Summary:<\/b>\u00a0Lightning hits the ranch after a long dry spell and the cartwrights have to fight fire and fear for each other.
\nRating:\u00a0 PG13\u00a0 (43,870 words)<\/p>\n
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\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The Cartwright Saga Series:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Lawyer <\/a><\/span> \n <\/p>\n It had been a near perfect week; long warm dry days and work had gone well. Adam was on the west shore and he was able to leave the men to get on during the afternoons and spent his own time surveying for the second flume they were planning. He had virtually finished the preliminary work by the weekend. Jess arrived early on the Saturday morning, very much fitter he was fretting under the restrictions Ben still saw fit to place on him and he had volunteered to bring out a large bundle of reports that Ben thought would be of interest to his eldest son. The reports were mainly about their new bank and the first weeks of operation of the pipeline but there were also reports from both main mines and the stock market, where speculation was increasing to even more ridiculous levels. None of it needed any immediate action on Adam\u2019s part, mainly just information, although in a few cases it might need action later. While Jess had a meal Adam glanced through the summaries of the reports getting the gist of things and then joined his friend for a chat.<\/p>\n They were drinking coffee and Jess had given Adam all the messages from his family when the clouds started building over the mountains. There was something in the atmosphere making the animals restive and Adam frowned, \u201cI hope Jos\u00e9 is up at the herd, this could be a bad one.\u201d<\/p>\n It was some time since they\u2019d had an electric storm, the last really bad one was before his marriage, but on occasion everything seemed to combine and it could get very nasty. Jess wasn\u2019t used to them and Adam explained. He had only seen them maybe ten times in the years since they\u2019d come to the Ponderosa but this had all the ominous signs. A true electric storm with thunder and cloud to ground lightning compounded by a lack of rain, somehow the rain seemed to fall on the other side of the Sierras. After weeks of dry weather the main fear was fire.<\/p>\n Uneasy Adam went over to the telegraph and contacted his father to find Ben was well aware of the conditions and equally worried. Being Saturday many men had gone to town but he had everyone else out on watch. Joe had ridden up to join Jos\u00e9 and Stevens and help with the stock. Hoss was up at the main camp and as it had begum to build he had decided to stay and keep watch, rather than head home as planned. Adam promised to organise his men and get everything as ready as they could be, then all they could do was wait. If the worst happened then they could move to help as necessary.<\/p>\n Adam quickly briefed his men warning them what to watch for and what they might expect and with everyone uneasy the morning slipped by slowly. The electricity in the air could almost be felt and noone wanted very much lunch although Adam insisted that they eat, if there was trouble it could prove a very long night. They had barely finished when there was an almighty crack as a sheet of lightning hit the earth not far from the camp. Hitting bone dry undergrowth the fire started immediately and with a fairly strong wind it began to spread fast.<\/p>\n Adam was on Blackie, not wasting time saddling up and on his way to investigate almost before the fire took hold. It was only just over half a mile from the camp but by the time he arrived it already had a good hold. Jess pulled up by him, shielding his face from the heat of the blaze \u201cWhat the hell do we do now?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam was deep in thought, visualising the ground trying to work out how to minimize the inevitable damage. One thing was certain it was going to take time to put out and for now it cut him and his men off from the house, That thought reminded him of the telegraph and he pushed Blackie up to the nearest point on it and got Jess to hand him his portable kit. Unsure if the line was still intact he had to try and climbed the nearest tree. Obviously the line would go within minutes but a warning now might get through, rather than have to wait until the fire was spotted. To his relief he got his father at once and quickly spelt out the exact location of the fire and his proposed plan of action. He was hoping to contain the fire, it had struck close to a small promontory into the lake and was burning fiercely right down to the shoreline, cutting them off as the waters of the lake were deep with sheer cliffs just there, but the wind was blowing away from the lake up towards the mountain. If they could stop it spreading out either side the valley walls would act as a firebreak and the loss would be minimal. The valley went back quite a long way but it rose steeply and was very rocky with only scrubby timber, little worth cutting.\u00a0\u00a0On his side Adam was reasonable confident he could hold the fire with the men he had but they had to fight it down by the lake and force a passage through before they could do anything to stop it spreading north. Even if Hoss sent help, and he was the nearest, it would take several hours and Adam didn\u2019t know if there were any other fires. He\u2019d outlined what he was trying and promised to do their best alone but warned that it was rapidly getting way out of control and they would need help. He was in the middle of asking if there was any further trouble when the wire went slack. Adam didn\u2019t need telling the fire had reached some posts and they were cut off, thrown back on their own resources.<\/p>\n Adam scrambled back down to find most of the men had gathered, some of them not far from panic, seeing the fire blocking the way home. Adam called for attention and moved to squash panic first. \u201cRight I have been in touch with my father and help is on its way. The telegraph is down now but it doesn\u2019t matter, they know the position.\u201d He turned to one young man, \u201cCheer up Toby. We\u2019re hardly cut off you know. If the worst happened we could always ride home by the south of the\u00a0Lake, but it\u2019s a long ride so let\u2019s try and avoid it.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam kept deliberately cheerful to keep the men\u2019s spirits up as he told them that they could keep the fire to the one small valley. He set most of the men to create a firebreak holding the fire on the south. He asked Jess to go back to the camp and very quietly pack all the papers in his tent, get them on one of the pack horses with as much of the rest of the equipment as the animals could carry. He didn\u2019t want everyone panicking but it was a necessary move, if the fire got out of control it would reach the camp very quickly. Adam told Jess to slip away quietly and he did so, not missing Adam\u2019s ulterior motive in saving him from the heavy work of slashing the undergrowth and digging ditches to form a firebreak, the earth their main tool in fighting the fire.<\/p>\n Adam called Jackson, Santee and\u00a0Wilson\u00a0over and leaving\u00a0Wilson\u00a0in charge of the main gang he took six men including\u00a0Jackson\u00a0and\u00a0Santee\u00a0and began trying to force his way through to the north. They had the water of the lake available and formed three short bucket chains, cutting a way through along the water\u2019s edge. They tried to eliminate all combustible material to ensure the track stayed open. It was back breaking work and Adam lost all sense of time but slowly they began to see some signs of success from all their efforts.<\/p>\n Eventually they broke through to an area which the fire hadn\u2019t touched and Adam left the men to catch their breath and ensure the immediate area was safe, while he tried to discover the extent of the damage, how far the fire stretched on the north. It was very difficult to see any distance as the smoke eddied around the wind dropping temporarily, but although there was a bulge to the north which could easily spread; Adam was pleasantly surprised to find most of the damage restricted to the one valley. A rocky outcrop had delayed the fire and although there were a few small patches to the north of it Adam was able to deal with those.<\/p>\n Adam hurried back to his men and got them spread out to try and prevent it going further north, promising help soon. He left Santee and\u00a0Jackson\u00a0at either end of the line, warning them to give way as necessary but deal with any fires jumping behind them. He went back to the south dealing with a few smouldering fires as he did so.<\/p>\n On the south a reasonable firebreak had been constructed and with the help of the wind blowing up towards the mountains it was holding.\u00a0\u00a0The electric storm seemed to have faded away but with so much smoke in their own area it was impossible to see if there were any other major fires on the Ponderosa. Somehow Adam had dropped and lost his watch and he had no idea how long it would be before they could expect help, for now he had to assume that others might be equally busy and continue to fight the fire with their own resources. He found Jess with\u00a0Wilson\u00a0and the packhorses were ready. It made sense to move them with the bulk of the men to the north side where they could retreat towards the ranch as necessary. Everything seemed under control and Adam left six men with Jess and Wilson to watch the firebreak, deal with any attempts of the fire to broach it and send word if things looked like getting out of control, Then he took everyone else and the horses back to the north side to try and complete a similar firebreak there. Adam tied the horses up, well back from the flames, and then set everyone to work. At first it seemed impossible, the bulge in the line meant the ditch had to be considerably longer. The men were already tired but with the boss everywhere, working himself into the ground and assuring them that they could do it, it was impossible to give up and slowly they did make progress.<\/p>\n Filthy dirty and so tired, aching in every joint with several small burns from falling cinders, Adam eventually had the satisfaction of knowing they were holding it. The valley would go but very little else barring a change of wind and surely soon assistance would arrive. He moved the length of the line congratulating every man and encouraging them, before he left\u00a0Santee\u00a0in charge and worked his way back along the lake, the earth burnt and desolate with occasional bursts of fire that he had to deal with but passable. Adam wanted to check on the south firebreak, feeling vaguely uneasy<\/p>\n Ben had been worried when Adam got in touch and the destruction of the telegraph link had done nothing to ease his fears although it was hardly a surprise. At least his son had been able to give him a reasonable idea of the position and with quite a number of men with him, although only half the crew, he would probably cope. Ben swore momentarily, wondering why such things always happened at the weekend with half the men missing and then turned back to contact Hoss, that telegraph was still working. Someone had been listening in and had taken word to Hoss, He had his own problems, a small flash fire halfway along one of the flumes, just a single lightning strike not the full sheet lightning that Adam was contending with. Hoss was fairly sure that Sven and the five men with him would have it out shortly but it was difficult to be sure of priorities. Hoss had most of his men spread out at vantage points watching for trouble and if he pulled them in and moved to help Adam other equally disastrous fires could start without being spotted. Ben understood Hoss\u2019 dilemma but from the brief account he\u2019d had Adam would need help, he might be able to contain it temporarily but he hadn\u2019t enough men to deal with it properly. Ben told Hoss to send eight men under Ericsson to help out now and keep the rest on watch, then barring emergencies once the storm had passed they could send further help.<\/p>\n There was noway that Ben could contact Joe but the smoke from the forest fire would be self-evident if it was as bad as Adam had indicated. Provided everything was under control Joe would take help but that wouldn\u2019t be for a while. All Ben could do was wait, staring out of the window watching the smoke gathering, alert for any other major blazes. Then it suddenly struck him that Carole must be able to see the smoke too and would be worried. He called Hop Sing in and asked him to take any messages and then went and saddled Buck to go to Adam\u2019s house.<\/p>\n Uneasy at the whole atmosphere Nita and Sue had gone to join Carole and for a while they were kept busy with both children and animals upset. The two dogs not exactly helping howling their unease for all to know. Carole could only remember one such storm and she told Sue and Nita of Adam\u2019s injury when he\u2019d been burnt trying to save the winter feed and she had let Dan talk her into returning a borrowed book; Dan\u2019s one successful foray into match making. It seemed a very long time ago. They had all spotted the fire shortly before Ben\u2019s arrival and had placed it on the west shore, but none of them could tell where it was in relation to Adam\u2019s camp. Sue tried to cheer Carole up, even if the fire was between Adam and the road, he could always get home round the south of the\u00a0Lake. Carole smiled briefly but soon sunk back into her own thoughts, very much on edge and worried about her husband. She was slightly flustered with the children\u2019s unease and not feeling at all well. Although grateful for her sisters\u2019 company she was very glad to see Ben ride in, but the serious expression on his face didn\u2019t make her feel any easier. Ben could see that she was upset and came straight over and put his arm round her shoulders. \u201cThought you might be worried. The telegraph is down now but Adam contacted me just before. He was fine, a plan of action ready. He was hoping to keep the fire contained in one valley and Hoss has already sent extra help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is it Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout half a mile this side of their camp, With the Lake water Adam can force a way through it tackle the north side of the fire. He said the wind was blowing from the\u00a0Lake\u00a0up towards the mountains.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf he can\u2019t get through can he get round to the south?\u201d Carole asked.<\/p>\n Ben hesitated but he\u2019d never lied to her and wouldn\u2019t start now. \u201cTake a long time, a man could make it but I\u2019m not so sure about a horse. There are two very bad stretches just off out land. On the other hand they have plenty of room to retreat if necessary until we can get more help out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have to wait until the storm passes before committing too many men. There may still be other major fires, Hoss has had a couple of small scale fires to deal with already.\u201d<\/p>\n Carole knew that it made sense but she couldn\u2019t help feeling scared and Ben could feel the tension in her, \u201cEasy child. He\u2019s had to deal with fires before and even now he\u2019s not alone, more than twenty men with him. Try not to worry.\u201d<\/p>\n Carole knew that she wasn\u2019t being very logical but she had in a way come to Adam after a fire and she was scared that fate would decree she lost him the same way. She was feeling increasingly ill and scared for the baby, although hardly able to admit it even to herself. As so often she relied on her father-in-law\u2019s calm strength and relaxed a little against him. Ben was sure that Hop Sing would send word of anything urgent and stayed with his daughters and at least his grandchildren enjoyed his attention and relaxed forgetting their fears.<\/p>\n By mid-afternoon it was fairly obvious that the worst of the storm had passed and after half an hour with no more lightning Ben pulled his coat on, \u201cRight I\u2019ll get back send Adam extra help now. I doubt there will be any more real trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n Carole frowned wanting to ask Ben to go himself but unsure how fit he was. Ben knew her very well \u201cUp to you Carole, I\u2019ll take them over myself or I can send them under Jack Catfish, he\u2019s a good friend of Adam\u2019s and will get them there just as fast, I could come back and stay with you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you well enough Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine. I have no intention of actual fire fighting, just direct operations and send back word, but Adam and Hoss can do it equally well and I expect Joe will turn up with extra help.\u201d Ben wanted to see for himself, learn the extent of the damage, but Carole looked so ill and worried maybe the best service he could do was to stay with her.<\/p>\n Carole smiled, a trifle tremulously, \u201cPlease go and help Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n Sue moved closer to her, \u201cWe\u2019ll help Carole with the children, try to stop her worrying too much.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita with Marie in her arms nodded her agreement, so Ben with a swift kiss for each of his daughters hurried home to get things moving. Kirk already had all the fire fighting equipment they might need packed and ready along with spare blankets and medical supplies. Ben wasn\u2019t surprised but it never did any harm to show his gratitude and he thanked Kirk and ordered the men he wanted to mount up, before going in to contact Hoss.<\/p>\n Hoss agreed that the worst was over but he had two more minor fires to deal with before he could go to his brother\u2019s assistance. He wasn\u2019t surprised to hear that his father was coming personally and didn\u2019t waste time protesting. The telegraph was useful but hardly an appropriate medium for argument, which he knew from long experience he wouldn\u2019t win anyway.<\/p>\n Joe was up with the horse herd. Jos\u00e9 and Stevens between them had the cattle as under control as possible, with the animals well spread out through the high country at this time of year. All the stock was obviously uneasy and with balls of lightning occasionally forming round horns it wasn\u2019t surprising, but well separated the panic shouldn\u2019t spread. There was little that anyone could do but watch for fires or signs of true panic and try to deal with either before they could spread. Any large scale stampede on the rough ground would lead to very heavy losses but Joe couldn\u2019t see anything else to do that Jos\u00e9 hadn\u2019t and he concentrated his own attention on the highly strung horses in the bloodstock herd. They were milling around uneasily but had nowhere to run to, heavy bars shutting off the entrance to the canyon and steep sides all around. The two chief stallions trumpeted their disapproval to the skies and despite the risk of trouble Joe couldn\u2019t help grinning. Outlined by the pale rocks behind them the magnificent horses were quite a sight. Even Cochise was picking up the unease and Joe spoke to his horse, \u201cCome on Cooch you\u2019ve seen it all before. Nothing to panic over, we\u2019re fine, just a storm.\u201d He patted the horse and slowly Cochise calmed down.<\/p>\n All across the high country the men were kept busy, riding in to break up small groups of cattle who started to run, but the groups didn\u2019t get big enough to re-infect each other with panic and no major problems developed, They only had one small fire to deal with, the short grass not spreading the fire very fast.<\/p>\n For a while Joe was fully occupied keeping the horses sufficiently quiet that they wouldn\u2019t hurt themselves. He had assisted many of them into the world and broken them himself and they knew him, the sound of his voice as he called to them did seem to relax the horses. Down in the canyon Joe didn\u2019t have too good a view and even when smoke rising in the sky came above his horizon and told of some major fire he had no real idea where it was, except that it was some way off. For now there was nothing he could do about it and he had to concentrate on his own job. Although he continued to call to the most excitable horses knowing them all by name, he couldn\u2019t help glancing continually up at the growing clouds of smoke. As soon as he felt the herd was a little calmer he left then in the care of the four men he had with him and urged Cochise up the steep slope to the canyon rim, just accessible by the entrance. From there he had a much clearer view and soon pinpointed the blaze. He still couldn\u2019t be sure exactly where it was but it was obviously on the far side of the lake and somewhere close to his brother\u2019s camp. Joe stayed watching it for a few minutes letting Cochise recover from the climb and as he gave the horse some water Joe murmured, \u201cBig brother has his work cut out for him this time and no mistake. He\u2019s gonna need help old fellow, but we can\u2019t go just yet, may still be trouble here.\u201d Joe wanted nothing better than to let Cochise stretch his legs and go to Adam\u2019s aid but his responsibility was here until the storm passed and that seemed to take forever.<\/p>\n Eventually a few animals began feeding again and Joe went in search of Jos\u00e9. He found Stevens with the foreman and they had seen the blaze too. Jos\u00e9 assured Joe that he could manage with half the men. His crew was still at full strength, close enough to take Saturday evening and Sunday only, so it was just a case of forgetting their time off. Joe promised all the men that they would have a break as soon as things were under control. Then with Stevens and some twenty four men and such equipment they had available, Joe led out on the most direct route to connect with the road to the west shore. He pushed hard eager to get to his brother, even though other help was probably already on the way.<\/p>\n In fact Hoss was longer than he had expected, but he had to make sure everything was safe, and he met up with his father about two hours from the camp. The men he had sent earlier had already arrived and had been swiftly pulled into action by Santee and\u00a0Jackson, helping the men on the northern firebreak but it was holding.<\/p>\n Adam had arrived back at the south firebreak mid-afternoon and he saw that his unease had a firm foundation. Four very scared men came to meet him, unsure what to do. They had been fighting the fire nearest the Lake and with everything seemingly under control Jess had left them to go and have a word with\u00a0Wilson\u00a0at the far end of the line. A sudden gust of wind had swirled the fire down towards then and once they had put out the small fires which had started they had realised a collapsing tree had carried the fire across the ditch and started a whole new line of fire cutting the four men further up the line from them and the Lake. They had been trying to fight it but were rapidly losing control and very glad to see Adam. While he listened Adam was making his way to this new danger. The four men were cut off with sheer walls behind and now fire on both sides, trapping them in the triangle in between. With just four men there was noway that Adam could fight this new fire as it almost greedily sucked up the fresh fuel. Very tired and scared for his friend it was an effort to sound confident but Adam forced himself to do so and assuring them that the path by the lake was safe he sent two back to\u00a0Santee\u00a0to collect more men and left the other two to watch for more flash fires. Then he pushed up along the new line of fire to see if there was any way to pull the four men out before they got completely trapped, scared it would prove fatal.<\/p>\n Jess and John Wilson had realised they were in some danger of being cut off at much the same time as the other four. They had been trying to deal with the new fire from the far side only to find it gaining on them all the time. They had given up temporarily and were trying to get out round the line of fire before they were cut off. There were rather larger trees here round the base of the cliffs at the entrance of the valley and it wasn\u2019t easy to make their way through the tangled undergrowth. They weren\u2019t far from Adam when one very large tree burning fiercely fell down right on the four men. Adam heard the screams of panic and for a minute the down draught caused by the tree\u2019s fall beat down the solid wall of flames and he thought he could see someone. Without a thought for his own safety or the risks involved, he instinctively took advantage of the break in the flames and ran through to see if he could help. The first body he reached caught by the tress and already blackened by flames was obviously beyond help and a second close by was no better but he saw movement and managed to cut through the heavy branches with the axe he\u2019d been carrying all afternoon. He pulled Jess clear and while his friend tried to get his breath Adam moved to free John Wilson trapped a little further back. As Adam cut him free more burning branches from the same tree caught up in a neighbouring tree suddenly fell, their support burnt through. The branches caught Adam across his back as he concentrated on his job and for a moment he was almost stunned by the blow on his neck but he managed to grab hold of the main burning branch in his left hand and throw it off but his shirt and his hair was on fire. Jess had seen what was happening but shaken, bruised and exhausted it took him time to act. He pulled off his jacket and smothered the flames putting Adam\u2019s hair out quickly but it took time to deal with the burning shirt and vest. Adam\u2019s back and neck were badly burnt as was his whole left hand. For a moment his whole body seemed to be one mass of agony but his brain was still working and he forced himself to straighten up and finish what he\u2019d started, cutting through the last pieces to free John. Then as Jess helped John up Adam, his voice little more than a croak, insisted \u201cMust move.\u201d<\/p>\n It was very obvious they couldn\u2019t stay where they were, the heat of the fire was so intense it seemed to suck every scrap of oxygen from the air and they could hardly breathe. The fallen giant and the fire it had started cut them off from the direction Jess and John had been going and the only chance was to head straight for the canyon wall. None of them were capable of clear thought, all near exhaustion and in pain the three men stumbled onwards, the will to live the only thing keeping them on their feet. With every movement he made Adam had stabs of pain from his burnt back, but to give up and stay still meant death and he had sufficient grip on consciousness to know that.<\/p>\n How long they stumbled on, the fire seemingly following them, none of them knew, but eventually they couldn\u2019t go any further reaching the bottom of a cliff with bare rock stretching above them. John sank down \u201cThat\u2019s it, no chance, fire, both sides.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0He stared along the cliff face and could see the fire had already reached into the valley on one side and was licking at the cliff a little way further along on the other. Just a small triangle of unburnt ground in front of them obviously destined to go in the next hour and them with it. He was so very tired, with cracked ribs paining him, that John was almost glad to give up fighting, just accept it and pray it would be over fast. Adam couldn\u2019t just give in; it had been left out of his makeup. He stared at the cliff face seemingly unbroken for some thirty feet above their heads and then a small ledge appeared which slanted upwards widening out further up. He croaked \u201cGot to get to that ledge.\u201d<\/p>\n Jess looked up where Adam was pointing but it looked as distant as the moon, no obvious foot or handholds, especially as looked at his friend\u2019s badly burnt back and hand, Adam saw the disbelief on their faces and he gestured at the fire. \u201cNo choice. Try. Rather die trying, fall off.\u00a0\u00a0Won\u2019t just give up.\u201d<\/p>\n Jess saw the determination on Adam\u2019s face and made a swift reconnaissance along the stretch of rock available to them. He had done some climbing but without any tools except for Adam\u2019s axe and no ropes he didn\u2019t think it was possible. Still Adam was right they were doomed anyway so there was nothing to lose. He didn\u2019t have time to do more than a rough check and at one place there were at least half a dozen slight holds to get them partway if they were lucky. It was probably hopeless especially for Adam but the only possibility.<\/p>\n Jess indicated where he thought he could see holds and took the axe from Adam, he might be able to chip out more but it was very long odds and even if he could make it, Jess just didn\u2019t see how Adam could with his left fingers and palm raw apart from his badly hurt back. Adam was almost light-headed with the pain but he tried to ignore it and told Jess to lead the way, he was the climber. Jess glanced over at Wilson who slowly shook his head, agreeing there was no chance, but then managed a smile \u201cCan\u2019t lose anything.\u201d<\/p>\n Jess studied his friend\u2019s face for a long minute not trusting his voice but then Adam smiled at him, \u201cGo on Jess, we\u2019ll make it.\u201d<\/p>\n Jess couldn\u2019t understand how Adam could sound so calm and confident with the agony that was obvious in his eyes and their current position which he was too intelligent not to understand, but somehow it helped. Slowly Jess began to make his way up, spread-eagled on the cliff, clinging with his fingertips to the small fissures and jutting pieces of rock, just occasionally able to use the axe to enlarge one. There were more handholds than there had appeared from below and fit with proper equipment Jess knew that he could have made the climb relatively, easily unfortunately neither of these applied. Twice he all but gave up, only Adam\u2019s calm certainty seemed to drive him on, until some time later he rolled over onto the narrow ledge, relatively safe for now at least but positive that Adam with his injuries couldn\u2019t make it and without rope there was no way he could help. At first Jess could only lay still his shoulder muscles screaming in agony at the use made of them in the climb as too often he\u2019d hung on, desperately scrabbling for a foothold, little more than the friction of his body against the rock face and the purchase of his fingertips keeping him on the cliff. Slowly Jess got his breath back and he went to look over the edge so scared for his friend. The fire was considerably closer but for a minute Jess couldn\u2019t make sense of things. There was no sign of the two men where he had left them. It was impossible they had nowhere to go and for a minute he just stared before looking along the length of the rock face where the fire hadn\u2019t reached, only to have his attention caught by a movement on the rock face where he\u2019d climbed up. About halfway up and moving very slowly and tentatively was John Wilson but what really amazed Jess was the second figure only a third of the way up and moving even slower but somehow Adam was making progress. Jess couldn\u2019t move, there was noway he could help and he didn\u2019t even seem capable of prayer, but if willpower could get Adam up that cliff Jess was willing his every move. He seemed to remember each section every handhold and willing Adam to make each move, trying to warn him of the dangers, barely even noticing\u00a0Wilson\u00a0as he forced his way up.<\/p>\n After Jess had gone there had been a slight argument between Adam and John, John wanted to bring up the rear Adam had been hurt helping him and it seemed the least he could do. Adam wouldn\u2019t hear of it, severely practical he pointed out that there was noway any of them could help each other. Jess was blazing the trail as best he could but without ropes each climb had to be a solo effort and with his injuries his chances were the worst and he would be inevitably slow, maybe too slow. With fire approaching Adam insisted that John start up as soon as Jess had moved up a little way and moved himself as soon as John was off the lowest handholds.<\/p>\n Several times in his climb John was ready to give up, he couldn\u2019t do it even if Jess had made it this far. He wasn\u2019t used to climbing, his ribs hurt him and he was scared, but glancing down and seeing Adam following him he couldn\u2019t give up. If Adam could climb with such bad burns then he could do it too and with the enlarged holds Jess had made he slowly edged his way on upwards.<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s back was on fire, sending shafts of agony and bright lights dancing in front of his eyes with each movement and he was close to screaming with the pain in his left hand as the burnt flesh was torn by the rocks but he forced himself to ignore it. His limbs obeyed him and pain could be lived through, ahead of him as though in a mirage he could always see Carole and his children. He had too much to live for just to give up. He was forced to take rests whenever he felt reasonably stable to ease his left hand, but then he always edged on upwards, very slowly, oblivious of the fire and the other men, only aware of the pain, the next handhold and Carole.<\/p>\n By the time John reached the top and Jess\u2019 help for the last couple of feet Adam was just about halfway up. Once John had got his breath back he looked down almost in awe \u201cI don\u2019t know how he\u2019s keeping going with those burns. Is there any chance?\u201d<\/p>\n Jess shrugged \u201cI didn\u2019t think any of us had one! Adam\u2019s bullied us into getting up here. Obviously there\u2019s noway he can climb with those injuries, except he\u2019s doing it. All we can do is pray.\u201d<\/p>\n Weakened by the pain Adam was getting even slower every movement a conscious effort and he wasn\u2019t helped by the rapidly fading light but somehow he kept going, while the men above could only wait and pray. After a seeming eternity he was near enough to the top for Jess to reach down and grab his right arm and then the belt of his trousers. John steadied him and Jess almost bodily hauled Adam up onto the ledge. Adam fell face down, barely conscious, blood dripping from his damaged left hand, fighting for breath. Despite the heat of the fire which had almost reached the cliff below, he was shivering with the cold of shock, delayed reaction, having well over taxed his body. There was a roaring in his ears and it took a while for some of it to subside and for him to realise the remaining noise came from the fire licking at the cliff just below the ledge. It lit up the surrounding area with a reddish hue, dark now and a moonless night, with just the flickering erratic light of the fire, Adam forced himself to sit up nursing his left hand to him \u201cNot safe yet, must move up.\u201d<\/p>\n Jess frowned uncertain if he could carry his friend on the uneven ground and John couldn\u2019t really help with cracked ribs himself. Adam recognized the look \u201cGot this far. I can walk. Lead on.\u201d<\/p>\n Between them Jess and John helped Adam to his feet and then slowly and painfully the three men edged up the narrow ledge until they were well above the fire with sheer rock walls protecting them. Then in a flattish area Adam gave way and sunk down resting on his right side and slipped into either sleep or unconsciousness, Jess wasn\u2019t sure which. John was little better off and without water or medical supplies there was nothing Jess could do and he dozed uneasily as he lay next to Adam. It was mid-evening before Ben and Hoss rode in with the fresh men. With no sign of Adam for several hours Sante\u00e9 and Jackson were both very relieved to see someone to take charge and relieve them of the responsibility. At first it was difficult to make any sense out of the seeming chaos, smoke and dust hanging heavily in the air, reducing visibility and all the men filthy and unrecognizable but they all recognized Hoss\u2019 unmistakable form and even raised a cheer at the arrival of help,<\/p>\n Ben was hastily scanning the figures he could see looking for his eldest son, over the last part of the ride he\u2019d had a fear of trouble. Although he hadn\u2019t even mentioned it to Hoss, not wanting further confirmation and seeing something in his big son\u2019s eyes. Hoss was equally busy looking for Adam he\u2019d become convinced his eldest brother was in pain, but failing to spot Adam he did see Jackson and beckoned him over. Ben forced a smile \u201cYou\u2019ve all done a magnificent job. Take us a few minutes to see exactly what\u2019s happening and then we can take the pressure off you. Where is Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n Jackson\u00a0shrugged \u201cAin\u2019t seen him for a while, lose track of time. Maybe up with Chris Sante\u00e9, far end of this line or he might have gone back to the south firebreak. Don\u2019t know what\u2019s happening there. We were holding it.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss passed\u00a0Jackson\u00a0his canteen, \u201cYou\u2019ve done just fine. We have enough men to cope now, more on the way. Take it easy.\u201d He turned to his Pa, \u201cI\u2019ll take my men and spread them out along this line, check with Sante\u00e9.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine. The rest of us will go to the south line.\u201d Ben turned back to\u00a0Jackson\u00a0\u201cPassage by the lake clear?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWas last I heard.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss was already ordering his men to tie their mounts back in safety and collect equipment. As he tied Chub up he saw his brother\u2019s black stallion with piles of paper by it and for a moment he fussed Blackie asking the horse the question he didn\u2019t dare ask anyone else, \u201cJust where\u2019s your master old fella and more important is he alright?\u201d Hoss lent his aching head against the horse\u2019s warm strength for a moment so scared for Adam, almost sure that his brother was hurt. It was no good telling himself he couldn\u2019t know they had all proved time and time again these feelings had a basis in fact however they arose. For now Hoss could summon up no faith that his brother was even alive. That scared him ore than anything and he couldn\u2019t even admit it, his father looked worried enough. Hoss tried to shake off his fears he was just tense and tired after the storm and at least he could busy himself getting his men organized.<\/p>\n Hoss found Sante\u00e9 up at the far end, very relieved to have help. but all he could say was that Adam had intended going to check on the south once it was obvious they were holding here. He could only say that it was mid-afternoon, several hours ago. Hoss frowned seeing how tired Sante\u00e9 but the fear for his brother was still there, \u201cCan you carry on for a while? Plenty of men now. As soon as I\u2019ve checked with Adam I\u2019ll be back take over.\u201d<\/p>\n Sante\u00e9 could see the fear the big man couldn\u2019t hide and one thing he\u2019d learnt since his arrival on the ranch was just how close the family was and despite his near exhaustion he grinned, \u201cSure Hoss no rush, be easy with more men.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss was grateful and let it show before hurrying back to join his father and hopefully Adam, In fact Ben hadn\u2019t progressed very far, the wind had changed direction with some freak in the fire conditions and just for a short distance the flames were swirling back down towards the shore, a patch of unburnt land. The two men Adam had sent for help had retreated from the flames and rejoined their colleagues. With their boss disappearing and cut off the four had retreated from the fire, just putting out any small subsidiary fires and poised for flight round the south of the lake. Only the realisation of how far it was and the lack of horses kept them there, almost incapable of thought they were just waiting for something to happen.<\/p>\n Hoss joined his father and quickly filled him in on what Sante\u00e9 had said, before putting all his efforts into breaking through the fire. Even so it was more than half an hour before they reached the south side. There they saw instantly that the firebreak had been breached and the fire was out of control, working along the base of the cliff. Only the wind blowing the fire against the cliff was saving the rest of the woods and it would soon reach one of the main valleys where they had been planning a flume. The valley would be destroyed unless they acted fast. For moment Hoss hesitated, \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben bit his lip \u201cI don\u2019t know. I\u2019ll find out, but don\u2019t waste time, get it stopped before the valley. Leave me two men.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss knew his father was right and leaving Red and Jack Catfish with is father he took the others to try and establish a new firebreak, working against time as the fire inexorably worked its way along the cliff. At least he was so busy he hadn\u2019t any time to worry about his brother.<\/p>\n Ben saw the four men working to put out a small fire started by falling cinders, they were almost like automatons, seemingly unaware that help had arrived and none of them were known to him. Once he had known every hand personally but now with several hundred men on the books, many of them temporary hands on the lumber projects, most were just names. Leaving Red and Jack Catfish to look around for anything which might help Ben went over to the men. They stood up and stared at him for a moment as though he was some sort of apparition, Ben introduced himself unsure they knew him and asked if they had seen his son.<\/p>\n None of them would meet his eye and one rather shamefaced said, \u201cWe did try Mr Cartwright but flames right down to the lake, we couldn\u2019t break through.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not surprised, took us a while.\u201d Ben offered them a drink, \u201cWhere is my son?\u201d<\/p>\n The man who\u2019d spoken before wiped his lips after drinking greedily. \u201cHe was here, went along to the end of the fire, try to pull the others out but we ain\u2019t seen him since.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe others?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFour of them behind that.\u201d the man gestured at the wall of fire, \u201cGot cut off and with cliffs behind….\u201d<\/p>\n Ben bit his lip trying to take in the situation, very scared for Adam, \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJess, John Wilson and those two Mexes, Pancho Rivala and his mate Rafael something.\u201d<\/p>\n It was obvious the four scared men couldn\u2019t tell him anymore but knowing Jess was trapped he knew his eldest son would have risked a lot to try and save his friend and the other men. The feeling of disaster that had been with him for hours was reinforced. The four men had obviously been taxed almost beyond their limits and Ben took them back to the\u00a0Lake\u00a0shore, checked it was still clear and sent them back to safety. He vaguely thought of sending a note for more help but forgot all about it as Jack came up very solemn, with something in his hand. It was Adam\u2019s watch, the strap burnt although the watch was still working and he\u2019d found it on the firebreak and recognised it even before checking the inscription. It was the one Carole had given him, but after his first surge of fear Ben calmed down and fingered the watch, he pointed out that Adam could have dropped it at anytime, catching it on something and breaking the strap during the hard work of building the firebreak.<\/p>\n Jack was worried about his boss and insisted Ben had a drink of brandy, trying to reassure him \u201cCheer up Mr Cartwright Adam is indestructible, we\u2019ll find him.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded but with the only light that from the fire, giving everything a ghastly glow, he couldn\u2019t help wondering if Jack was being too optimistic, rare though that fault was for an Indian. For a few minutes they had to concentrate on putting out another small fire and by the time that was done and Ben could again think of sending for extra help, it was already approaching. Joe had quickly discovered where his family were and as everything seemed under control on the north side he\u2019d brought all his men through in case they were needed.<\/p>\n Joe had just taken in the extent to which his men were needed when his father came over to him \u201cHoss is trying to stop it reaching the valley over there.\u201d Joe nodded and sent his men off under Stevens to join his brother and help. Then he gently took his father\u2019s arm and forced him to sit down on a convenient rock. \u201cPa I know you\u2019re better but you aren\u2019t up to this sort of strain, you should have stayed home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d rather know what is happening Joseph. We don\u2019t know where Adam is.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sat down next to his father and put his arm round him feeling the tension and listened quietly as Ben filled him in on the little he did know. Joe stared at the wall of flames licking at the sheer cliffs for as far as he could see and for a moment he found it hard to breathe, so scared for his brother. Like Hoss he was unable to raise any conviction that Adam was still alive. Then feeling the increased tension in his father, knowing he wasn\u2019t strong, Joe forced himself to get control knowing Ben was reacting to his mood. \u201cThey\u2019ll have got out Pa, resourceful pair Jess and Wilson to say nothing of Adam. They may be with Hoss right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head, \u201cHoss would have sent word.\u201d Still he felt slightly easier at his son\u2019s confidence, forced though he knew it to be. For the moment all they could do was to deal with the fire and keep a close eye out for anything which might indicate what had happened to Adam.<\/p>\n Hoss slowly got the fire under control, helped by the extra men Stevens brought and even began moving forward along the cliff. Joe had four men to watch and deal with small outbreaks, insisting his father rested and when the fire began to die down along the cliff he left Jack and the other three to cope and went to join Hoss. The fire was still raging in the small valley but outside it was dying down, even along the cliff, all combustible material had been devoured. The whole area was hot and dusty small outbreaks still bursting out as the wind ruffled the surface but slowly the Ponderosa hands moved across it spreading earth and water from the\u00a0Lake\u00a0until they were lined up across the entrance to the valley. Now the only real risk was a change if wind and even then the fire would have to cross already devastated land before reaching fresh fuel and they had enough men to hold it. Ben had long ago decided that all they could do was to leave the valley to burn itself out. The damage from the fire wasn\u2019t that extensive, much of the area destroyed was valueless anyway and Ben wouldn\u2019t have cared if it had been very valuable. The only thing that was mattered was his son and as midnight approached there was still no indication where Adam was.<\/p>\n Joe and Hoss had avoided discussing the subject as they fought the fire. There was nothing they could do but as the evening drew to a close, very dark without even the light from the fire, the brothers stood back to consider events. They couldn\u2019t help looking over at their father, worry and tension evident in the set of his shoulders. Joe tried to get some contact with Adam, some reassurance that his brother lived. When they had been trapped down the mine he\u2019d known that Adam was hurt and terrified but this time it was even worse, it was just blank, nothing at all and he was scared the reason for that was that his brother was no longer alive. He\u2019d done his best to hide that fear from his father, but now alone with Hoss he couldn\u2019t bottle it up any longer. He turned to Hoss gripping his big brother\u2019s arm almost painfully, \u201cDo you think he\u2019s alive?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss could sense the intensity and tension in Joe, even though he couldn\u2019t see the expression on his brother\u2019s face. \u201cEasy Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou haven\u2019t answered me.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss couldn\u2019t lie to his brother, they knew each other too well and there was no way to avoid the direct question. Hoss put his arm round his little brother \u201cI don\u2019t know, wish I did. I always thought I\u2019d know, but since late this afternoon I ain\u2019t been sure either way.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe pulled away \u201cIt\u2019s just blank, nothing. When you were trapped I could feel his fear, but there\u2019s not even that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know Joe, but maybe it just means he\u2019s asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll this time?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss shrugged, he was as scared as Joe. \u201cI can\u2019t feel he\u2019s dead either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan\u2019t or won\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know Joe, don\u2019t say nothing to\u00a0Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course not, he\u2019s scared enough anyway, I\u2019m sure he feels the same as we do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019d better join him.\u201d Hoss sighed heavily \u201cGod it\u2019s so dark, we\u2019ll never find anything until dawn.\u201d He straightened his shoulders \u201cCome on little brother, Pa ain\u2019t strong enough for all this, let\u2019s at least try and help him.\u201d<\/p>\n There was little that even his younger sons could do to help Ben, overtired, he had about given up hope for Adam. He just sat holding his son\u2019s watch, unable to sleep and not wanting to talk, remembering the times he\u2019d relied on his son and in many ways his best friend, mourning for him as they awaited the dawn, when they might be able to find something definite.<\/p>\n Ben had sent a message back to the house to confirm that all three of them were there and the fire would soon be under control, but he\u2019d had to say that they hadn\u2019t made contact with Adam so he knew that it wouldn\u2019t help Carole. The messenger had gone hours ago, but with no definite news he had put off sending a further message.<\/p>\n At the house Sue was getting increasingly worried about Carole and about two hours after Ben left she bullied Carole into going to bed as she looked so ill. It was about all Carole felt fit for, bad pains in her back and legs had brought a new fear for the baby that she was carrying, apart from the desperate fear that Adam was dead. Sue left Nita to look after the children while she helped Carole to bed. It was lucky she did for Carole had a slight show of blood and already tense and scared, the seemingly imminent miscarriage was the last straw and she was close to hysteria. Sue spoke sharply to her, that wasn\u2019t going to do her or the baby any good and it certainly wouldn\u2019t help Adam. Carole broke down and sobbed out her fears on Sue\u2019s shoulder. Always before she had had an inner conviction that Adam would be fine regardless how black circumstances looked but now suddenly she\u2019d lost it and without even knowing if there was any real trouble she felt sure he was badly hurt, if not dead. A fire from an electric storm had brought them together and now another was taking him away. Sue slowly calmed her down; pointing out that she wasn\u2019t usually six months pregnant, overtired, with three frightened children. Sue insisted that Adam would be fine and if he came home tired out and maybe even hurt, it wasn\u2019t going to help him to find that Carole had lost their baby. With ten weeks to go it was too soon, but as Sue could feel the baby kicking she convinced Carole that there was no need for her to lose it, she just had to relax and rest. She had been overdoing things and if she took it easy could carry to full term. Almost imperceptibly Sue slipped back into the way she had perfected as a nurse handling scared patients. As she seemed to know what she was talking about Carole relaxed fractionally, feeling better for a cry.<\/p>\n Sue went to get her some coffee and briefly explained the situation to Nita, asking her to get someone to go for Doc, just to be on the safe side. Nita was scared but knowing that wouldn\u2019t help anything she hid it and assured Sue that she would do that and could look after the children. Doc arrived before the messenger from Ben and he smiled down at Carole, \u201cNot like you young lady. Come on now let\u2019s have a look at you.\u201d<\/p>\n They were old friends and Carole relaxed as Doc reassured her, the baby was fine but she had been overdoing it. He ordered her to rest in bed for four days and then he would come and see how she was, but she would have to take it easy for the next couple of weeks at least. Doc shrugged off any suggestion that Adam was in trouble, her husband was quite capable of looking after himself and if Hoss and her father were there too he\u2019d be fine. She was just suffering from an overactive imagination and an overtired body. He gave her a sedative and sat with Carole until she had dozed off.<\/p>\n However as he joined Sue and Nita he asked \u201cHow bad is that fire?\u201d<\/p>\n Sue shrugged \u201cWe don\u2019t really know. It\u2019s between Adam\u2019s camp and home and the telegraph was damaged by it so we can only wait for news.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll make sure I can be contacted quickly if I\u2019m needed but Adam will cope as always. How about you two, you\u2019re both pregnant too. I\u2019ve ordered Carole to stay in bed for the next few days, she\u2019ll be fine once Adam gets home, but I don\u2019t want you two overdoing it either.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita smiled \u201cWe\u2019ll be fine. Kam Su and the others will help and we\u2019ll look after Carole, Sue\u2019s the expert and I\u2019m getting good at following orders.\u201d<\/p>\n Doc left a supply of sedative to ensure Carole got a decent night\u2019s sleep and suggested a half dose wouldn\u2019t do either of them any harm, especially if the alternative was lying awake worrying. Then he headed back to town, all three of the boys had chosen well, Ben was very lucky in his daughters and they would look after each other. He just hoped Adam was alright.<\/p>\n High up on the cliffs, bathed in a red flickering light from the fire in the valley, Jess could only doze uneasily, still hardly believing that Adam had made that climb. It became increasingly obvious that they weren\u2019t safe yet, twice burning branches were blown onto the ledge and Jess had to put out the fires they caused. Adam felt cold to his friend\u2019s touch, shivering violently from time to time and Jess guessed that Adam had pushed himself into shock with all his exertions. The dim light hid the extent of the damage at least partially but Adam moaned occasionally as the pain caught him and without water there was little Jess could do. Adam had saved their lives twice over, risking his own without thought, first by cutting them free and then by bullying them up the impossible climb. He was paying heavily for his efforts but Jess was determined to keep him alive and the first necessity for all of them was water. When Jess shook himself awake for the third time and found a fire beginning to establish itself blocking their path, Jess made up his mind. He had quite a struggle to deal with the fire but finally put it out and then he woke John and in a voice which was little more than a croak, explaining why they had to move on. John seeing the burnt grass could only agree but he gestured at Adam \u201cWe can\u2019t carry him, can\u2019t leave him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe can walk. I won\u2019t let him die, owe him too much.\u201d Jess knelt down by Adam and very gently but insistently shook his friend, bullying him into waking up. It seemed to take forever and even when Adam did open his eyes they were unseeing. He was only aware of the pain and his maltreated body\u2019s insistence that he lay still and rest, but slowly he took in the fact that someone was desperately anxious for him to get up and walk. Barely conscious and with no real idea who was there or where he was, Adam did his very best to do as he was asked and slowly he made it to his feet with the two men helping and leaning heavily on Jess he forced his legs to obey him and they inched their way on up to the mesa. Jess was hoping to find both safety from the fire and a mountain stream. There was noway to go back and in order to reach help they had to get round the head of the valley and back down the far side to join up with the north firebreak crew. Jess pushed away all thought of how far it was with a badly injured man and another barely capable of getting along unaided. For now the problem of each step forward was more than enough and his only real objective was to find water. Then he might be able to do something about Adam\u2019s burns and anyway all of them desperately needed to drink. Occasionally John sank down to rest but Jess half bullied, half cajoled Adam onwards, scared that if Adam collapsed again he wouldn\u2019t be able to get him back on his feet. Water was becoming increasingly important as with the effort Adam began to run a high temperature, muttering incomprehensibly from time to time and leaning very heavily on Jess. Not that Jess could do that much, not daring to touch his friend\u2019s damaged back, he could only hold Adam\u2019s right arm round his own shoulders and do what he could to take his weight and steady him.<\/p>\n Once John having caught up with them again touched Jess\u2019 arm, \u201cHow much further? You\u2019re gonna kill him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe need water, he\u2019s burning up.\u201d<\/p>\n John felt Adam\u2019s forehead and had to agree. Ignoring his own aches and pains he forged ahead looking for water. Adam had saved his life, the least he could do was minimise his agony, find some water. Some time later when Jess had about given up on him John reappeared out of the dim light of dawn, \u201cFound a stream not far.\u201d<\/p>\n It was only a couple of hundred yards but even so at the pace Adam could make, it seemed to take forever. Several times John went back to the stream and damped his neckerchief tying it round the injured men\u2019s forehead after wiping his face. It seemed to help for a few minutes but Adam soon sunk back into delirium. In the uncertain light of the early dawn not helped by heavy cloud cover all the two men could do was to help Adam lie down on his front and keep cold compresses on his forehead. At least they had left the fire behind and with cold clear mountain water from melted water they could be sure it was clean. Jess was determined to clean up the injuries they\u2019d all suffered, especially Adam, before blood poisoning compounded their problems.<\/p>\n Jess tried to work out where they were, he had only really been interested in finding water, turning round all obstacles. He thought they\u2019d veered south from the valley rim, but he didn\u2019t know the area too well and everything looked different from up here. Then Adam moaned and Jess forgot about that problem and turned his attention to his friend. John was asleep, breathing stentoriously after all his efforts, in pain himself from broken ribs and Jess felt very alone as he stared down at the mess he had to somehow treat, showing up so very clearly in the light of dawn. Adam, unconscious, had reacted to minimise the pain and he had his left arm lying out in front of him, the palm and the fingers burnt badly and in one place the bone was showing where the flesh had been torn away in the long climb. His whole back was black and torn, clotted blood burnt skin and cloth with fragments of wood and dirt. Jess stared as though mesmerized, knowing it was far beyond his knowledge and ability but there was noone else. He knew it might be a long time before they could reach help and it couldn\u2019t just be left. Not thinking too clearly himself Jess had to force himself to leave Adam and wash himself up as best he could, washing his own shirt to have at least something to put over the burns, protect them from the sun, He put his shirt to dry over a bush and then knelt down by Adam, thankful that he was unconscious. However when Jess, as gently as he knew how, pulled away the remnants of Adam\u2019s shirt, Adam\u2019s whole body tensed and he screamed as the agony caught him deep in unconsciousness. The noise woke John and he came over, his attention divided between Jess who was very white and looked sick and the injured man. Almost for the first time he saw just how extensive the burns were and licking his lips he couldn\u2019t help the question, \u201cHow the hell did he get this far?\u201d<\/p>\n Jess couldn\u2019t answer it was something he\u2019d been asking himself. John frowned \u201cWe can\u2019t clean that, needs a Doc.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t see anyone else and we sure as hell can\u2019t leave it like that.\u201d<\/p>\n John had no answer for that and steeling themselves the men set to work. John held Adam still while Jess slowly cleaned up the burns, easing off dead burnt skin and clearing the dirt burnt cloth and wood not always sure just what it was. He began very tentatively but it had to be done and Jess worked steadily trying not to think about the blood Adam was losing. All he could do was wait for the blood to clot; at least it would remove any dirt he had left behind. Eventually it was done and although Adam\u2019s back was covered in blood, it didn\u2019t look quite as terrifying and it was clotting. Several times it had taken their combined efforts to hold him still and he\u2019d screamed in pain but at least he hadn\u2019t come round fully, Jess sat back and stared at Adam\u2019s raw hand, \u201cGuess I\u2019d better finish it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLooks clean, it\u2019s bled enough to clean it up. He can\u2019t take much more leave it alone.\u201d John counselled and Jess had to admit Adam\u2019s breathing was very fast, his pulse erratic and maybe he\u2019d had all he could take. Having decided to leave it Jess had an inevitable reaction and he was very sick and then washed his face in the stream.<\/p>\n John was clumsily cleaning himself up but then he asked \u201cWhat do we do now?\u201d<\/p>\n Jess shrugged \u201cHe\u2019s not going anywhere, least for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne of us go and fetch help?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow? Do you know where we are?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot really.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat fire is still burning, I can see the smoke and noone will be leaving until they\u2019ve found Adam, Someone from his family will be here by now, that\u2019s for sure. They\u2019ll be looking for him and us. Reckon we\u2019d better stay with him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan\u2019t we signal them?\u201d John suggested.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat with? We all left our guns with the horses and even if I had matches I don\u2019t somehow fancy lighting a fire.\u201d<\/p>\n John could only agree and it was obvious that someone would have to stay with Adam and do what they could for him, even if it was only changing cold compresses. Neither of them were fit and had to get some rest too so maybe the safest thing was to wait for help to arrive. Both men knew the family well enough to be sure that they wouldn\u2019t leave without finding Adam. Weakened by fresh loss of blood and pain as Jess cleaned him up Adam was quiet, he\u2019d slipped into a coma. At least he was lying still, too deeply unconscious for delirium. Apart from slipping the dry shirt over the clotted blood to try and protect him a little, Jess and John couldn\u2019t do anything and dozed as they sat by him just occasionally changing cold compresses.<\/p>\n Back at the house the first messenger had arrived but it didn\u2019t really help and Sue had insisted on Carole taking another dose of the sedative Doc had left and resting. Neither she nor Nita fancied the idea of drugging themselves but it was difficult to settle. They tried to convince themselves that no news was good news, at least nothing disastrous had happened but it wasn\u2019t easy. They found it easier to stick together and used one of the twin bedded rooms to doze uneasily, relieved when the children woke and they at least had something to do. Carole slept late, saved a few anxious hours as they waited for more news, and Sue was able to reassure Nita that as no further symptoms had appeared there was a good chance of avoiding the threatened miscarriage.<\/p>\n Ben had ordered the men to repair the telegraph line, knowing Carole would be waiting anxiously for news but for now he had none and the three Cartwrights could only wait for the dawn. They were all praying in the light they\u2019d find some clue, all with the same almost unmentionable fear in their hearts and the hours seemed never ending. Hoss had begged his father to try and sleep but Ben couldn\u2019t, not until he knew what had happened to his eldest son. He was much better; there was no need to worry about him. Joe was too restless to settle and continually checked along the line, talking to everyone who could tell him anything about the situation on the south side when they\u2019d left it. Where\u00a0Wilson\u00a0and Jess would have been, trying to visualize the situation that would have faced his brother, trying to imagine what Adam would have done. It didn\u2019t really help, but at least when dawn finally arrived Joe had a fair idea of the area most likely to tell them something. With Hoss he collected a dozen men to search the area between the point where the tree had breached the firebreak and the cliff. Both of them insisted that their father take it easy but Ben couldn\u2019t just sit and wait so he busied himself arranging the fire-fighters into sections, to watch the valley, getting others to organize breakfast even if food was the last thing he personally wanted. He did at least have the satisfaction of completing the repair of the telegraph line and contacted Hop Sing. For now there was no news but he promised to get in touch as soon as they knew anything and suggested that Hop Sing not worry the girls until they knew a little more.<\/p>\n It was only a matter of time until the comprehensive search revealed the two bodies. Stevens found them and he called Joe over as he was nearest. He had a pretty fair idea just how hard it was going to hit Joe and sent the only other man who was close to find Hoss and then positioned himself between Joe and the ugly figures, twisted blackened and unrecognizable in death.<\/p>\n Joe frowned, not recognizing the expression on the older man\u2019s normally impassive face. Stevens put a hand on Joe\u2019s arm ready to steady him if necessary. \u201cJoe Cartwright I\u2019ve seen you make hard decisions, face the facts square, maybe never anything as hard as this. Two dead here, unrecognizable.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shuddered but, although he lost all trace of colour, he was steady and he moved forward to stare down at the two bodies. For a moment he couldn\u2019t move and then he knelt down and tired to lift the covering timber which crumpled at his touch. Almost like a madman he pushed it aside, desperate to see the bodies. The first body was obviously too small to be Adam but as he cleared enough to see the second one Joe stared mesmerized. It was impossible to judge accurately Jess was perhaps the smallest of the other four but he was only a couple of inches shorter than Adam, with John and Pancho in between them. Joe just didn\u2019t know how to tell whose body it was. How long he stared at it trying to see something that would show who it was Joe didn\u2019t know but eventually he felt hands on his shoulders and looking up he saw Hoss, shock mirrored on his big brother\u2019s face. Joe got to his feet slowly, \u201cI just don\u2019t know Hoss. I don\u2019t know.\u201d Joe stumbled away and he was desperately sick, retching helplessly on an almost empty stomach.<\/p>\n For a minute Hoss wasn\u2019t in any state to help his brother, like Joe he stared down at the grotesque, almost monstrous, twisted shape. It seemed impossible to believe Adam had come to this but logic said it could equally well be him as any of the other three, or that more bodies would be found. Hoss couldn\u2019t even pray for a minute and he didn\u2019t know how he was going to tell his father. At that thought Hoss turned and followed Joe, he couldn\u2019t find words and just passed his brother a canteen. Joe poured the water over his head \u201cSorry!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be daft little brother.\u201d Hoss led Joe away \u201cThat little one has to be Raphael, good chance that\u2019s Pancho. They were always inseparable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEven if…. maybe more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n For a minute the brothers stared at each other in silence then Hoss called Stevens to get the men to continue searching, \u201cWe have to know one way or another.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss shook his head, \u201cDon\u2019t even seem human, let alone Adam but….. Oh God.\u201d Hoss buried his face in his hands, shocked and scared.<\/p>\n Word had quickly spread along the line of men that something had been found. And Ben picked it up and hurried along to join his sons and find out what had happened. He saw them sitting close together on a rock as though for comfort, despair very evident in the set of their shoulders and for a moment Ben couldn\u2019t move, a cold lump in his throat seemed to prevent breathing, but he had to know and he forced his limbs to move and went over to join them. Hoss had his face buried in his hands while Joe was staring unseeingly at his feet and for a moment neither registered Ben\u2019s arrival. Ben searched his youngest son\u2019s drawn white face and for a moment Ben accepted that his eldest son was dead, but he had to know for sure and he moved closer \u201cJoseph?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked up, almost surprised to see his father there and at first he couldn\u2019t find his voice. Then, remembering Ben\u2019s recent illness, Joe swallowed hard and got to his feet, \u201cCome and sit down\u00a0Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben did as Joe asked and only then did Hoss lift his head and register his father\u2019s presence. Ben gripped Joe\u2019s arms \u201cI have to know Joseph, just tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe bit his lip, \u201cIt\u2019s not that easy\u00a0Pa.\u00a0We\u2019ve found two bodies but they\u2019re unrecognizable.\u201d He fell quiet but both brothers searched their father\u2019s face. Ben was very pale but well in control as he considered the missing men, five in all.<\/p>\n Hoss broke the silence, \u201cOne is Raphael, too small to be any of the others, chances are its Pancho with him. Men still searching.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe forced himself to meet his father\u2019s gaze, \u201cWe\u2019re guessing Pa. Could be any of them, noway to be sure. It could be Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben frowned deep in thought and then to his sons\u2019 surprise a faint smile curved his lips, \u201cYou both saw the body?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss straightened his shoulders with an effort \u201cYeah Pa but Joe\u2019s right, ain\u2019t noway to tell, could be any of \u2019em, barely looks human.\u201d He hated saying it but there was no point in giving Ben false hopes.<\/p>\n Ben sounded very confident as he told them \u201cIf you both saw it and you don\u2019t know its Adam then it isn\u2019t. You would know somehow, I don\u2019t care what logic says, you\u2019d feel it.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe and Hoss looked at each other, unsure, wanting to believe Ben but …. Eventually Joe pulled away and turned his back, not daring to face his father or brother and said, \u201c\u201dI always thought I\u2019d know. We do, all of us, call it telepathy; call it what you will, but we know. If someone is in trouble, hurt, in pain or just scared, unhappy. I don\u2019t know how it works, I just know it does.\u201d He turned back to face them \u201cFor all or us. When Adam and Hoss were trapped I could feel his fear, near panic, before I even heard about the cave-in. When he was kidnapped and didn\u2019t get back for weeks we all felt he was alive, whatever the facts said. But now there\u2019s nothing, it\u2019s just blank. Has been since yesterday,\u201d Joe\u2019s voice was so quiet that Ben had to strain to hear. \u201cBlank Pa, maybe that\u2019s all it is. Hoss says he can\u2019t feel he\u2019s dead but I\u2019m so scared that like me, he won\u2019t believe it just because Adam means so much to us.\u201d Joe\u2019s shoulders sagged even lower, \u201cI\u2019m scared he\u2019s dead, for the first time in my life I can\u2019t reach him. I don\u2019t know that he\u2019s alive.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben had known similar fears throughout the night and he could see, written on Hoss\u2019 face, that his brother was talking for both of them. He reached out to grip Joe\u2019s arm \u201cEasy Son.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss looked at his father intently \u201cI\u2019m like Joe, nothing. I knew at first that he was in trouble and then ….\u201d He sighed heavily \u201cWhat about you Pa, can you feel anything?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben caught Joe\u2019s gaze on him as insistent as Hoss. As both waited for the answer as though their brother\u2019s life depended on it. Ben couldn\u2019t lie to them and he picked his words with care, \u201cI\u2019m not sure. Too much of the night I\u2019ve been as scared as you two. As you say just blank and then just sometimes, I can\u2019t describe it. Maybe wishful thinking but I feel he\u2019s alive, hurt and in pain but alive.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe frowned, studying his father\u2019s eyes, wanting desperately to believe him but unsure and it was Hoss who asked, \u201cHow sure Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shrugged \u201cI don\u2019t know Hoss, maybe Joe\u2019s right and I just won\u2019t admit it until we have five bodies, maybe I\u2019m fooling myself but just sometimes I feel sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Even that slight hint helped and Joe went of to get some coffee for them all, needing a few minutes alone to get back in control of himself. To Hoss\u2019 horror Ben insisted on seeing the two bodies for himself. Ben tried to persuade his big son that he needn\u2019t come but Hoss just shrugged, \u201cMakes no odds Pa I can see them just about everywhere I look anyways. Just pray you\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMen haven\u2019t found anything else yet and with Stevens and Jack in charge they won\u2019t miss anything. In this case no news is definitely good news.\u201d Ben led the way back to where Hoss had indicated and stared down at the two misshapen remains. Whoever they had been he had lost two good men.\u00a0\u00a0Hoss stood ready in case his father\u2019s strange calm was broken and with it his strength but Ben just looked at them in silence. Then he quite deliberately knelt down by the larger body to examine his left hand. Although melted by the force of the fire Ben cleaned it enough to show the remains of a gold ring and Hoss bit his lip knowing that Adam always wore his wedding ring. Ben looked up \u201cEasy Hoss, it\u2019s not your brother I would know I\u2019m sure. I seem to remember Pancho wore a ring Jess certainly didn\u2019t but I don\u2019t know about John Wilson. I think your original guess was correct.\u201d Ben sounded so confident that Hoss slowly relaxed and only then did he realise he\u2019d been holding his breath. Well as he knew his father Hoss didn\u2019t realise just how forced Ben\u2019s confidence was.<\/p>\n Ben was glad of Hoss\u2019 help to get back to his feet and to move away from the two corpses and rejoin Joe. All of them were glad of the hefty slug of brandy Joe had put in each coffee, so worried and tired. It seemed to take forever for the men to complete the search right up to the base of the cliff but they found nothing. Stevens came over to report, he couldn\u2019t imagine how the men had got out or where they were now but they weren\u2019t in the burnt remains of the trees. Hoss frowned \u201cHow sure are you of that Stevens?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked better than he\u2019d done for hours. \u201cThat\u2019s good enough for me. So three of them got out. If they\u2019d made it round the end before the fire reached the cliff they\u2019d be here now. So far as I can see there\u2019s only one possibility, they went up that cliff.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded his agreement but looking at the sheer cliff Stevens and the other surrounding hands showed their disbelief. Stevens shook his head \u201cIf so, why ain\u2019t they up there waving to us, asking for help?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shrugged, \u201cThey might be hurt, not thinking too straight, might have been driven back by the fire or looking for water, who knows.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnly one way to find out.\u201d Joe said, \u201cFollow them up. At least if I can climb it without a fire as incentive proves they could too. With luck be a trail.\u201d<\/p>\n As though at a signal everyone stared at the cliff, it didn\u2019t seem possible but Hoss commented, \u201cJess has done some climbing.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe felt better just at the prospect of doing something constructive and he headed straight to the base of the cliff and studied it carefully. Then he turned to his father and brother, \u201cThey\u2019d have made for that ledge looks as though it heads all the way up.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded, \u201cOnly sensible plan and none of those three lack commonsense. Stiff climb Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf they did it so can I and as they aren\u2019t here they must have made it.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss frowned, it sounded logical but then his little brother usually did. Looking at the sheer rock face logic lost its power and already scared one brother was badly hurt if not dead; he hated the idea of his other brother risking serious injury by trying to climb it. Joe could read his big brother\u2019s face more clearly than any book and he punched Hoss gently on the shoulder. \u201cHave more faith big brother I can climb that.\u201d He dropped his voice so only Hoss could hear, \u201cLook after Pa,\u201d<\/p>\n Ben came over \u201cBe very careful Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure.\u201d Ben handed him a ball of twine, \u201cTake this with you and once you\u2019re on the ledge you can lower it and get a lariat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood idea Pa. Don\u2019t worry.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben squeezed Joe\u2019s shoulder momentarily \u201cGood luck.\u201d Joe just grinned and went over to the cliff, his first holds already planned. Ben prayed for both his sons and was very glad of Hoss as his big son stood next to him, his arm round his father\u2019s shoulders, trying to reassure him in the only way he knew how. They stood in silence watching Joe edge his way slowly up the cliff, Joe wasn\u2019t rushing although pleased to find more holds than had been apparent from below. The rock had been damaged by the fire and a few cracks had opened up although the fire had destroyed all sign of the three men who had gone up before him, at least over the lower part of the cliff.<\/p>\n It seemed to take forever to the men waiting below and then to their horror Joe seemed to stop completely, In fact he was examining one of the small handholds, almost sure it had been deliberately cut out. It was one of the holds that Jess had enlarged, above the line where the fire had blackened the rock. Joe was also examining the stain on the rock. It was baked hard and Joe tried to scrape it away with his fingernail, He couldn\u2019t be sure but it looked like blood to him, rather a lot of it on one small handhold. Telling himself that any one of the three men could have left it, grazed hands all too likely on the sheer rock face, he was about to move on when glancing down something in the stillness alerted him. He realised that he\u2019d probably scared them and called down \u201cPa, Hoss, I\u2019m fine. Looks like a fresh man-made hold here.\u201d<\/p>\n Then Joe moved on, finding it easier with the holds that Jess had cut and he reached the ledge five minutes later. After a sleepless night the climb had taxed his strength and after levering himself onto the ledge Joe could only kneel quietly for a minute or two fighting for his breath. Slowly he got control and made it to his feet waving down to his Pa and Hoss before examining the area, whether the stain on the rock was blood or not, there was no doubt about the small pool on the ledge. Joe moved slowly up finding marks indicating something had moved along. The trail on the short grass was too indistinct to be sure how many, just the odd stone turned over, grass broken or bruised. He went back \u201cPa, Hoss, been someone up here, can\u2019t be sure how many yet, Tracks lead on up.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben called back, \u201cWait for help Joseph. Chances are at least someone is hurt. Take food, medical supplies.\u201d<\/p>\n That made sense and while Joe let down the twine and pulled up a rope Hoss began preparing four packs of food and medical essentials. Joe tied the first rope to a convenient projection to aid the next climber and then collected another to pull in the supplies. Ben had more volunteers than he could possibly use. Hoss was insistent that he was going to find his brother and Ben didn\u2019t argue. If someone was badly hurt Hoss\u2019 great strength might be invaluable and he assured his son that he was fine. Between them Ben and Hoss quickly settles on who was to go, six in all, two to help each of the men they hoped to find. Stevens and Jack Catfish could always be relied on and had tracking skills and two long term hands Red and Hank made up the numbers. Ben was quite sure he could cope, the fire was well up the valley now and even if there was a change of wind he had plenty of men to cope. Once Hoss had sent up the four packs and two more of blankets he followed up to rejoin his brother, very grateful for the help of the rope.<\/p>\n Joe waited until his brother joined him and then showed him the pool of blood. Hoss frowned as he studied it, knowing what Joe was thinking \u201cNoway to tell little brother. Let\u2019s move, sooner we find them sooner we\u2019ll know.\u201d He sighed heavily, almost scared to know, his father\u2019s confidence losing its effect now that Ben wasn\u2019t there.<\/p>\n Joe led the way on up the ledge, the rest followed in single file with Hoss bringing up the rear. Their footing wasn\u2019t too bad but Joe didn\u2019t rush, it wouldn\u2019t help anyone to have more accidents. It took nearly twenty minutes before they reached the flat area where the three exhausted men had rested. The patches of burnt grass, obviously deliberately put out, bore witness to someone\u2019s presence and Joe stopped to examine the area carefully. Flattened areas where men had lain and more blood, although less this time, told of a lengthy stay and after a careful look around Joe asked the other men the all important question, \u201cHow many?\u201d He just wasn\u2019t sure whether he was seeing what he wanted to, maybe one body had been missed in the devastated area below.<\/p>\n Hoss bit his lip as uncertain as his brother but Jack grinned \u201cThree Joe for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Stevens nodded, \u201cLooks as though at least one is hurt, but three men and all on their feet. That brother of yours has the reputation of being indestructible, maybe earning it over again.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe let his breath out in a long sigh but until they found the three it was only his father\u2019s certainty they were relying on that if it had been Adam they would have known. He led them on upwards, conscious of the gathering clouds which might lose them the trail, wanting only to find the three, reach his brother.<\/p>\n Ben couldn\u2019t put off contacting the house any longer. Although he was still without definite news there were at least encouraging signs and the basic fact that the bodies weren\u2019t there so the men had managed to escape. He contacted Hop Sing easily and as briefly as he could spelt out the current position, entrusting his houseman with the difficult job of telling the girls. The last thing that Hop Sing wanted was to add to his boss\u2019 problems, knowing that he wasn\u2019t fully fit yet, but it wasn\u2019t his decision to make, so for the first time Ben heard about<\/p>\n Carole\u2019s threatened miscarriage. For a minute Ben sat down unable to think clearly, so much suddenly going wrong at once and after a sleepless night he was very tired and had a very bad headache. However one thing was clear in the absence of definite news Carole would worry, she ought to at least know the favourable signs and the reasons for the delay in making contact. He told Hop Sing to tell Sue and Nita, leave it to them to decide how much to tell Carole. It was the best that he could do and he had great faith in the two girls, especially Sue, a trained nurse. Once he had disconnected Ben got himself some coffee and sat down warming his hands on the mug, praying for his eldest son, Carole and his unborn grandchild. Relaxing slightly Ben forced himself to drink the coffee and even accepted some food. Then he settled to try and get some rest, knowing he wasn\u2019t helping anyone by getting exhausted. He didn\u2019t expect to be able to sleep but still low on stamina, nature released him for a while at least.<\/p>\n At the house Carole felt better for a long sleep, even drug induced, and she was well in control although very worried about Adam. She couldn\u2019t understand why there was no news; it was very obvious that the fire was dying down, now only very indistinctly visible. Therefore Ben must have contacted Adam by now, why hadn\u2019t he sent word unless something was terrible wrong. Carole consoled herself that it took a long time in the dark, even with the wagon road it was still rough, probably someone was on the way. Physically she still felt weak but the various aches and pains had eased and with no further signs of a miscarriage she was happier about the baby. She was able to relax slightly, knowing just how competent her husband was. Although she didn\u2019t like staying in bed, she couldn\u2019t take any risks with her baby and did as Sue ordered.<\/p>\n When Hop Sing came over Nita was on her own downstairs with the children, Sue had taken some coffee up for Carole, Nita had got to know the Chinese very well and despite their reputation for inscrutability she had no trouble in seeing Hop Sing had brought bad news. She offered him coffee but Hop Sing shook his head and wouldn\u2019t even sit down, just explaining all he knew about the situation. In some ways it was a relief, an explanation for the long delay in getting news and although there was still nothing definite, it sounded promising. Of all the Cartwrights Nita had come to believe that Adam was capable of anything and she was confident of his ability to look after the fire and then find a comfortable place to wait it out. When Sue came down Nita explained and they both agreed that Carole had to be told. Sue collected some of the sedative that Doc had left just in case but in fact Carole took the news very calmly. She was glad to have the delay explained and knowing that Adam had Jess and another trustworthy man with him helped more than the other women really understood. Carole was convinced that Adam was hurt, calmer now she did her best to ignore her lack of conviction that he was even alive, but if Jess was with him his friend would look after him. In the absence of his brothers probably noone was closer to Adam than Jess and at least his brothers were on the way to join him. It was obviously a case of waiting and Carole took a dose of the sedative without argument and settled for sleep rather to Sue\u2019s surprise. At least while asleep the time passed more quickly and if Adam was badly hurt she had to be fit enough to help him, not worry him further.<\/p>\n As the clouds gathered over the mesa Jess decided that rain was very likely and with Adam still burning up, the last thing they needed was for him to be soaked, apart from the effect on his burnt back. Although clotted in places the shirt they\u2019d covered him with was soaked as the burns wept, no skin to hold the precious fluid and even without rain it was showing little sign of drying up. Since they\u2019d cleaned him up Adam had shown no sign of regaining consciousness but slowly his breathing had eased, it was slower and deeper as he came out of shock. Jess didn\u2019t want to leave his friend but John was in obvious pain from his ribs and half dozing so Jess decided to leave them and try to find some shelter. Obviously it had to be fairly close at hand, they were no more capable of carrying Adam than they had been the previous night. Jess hoped he\u2019d somehow be able to persuade Adam back to his feet, although at the minute that didn\u2019t look too likely or at a pinch he could probably manage to carry the bigger man over his shoulder for a short distance. Either way there only looked like one possibility a pile of rocks about 200 yards southwest of them. Jess woke John and explained what he was doing, asking him to keep an eye on Adam. John moved over closer \u201cResting a mite easier.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe but I wish his back would dry up, can\u2019t be doing him any good weeping like that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n Jess bit his lip, \u201cI know, only likely to make it worse, we need help and fast. If we can get him under cover I\u2019ll try and make contact if I can. We can\u2019t be that far from the rim.\u201d<\/p>\n John forced a smile \u201cDoing all we can Jess. I\u2019ll look after him.\u201d<\/p>\n Jess soon reached the rocks but at first he couldn\u2019t find anything and he had to move further and further along, despite needing to keep the distance down. At last he found a shallow cleft which was at least roofed and by dint of hard work he cleared enough boulders to make a fall area under cover big enough for Adam to rest in. It was about a quarter of a mile from the two men but the best Jess could do and he walked back slowly, clearing a path as best he could, to make it as easy as possible to move the injured man. By the time Jess got back it was already misty and damp as the clouds came down low and in the distance they could se heavy rain which would at least put out the fire.<\/p>\n John got to his feet as Jess came in, he\u2019d watched him approach and knew how far they had to go. He accepted that they needed the cover but with Adam\u2019s back so badly hurt there was no way to carry him between them, not without a stretcher and there was nothing to allow them to improvise such a thing. Adam still hadn\u2019t stirred and John said as much, but Jess grabbed a quick drink and then got down on his knees by his friend. He wiped Adam\u2019s face and gripped his uninjured right hand Jess started talking to him, begging his friend to make one more effort, trying to rouse him. For fully five minutes there was no noticeable effect and then Adam moaned once or twice before finally opening his eyes. Jess wiped his face again and tried to explain what he wanted, just to walk a little way to cover. It was almost more frightening for Jess as Adam stared at him without the slightest hint of recognition and virtually no sign of comprehension. Jess could only carry on repeating his request for Adam to get to his feet and walk to cover with help. As the rain fell a little harder he had added urgency to his voice and gradually Adam registered what was being said. He was only really aware of pain, Jess\u2019 voice came from a long way away and Adam had little idea who was there or where he was, not even the energy to care about such questions but eventually the one fact got through. It was important for some reason for him to get on his feet and he did his very best to comply. Pulling his right hand away from Jess he began to push himself up and with the limited help the other two could give he lurched to his feet. Leaning heavily on Jess he stayed on them and started to move forward. Every movement was agony and he couldn\u2019t help moaning and sometimes crying out, not even aware that the strange noises he could hear had anything to do with him. It took Jess over forty minutes to support, cajole and bully Adam over that quarter of a mile. The longest quarter of a mile he had ever crossed but somehow they made it, although by the time they did Adam\u2019s every breath seemed laboured and as it was raining quite hard they were all soaked.<\/p>\n Eventually Adam was lowered as gently as they could to the floor of the cave. He was soaked through and obviously close to shock again. Without anything except the clothes they stood up in and noway to light a fire there was virtually nothing that Jess or John could do for him. As they knelt by him Adam slipped back into unconsciousness, only wanting to get away from the pain which filled his world, Jess considered John who looked close to collapse too and made up his mind. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to get help or he\u2019ll be dead before it arrives. This rain rules out any chance they have of tracking us, even if they guess we climbed the cliff. It can\u2019t be that far. I\u2019m gonna try and contact someone.\u201d<\/p>\n John stared down at the injured man, scared to be left with the sole responsibility but Jess went on, \u201cNothing either of us can do except hold him still, so little point in me staying.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf he dies?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNoone is gonna blame you John. We\u2019ve done all we can, now we need help. Medicines, blankets, food, we can\u2019t even keep him warm.\u201d<\/p>\n John nodded, \u201cYou\u2019re right. We both owe him our lives got to keep trying.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be as quick as I can.\u201d Jess hurried out and made his way back towards where he judged the rim of the mesa to be. It had to be partly guesswork, he had very little idea where they had gone overnight but despite the long hours they had walked Jess knew they hadn\u2019t actually gone very far.<\/p>\n Joe and Hoss had hurried as much as they could seeing the rain approaching but the trail left by men on foot was very indistinct and the trail weaved round seemingly not heading anywhere in particular, always taking the easiest way. At first puzzled both Joe and Hoss had quickly reached the same conclusion that one man although on his feet was barely so. There was no way to know which man it was but with the strange lack of contact with their eldest brother both believed it was Adam, unless that had been his body in the fire despite Ben\u2019s certainty. Before when Adam was hurt both had known it but it was preferable to believe him out of his mind, maybe in a coma, than to believe that misshapen corpse was his. They couldn\u2019t meet each other\u2019s eye, not wanting to talk, all too aware of each other\u2019s fears. They kept ahead of their four hands, knowing they couldn\u2019t really hide the fear and distress they felt. As the rain began in earnest Hoss put his hand on his brother\u2019s arm \u201cHold on Joe. Let\u2019s get slickers on, won\u2019t help nothing to have the blankets soaked through.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and all of them got their packs covered, helping each other. Joe frowned as he studied the ground, the first to get his slicker on and Hoss joined him, \u201cCan you make out anything Joe, I ain\u2019t been sure fer the last half hour.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sighed \u201cNo. Guess we\u2019d better split up and search visibility isn\u2019t great in this, Maybe we ought to get some more help, can\u2019t even be sure which way they are heading.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t reckon they knew, but I doubt they can be very far, one at least is in bad trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe bit his lip not wanting to discuss that, \u201cSo what do we do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKeep looking, spread out and call for them. Three shots if we find anything. Get more and we\u2019re gonna start losing each other.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe admitted the sense of that and sent Stevens and Red off to his left, while Hoss took the far end of the line on his right with Jack and Hank between them. They began working their way on northwest, the average sort of direction that the trail had seemed to lead.<\/p>\n On his own with the men either side hidden by the mist Joe was close to giving way to utter despair. It seemed so impossible to find anything, even the weather was conspiring against them. Hoss wasn\u2019t very much better but he couldn\u2019t just give up and he raised his strong voice and yelled into the ungiving mist, surely the missing men couldn\u2019t be far.<\/p>\n How long they moved on calling until they were hoarse none of them knew. Jess on his way to find help heard the calls and made his way towards them He was very tired after a day fire fighting and a night supporting his friend, bruised and aching in every muscle and for a while he couldn\u2019t find his voice. He made his way towards the loudest noise and it wasn\u2019t until he saw Hoss looming unmistakeably out of the mist that he found enough voice to call out, \u201cHoss over here, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss tense and almost unnaturally aware of every sound heard Jess despite the noise the others were making. Lengthening his stride he was by Jess almost at once. Jess was so relieved to have reached help than he sank down close to collapse. Hoss was sufficiently realistic to know he couldn\u2019t get any answers for the minute and fired off the three shots to say something was found. Then he pulled out his brandy flask and supporting Jess as best he could, fed him some.<\/p>\n Jess spluttered as the spirit caught him but knowing what Hoss\u2019 overwhelming worry must be he got a grip on himself and said, \u201cAdam\u2019s alive, but he\u2019s hurt, bad, back away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEasy Jess, have another drink and rest a minute, then you can tell us.\u201d Hoss gripped Jess\u2019 shoulder, hardly able to see him as tears blurred his eyes, so thankful that his brother was alive. By the time he\u2019d got control of himself, Joe was calling to him and Hoss yelled to show where he was.<\/p>\n For a moment on hearing the shots Joe stood stock still, not able to move, scared to learn that Adam was dead, but he had to know and after that first reaction he ran towards the sound. He didn\u2019t care how rough the ground was, jumping from rock to rock, trusting his own surefootedness and then he called out needing to know where to go. As his brother called Joe made his way over, picking Hoss out of the murk and then he identified Jess and came to a halt in front of them unable to put the all important question in to words, Hoss reached out and gripped his brother\u2019s arm \u201cAdam\u2019s alive Joe, but he\u2019s hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe bit his lip, so thankful for that at least and then dropped to one knee in front of Jess. He asked \u201cHow bad is he? What\u2019s wrong? Where is he? Are you alright? \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss gripped his shoulder \u201cEasy Little Joe, give Jess a chance he\u2019s about at the end of his tether.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe could see the truth of that but he had to know and it was a real effort to sit and wait for Jess to collect his wits. He couldn\u2019t seem to breathe and his fists were clenched so tight that his nails drew blood. Jess looked into Joe\u2019s eyes seeing the fear and worry. He swallowed hard \u201cJoe he\u2019s burnt, badly burnt, not really conscious.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked up at his big brother in near panic; he\u2019d been pushing the fear of bad burns to the back of his mind all night. He remembered as though it was yesterday a man in\u00a0Virginia City\u00a0who had been badly burnt in a fire down one of the mines in the early days of the town. The man had recovered but it had left his face terribly scarred. Joe had been in his early teens, in town with Adam when they met him and he had got away as fast as he could from the scarred face, unable to face the horror. Joe hadn\u2019t been unable to understand how Adam could stand and talk to him as though nothing was wrong. In fact Adam had gone further, inviting the man to join him for a beer, congratulating him on his survival. Unfortunately there were few like Adam and a week later the man had taken his own life, no longer able to take the horror he saw in everyone\u2019s faces. Joe had taken the news hard maybe if he could have done the same as his eldest brother, one more might have tipped the balance; let him hang on until people grew accustomed. Now he was terrified in case Adam\u2019s face was burnt, his eldest brother maybe blind, never again looking the same and he couldn\u2019t even find the voice to ask. Hoss read the panic in Joe\u2019s eyes and moved to support him and as though it was in front of him he could see the upset kid so long ago when the news of the burnt man\u2019s suicide reached the ranch. Perhaps not surprisingly the brothers\u2019 thought had been following similar tracks all night and Hoss was almost equally scared for his brother but he had to know, \u201cWhere is he burnt Jess?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBack and his left hand.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss sighed with relief and then concentrated on steadying Joe, who swayed alarmingly, so that Hoss thought for a moment that Joe was going to pass out. He handed Joe the brandy flask but Joe pushed it away. \u201cI\u2019m okay Adam\u2019s had a bad burn before, last time we had one of these storms. We know how to cope, he\u2019ll be fine.\u201d He sounded almost light-hearted with relief, just to know that his brother was alive and still his normal, handsome elegant self.<\/p>\n Jess frowned at the note in his voice, not wanting Joe to get too optimistic or he\u2019d get a nasty shock. More in control of himself now that he\u2019d had a chance to rest, Jess straightened up, \u201cJoe it\u2019s not that easy. It\u2019s a very bad burn, extensive and Adam is mighty sick. I don\u2019t think he knows what is happening don\u2019t know me at all. I\u2019ve been able to persuade him to get to his feet and walk, we couldn\u2019t carry him, but maybe I\u2019ve pushed him too far, shock. We had to get to water and then with this rain get to shelter.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss forced a grin \u201cIf he can walk he\u2019ll make out. We\u2019ve got supplies, blankets, food medicines. So if you feel up to moving, let\u2019s get back to him.\u201d<\/p>\n Jess nodded and Hoss helped him up, \u201cHe\u2019s in a sorta cave about a mile maybe, best I could find. At least a roof over him, John will do all he can.\u201d Jess refused a slicker, he couldn\u2019t get any wetter and having assured Hoss that John wasn\u2019t too badly hurt, just cracked ribs, he saved his breath and led the rescue party back to Adam.<\/p>\n In many ways Ben had the worst of it, he slept for a couple of hours but even then he was troubled by nightmares. His confidence that he would know his son\u2019s body hadn\u2019t been an act and he was sure that they hadn\u2019t found Adam yet, but that didn\u2019t alter the fact that something was terribly wrong and with the savagery of the fire as shown by the two corpses, Ben couldn\u2019t help fearing the effect of burns. There was nothing to be done, especially once the rain started, finishing off the job of putting out the fire and all Ben could do was to wait, pacing around restlessly. He sent most of the men home, all those with burns, however minor and all of Adam\u2019s original work force, all near exhaustion. Most had gone but Chris Sante\u00e9 and\u00a0Jackson\u00a0opted to stay, wanting to know what had happened to their friends. None of the men who remained knew Ben that well and they left him alone, the expression on his face enough to deter any comment. That suited Ben, bodily he was stuck there waiting but his whole mind and will was with his younger sons, for now even the threat to Carole pushed to the back of his mind as he prayed for his eldest son\u2019s survival.<\/p>\n Despite Jess\u2019 comments Joe was too relieved to find his worst fears proved wrong to really take in the extent of the injuries Adam had received and he was fairly cheerful as they made their way back to the cave, John Wilson had had little to do, Adam was still feverish, shivering sometimes in the cold and damp but there was nothing John could do, Adam mainly lay still his breathing very shallow and fast, occasionally moaning as the pain caught him but at least resting. Even so John was very relieved to hear voices approaching well before he had dared to let himself hope and going to the entrance he soon recognized Hoss\u2019 unmistakeable form. There wasn\u2019t room for everyone inside and John moved out letting Hoss and Joe go in with Jess. Stevens gave John some brandy while Jack looked for some more shelter where they could light a fire and heat up some food and coffee.<\/p>\n Neither Hoss nor Joe spared him a glance, leaving the others to cope as they went to kneel by their brother. Adam\u2019s burnt left hand lay in front of him, open, the finger\u2019s spread as he reacted to minimise the pain and it was obvious just how badly it was damaged. The brother\u2019s frowned but made no comment and Hoss gently lifted Adam\u2019s right arm and felt his brother\u2019s forehead, \u201cJoe bit his lip \u201cFeverish, what\u2019s his pulse like?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFast, mite thready but still strong and he\u2019s not that feverish. His hand\u2019s a mess.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and looked at the sodden shirt covering his brother\u2019s back, Hoss pulled out his knife, \u201cBest cut if off, see what we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe bit his knuckle, \u201cYou do it Hoss.\u201d His own hands were trembling too much.<\/p>\n Hoss accepted the job although it was difficult to keep his own hands steady especially as Adam moaned but very gently the big man cut the shirt and lifted it clear to show the burns, blood, clotted in places but mainly raw and weeping over most of Adam\u2019s back with a particularly deep one round his neck where his neckerchief had been tied. It had looked worse before Jess cleaned the burnt cloth, flesh and wood, but not much and despite Jess\u2019 warning it was far worse than either brother had expected. They couldn\u2019t begin to imagine how Adam had walked anywhere with such injuries. It was also far beyond their knowledge of first aid and for a moment they just sat staring in horror.<\/p>\n The pain had brought Adam back to consciousness and he opened his eyes, Jess was the first to notice and he said, \u201cHoss, Joe he\u2019s come round.\u201d<\/p>\n Both his brothers moved closer to his head and Joe wiped his forehead tenderly, \u201cEasy Adam we\u2019re here now, we\u2019ll take care of everything.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam slowly looked towards the sound of the voice but to Joe\u2019s horror there wasn\u2019t any sign of comprehension in Adam\u2019s eyes. Joe went on \u201cHoss is here and me Joe. Adam don\u2019t you know, can\u2019t you see? Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss gripped Joe\u2019s shoulder, \u201cEasy little brother, don\u2019t push him.\u201d He was almost equally concerned and pushed Adam\u2019s hair back off his forehead, \u201cEasy Adam we\u2019ll look after you.\u201d<\/p>\n There was still no recognition in his eyes, only pain and Adam unaware of anything but that pain shut his eyes again, seeking oblivion in that other world where for a while he could forget pain. He left his brothers staring at each other in consternation. Neither could remember a time when Adam hadn\u2019t known them, even in delirium they could usually recall his wandering wits and he wasn\u2019t even delirious, not that feverish, Joe was the first to find his voice, \u201cHe doesn\u2019t know us.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss stared at his brother\u2019s damaged back and very low he murmured \u201cAdam once said you knew all that was there was to know about pain when he had to haul you out of that landslide. I reckon he does. I think that\u2019s all he knows at the minute.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat the hell do we do?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss sighed, looking out at the rain, \u201cWe sure can\u2019t move him until the rain lets up or we\u2019ll have pneumonie as well to cope with. We need advice Joe, this is beyond us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEasy said, but….\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss gripped his little brother\u2019s arm almost painfully, \u201cGet a grip on yourself Joe, I know he\u2019s mighty bad, but we won\u2019t help him by going to pieces. He\u2019s alive, maybe in agony but alive and we gotta keep him that way. Pain passes, it\u2019ll heal in time, if\u2019n we do things right.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe swallowed hard, knowing his brother was right and reached for the brandy forcing himself to try and think. \u201cYou\u2019re right we can\u2019t move him yet but there\u2019s no room for everyone here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not that far back to\u00a0Pa.\u00a0He\u2019s got the telegraph working. We need to explain the trouble to Sue; she\u2019ll maybe know the best thing to do. Take too long to get word from Doc but Sue\u2019s a nurse.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded \u201cWe\u2019ll need four to carry him on a stretcher. The others can help John and you Jess. Who goes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll make better time than me little brother, especially on the way back if you can face telling\u00a0Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe hated leaving his eldest brother while he was so ill but Hoss with his great strength might be better able to help Adam and that was all that mattered. \u201cHow about that?\u201d he gestured at the burns.<\/p>\n Hoss shrugged \u201cUntil we get advice I reckon we ought to leave strictly alone or we\u2019ll risk driving him into shock, making thing worse.\u201d He had already wrapped blankets round his brother\u2019s lower body, having eased wet trousers off him, but even at that Adam had moaned and Hoss was loathe to do more.<\/p>\n Joe went to investigate what the others were doing and found hot beans, bacon and coffee ready. He hadn\u2019t realised just how long they\u2019d been sitting stunned by Adam. Jess was loathe to leave his friend but near exhaustion he knew he would only be in the way and he was leaving his friend with the best care in his brothers. While they waited for food Hoss found out just what had happened, Jess was unstinting in his praise for Adam who had been perfectly safe on the right side of the fire and chosen to come through to help them only to pay so heavily for it as the burning branches landed on him while trying to cut John free. As he described how Adam had bullied them into trying to climb the cliff, despite his injuries Hoss listened quietly but as Jess came to a stop, Hoss said \u201cJust one thing I don\u2019t understand. How did you get him up that cliff you don\u2019t have ropes or anything.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe, bringing food over for Jess and Hoss heard the question but the expression on Jess\u2019 face kept him quiet, Jess was staring at Adam almost in awe and eventually very quietly he said, \u201cAdam climbed it on his own, made us go first and then somehow he followed. That\u2019s why his hand is so bad. It was burnt and the rocks…. I don\u2019t know how, it\u2019s impossible but he did it, It seemed to take an eternity, the fire just below, but he made it and made us walk on up the ledge to safety, insisted he could walk. It\u2019s only since we reached safety that he\u2019s been out of his wits.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe put down the plates and went to kneel by his brother, not doubting the truth of what he\u2019d heard. He knew just how hard it had been for him to make that climb without ropes and he was fully fit. He touched his brother\u2019s hair very gently, \u201cHold on Adam if you can do that you can do anything. Dear God\u00a0\u00a0only you and Adam can know how much that cost him, please don\u2019t let it be in vain, please help him.\u201d Joe shut his eyes not even aware that he had spoken aloud.<\/p>\n Hoss equally moved went to Joe and put his arm round his brother, \u201cEasy Joe, God will help him. He\u2019s never failed us yet and Adam was hurt helping others. God must have given him the strength to make that climb; no man could have made that climb unaided, he won\u2019t leave Adam now.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe lent back against his big brother for a minute, glad of his warm strength and his strong faith. Then he straightened up and insisted that Jess ate and change into dry clothes and put on a slicker, they would be leaving in quarter of an hour. He was leaving Jack and Stevens with his brother and they were busy preparing some hot broth for Adam in an even smaller cave a little further along the line of rocks. Once everyone was ready, Joe knelt by Adam to take his leave, praying that his brother would hold on.<\/p>\n Hoss gripped Joe\u2019s shoulder \u201cI\u2019ll look after him. Sorry to land you with the job of telling\u00a0Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s prepared for trouble and he won\u2019t really understand until he sees. I\u2019ll make it as easy as I can for him, he\u2019s not fit either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2019s strong, he\u2019ll be okay and Sue will tell us what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure. I won\u2019t be long.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss forced his brother to face him \u201cJust be careful little brother, won\u2019t help anything for you to have an accident and its mighty rough.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe left Red and Hank to help John and Jess along and headed out as directly as he could for the rim. Despite poor visibility in the rain his sense of direction stood him in good stead and he came out less than fifty yards from where the ledge broke out onto the mesa.\u00a0\u00a0Joe turned and jogged back to the other four, telling them to follow on at their own pace and to be careful, Joe left them again and pushed on as fast as he could, only wanting to get back to his brothers. It was a little slippery under foot from the rain but with both hands free Joe made good time and using the rope he walked down the last part of the sheer rock face in a fraction of the time it had taken to climb, forcing the images his brain kept giving him of his injured brother climbing it to the back of his mind. He concentrated on the immediate problems of telling his father and contacting Sue.<\/p>\n Ben had seen Joe on the ledge and was waiting at the bottom, unsure what his youngest son\u2019s arrival on his own meant. Before he reached the bottom Joe saw his father and called out \u201cHe\u2019s alive, hurt, Hoss is with him.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben was leaning against the wall weak with relief and as Joe reached the bottom he scanned his son\u2019s face. What he saw was far from reassuring and Ben frowned \u201cHow bad is he?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBad\u00a0Pa.\u00a0We need Sue\u2019s advice, I\u2019ll explain as we go, need the telegraph.\u201d Joe was short of breath after his climb down and the urgency in his voice held Ben quiet, as he led the way over to the nearest point on the telegraph line. Joe tried to fill his father in as they went. \u201cAdam\u2019s burnt, his back and left hand, badly. His face isn\u2019t touched and only the hair at the back of his neck but his back is raw, a mess, We don\u2019t know what to do for the best, daren\u2019t move him until rain eases. In a small cave, Feverish but not too high, Not really conscious, he doesn\u2019t know us.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben could sense how much that had scared Joe and put his arm round his son, \u201cHe must be in bad pain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah I think that\u2019s all he knows at the moment.\u201d Joe broke off, unable to say anymore and hurried over to the telegraph, calling the house. Hop Sing was there and when Joe said that they needed Sue at once to talk to he wasted no time in questions, just sending \u201cFifteen minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n There was nothing to do but wait until Sue got back to them and staring at the ground, unable to meet his father\u2019s eye, Joe told him how Adam had been hurt, the impossible climb and the extent of his brother\u2019s injuries. Ben knew his eldest son\u2019s strength but even so he was amazed that Adam could have made that climb injured as Joe described. The extent of the injuries and just how ill his eldest son was were more obvious from the expression in Joe\u2019s eyes, than the words which his son found to explain. Eventually Joe fell quiet and they sat in silence, close together for mutual comfort, words couldn\u2019t help as they waited for the telegraph.<\/p>\n Sue was surprised when Hop Sing arrived and demanded that she come at once to the telegraph as Mr Ben wanted advice. Carole was sleeping and they had left her door open so that she could call if she wanted anything. The other two had been having coffee downstairs and now Nita got Sue\u2019s cloak \u201cGo on I\u2019ll see to everything here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d Sue hadn\u2019t had much chance to speculate as Hop Sing hustled her back to the main house in little over ten minutes and announced their presence to Ben, Joe took the key and sent \u201cSue need advice, Adam alive, bad burns, back and left hand, have to move, don\u2019t know what to do first.\u201d<\/p>\n Sue frowned as Hop Sing wrote it out and then got him to ask \u201cBurns how extensive?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe answered \u201cWhole back, waist to hairline, raw, been cleaned, just water.\u201d<\/p>\n Sue shuddered knowing how serious it was likely to prove to say nothing of painful but she concentrated on the immediate problem \u201cMost important fluids, losing through burns. Vital.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t touch burns. Cover gauze only, light as can. Bring home. What fever?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSome not too high. Doesn\u2019t know us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPain probably give painkiller.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben moved over and took the key from Joe, \u201cHow is Carole?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cResting, no worse, chances good.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked at his father puzzled, but Ben went on, \u201cTell her what you think. Head home soon possible. Send word to fetch Doc.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLook after her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFluid vital.\u201d<\/p>\n As Ben put the key down Joe held his arm, \u201cPa what\u2019s wrong with Carole?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed, \u201cSome threat of a miscarriage. Sue has had Doc out and says there is a good chance she\u2019ll carry to term but she\u2019s been ordered to bed for a few days to rest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank God Sue and Nita are there. Why Pa, why? All at once and all on Adam. He was only trying to help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEasy Joseph, Sue will keep Carole quiet, she\u2019s a nurse after all, and once Adam is home we can get him treated. At least he\u2019s alive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah\u00a0Pa.\u00a0Are you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, don\u2019t worry about me; get back to your brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll move him as soon as it stops raining,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShouldn\u2019t be too long it\u2019s beginning to look brighter. Do you want to take some poles for the sides of the stretcher?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah Hoss told me to bring some. I\u2019d forgotten, good job one of us is thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnything else you need?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think so. Just pray for him and I know you\u2019ll do that.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe clambered back up the cliff, seeing his brother ever in front of him, imagination providing the details Adam wouldn\u2019t and probably couldn\u2019t describe. Not held back by the tired men Joe made quick progress back to his brothers, but even so it still seemed to take forever.<\/p>\n Hoss could do little for his brother, attempts to get Adam to drink a little broth or even water had been failures and he could only hold his brother still, fight the fever with cold compresses, There was little change but every moan from his brother went right through Hoss and Joe seemed to take a very long time.<\/p>\n Joe pushed into the small cave, having left the poles with Stevens and asked him and Jack to use the blankets and make a stretcher. The rain was down to a fine drizzle and showed signs of stopping, Stevens had said that there was no change but Joe needed to see for himself. Hoss looked up, so very drawn, that Joe caught his breath but Hoss said \u201cNo worse Joe. What did Sue say?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSays to leave his back alone, but that it\u2019s vital to get fluids into him. He\u2019s losing liquid all the time through those burns.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve tried Joe but he just don\u2019t want.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll have to force him somehow. Sue said vital, repeated it twice.\u201d Joe moved closer to his eldest brother and lifted his head very gently. Adam moaned but Joe gritted his teeth and began to spoon some warm milk into his brother. At first most of it just dribbled out of Adam\u2019s slack mouth but then to Joe\u2019s relief his brother swallowed and after that seemed to take the warm liquid more willingly. Hoss fetched more as Joe worked his way through the half pint he\u2019d brought in. Hoss fetched some more thanking Kirk for his bright idea of putting some in; Joe managed to spoon most of a second half pint into Adam and then tried broth. Adam gagged on that and as the coughing tore at his back, he screamed in pain and Joe pushed the broth away. \u201cGive me the laudanum, try and ease it a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss passed it over, his hand shaking so upset by his brother\u2019s obvious pain. Joe forced Adam to drink a dose and then reached for the canteen and continued spooning water in while his brother was cooperating, unsure how much fluid was needed. Hoss had sat by helplessly for far too long and now he went to straighten up, moving just outside, stretching his back and legs so cramped, sitting by Adam in the tiny cave. The rain had virtually stopped and they had to take advantage of it and move Adam home where Doc could help him more adequately. Hoss knew that was sense but he was also too aware of how much it was going to hurt Adam, however careful they were. Once before he\u2019d had to move a brother in agony from these woods and maybe Joe had been a lot closer to death than Adam was, but for the next weeks, maybe months Adam was going to know all too much pain. Although Hoss knew the depths of his elder brother\u2019s endurance, he would have done a lot to take it from him.<\/p>\n Joe hadn\u2019t told Hoss of Carole\u2019s threatened miscarriage, not wanting to worry him any more. There would be plenty of time once they had their brother back down to the wagons and on his way home. Knowing how hard they would both take the loss of another child, Joe prayed for his sister and almost equally for his beloved wife, bad luck often seemed to come in threes. Joe knew it was a stupid superstition but he felt cold with fear for her. Still his main prayers were for God to give Adam the strength he would need for his journey.<\/p>\n Hoss was checking the stretcher trying to rig some sort of shelter over it to protect Adam\u2019s back without touching it and pads for his brother\u2019s head and left hand. They could only lash Adam\u2019s injured hand to the side pole and try to stop it getting banged against anything. Hoss guessed his brother\u2019s back would heal in time, badly scarred inevitably but maybe no real problem but whether Adam\u2019s hand would ever heal enough to be of use again Hoss wasn\u2019t sue. The only good thing was that it was his left hand and not his right.<\/p>\n Joe kept on spooning water into his brother until Adam moved to push the spoon away, moaning as the pain caught him just from the slight muscle movement but the pain seemed to bring him round and Joe carefully wiped his brother\u2019s face. For a moment Adam didn\u2019t seem able to think, didn\u2019t know what was wrong, just that his whole body felt as though it was on fire, in pain and he managed to focus and to Joe\u2019s great relief Adam whispered \u201cJoe.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss had hurried back over as for the first time in hours he felt his brother\u2019s presence. Even sitting by Adam too conscious of his pain he hadn\u2019t felt Adam not as he did now. At first it was just a blur of pain and then it was as though Adam was calling for him. Hoss came in just in time to hear his brother say Joe. Hoss moved up next to Joe as his little brother said, \u201cEasy Adam we\u2019ll get you home, it\u2019ll be alright.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam saw his big brother and forced a faint smile \u201cHoss, both of you, be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss rested his hand gently on his brother\u2019s forehead, smoothing back the hair, \u201cJust rest Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJess, John?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re fine, already back with Pa down by the lake. We\u2019ll move you down in just a few minutes. Let the laudanum work first. Try and relax.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry Joe, Hoss, be fine.\u201d Adam rested his head against Joe, trying to forget the pain in his back and control his breathing.<\/p>\n His brothers met each other\u2019s eye, thankful that Adam knew them but sorry in a way that he had come round it was going to be a very painful journey. Hoss said, \u201cThe stretcher is done and the weather will serve. Guess we\u2019d better move, sooner we get home to Doc the better.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWon\u2019t help to wait.\u201d Joe agreed but he bit his lip worried for his brother. Hoss called Stevens and Jack to bring the stretcher. There was noway to move Adam onto it within the confines of the cave so Hoss told them to wait just outside and knelt down by his brother. \u201cWe\u2019re gonna lift you onto a stretcher, just a few yards. Trust me don\u2019t try and do anything. You jest try and relax. It\u2019ll hurt I\u2019m afraid, we don\u2019t need heroics as you told Joe once, if you wanna cry out you do it. Sometimes helps.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBe okay.\u201d Adam couldn\u2019t help tensing up but aware of the throb in his left hand, he said \u201cMy hand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEasy Adam, Joe will support that.\u201d Hoss gestured to his brother to support Adam\u2019s left hand and arm and his head and as gently as he knew how, he slid one arm under his brother\u2019s chest, the other under his pelvis, while Jack hurried to support Adam\u2019s legs. Hoss felt his brother draw in his breath as the pain caught him, but they had no choice and he said, \u201cOkay on three.\u201d<\/p>\n As carefully as they knew how they edged out and laid him down on the blankets of the stretcher. Adam was bathed in sweat from the pain and he couldn\u2019t help the moan, his breathing fast as he fought for control. Joe gave him a drink and wiped his face while Hoss strapped his left arm, supporting his left hand as best they could. Then he wrapped blankets round Adam\u2019s lower body before tying up the small tent well clear of his back, the best that Hoss could devise.<\/p>\n Slowly Adam won control, \u201cOkay sorry to be a nuisance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be daft.\u201d Joe said, \u201cYou\u2019re doing marvellously well. We all know you\u2019re in pain and there\u2019s nothing we can do to help until we can get you back to Doc.\u201d<\/p>\n Stevens picked up one of the packs and said, \u201cYour brother is right Adam. None of us will ever know how you got this far, saved two good men, friends of ours too. You sure haven\u2019t anything to apologise for, or to prove. You yell if it helps.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam relaxed a little, Jack was an old friend of his and Stevens understood, He just wasn\u2019t up to an act but he wouldn\u2019t call out if he could help it and he asked Joe for his belt, something to bite down on,<\/p>\n The four men carried the make shift stretcher as smoothly as they could but even so the pain passed over Adam in increasing waves and all he could do was bite down and endure. At least it got no worse and slowly Adam came to the conclusion that he could take it and he let the belt fall from between his teeth. A little further on Hoss caught Joe\u2019s eye \u201cFar enough for a start, let\u2019s rest for five minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and they carefully put the stretcher down and Joe fed his brother some more water and after consultation with Hoss they decided it was safe enough to give him another dose of laudanum, Here they were largely in control but once they came to the narrow ledge it was going to get very rough, let alone the final descent, with luck the drug would have effect by then.<\/p>\n Adam desperately thirsty now, running a higher temperature now that they were on the move, drank willingly, but tried to reassure his brothers, seeing the fear in their eyes. \u201cI\u2019m okay, survived worse, so have both of you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure Adam.\u201d Hoss stroked his hair, \u201cBut sooner we get you to Doc the better.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot arguing Hoss, so let\u2019s move on.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss looked questioningly at Joe but his little brother just shrugged, \u201cMight as well do as we\u2019re told Hoss, we always end up doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam even managed a grin at that, but within a few minutes as the men slowly edged their way down unable to keep it so smooth, he couldn\u2019t bite back a moan. Hoss stopped the stretcher swaying but at the unspoken question in Joe\u2019s eye, he said, \u201cNo choice Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n The ledge got ever narrower and with little room to manoeuvre, Hoss took both poles of the stretcher at the front, checking every step he took before trusting his weight to it, He was able to keep it smoother with Joe and Jack handling the rear but even so it was very stop start, rough for the injured man. Adam held onto his senses with an effort unable to help the moans as each jolt tore at his damaged body, but as Hoss turned to look at him Adam said \u201cGo on, okay.\u201d He spoke through gritted teeth but Hoss had to accept it, there wasn\u2019t any easier way. Hoss was dreading the rest of the journey, rough as it was, a wagon on the rough rutted road would be much worse. Adam rested easier, trusting his big brother as he wouldn\u2019t anyone else when one stumble could prove disastrous.<\/p>\n Ben had spotted the strange cavalcade and he was waiting at the bottom as Hoss came to a halt, deciding there was little point going any further, they had a flat area to lower the stretcher from and there was room for men to receive it, with nothing obvious to prevent the stretcher going down. They laid the stretcher down gently and Joe went on down to the ropes to pull up three more strong ropes, while Hoss explained to Adam what they intended doing. They would lower the stretcher as carefully as they could but Hoss was scared they\u2019d be unable to prevent it bumping against the wall, inevitably hurting his brother.<\/p>\n Adam smiled, \u201cWhatever Hoss, be easier than coming up.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss ruffled his hair gently, \u201cStill don\u2019t know how the heck you managed that brother.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFire\u2019s a great incentive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank God you did. Just rest a minute, while we get things ready.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDrink.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss got his canteen and gave Adam a long drink. Adam closed his eyes and tried to ignore all his pain, not wanting to scare his father, knowing he was waiting below. He knew that his father hadn\u2019t completely recovered, still low on stamina after a long worrying night.<\/p>\n Hoss and Joe had to tie Adam onto the stretcher, avoiding his back with care, as they ensured that he couldn\u2019t fall out or the stretcher collapse as they lowered it. They doubled every rope to be sure and finally sat back with it as safe as they could make it and two ropes ready to lower it, which they would take themselves.<\/p>\n Joe was scared, it looked a long way down and they had so little control but it had to be done. Adam opened his eyes, \u201cGo ahead brothers. I can\u2019t fall out of this cocoon, be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe forced a grin, \u201cSure you will Adam. We\u2019ll send you down to Pa and then climb down the hard way and rejoin you.\u201d<\/p>\n Then with a prayer he and Hoss took hold of the ropes and with help from Jack and Stevens lowered the stretcher over the edge. They couldn\u2019t help banging it on the edge and all the men tensed as Adam cried out in pain, even though it was swiftly cut off. Joe and Hoss lent out as far as they dared while Jack and Stevens hung onto their legs, to try and stop it banging against the side and they tried to pay the ropes out evenly to keep it level. The strain on them was enormous and once Joe couldn\u2019t help the rope slipping a whole coil and the foot of the stretcher fell fast, jolting Adam badly. He couldn\u2019t help himself screaming and his family all lost colour. Joe blaming himself bitterly wasn\u2019t even aware of the tears on his face as he concentrated on not letting it happen again. The next problem was that the stretcher began swaying, twisting and whatever they did was just making it worse. Well above the heads of the men waiting for it, it banged against the wall, hard and Adam cried out again but he had sufficient control of himself to reach out with his uninjured arm to a handhold on the rock to steady it. Hoss and Joe saw what he was doing and they held the stretcher as still as they could not lowering it until Adam had it steadied, trying to ignore the pain in his back at even that limited use of his muscles. Joe looked over at Hoss, \u201cHow can he with those burns?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoes what he has to little brother, you should be used to it.\u201d<\/p>\n The seeing Adam let go the brothers continued lowering it until with relief they saw the many waiting hands take hold of the stretcher. They let the ropes go as soon as the stretcher<\/p>\n was lifted clear and then sat back on the ledge. Joe especially was trembling, every muscle in his body feeling weak after the sheer physical effort of holding the rope, apart from the mental pressure, and Hoss wasn\u2019t much better. Both were grateful for the brandy that Jack gave them and Joe sluiced water over his head, surprised to find his cheeks wet. Even so it was nearly five minutes before they felt up to facing the climb down.<\/p>\n Ben had yelled up to see if they were alright but once Hoss confirmed that they were fine Ben concentrated on his eldest son. The damage to his left hand and the pain he was suffering were very evident, but it wasn\u2019t until Ben had very gently untied some of the ropes and removed the tent over his back that he could see the extent of the injuries.\u00a0\u00a0Now the reason for Joe\u2019s state was very clear and Ben was shaken, even though he\u2019d expected trouble. Adam, almost more worried about his father than himself, forced a smile and getting control of his voice with an effort he said, \u201cI\u2019m okay Pa. Looks a mess but everything still working.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust rest Adam, we\u2019ll look after you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure Pa, take it easy too, you\u2019re not fit.\u201d His son\u2019s concern for him despite his very obvious pain was almost Ben\u2019s undoing but he concentrated on practicalities and got some broth and persuaded Adam to drink a little after another long drink. By the time Adam had finished his brothers had joined him. Joe tried to apologise for letting the rope slip but Adam just smiled \u201cForget it Joe, hell of a strain on you. I\u2019m down that\u2019s all that matters.\u201d Then he closed his eyes and dozed off for a few minutes, grateful to be still.<\/p>\n Once he was asleep his family were faced with the problems of moving him home. However much they padded a wagon it was going to be rough, there was noway to avoid him being jolted. Joe suggested trying to sling a stretcher clear of the wagon but with only ones they had available it wasn\u2019t easy to see how they could do it, They toyed with the idea of slinging a stretcher between two horses but it didn\u2019t seem likely to be any easier than the wagon. Ben could only suggest letting Adam sleep for as long as he would, feed him some more laudanum and pray.<\/p>\n Adam only slept for an hour and then to his family\u2019s horror he had his own ideas about travelling home, simply stating that nothing would get him into a jolting wagon, he would ride his own black stallion. None of them had even considered that possibility and their initial reaction was identical, he couldn\u2019t do it. Adam just looked stubborn and ignoring their protests he asked for a drink. Joe knelt down and helped his brother to have a drink. Once he\u2019d had all he wanted Adam said, \u201cGet some gauze or something Joe and find me a shirt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLittle brother that wagon will jolt; hurt a lot more than riding. You can lead him if you like, fastest way, I want to get home.\u201d Adam bit his lip, close to breaking down and Joe seeing that gave way, \u201cEasy brother, you try and rest and I\u2019ll persuade Pa for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam looked up at that and Joe nodded, smiling down at him, reinforced in his determination by the gratitude in Adam\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n Joe went back to Ben and Hoss to find his big brother already half convinced. He had seen how difficult Adam found the stretcher and maybe Adam was right if he could sit up he could at last move with Blackie, so used to his own stallion. Ben wasn\u2019t at all sure it was a very long way and even if Adam could sit up to start with he didn\u2019t know how far his son could go, Joe agreed but as he said they would only be walking the horses and the wagon could follow them, be there if they needed it. He went on \u201cHe\u2019s very determined and he\u2019s not well enough to argue with. He\u2019s always hated wagons and maybe it\u2019s the easiest if he can manage it, we can lead Blackie and he\u2019s very smooth.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss looked over at Adam, \u201cOnly upset him Pa. Guess we don\u2019t have much choice, he\u2019s got that stubborn look.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow is he going to mount?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUse a mounting block and with help. Sure it\u2019s gonna hurt but that wagon is gonna be hell.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben gave way and helped Joe spread light gauze over Adam\u2019s back and then very gently got a shirt on him, not attempting to tuck it in or do it up, just loosely tying it at the front with string. Adam had managed to sit up with Hoss\u2019 help and bore their ministrations in tight lipped silence but by the time Ben had finished his son was soaked in sweat, the pain very obvious. Ben couldn\u2019t help himself; kneeling down by Adam he wiped his face \u201cWon\u2019t you think again Adam, you aren\u2019t well enough to ride.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe Homecoming<\/a><\/span>
\nHome to Stay<\/a><\/span>
\nHoneymoon and Arguments<\/a><\/span>
\nJoe and Marie<\/a><\/span>
\nAdam and Carole<\/a><\/span>
\nA European Trip<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Aftermath<\/a><\/span>
\nA Busy Summer<\/a><\/span>
\nA Tree Falls<\/a><\/span>
\nSan Fracisco Trip<\/a><\/span>
\nA Stranger from the Past<\/a><\/span>
\nA Sense of Blame<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Medicine Man<\/a><\/span>
\nCourtship and Cattle Drives<\/a><\/span>
\nAngels with Red Hair?<\/a><\/span>
\nThieves and Murderers<\/a><\/span>
\nPipeline Problems<\/a><\/span>
\nGuests for Christmas<\/a><\/span>
\nA Turbulent Preacher<\/a><\/span>
\nJoe and Nita<\/a><\/span>
\nBen and Beth<\/a><\/span>
\nBanks, Pipelines, and Railroads<\/a><\/span>
\nLost<\/a><\/span>
\nA New Operation<\/a><\/span>
\nA Slow Recovery<\/a><\/span>
\nCelebrations<\/a><\/span>
\nForest Fire<\/a><\/span>
\nA Premature Birth<\/a>
\n<\/span>The Bank of California<\/a>
\nTrail Drive<\/a><\/span>
\nRobbery and Assault<\/a><\/span>
\nVirginia City on Fire<\/a><\/span>
\nRebuilding Virginia City<\/a><\/span>
\nCatching Up<\/a><\/span>
\nChristenings, Commissions, and Christmas<\/a><\/span>
\nWinter Ills<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #2 \u2013 Advance Warning<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #3 – Family Row #1<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #4 \u2013 Family Row #2<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #5 \u2013 Family Row #3<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #6 \u2013 The Spanish Land Grant #1<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #7 \u2013 The Spanish Land Grant #2 – Court Hearing<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #8 \u2013 The Spanish Land Grant #3 – Knight Errant<\/a>
\nThe Lawyer #9 – The Spanish Land Grant #4 – The Long Journey Home<\/a>
\nThe Lawyer #10 – The Spanish Land Grant #5 – Troy’s Last Stand<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\nForest Fire<\/strong><\/p>\n