he’d…” Adam stopped himself short when he spoke of his middle brother.

The subject of Hoss was still too raw and painful to even think about. Adam looked up at his father and noticed the tears glistening in the older man’s eyes. He could feel the moisture in his own eyes as well. Adam had tried to deny that anything bad had happened to Hoss but he knew sooner or later he may have to face the fact that his younger brother was gone.

Ben swallowed the lump in his throat, took a deep breath and got back to the subject at hand. “Well, we know that Eddy was here. Something obviously happened, but we can’t be too far behind them.”

Adam nodded. He was still holding Cashe’s reins as he walked back to Sport and mounted up. “If she met up with the kidnappers, she may be in danger now as well.”

Ben knew before they had left the Ponderosa that they may be getting in over their heads with this one. And it looks like it’s proving that he was right.

—————————————————-

Billy and Rooster weren’t traveling as fast as they had been because they were both riding double now and both girls being unconscious wasn’t making it any easier. But it didn’t really matter because Rooster knew that Cal’s cabin was just over the rise.

“You had to go and grab her, didn’t you?” Rooster said, annoyed with his partner’s antics.

Billy grinned. “I’ve always liked Eddy. Figured it was my chance to get to know her better.”

“Oh, yeah, I’m sure she’s real anxious to cuddle up to you.”

“She may fight me at first but she’ll learn to like me in time.”

Rooster shook his head. For the most part he and Billy got on well but it was moments like this that he realized how thick headed his friend could be.

“Come on, Cal’s cabin’s not far now.”

—————————————————-

Joe and Hoss were quiet and running at a full pace. Every once in a while Hoss would slow down to check the tracks. “Looks like it’s a group we’re following now.” Hoss commented. “One is still riding double.”

“How far ahead would you say they are?” Joe asked, still thanking his stars that his older brother was with him.

“Not far.” He said, kicked the sides of Chubb and took off.

Joe did the same, following his older brother.

————————————————————

Ben and Adam had finally reached the outskirts of Trinity. Adam could see the faint outline of the town in the distance.

Their plan was to check out the Thunderbolt first. But with everything that had happened, Adam was determined to send that wire off to Virginia City and pray that all was well back home.

————————————————————-

Billy and Rooster stopped their horses outside of the cabin. “Looks like Cal ain’t here yet.” Rooster said as he dismounted from his horse, leaving Sam in the saddle.

Billy dismounted from his own, doing the same with Eddy. “Well, he better show up. I didn’t go through all this to get stiffed.”

“Cal won’t stiff us.” Rooster replied.

“Oh c’mon. Ya can’t be so sure.” Billy smirked and turned towards Eddy. “Of course, if he doesn’t pay us, we got some fun waiting anyways.”

Rooster shook his head, “You’re one twisted man, Billy.” He said, walked over and picked Sam out of the saddle. He dropped her on the ground and grabbed her by the shirt. “Let’s get these two inside.”

Billy smirked, “Anything you say, Rooster. Anything you say.” He said and pushed Eddy off the saddle. He watched her drop to the ground. Then he grabbed her by the shirt and pulled her towards the cabin.

————————————————————

Joe and Hoss were still following the tacks, when Hoss suddenly pulled the reins and stopped Chubb. He jumped down and looked at the tracks. He knelt down and studied them very hard. Something told him there was more going on here then the tracks were telling them. He stood up and looked further. He could tell that there had been a scuffel and that someone small had laid on the ground. He also knew that there were two horses riding double now.

Joe watched his older brother, trying to understand what he was seeing in the tracks. This has always fascinated him, that his brother had this incredible skill to track. He knew he was never the best at it. He jumped off Cochise and walked up to Hoss, “What do you see, Hoss?” Joe asked.

Hoss thought about what he was seeing. The only answer that he could come up with, was not going to help the situation. The tracks were telling him that it was Eddy. She was the only one that would fit the tracks that he was seeing. This was getting way out of hand. Now, not only was Sam in danger, but Eddy was also.

“Hoss, what is it?” Joe asked again.

“Eddy.” Hoss said quietly but bluntly.

“Eddy?” Joe asked, confused. “No, you have be mistaken, Hoss. I left Eddy with Pa and Adam. Are you sure you’re not misreading the signs? It’s probably Sam.”

Hoss shook his head. “No, Little Joe. I know what I’m seeing. These impressions ain’t deep enough to be Sam. They have to be Eddy’s, she’s got a slighter build than Sam.”

Joe’s mind was spinning now. He was sure he had left Eddy with Pa and Adam but if he had… then what had gone wrong? His mind had been so preoccupied with thoughts of Hoss that getting home to him was the only thing on his mind at the moment.

“Let’s get going. If they have Eddy now…” Joe stopped as he mounted his horse. Things had been going so good between them. He didn’t want to lose her before they even had a chance.

——————————————————————

Rooster and Billy had Sam and Eddy situated in the cabin now. Sam was lying on the bed at the back of the cabin and Eddy was on the couch. Both girls were still out.

“What are you rooting for?” Rooster asked as he watched Billy going through the cabinets.

“Cal has to have some whiskey in here.” Billy said, just as he located a bottle on a bottom shelf. He pulled it out and smiled at Rooster. “Ah, mother’s milk.”

As Billy poured himself a triple, they heard hoof beats approaching the cabin. Rooster pulled his gun, pulled back the curtains and looked outside. He reholstered his weapon when he saw Cal dismounting and tying up his horse.

“Who’s out there?” BIlly asked.

“Cal’s here.” Rooster replied. “You better not let him see you drinking his whiskey.”

“The trouble we’ve gone through these last months, a bottle of whiskey is the least that he owes me.”

At that moment the door opened and Calvin Dawson walked into the cabin. He was average height, with black hair and hazel eyes. He was, what most women would describe as, devastatingly handsome. “About time you got here.” Cal said and then noticed Eddy on the couch. “What is she doing here? I told you I wanted Sam! No one else!”

Billy took another drink of his whiskey. “She’s a little perk for me.” he said.

Cal walked over to Billy and knocked the glass out of his hand. “If you’ve screwed this up…”

“Take it easy, Cal.” Rooster said. “She was alone when Billy grabbed her.”

Cal glared at Billy and then looked at the back of the cabin. He noticed Sam lying on the bed. He made his way over to her and looked down. That’s when he noticed the gash on the side of her head. “What happened!? he yelled.

Rooster walked over to Cal and looked down at Sam. “I had no choice, Cal. She was trying to get away.”

Cal drew his hand back and smacked Rooster across the face. “I told you that nothing was supposed to happen to her.”

Rooster placed his hand on his cheek that was now stinging from the smack. “I’m sorry, Cal. Like I said, I had no choice.”

Cal pulled a bandana from his pocket and started to wipe the blood from the side of Sam’s head. At that moment Sam began to stir.

“Shh, take it easy.” Cal said gently as he stroked her face. “You’re home now.”