{"id":2037,"date":"2009-06-28T13:17:05","date_gmt":"2009-06-28T17:17:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2037"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:13:25","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:13:25","slug":"rider-coming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2037","title":{"rendered":"Rider Coming! (by Harper)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>Joe can\u2019t help showing off, carrying the mail for the Pony Express. But he\u2019d never do it if Pa were watching….A missing scene for “Ride the Wind.” \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rated:<\/span>\u00a0K+ (1,850 words)
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\n<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cRider Coming!\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A Missing Scene from \u201cRide the Wind\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe loved riding into Virginia City the most.<\/span><\/p>\n

His heart tripped faster when he heard the cries of\u00a0 \u201cExpress Rider coming!\u201d and saw neighbors and friends lining the wooden sidewalks as he raced his pony toward the relay station. He couldn\u2019t help but show off a little, in a professional way, when he made the switch from his spent pony to the fresh mount he would ride for the next ten miles of his route. If the relay station wrangler was savvy, Joe would do a running vault-mount\u2014the smoothest and fastest change of horses, one that any other Express Rider would envy. The stunt was showy, fast, and, given the half-wild racing ponies the Express provided, dangerous. Joe loved doing it, especially if there was a pretty girl standing with the crowd.<\/span><\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t want his father to see him do it, though. Pa\u2019d had a hard enough time swallowing his objections to Joe signing on to the Pony Express; he\u2019d hate seeing his youngest son risking his neck just to shave seconds off the mail schedule.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And so he\u2019d scan the street as he rode into town. If his father or brothers cheered from their usual spot, between the Mercantile and the Silver Dollar, he would jump off running and put all his skill into tossing the mail pouches\u2014the mochila\u2014onto the new saddle. He\u2019d content himself with a simple swing mount onto the fresh horse standing at the rail, and toss his family a wave as he rode out of town.<\/span><\/p>\n

If he didn\u2019t see their familiar figures, however, he would whistle to the wrangler to run the fresh horse out into the street. Quick as lightning, he\u2019d grab the running horse, let\u00a0 his feet bounce off the ground, flinging his legs up into a flying vault. All he had to do was hang on, swing his hips at the right moment, and he\u2019d be halfway out of town as his backside dropped solidly into the saddle. He loved hearing the cheers and whoops as he rode out of town. His grin wouldn\u2019t fade for the next two miles.<\/span><\/p>\n

But he would never try it if Pa was around.<\/span><\/p>\n

**********<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened to you, young fella?\u201d Ben asked curiously, crouching down next to a slender youngster near the International House. The young boy was craning his neck, straining to see down the crowded street as best he could. His gaze was hampered by his bandaged shoulder and arm, which rested in a complicated sling that strapped his arm tight against his chest. He looked to be about twelve years old.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Like everyone else within earshot, Ben had hurried out of the Hotel to watch the Express Rider tear through town. The cry of\u00a0 \u201cRider coming!\u201d still caused most folks to drop what they were doing and step into the street, even though the Pony Express had been running for several months. Ben always rushed to watch if he was in town, hoping to catch a glimpse of Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

The young man shifted his sling disgustedly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I was practicing a pony express vault, and I come off my horse,\u201d he said, kicking at the tie-rail. \u201cFour weeks I have to wear this, the doc says. Four weeks!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s too bad,\u201d Ben said, eyes twinkling a little. The boy\u2019s sulky pout at the injustice of doctors reminded him of Joe. \u201cWhat did you say you were practicing?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, the fancy mount the Express Riders do,\u201d the boy said impatiently. \u201cOnly the best riders can do it. They change horses slick as you please, and their feet barely touch the ground. I was trying it with Lightning, that\u2019s my horse, but I must\u2019ve raked him with my spurs, \u2019cause instead of going into a run he commenced to buckin\u2019 and I never had a chance.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

They could hear the cheering start further down the street. On-lookers pushed forward, and Ben put out a hand to keep the young boy steady as they were jostled by the crowd.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They could all hear the hoof beats now, and in seconds, the rider came into view. With a glad leap of his heart, Ben recognized the rider.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Joe Cartwright!\u201d the boy next to him exclaimed. \u201cNow you\u2019ll see, mister! Nobody does it like him!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben craned his own neck to get one of the few glimpses he\u2019d had of his youngest son since he left home a few weeks ago.\u00a0 As he leaned forward, he felt Hoss join him, his solid shoulder brushing against his father\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere he is, Pa!\u201d Hoss said in a low voice. \u201cYou been missin\u2019 Joe something fierce; now you\u2019ll see he\u2019s all right.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss hadn\u2019t said it, but his overly-soothing tone made it clear:\u00a0I\u2019ve been cranky as an old bear, worrying about Joe,\u00a0<\/em>Ben realized.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe streaked past the Hotel and around the corner, low against his horse\u2019s neck and swift as a swooping hawk. He turned his head toward the Silver Dollar. Ben, standing on the opposite side of the street, raised his hand, but Joe had passed them without seeing them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI purely do love to watch that boy ride,\u201d Hoss murmured under his breath. Ben smiled.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he approached the relay station, Joe let out a piercing whistle, and an expectant murmur ran through the watching crowd. The relay station wrangler grinned and whooped, leading the fresh horse into the middle of the street. The wrangler tossed the reins over its neck and began to run, starting the fractious horse moving. Joe pulled his horse back onto its haunches, its four feet skidding in the dirt. He swung his right leg over, grabbed the mochila with his right hand and hit the ground with both feet before the lathered horse was completely stopped. Then he was running, running to catch the wrangler with his new mount, who began running faster himself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe caught up with the fresh horse easily, slung the mochila over the saddle, grabbed the saddle horn with both hands, and pulled up his bent legs. The wrangler released the fresh horse and jumped back.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The whites of the horse\u2019s eyes showed as it bolted forward and slightly sideways as if to avoid the weight of the rider hanging entirely from the left side of the saddle. The crowd began to whoop, and the horse reached with its powerful legs, settling into an all-out gallop in just a few strides. As soon as the horse\u2019s gait increased and steadied, Joe let his feet drop to the ground. His hands kept his upper body weight on the saddle, his feet hit the ground and bounced up, his body nearly horizontal as he swung into a vault. His legs bent and split and suddenly he was sitting low in the saddle, flashing a grin, and riding out of town before the last cheers died away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben stood stock-still, staring down the street. Hoss, cheering just as loud as anyone, waved his hat with a flourish and turned to his father.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, wasn\u2019t that just\u2014\u201d but he stopped short at the expression on his father\u2019s face.<\/span><\/p>\n

The sling-armed youngster bounced up and down at Ben\u2019s side.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSee, mister! I told you! Woohee, if that ain\u2019t the slickest, fastest, purtiest thing I ever did see!\u201d The boy waved his good arm high above his head, and turned back to Ben, eyes sparkling with hero-worship. \u201cNobody<\/em>\u00a0does it like him!\u201d The boy ran out into the street to catch the last sight of the express rider.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben glared at his middle son. \u201cHow long has Joseph been performing horseback acrobatics?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow Pa, he\u2019s just showin\u2019 off a little,\u201d Hoss said, trying for a calming tone. \u201cIt ain\u2019t like he never done it before\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen has he ever done\u00a0that<\/em>\u00a0before?\u201d Ben\u2019s voice was very deep, like distant thunderclouds.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa, Little Joe knows what he\u2019s doin\u2019; he\u2019s had lots of practice.\u201d But that statement, meant to placate his father, had the opposite effect.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean, he\u2019s had lots of practice?\u201d The thunderclouds rumbled closer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss laid a sympathetic hand on his father\u2019s shoulder. \u201cPa, now just calm down. You know as well as I do, about the only thing Little Joe can\u2019t do with a horse is carry it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The storm broke. \u201cHoss, my youngest son just took foolhardy risk, just threw himself through the air on a running horse\u2014a horse he doesn\u2019t even know!\u2014and you want me to calm down?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss winced. \u201cNow, Pa, you can be as mad as you like at Joe, but he ain\u2019t gonna know about it, and even if he did, he\u2019s got a job to do. He can\u2019t even slow down enough to yell \u2018sorry\u2019 his next time through town, so it ain\u2019t gonna do anyone any good you gettin\u2019 so mad about a little showin\u2019 off.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The convoluted truth of this struck Ben. Joe was doing a job, a job Ben was beginning to hate, if he was truthful with himself. He had taught his sons the importance of keeping commitments, of finishing what they started. \u201cBut I never taught them to do their jobs by leaping onto running horses,\u201d he muttered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that, Pa?\u201d Hoss said. \u201cI didn\u2019t catch what you said.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben just shook his head. Joe had looked very slight against the powerful flanks of the pony. If he\u2019d made the slightest miscalculation, the least mistake in timing\u2014\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t like watchin\u2019 it the first time I seen it,\u201d Hoss admitted. \u201cBut he\u2019s a professional rider, Pa. And he\u2019s so dad-blamed good at it, I nearly bust my buttons tellin\u2019 everyone \u2018that\u2019s my little brother!\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben pulled his eyes away from the dust settling on C Street\u2014the only sign remaining of Joe\u2019s passing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u00a0I don\u2019t like it!<\/em>\u201d Ben said. \u201cI will\u00a0never<\/em>\u00a0like it!\u201d He took a deep breath, and closed his eyes for a moment. He thought about the look on Joe\u2019s face when he talked about riding for the Express. \u201cBut this is what he wants to do, what he\u2019s committed to do.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you are right, Hoss,\u201d he added, and it was as if the words were being pulled out of him, \u201che\u00a0is<\/em>\u00a0so very good at it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss stepped closer, and placed a hand on his father\u2019s shoulder. \u201cWell, it could be worse, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben looked at Hoss, startled. \u201cWhat do you mean, it could be worse?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt could be\u00a0me<\/em>\u00a0trying them quick-mounts!\u201d Hoss said. \u201cThink of the vet bills for all them foundered horses! The Express\u2019d go bankrupt in two weeks!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben laughed, grateful for Hoss\u2019 understanding.<\/span><\/p>\n

The End<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

June 2009<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Disclaimer:<\/span>\u00a0All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/span><\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0Joe can\u2019t help showing off, carrying the mail for the Pony Express. But he\u2019d never do it if Pa were watching….A missing scene for “Ride the Wind.” \u00a0
\nRated:\u00a0K+ (1,850 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":3080,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23,61],"tags":[15,17,16],"class_list":["post-2037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-missing-scene","tag-ben","tag-hoss","tag-joe","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-61-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2279,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Joe_Racing_Cochise.jpg?fit=840%2C725&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12911,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12911","url_meta":{"origin":2037,"position":0},"title":"The Stranger – A Missing Scene (by Jenny G)","author":"Gwynne & JennyG","date":"January 11, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 What followed when Roy released Little Joe from jail. 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