{"id":7131,"date":"2003-06-18T15:08:59","date_gmt":"2003-06-18T19:08:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7131"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:07:53","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:07:53","slug":"alone-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7131","title":{"rendered":"Alone (by Rona)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>After an accident, Joe finds himself facing a long wait for possible rescue, alone and injured, while his family race time and the weather to find him.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 K+ (9,795 words)<\/p>\n

Alone Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alone<\/a>
\nLearning Lesson<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Alone<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For one hideous instant before it happened, Joe knew he was going to fall. There was nothing he could do about it, and he didn\u2019t even have time to try and relax his muscles. Then it was too late and he fell down and down, until, mercifully, blackness took him before he hit bottom.<\/p>\n

It was the rain on his face that brought Joe back to consciousness. He had no idea how long he\u2019d been out for, and he lay there, unmoving, for several minutes, feeling too pulped to do anything. Then memory returned, and he remembered the fall down into the ravine, and he tried to move. Pain shot through his body and he groaned aloud.<\/p>\n

Gradually, the pain settled until it was concentrated in his left leg. Moving slowly and carefully, Joe sat up, closing his eyes until the world stopped spinning crazily on its axis. Bits of Joe ached, and he guessed he would have a motley collection of bruises to show for his fall. He wasn\u2019t too concerned about them. His main worry was his leg, and as he forced his eyes to focus, he realised, with a pang of fear in his gut, that the leg was broken.<\/p>\n

Breathing deeply, Joe forced himself to remain calm. Panicking would get him nowhere, he reasoned, trying to kid himself that he wasn\u2019t in a dire situation. He was 20 miles from home at the least, and wasn\u2019t expected back for several days. He would have to try and get himself home somehow.<\/p>\n

Looking round to take stock of the situation more thoroughly, Joe\u2019s heart sank when he saw the carcass of his horse lying about 10 feet away. The animal\u2019s neck was clearly broken, and Joe was only thankful that he hadn\u2019t been riding his beloved Cochise that day. But no horse could have kept its feet as the trail suddenly crumbled away. Joe shuddered as he remembered the moment he knew he was going to fall, and he resolutely forced his mind away from the thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf my saddlebags are still there,\u201d Joe muttered to himself, \u201cI might have a chance.\u201d Galvanised by the thought, Joe started to drag himself along the ground, but a shattering pain in his leg forced him to stop. He sat and panted until he had caught his breath and the pain had subsided slightly. He wiped rain and sweat from his face, and it was only then that he realised that he had a head injury, too. His hand came away red with blood.<\/p>\n

But Joe didn\u2019t have a reputation for being stubborn for no reason. He set himself the goal of reaching his dead horse, and took it inch by inch, enduring the pain it caused him, because he knew he needed the food, rain slicker and blanket he\u2019d been carrying on the horse. When he reached the horse, he was exhausted, and he reckoned that it had taken him over three hours to make the 10 feet. The rain had poured down continuously, and Joe was soaked through.<\/p>\n

Leaning against the bulk of his horse, Joe wondered how on earth he was going to find the energy to get into some sort of shelter. For he knew he had to have shelter and a fire, or he wouldn\u2019t survive the night and he was already exhausted. Fumbling with the ties of his saddle bags with frozen fingers, he finally got them free. He wrapped his bedroll round his shoulders and drew his rain slicker on over the top. He felt slightly warmer. After resting again, he hunted around for his canteen and was hugely relieved to spot it lying a few feet away.<\/p>\n

After retrieving it, a feat which took almost all his remaining energy, Joe looked around for somewhere he could shelter. There was a dry spot under the rocky overhang of the ravine side, but Joe didn\u2019t want to go there. That was the side of the ravine where he had fallen from, and he wasn\u2019t convinced that he would be safe there.<\/p>\n

The only other place he could see was a large tree, whose branches shaded the area. It was a good distance away, and Joe cringed from the effort it would take to get there. He was exhausted, his muscles shaking from exhaustion as well as cold, and the pain in his leg was taking its toll, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cEat something,\u201d Joe told himself, although he felt slightly queasy at the thought. \u201cYou must eat, or you won\u2019t be able to do this,\u201d he chided himself, and pulled some jerky from his bags. He had some fresh food with him, but needed a fire to cook it. After eyeing the unappetising dry strip, he resolutely tore off a bit with his teeth and chewed. \u201cI hate jerky,\u201d he muttered to himself. Once he had finished eating, he leant against a rock and closed his eyes for a moment. He was asleep in seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat sure is some rain,\u201d Adam complained as he came into the house. He took off his slicker and shook it. Drops of water flew in every direction, and Hoss, who was already comfortably ensconced in front of the fire, exclaimed, \u201cHey, watch it!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry,\u201d Adam responded, and hung the slicker up behind the door. \u201cWhere is everyone?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa\u2019s still in town,\u201d Hoss replied, \u201can\u2019 if he\u2019s got any sense, he\u2019ll stay there tonight, an\u2019 not come home. An\u2019 Joe\u2019s still away. He ain\u2019t expected home till tomorrow at the earliest.\u201d He looked at the tide-mark of damp on Adam\u2019s black pants. \u201cYou better get changed,\u201d he suggested. \u201cYou\u2019ll catch yore death o\u2019 cold in them wet things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you thought I was going to sit down here in wet pants, you really don\u2019t know me that well, brother,\u201d Adam replied sarcastically. \u201cHow long till supper?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLong enough fer you ta get changed,\u201d Hoss said, placidly. \u201cProvidin\u2019 you don\u2019 take all night that is. I ain\u2019t waitin\u2019 too long. I\u2019m getting\u2019 plumb puny sittin\u2019 here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou look it,\u201d Adam jested, climbing the stairs.<\/p>\n

Hoss ignored him.<\/p>\n

The rain was still coming down in stair rods when Adam bolted the front door for the night. Hoss had gone up to bed an hour or so earlier, but Adam had been reading, and hadn\u2019t noticed the passage of time until the clock struck midnight. It was obvious that Ben had decided to stay in town that night, and as he locked the door, Adam spared a thought for his youngest sibling, who was having to endure this weather camped out somewhere along the trail home from Reno, where he had been conducting some business for the ranch. He hoped Joe had found somewhere sheltered to spend the night.<\/p>\n

Joe had no idea how long he had slept, but the light was going when he slowly woke. For a moment, he hoped it had all been a horrible dream, but the rain still running onto his face told him that this nightmare was true. Sitting up slowly, Joe looked around, trying to remember what he had been doing when he fell asleep. When his eye fell on the tree, he remembered, but for several more minutes, he just sat there in the rain, looking at it. The thought of moving, and causing himself more pain, was almost too much for him. \u201cI don\u2019t know if I can do this!\u201d he cried aloud, uncaring that the only living things around were the wild creatures.<\/p>\n

Shaking himself, he began to drag his injured body across the ground towards the tree. Each inch he gained cost him untold agony, and by the time he reached his goal, he was sobbing steadily, and completely unaware of doing it.<\/p>\n

Sheltered from the rain at last, Joe leant wearily against the tree. He knew he couldn\u2019t afford to go to sleep without building a fire first. He would die from exposure if he did that. Sighing, Joe stripped off the soaked slicker and tipped the water from his hat brim. He hugged the damp bedroll closer to himself as he scrabbled around the base of the tree for the fallen branches lying there. Before long, he had enough to keep a fire burning through the night, and set about laboriously lighting the fire.<\/p>\n

Once the fire was established, Joe rummaged through his saddlebags for dry clothes. He spread his bedroll by the fire to warm and dry it, and slid out of his wet shirt. There was a tiny towel in amongst his clothes, and he used it to dry as much of himself as he could. It felt good to get into dry clothes, although when it came to his pants, Joe was unsure what he should do.<\/p>\n

He tugged off his right boot quite easily, but knew that getting the other boot off might be more than he could manage. Yet, he knew that if his leg swelled, and the swelling was restricted by his boot, he might end up losing the leg at best, or dying at worst. Swallowing resolutely, Joe set about cutting his boot off.<\/p>\n

Later, he had no idea how often he had to stop as the pain became too bad, but finally, the boot lay free of his leg, and Joe got his first look at his injury by the light of the fire. It was fully dark by then, but the flickering firelight provided Joe with enough illumination to see that the break was serious. The broken ends of the bone poked through the skin of his shin, and the wound had clearly been bleeding. Joe wrapped the towel loosely around the wound, hoping that would keep it clean. He split the leg of his pants to get them off, and did the same to his dry ones before slipping them on.<\/p>\n

Exhausted, he rolled his bedroll around himself and snuggled down by the fire. Out in the darkness, the rain continued to patter against the canopy of leaves that gave him shelter. The pain in Joe\u2019s leg was worse, now that he had exhausted himself. He wondered how long it would be before he was found. The answer \u2013 days \u2013 wasn\u2019t comforting.<\/p>\n

It was some time before Joe slept.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, at least the rain\u2019s gone off,\u201d Adam commented as he ate his breakfast. \u201cWe might get a start on the branding today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt ain\u2019t gonna be nice,\u201d Hoss grumbled. \u201cThe ground\u2019s soaked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we can\u2019t help that,\u201d Adam replied, philosophically. \u201cThe herd\u2019s been cooped up down there for the past few days and we need to get this done. Once the weather clears properly, we\u2019ll be into haying.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe ain\u2019t gonna git it done sittin\u2019 here,\u201d said Hoss, decisively. He cleared his plate and rose to his feet. \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m right behind you, brother,\u201d Adam answered, gulping the last of his coffee.<\/p>\n

Morning brought no joy for Joe. He had slept badly between the cold and the pain and he wasn\u2019t feeling very well. He was suffering from mild exposure, after his soaking the day before, and although the fire and food had helped him, he was increasingly at risk. The damp had crept into his body through the blanket over night, and what Joe needed most was a warm, dry bed. Normally, a soaking wouldn\u2019t have affected a healthy young man, but with the added complication of his badly broken leg, Joe was feeling the wet weather.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got to eat,\u201d Joe muttered, as he built up the fire again. He rested, then checked his supplies. He had enough food for at least another day, but when he shook the canteen, he realised that his water was dwindling fast.<\/p>\n

Leaning back against the tree, Joe knew he would have to get water. He could ration his food slightly, and eke it out longer, and probably could get some game. But he had to have water, and that involved moving about hunting for it. It was a bleak prospect. Every movement sent shivers of pain through his leg, and Joe could see that it had swollen a great deal overnight.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need water,\u201d Joe told himself. \u201cI\u2019ve got to get water.\u201d He looked round, hoping to see something that would help him, and his eye fell on two of the branches he\u2019d gathered for his fire. They were long and fairly straight, and Joe realised that he could use them as a make-shift splint for his leg. He obviously couldn\u2019t set such a bad break himself, but if he could stabilise it slightly, perhaps the pain might not be so bad.<\/p>\n

Cutting strips out of his pants leg, Joe set about fashioning the splint. By the time the final cloth strip was tied around the branches and his leg, Joe was shaking from the pain. Flopping back against the tree, Joe shut his eyes and breathed hard though his mouth until the pain began to settle slightly. Still sitting there, he fell asleep.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was some rain,\u201d Ben commented, as he joined his sons by the branding pens. The air was filled with the cries of the calves as they were separated from their mothers, thrown to the ground and then branded. The smell of searing cowhide wasn\u2019t pleasant, but the Cartwrights were used to it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe thought you\u2019d decide to stay in town,\u201d Adam commented. \u201cHow was the Cattleman\u2019s meeting?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, much the same as usual,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cWe finished a bit earlier than normal, but when I saw the weather, I just went and checked myself into the hotel.\u201d He glanced up at the darkening sky. \u201cI hope the rain holds off. Joe will get terribly held up if it doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat trail ain\u2019t a good place when its wet,\u201d Hoss observed. He, too, glanced at the sky. \u201cI reckon we ought ta git this done afore the rain comes on, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Ben said. \u201cThat\u2019ll be one less job to do.\u201d He crossed to his horse and mounted up. \u201cI\u2019ll see you at supper, boys. Perhaps Joe will be home by then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t count on it,\u201d Adam commented. \u201cI think it\u2019ll be tomorrow before he gets back, at the earliest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe,\u201d Ben responded. He lifted a hand and rode off.<\/p>\n

The splint didn\u2019t make as much difference as Joe had hoped, but he couldn\u2019t let that deter him. He had to have water, and he wouldn\u2019t find it sitting on his behind under the tree. Finding another long limb, Joe used it as a walking stick, and hopped his way painfully over the uneven ground.<\/p>\n

This was the first time he had seen the ravine from his feet. It was quite broad, and had a lot of grass and some trees in it. The big sycamore tree he was sheltering under dominated the landscape. A flash of a white scut showed Joe that getting game wouldn\u2019t be too hard. But first, he had to get water.<\/p>\n

A stream ran along the far wall of the ravine, and Joe made his laborious way over to it. By the time he reached the cool, refreshing water, he was soaked in sweat and trembling from the exertion. Flopping to the ground, he lay back and closed his eyes for a minute while he caught his breath. When his breathing was back to normal, he leaned over and drank straight from the stream. The water was icy cold and took his breath away, but he relished it.<\/p>\n

Once his canteen was filled, Joe washed his face, seeing the dried blood swirl away on the current. The stream was high after the previous night\u2019s rain, but it didn\u2019t show any signs of bursting its banks, for which Joe was truly thankful. If the ravine should flood, he had nowhere to go.<\/p>\n

Later, Joe wasn\u2019t sure how long he sat by the water, but as the sky began to darken, and threaten rain once more, he reluctantly struggled to his feet to make the journey back to his camp. On the way, he went back to the body of his horse and retrieved his rifle and ammunition. He wanted to take the saddle, so that it wouldn\u2019t be ruined by the rain, but there was no way he could carry it, so he just had to leave it. He saw, with distaste that a bit of one of the animal\u2019s legs had been eaten by predators. Well, that was nature\u2019s way. Nothing was wasted.<\/p>\n

Slowly, he hopped back to his tree, and before he allowed himself to settle down again, he made himself go round collecting the fallen branches for his fire. The less walking he had to do, the better, he reasoned.<\/p>\n

Seated once more by the fire, Joe kept an eye out for game, and a while later was rewarded when he shot dead a rabbit. He skinned the creature and spitted the meat for his meal, but as he watched it cook, he realised that he was exhausted. The pain was taking a huge toll on his stamina, and Joe guessed that he was extremely lucky that his head injury hadn\u2019t given him a bad concussion, too. He sipped at his water, and decided that the next day, he would only move to get water, and would use only the food in his saddlebags. His physical resources were scarily finite, and he had to keep alive until such times as his family came looking for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really thought Joe would have been home tonight,\u201d Ben said, as he and his sons relaxed in front of the fire. It was raining again outside, and the fire felt good. \u201cThe weather must have held him up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid he say for sure that he would be home today?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Ben admitted. \u201cThe wire I got just told me he was leaving Reno, and I just figured that today was the day he was most likely to get here.\u201d Ben didn\u2019t like to admit that he had had a bad feeling all day about Joe. He knew that his youngest son would have been slowed down by the rain, but logic didn\u2019t quiet the voice of his intuition.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf he had any sense,\u201d Adam muttered, \u201che\u2019ll have found somewhere to hole up till the weather clears.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Joe we\u2019re talkin\u2019 about here,\u201d Hoss parried jokingly. \u201cHe ain\u2019t got no sense.\u201d He laughed at his own joke.<\/p>\n

Adam laughed, too, but Ben stayed silent. His mind wasn\u2019t in the room with his sons, it was somewhere out in the wet and dark, with Joe. He was becoming more and more uneasy about his youngest son\u2019s absence, and vowed to go looking for him come daylight, regardless of what anyone thought. He didn\u2019t even care if he met Joe an hour\u2019s ride down the trail, just as long as Joe was safe. That disquieting little voice that alerted parents to illness or danger for their children would not be silenced.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d Adam repeated, louder this time and Ben shook himself out of his reverie.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d he asked, aware that he had missed something.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said, you aren\u2019t really concerned about Joe are you? I\u2019m sure he\u2019s all right.\u201d Adam frowned at Ben. \u201cHe\u2019s just been held up by the weather.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, probably,\u201d Ben muttered. He glanced at his sons, and saw they were both watching him, neither one fooled for a moment by his assumed nonchalance.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are worried,\u201d Hoss stated, flatly. \u201cYou think somethin\u2019s happened to Joe, don\u2019 cha?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Ben admitted. \u201cI don\u2019t know why, but I\u2019m very uneasy. In the morning, I\u2019m going to look for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen so are we,\u201d Adam insisted, and Ben smiled at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d he said, simply.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s second day in the ravine passed much as the first. He made an effort to get fresh water but found, to his dismay that he tired more quickly this time. It took him hours to just get water. The pain in his leg was constant, and when he looked, he saw that his leg had swelled even more, and he was forced to remove the splint. For a time, that helped, but then the sickly throbbing returned, and Joe had a closer look.<\/p>\n

His leg was infected. Joe knew he was in for an even harder time of it. He forced himself to rest and conserve his strength, but he had to have wood for the fire and he had to have water, and both those things could only be obtained if he moved about.<\/p>\n

For the first time, Joe allowed himself to despair. He was finding the loneliness difficult to deal with. Never before had he been alone with a serious injury, and little prospect of being found. He had no one to talk to apart from himself, and no living creature to derive comfort from. \u201cOh, please, God, help me!\u201d he cried and burst into tears.<\/p>\n

When the tears had stopped, Joe sat up, feeling thoroughly ashamed of himself. What good did crying do? he demanded, and was surprised to find he felt a little better after the catharsis of tears. Joe took a drink and lay back, hoping to be able to sleep.<\/p>\n

However, his mind was too active for sleep, and Joe found himself thinking about the cry he had just made to God. Normally, Joe didn\u2019t think overly much about religion. He believed in God and said his prayers, but he wondered now just how much of a ritual his praying had become. He tended to just repeat the Lord\u2019s Prayer and not add anything else. But now, when trouble had come to him, he cried out to God.<\/p>\n

Puzzled, Joe thought about this. It took his mind off his leg, and the growing malaise he felt. All his life, Joe had had bible stories read to him, and he had loved those stories. Samuel, Daniel, David and Goliath and Noah had been among his favourites. He realised that in all those stories, the person had trusted implicitly in God to save them.<\/p>\n

With a start, another story from Daniel came to him. The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace. They had stood firm for their belief in God. However, the part which stuck in Joe\u2019s mind was when they said, \u201cEven if God does not lift his hand to save me, I believe in him.\u201d As a child, Joe had been puzzled by this, until Ben had explained to him that the three men believed that if God thought they should die, then that would be what happened. God was not at their beck and call. They believed in him absolutely and believed that his judgement was best.<\/p>\n

\u201cLord, please, help me get out of this,\u201d Joe prayed. \u201cI know I shouldn\u2019t be afraid, but I am, Lord. I\u2019m alone and afraid. Please help me. I do believe in You, and whatever You will for me be done. Amen.\u201d<\/p>\n

As darkness came down once more, Joe found his mind lingering on the bible stories where one man had to endure alone. Recalling them helped him endure alone, until sleep finally laid claim to him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Shortly after dawn, Ben, Adam and Hoss set out to look for Joe. Ben was driving the wagon, and Adam and Hoss were mounted. Ben had packed some food and blankets into the back of the wagon, and was praying that he didn\u2019t need them. But with every hour that had passed, his unease had grown, and he had found himself up and dressed long before dawn broke. Not far behind him came his sons, and they broke their fast early and made their preparations.<\/p>\n

The weather seemed to be clearing at last, after the rain of the last few days, and it looked as though the weather was going to set fair again. \u201cDying up just in time for haying,\u201d Adam observed, as a distraction.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t work. Ben simply smiled and nodded, and Adam guessed that Ben hadn\u2019t heard anything that he had said. Ben\u2019s gaze was mostly fixed on the distance, and he knew that his father was hoping that he would spot Joe riding towards them, and see the cheeky grin before his youngest brother told them they were fussing over nothing. Adam knew this, because he was hoping the same thing. But they rode on, and there was no sign of Joe anywhere.<\/p>\n

At noon, they broke for a quick, cold lunch. None of them ate very much. Even if Joe had been slowed down by the weather, they ought to have met up with him by then. Scary possibilities began to present themselves for inspection in the quiet of their minds. Had Joe been held up? Had his horse cast a shoe? Or had he met with an accident? They didn\u2019t have an answer for any of those questions.<\/p>\n

After only a short break, Ben pushed on. When night fell, the rain had been falling for hours and they still hadn\u2019t found Joe.
\n________________________________________
\nWhen the third day dawned, Joe woke and gazed round dully. His whole body ached, his head was thumping and there was a nasty taste in his mouth. Reaching for the canteen, Joe was shocked to discover that his hand was shaking. He took a drink, careful not to spill any of the precious liquid, for he knew he wouldn\u2019t be able to get more water for himself that day.<\/p>\n

He fed the few sticks he had left to the fire and wrapped the bedroll round him. He was freezing, shivering with cold. \u201cI guess I\u2019m sick,\u201d he told himself hoarsely. His throat was scratchy, despite the water, but Joe didn\u2019t drink any more. He lapsed into a half-sleep, where he dreamed that he was at home once more.<\/p>\n

Jerking awake, Joe threw the blanket off. He was so hot, why had he wrapped himself in the blanket? He inched a little further away from the small fire. It was hot! Had the sun come out? Joe turned his head slowly and peered beyond the canopy of trees. The sun was shining, but there was a hard quality to the light that suggested more rain to Joe.<\/p>\n

Around about mid-afternoon, Joe had a period of lucidity, which made him realise how unwell he had been earlier in the day. It was raining again by then, and the soft pattering of the rain on the canopy of leaves had a soporific effect on the injured youth. Joe\u2019s thoughts were on his family.<\/p>\n

He wondered how they would react when they found his body \u2013 if they ever did. Of course, they would all grieve. Hoss and Ben would be the most able to share their grief, Joe thought. Adam would probably bottle it up inside, as he did a lot of things. How would Ben cope with another tragedy? Joe wondered. Could his father, once more, say \u201cThy will be done,\u201d and mean it?<\/p>\n

Deep within himself, Joe had found a core of belief in God, which gave him comfort. But he didn\u2019t know how he would react if he lost the people he loved. His greatest fear in life was that Ben would die, and Joe would find out that he was just a child, forever destined to be looked after by someone else; that his fa\u00e7ade of adulthood would be stripped away to reveal the truth beneath. What Joe didn\u2019t realise was that the truth beneath was that he was a man, not a boy, and he would prove to himself over time that he could deal with everything life sent him, and come out whole and strong. At that point, Joe didn\u2019t know how self-reliant and strong he was. He only knew that he wanted his father and brothers more at that moment than he had ever wanted anyone or anything. He didn\u2019t realise that he had been caring for himself with a self-sufficiency that many an older person might envy.<\/p>\n

As his temperature rose again, Joe slipped back into that half-sleep, where a shadowy figure of a woman stroked his brow and sang lullabies to him.
\n________________________________________
\nIf anything, the next day was wetter yet. Silently, the Cartwrights cleared up their camp and headed out. Adam was leading the way, ranging far from the track as he looked for any signs the rain might have left that his brother had passed that way.<\/p>\n

Pulling Sport to a halt, Adam surveyed the steep track in front of him. Would Joe have traversed it? He wasn\u2019t sure. Then he remembered that Joe would have been coming up, and Adam dismounted and started forward, leading his mount. Moments later, he scrambled backwards, as the path crumbled beneath his feet.<\/p>\n

Strong hands hauled him to safety, and Adam looked at Hoss gratefully. \u201cThanks, brother,\u201d he panted. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t have wanted to fall down there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 face was white and pinched from Adam\u2019s near accident. \u201cYa don\u2019 think\u2026\u201d he ventured, hesitantly.<\/p>\n

At once, Adam knew what was in Hoss\u2019 mind, and he pulled himself from his brother\u2019s grasp to peer at the trail. There was another bit, further down, that had clearly fallen in the last few days. Fear gripped Adam\u2019s heart, and, like Hoss, he was suddenly convinced that Joe was in that ravine.<\/p>\n

Taking the rope from his saddle, Adam quickly tied it around his waist while Hoss secured it to the saddle horn. Going as close to the edge as he could, Adam shouted, \u201cJoe!\u201d Silence. \u201cJoe!\u201d he cried again, going a bit nearer, and peering through the sheets of rain to the ravine bottom. \u201cJoe! Can you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n

By now, Ben had caught them up, and Hoss explained what they were thinking. Fear leapt into Ben\u2019s brown eyes and he swallowed convulsively. \u201cThe stream in there is really high,\u201d Adam said, coming over. \u201cIt could burst its banks at any time. I\u2019d better go down and have a look.\u201d<\/p>\n

He and Hoss began to tie all their ropes together. Ben put his hand on his son\u2019s shoulder. \u201cAdam,\u201d he whispered, and Adam paused to look at his father.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be careful,\u201d he promised.
\n________________________________________
\nIt wasn\u2019t easy finding a place where Adam could go over the edge, but they did find one at last. Hand over hand, Hoss played out the rope, and he and Ben watched anxiously until they couldn\u2019t see Adam for the overhang of the rocks. \u201cI\u2019m down!\u201d Adam called, finally, his voice faint.<\/p>\n

There was a breathless wait, as Adam began to pick his way along the ravine. The stream there was roaring, and Adam wasn\u2019t sure if his voice was carrying up to his family at all. Suddenly, Adam came across the carcass of Joe\u2019s horse. The saddle was still strapped round the animal\u2019s belly, but it had been nibbled. A good deal of the horse had been eaten as well, and Adam swallowed the bile that rose in his throat at the sight of it. He felt a surge of emotion, but couldn\u2019t tell if it was hope or fear.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve found his horse!\u201d he cried, and a moment later, heard Ben\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet!\u201d he called back, and set off again.<\/p>\n

It seemed to Adam that the thing Joe would have needed most was shelter and he made for the only shelter in sight, the huge sycamore tree dominating the ravine. He half expected to hear Joe\u2019s voice, but the only sound was the water. Adam cast an anxious glance at it, and saw that it had risen again since he came down. He hurried his steps.<\/p>\n

Under the overhang of the tree, he found Joe. His brother was unconscious, burning with fever. The ashes of his fire were still warm, but his canteen was empty. Kneeling by Joe, Adam shook him gently, but Joe didn\u2019t stir, apart from to groan.<\/p>\n

Relief and anxiety warred within Adam. Joe was alive, but he was badly injured. Adam could see the head wound, and when he spied the discarded boot, he looked at Joe\u2019s leg, wincing when he saw the festering injury and the bones sticking through the skin.<\/p>\n

Rushing back into the open, Adam cried, \u201cI\u2019ve found him! He\u2019s alive!\u201d
\n________________________________________
\nGetting Joe out of the ravine was going to be difficult. Adam decided that he had better tie Joe to himself. That way, he could be pulled up by Hoss, and Adam could protect Joe\u2019s injuries as best he could. It wasn\u2019t an ideal situation, but as the water in the creek was rising fast, they had no option.<\/p>\n

First of all, Adam sent up Joe\u2019s saddlebags, rifle and the saddle from the horse. When the rope came down again, Adam wrapped Joe more firmly in the blanket and tied the rope from Joe\u2019s saddle round Joe before hoisting his brother into his arms, and making the other rope secure around himself too.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s first attempt to climb the wall failed. Joe\u2019s head was bouncing uncomfortably backwards, and Adam was terrified he would bang his head on the rocks. So he re-thought his strategy and changed Joe\u2019s position. Now, Joe\u2019s head rested heavily on Adam\u2019s shoulder, where Adam could protect it should it be necessary.<\/p>\n

\u201cOk, ready,\u201d he called. Hoss took up the slack, and Adam began his climb.<\/p>\n

They were no more than a foot from the ground when Adam heard the sound he\u2019d been dreading. There was a huge roar, and with a crash, the ravine became a river. Adam was swept round to collide painfully with the rocks, protecting Joe as best he could. Water broke over their heads, and Adam spluttered to catch his breath.<\/p>\n

The water brought Joe to consciousness, and he coughed and gasped for breath as the first force of the water subsided slightly, and Adam managed to catch his breath. \u201cEasy, Joe,\u201d he panted. \u201cI\u2019ll get you out of this.\u201d<\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t entirely sure that his promise could be kept. There would be more water coming any moment, and Adam had to get them higher up, or they would both drown. Fighting the heaviness of the water, and the pain in his side, Adam began to climb. After a moment, there was a steady pull on the rope, helping him along.<\/p>\n

When the second wave of water came, they were high enough to escape it.
\n________________________________________
\nThe world had taken on a nightmarish quality to Joe. He coughed the water from his lungs and tried not to groan. Adam panted out reassurances when he could find the breath, but that wasn\u2019t very often. However, Joe was too ill to struggle against the confinement of his limbs. His head throbbed so hard he could barely see and his leg was just misery.<\/p>\n

At long last, loving hands brought them to safety and Joe forced his eyes open. \u201cPa?\u201d he whispered, unable to believe his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m here, Joseph,\u201d Ben said, huskily. He was horrified by the way his son looked. Joe\u2019s skin was waxen, his colour poor. As they disentangled the ropes that bound his sons together, Ben discovered for himself Joe\u2019s head wound and broken leg. He and Hoss looked at it for a long moment, silently, before they gently lifted Joe and placed him in the back of the wagon.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you all right, Adam?\u201d Ben asked, going back to where his eldest son still sprawled on the wet ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve hurt my side,\u201d Adam admitted, reluctantly. The crash off the wall of the ravine had done more damage than he had first thought, and the climb the rest of the way up had just compounded it. \u201cI think I might have broken some ribs.\u201d His face was pale and drawn and breathing was difficult.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get you in the wagon, too,\u201d Ben suggested. They had put the cover on the wagon at the first signs of rain and Ben was very glad that they had. Together, he and Hoss helped Adam carefully to his feet, and assisted him into the wagon.<\/p>\n

While Ben tended to his brothers, Hoss quickly made ready to leave. He stripped the saddles from their horses and passed them into the wagon for his brothers to lean against. Then he hitched the horses to the back of the wagon and climbed onto the seat. \u201cAll ready, Pa?\u201d he asked, his face grim.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Ben responded. \u201cBut take it slow and easy, son.\u201d
\n________________________________________
\nIt was a nightmare journey home. Hoss kept the team at a walk, although his every instinct told him to race them. Joe drifted in and out of consciousness, and Hoss suffered agonies of guilt as his younger brother cried out at every jolt of the wagon.<\/p>\n

Tending to Joe, Ben was very concerned. He wasn\u2019t sure if he ought to touch Joe\u2019s leg or not. In the end, he decided to leave well alone. He concentrated on getting fluid into Joe, to try and bring his temperature down. Adam watched, stoically stifling his groans, so that Ben wouldn\u2019t have to worry about him, too, but sometimes, a jolt would catch him unaware, and a groan would escape before he could stop it.<\/p>\n

The rain stopped as night fell, but Ben insisted that Joe and Adam should sleep in the wagon. He didn\u2019t want either of them sleeping on wet ground. He bundled them in blankets, and he and Hoss traded keeping watch over them while the other slept.<\/p>\n

All through the next day, Joe\u2019s temperature continued to climb. He muttered in his delirium, calling out Ben\u2019s name often. \u201cI\u2019m gonna fall!\u201d he panted at one point. \u201cOh noooooooooo.\u201d His voice trailed away into nothing.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis horse\u2019s neck was broken,\u201d Adam offered, quietly, seeing the look on Ben\u2019s face. \u201cI think the trail must have crumbled beneath their feet, Pa.\u201d His face was solemn. \u201cJoe was lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nodding, Ben put his hand on Adam\u2019s arm. \u201cHe was lucky you went down for him when you did,\u201d he said, softly.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis guardian angel was watching out for him this time all right,\u201d Adam agreed, shrugging off the praise.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thank God he\u2019s alive,\u201d Ben murmured. He had indeed thanked the Almighty several times since Joe had been found. He also begged the Lord to allow his son to survive the ordeal. He didn\u2019t know how he would cope if Joe died.
\n________________________________________
\nAt last, they drew to a stop in the yard, and Hoss was down from the seat in a twinkling to help Adam from the back of the wagon into the house. The sun had been beating down on them all day, and they were glad of the shade from the wagon cover, even if it was like an oven underneath.
\n\u201cI can manage,\u201d Adam assured him. \u201cYou help Pa with Joe.\u201d He walked carefully cross the yard and into the house. Hop Sing met him, and saw at once how things stood. He hurried back to the kitchen to put the water on to boil. Adam eased himself into his blue chair, unable to face climbing the stairs right then. A few minutes later, Ben and Hoss came in, carrying Joe carefully between them. Joe\u2019s head dangled from his neck and Adam thought that it looked as though he was dead. He closed his eyes.<\/p>\n

After a few minutes, Hoss came back down to help Adam up the stairs. The last thing Adam really wanted to do was go anywhere, but he knew he would be more comfortable in his bed. \u201cWhat about the doctor?\u201d he asked, as they slowly mounted the stairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI sent Fred for him,\u201d Hoss replied. \u201cPa needs me here.\u201d He opened the door to Adam\u2019s room and they went in. Adam sat carefully on the bed and Hoss pulled his boots off. \u201cYa want any more help?\u201d Hoss asked, knowing Adam\u2019s prickly pride.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I can manage the rest, thanks, Hoss,\u201d Adam replied, with a smile. \u201cYou go and help Pa. I\u2019ll be all right.\u201d As his big little brother went out the door, Adam began to slowly unbutton his shirt.
\n________________________________________
\nIn the other room, Ben was gently stripping off Joe\u2019s clothes. Joe was conscious, although not talking. His eyes followed Ben\u2019s movements around the room, and when Hoss came in, he glanced over at his brother. He couldn\u2019t quite manage a smile, but his eyes, dulled with pain and fever, shone slightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cSit up, Joe, and I\u2019ll get this shirt off,\u201d Ben said, helping his youngest to sit. Joe leaned against his father\u2019s chest, too weak to assist. Ben slid the sleeves down and tugged the material away. As he did so, his eyes fell on Joe\u2019s back and he saw that it was covered in huge, deep scratches, mute testimony to the force of Joe\u2019s fall. His back looked slightly infected, too. Exchanging an appalled look with Hoss, Ben laid Joe back down. Joe didn\u2019t even seem to feel the pain from his back, and Ben reasoned that the pain in his leg demanded all Joe\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe,\u201d he murmured, and those green eyes turned in his direction. \u201cDid your horse fall? Do you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ground gave way,\u201d Joe mumbled. He sounded infinitely weary. \u201cWe went down and down\u2026\u201d He shut his eyes abruptly. \u201cThen I woke up and my leg was broken.\u201d Joe\u2019s voice was full of pain. \u201cI was alone, Pa. Just me and God down there.\u201d He fumbled for Ben\u2019s hand and when his father took his hand, he squeezed tightly. Ben returned the pressure, stroking the boy\u2019s hair back from his forehead, being careful to avoid the gash by his hairline. After a moment, Joe\u2019s grip slackened and he slept.<\/p>\n

\u201cPoor Joe,\u201d Hoss commented. \u201cI hate ta think on it, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe, too, son,\u201d Ben agreed. \u201cEven more, I hate to think what would have happened if we hadn\u2019t found him today.\u201d For a moment he was silent, thinking the unthinkable. Giving himself a shake, Ben glanced at Hoss. \u201cHow\u2019s Adam?\u201d he asked.
\n\u201cSore, but he\u2019ll be all right,\u201d Hoss replied, his eyes still on the pale face of his younger brother. \u201cIf\u2019n you want ta go an\u2019 see him, I\u2019ll sit with Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, son,\u201d Ben answered and gently disentangled his hand from Joe\u2019s. As he left the room, he saw Hoss pick up Joe\u2019s hand.
\n________________________________________
\nWhen Paul Martin arrived, Joe was once more thrashing about in delirium. Paul was horrified when he saw the severity of the break in Joe\u2019s leg and ordered Ben and Hoss out, so he could operate on the leg at once. \u201cHop Sing can stay,\u201d he allowed, as he all but pushed Ben from the room. \u201cBut you couldn\u2019t take it, Ben, believe me. Go and get on some clean clothes and eat something. You, too, Hoss. I\u2019ll tend to Adam as soon as I\u2019ve seen to Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was a long and tricky operation. Paul cleaned out the wound, washing the ends of the bone with particular care. He was relieved to find that none of the dirt appeared to have gone into the bones themselves. He feared that a bone infection would result in Joe losing his leg. Once he had cleaned the wound out, he had Hop Sing hold Joe down while he manipulated the bones back into place. Then he proceeded to cut away the infected tissue, before stitching closed the wound and bandaging the whole thing tightly. He would have preferred to put on a plaster cast, but with the infection and swelling, that was not an option.<\/p>\n

After a momentary breather, he then tackled Joe\u2019s scratched back. The infection wasn\u2019t bad there, and Paul flushed each scratch with alcohol, before bandaging them up to keep them clean. \u201cYou can take the bandages off his back in a day or so, Hop Sing,\u201d Paul told him. \u201cThey\u2019ll just keep him comfortable after having them cleaned.\u201d<\/p>\n

The only thing left was the head wound, but it wasn\u2019t bad, and Paul simply cleaned it, and put a bandage on it. \u201cSame with the head wound,\u201d he instructed. \u201cIt\u2019s bleeding a little bit again because I disturbed it, but you can take the bandage off tomorrow.\u201d Sighing, Paul reached into his bag and drew out the morphine and gave Joe a shot. \u201cThat should see him through for a while,\u201d he said. \u201cRight, let\u2019s go and see the other patient.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was no surprise to find Ben and Hoss in Adam\u2019s room. They had both done as Paul had told them and eaten and changed. \u201cHow is he?\u201d Ben asked, as the door opened.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s pretty sick right now,\u201d Paul replied, truthfully, \u201cbut I think he\u2019ll pull through. We\u2019ll just have to take each day as it comes.\u201d Paul kept his worries about bone infection to himself. \u201cNow, Adam, let\u2019s see you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think its just broken ribs,\u201d Adam replied. \u201cMy breathing is all right, provided I don\u2019t take a deep breath.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cListen, I\u2019m the doctor,\u201d Paul joked. \u201cLet me do the diagnosing!\u201d He ran sensitive fingers over Adam\u2019s rib cage and soon confirmed his patient\u2019s diagnosis. \u201cYes, you\u2019re right, Adam,\u201d he said, straightening. \u201cThree broken ribs on the right side. Take it easy for a few weeks, until they\u2019ve had time to heal.\u201d He helped Adam sit up so he could tightly bandage his ribs.<\/p>\n

The relief on Ben\u2019s face was tangible. He patted Adam on the shoulder before heading back to see to Joe. Hoss, smiling, followed. Adam sat passively until Paul was finished, then put his hand out to keep the physician there. \u201cPaul, tell me the truth,\u201d he requested in a low voice. \u201cIs Joe at risk of losing his leg? I\u2019ve never seen such a bad injury.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t go borrowing trouble,\u201d Paul advised. \u201cAt the moment, Joe is in no danger of losing his leg, and I don\u2019t want you to repeat that to your father.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the moment,\u201d Adam repeated, his tone bleak. \u201cSo you think that is a risk?\u201d<\/p>\n

Cursing the slip of his tongue, Paul wasn\u2019t sure what to say. He couldn\u2019t lie to Adam, but he didn\u2019t want him to worry. However, he realised that staying silent would only fuel Adam\u2019s fears, and he nodded. \u201cIf the infection sets into the bone, Joe will lose his leg,\u201d he admitted, wretchedly.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf only we\u2019d found him more quickly,\u201d Adam muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t beat yourself up over this,\u201d Paul advised. \u201cOnly prompt treatment, the moment it happened, would have prevented this risk. But the bones look ok. Joe is young and strong and healthy; he\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Settling himself on his pillows more comfortably, Adam said, \u201cYou\u2019ll forgive me if I continue to worry until we know he\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was nothing Paul could say to this, as that was what he was going to do as well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The morphine kept Joe resting peacefully for several hours, during which time, Ben was able to snatch some sleep. It was a commodity that would be in short supply for several days to come. The weather, after the dreadful rain that had caused Joe\u2019s accident and hampered the search for him, had turned nice, and the temperature rose relentlessly until Joe\u2019s room was like an oven.<\/p>\n

As the painkiller wore off, Joe became increasingly restless. Ben bathed him with cool water, trying to keep his temperature down, but to no avail. His temperature didn\u2019t shoot skywards, but it remained at a dangerously high level. Paul practically lived at the ranch, terrified that Joe would suffer from convulsions. He checked Joe\u2019s leg every day, but there was no way, yet, to tell if the infection had spread to the bone. Until Joe either recovered, or became worse, Paul would have to keep his worries to himself. Adam, now going gingerly around the house, had dark shadows under his eyes as the worry robbed him of much-needed sleep.<\/p>\n

It was almost impossible to coax Ben from Joe\u2019s side for sleep and food. All his attention was fixed on his youngest son. Fear crawled through Ben\u2019s belly and was reflected in his dark eyes. He looked suddenly old.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got to rest, Ben,\u201d Paul argued, as he returned to the ranch on Joe\u2019s second night at home, to discover that Ben had not slept in over 24 hours.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot until I know he\u2019s going to be all right,\u201d Ben responded, wearily.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy then, you could be ill, too,\u201d Paul snapped. \u201cWhat good will that do Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t leave,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cI can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sighing, for he understood Ben\u2019s point of view, Paul rummaged in his bag for his stethoscope. While he was in there, he drew up a dose of sedative, too, and as he went to Joe, he casually plunged the syringe into Ben\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Ben shouted, rising to his feet and looking furiously at Paul. \u201cWhat have you done?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSit down,\u201d Paul said, forcing his friend into the chair. \u201cHoss! Come and help me.\u201d He watched Ben closely as he waited for the middle son to come up. When Hoss did appear, he said, \u201cHelp me take your father through to his room. He is going to rest, and when he wakens, you have my permission to force feed him, should he be unwilling to eat. Is that clear?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cClear,\u201d Hoss replied, helping Ben to his feet. The sedative was starting to take effect, but it didn\u2019t dampen the glare Ben shot at Paul.<\/p>\n

\u201cTraitor!\u201d he slurred and Paul couldn\u2019t help grinning. He assisted them through to Ben\u2019s room, and within a few minutes, Ben was sound asleep.<\/p>\n

\u201cD\u2019ya really want me t\u2019 force feed him?\u201d Hoss asked, as they went back to Joe\u2019s room.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou could,\u201d Paul evaded, trying not to laugh. \u201cYou\u2019re big enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI might be big enough,\u201d Hoss responded, \u201cbut I ain\u2019t anythin\u2019 like old enough!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, Hoss, you aren\u2019t afraid of your father, are you?\u201d Paul teased.<\/p>\n

\u201cNaw,\u201d Hoss denied. \u201cBut I ain\u2019t never tried to force feed him neither!\u201d
\n________________________________________
\nChecking Joe\u2019s leg, Paul wasn\u2019t surprised to find Adam leaning over his shoulder. \u201cHow is it?\u201d he asked, in a low voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe isn\u2019t any worse,\u201d Paul said, \u201cbut that\u2019s all I can say right now, Adam. The leg looks less red, so I think the infection is clearing. I hope his fever will break soon.\u201d He felt Joe\u2019s head, which was now clear of bandage, and nodded. \u201cHis temperature hasn\u2019t risen,\u201d he commented.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt hasn\u2019t dropped, either,\u201d Adam responded, acerbically.<\/p>\n

Silently, Paul lifted Joe\u2019s head to get him to drink. There was nothing he could say to Adam\u2019s observation, and he didn\u2019t blame the man for taking his fears out on the doctor. He was supposed to know if Joe was going to be all right, and he didn\u2019t. Sometimes it seemed to Paul that the medical profession knew very little more now than it had in the Stone Age. He wished he could look inside Joe\u2019s leg to see how the bones were knitting, but he couldn\u2019t. It was very frustrating.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Paul,\u201d Adam offered, after a moment. \u201cI shouldn\u2019t be taking it out on you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do understand,\u201d Paul assured him. \u201cI wish I could tell you more.\u201d He rubbed his eyes and stretched. \u201cI\u2019ll be back later, Adam. Make sure your father eats when he wakens up. Oh, and I\u2019d appreciate it if you kept his gun far from his hand when I do get back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laughing, Adam nodded. \u201cI\u2019ll do my best,\u201d he promised.
\n________________________________________
\nAs the day wore on, Ben slept peacefully in his bed, and Adam sat with Joe. Gradually, Joe\u2019s restlessness gave way to a more peaceful rest, although his temperature was still high. Adam continued to bathe him regularly, and offer him drinks.<\/p>\n

Joe was dreaming. He dreamt that he was by his mother\u2019s grave. He could see the headstone, and smell the scent of wild flowers. There was a presence sitting next to him, and Joe wasn\u2019t at all surprised to see it was his mother when he turned his head. \u201cIt\u2019s peaceful here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, my darling, it is,\u201d Marie agreed. \u201cAnd you need a little peace in your life, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose I do,\u201d Joe admitted. It didn\u2019t seem at all strange to him to be having this conversation with his long-dead mother. \u201cBut I can\u2019t help living my life at full speed, Mama.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that,\u201d she replied, smiling at him. Joe caught his breath, for she was so beautiful. \u201cWe never know what\u2019s round the corner, Joe. Injury and death lie in wait everywhere. But trust in God, and you will always have whatever you need to meet each crisis as it comes. You are strong, Joe. You can handle whatever life sends to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is life sending me, Mama?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t tell you that, son,\u201d she told him. \u201cBut bear it bravely, whatever comes.\u201d She leant forward and kissed his brow. \u201cI love you, Joe. But you belong with your father right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

A tremendous feeling of calm permeated Joe\u2019s soul, and he closed his eyes. The ultimate plan for his life was already mapped out in heaven, and there was nothing he could do to change it. Joe smiled. He would continue to live his life the way he always had done. Suddenly, he wanted nothing more than to see his father.
\n________________________________________
\nThe peaceful sleep had done Joe good, Adam thought. It was very unlike his youngest brother to be at peace even when asleep, and Adam just hoped this was not a prelude to something bad happening. He still feared that Joe would lose his leg.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, Joe made a convulsive movement with his arms, and let out a sigh. \u201cPa?\u201d he called, groping with his hand.<\/p>\n

Quickly, Adam took hold of Joe\u2019s hand. \u201cI\u2019m here, Joe,\u201d he told him. \u201cIt\u2019s me, Adam. Pa\u2019s asleep right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa!\u201d Joe called, dropping Adam\u2019s hand. His eyes were still shut. \u201cPa!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShh!\u201d Adam soothed, but Joe fought off Adam\u2019s hand again.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa!\u201d Joe suddenly sat up, his eyes wide open. He didn\u2019t appear to be focusing on anything, and Adam suspected Joe was still ensnared in sleep. \u201cPa!\u201d He slumped back on his pillows, as limp as a rag doll. Frightened, Adam felt for the pulse at his throat, and realised that Joe\u2019s fever had broken in a drenching sweat.<\/p>\n

Shattered by the relief that swept over him, Adam dropped his head to Joe\u2019s bed and wept.
\n________________________________________
\nWhen Ben came through some hours later, he was greeted by Joe\u2019s green eyes turning his way. A tired smile lit Joe\u2019s wan face, and Ben hurried over to stroke the curls back from the boy\u2019s head, and feel for himself what his eyes had already told him. Joe\u2019s fever was down and he was on the road to recovery.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi, Pa,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi yourself,\u201d Ben returned, smiling. \u201cYou\u2019ve given us quite a fright, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry,\u201d Joe replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re safe, that\u2019s all that matters,\u201d Ben told him. He looked around, surprised to find Joe alone. \u201cWhere are your brothers?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2019s gone to have a sleep,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cHoss went to get me something to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need to eat,\u201d Ben agreed. \u201cIt\u2019s been days since you had anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I was told,\u201d Joe remarked, dryly, and Ben took heart from his son\u2019s joke.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you feel?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cBetter,\u201d Joe responded. \u201cMy leg doesn\u2019t hurt so much.\u201d He craned his neck to look at it. \u201cI thought\u2026\u201d he stopped and swallowed, and Ben offered him a drink. Joe took it, although he wasn\u2019t very thirsty. \u201cI thought I might lose my leg,\u201d he admitted, in a low voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d Ben cried, aghast. \u201cWhat made you think that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was infected,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cI was alone there, apart from God, and I knew that if I didn\u2019t get help soon, I could lose the leg. The infection could have got really bad.\u201d He blinked back tears. \u201cBut there was no way for me to get out of that ravine alone.\u201d Joe broke the eye contact and glanced down. Ben kept his hand on Joe\u2019s arm until his son looked up again.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t doubt that we would come and look for you, did you?\u201d he wanted to know.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I didn\u2019t doubt that, Pa,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cBut I did doubt that you would find me soon enough. After all, I might just have been held up by the rain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe did consider that,\u201d Ben admitted. \u201cBut a little voice inside my head told me to go and look for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad it did,\u201d Joe said. He fell silent again. After a time, his voice tinged with tiredness, he said, \u201cPa, do you think that voice came from God?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cI think God gives each parent a sense of when their children need them, and that little voice comes direct from him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI always believed in God,\u201d Joe murmured. \u201cBut somehow, I believe more now. He was there with me, Pa. Do you always feel him near you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I do,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cBut there are times when it\u2019s more difficult to feel God with you, especially when something bad happens to you. You cry out \u2018why me?\u2019 and the answer is \u2018why not me?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hadn\u2019t thought of that one,\u201d Joe admitted. \u201cBut somehow, I knew that God was looking after me. And even if I should die, God would still look after me.\u201d Joe stopped talking, for he found it difficult to articulate his feelings in this matter.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, God is there for us, whether we\u2019re aware of it or not,\u201d Ben agreed. \u201cNow, I think its time you had some sleep, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet,\u201d protested a voice from the doorway. \u201cHe ain\u2019t eaten anythin\u2019 yet, Pa!\u201d Hoss came in, carrying a tray. He put it down beside the bed, and Joe could smell something delicious.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cFish chowder,\u201d Hoss replied. \u201cHop Sing thought you might like it, since he was makin\u2019 some for us anyways.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat smells good,\u201d Ben agreed, sniffing deeply.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood, cuz Paul said I had ta force feed ya when ya woke, so go an\u2019 git it while its hot. I\u2019ll help Joe here. I done had mine,\u201d he explained, helpfully.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy doesn\u2019t that surprise me?\u201d Ben asked, as he rose. He glanced at Joe. \u201cWill you be all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, Pa,\u201d Joe replied. He grinned at Hoss. \u201cBig brother here is gonna force feed me, I can just tell.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Ben left the room, smiling, he heard Hoss say, \u201cYou\u2019re plumb puny, Shortshanks. Ya could do with force feedin\u2019, I c\u2019n tell ya!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

Next Story in the Alone Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Learning Lesson<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0After an accident, Joe finds himself facing a long wait for possible rescue, alone and injured, while his family race time and the weather to find him.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 K+ (9,795 words)<\/p>\n

Alone Series, links to all the stories within the series are included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":1228,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,41],"tags":[16],"class_list":["post-7131","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-hurtcomfort","tag-joe","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-41-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":4037,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/bonanza2.jpg?fit=720%2C475&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":46851,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=46851","url_meta":{"origin":7131,"position":0},"title":"The Voice (by Imogene)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"November 24, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0A voice visits Joe during the night Rating:\u00a0 G Words:\u00a0 1,520","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5598,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5598","url_meta":{"origin":7131,"position":1},"title":"The Breaking Game (by Rona)","author":"Rona","date":"September 24, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 An accident leads to self-doubt for Joe, until a potential disaster restores his faith in himself. Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0 \u00a0(9,350 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Joe-copy-7.jpg?fit=594%2C592&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Joe-copy-7.jpg?fit=594%2C592&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Joe-copy-7.jpg?fit=594%2C592&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49645,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=49645","url_meta":{"origin":7131,"position":2},"title":"My Only Guiding Light (by HarpistforHim)","author":"HarpistforHim","date":"October 14, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Joe let himself smile for half a second before sobering and shaking his head. \u201cI\u2019ve known you a long time and I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever seen you like this. Maybe you got this way when I was too young to notice or wasn\u2019t around to remember, but\u2026 I don\u2019t\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Adam \/ Joe"","block_context":{"text":"Adam \/ Joe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1091"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_4476.jpeg?fit=720%2C529&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_4476.jpeg?fit=720%2C529&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_4476.jpeg?fit=720%2C529&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_4476.jpeg?fit=720%2C529&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10102,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10102","url_meta":{"origin":7131,"position":3},"title":"Always With Me (by BettyHT)","author":"BettyHT","date":"November 8, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Little Joe wants a solo hunting trip, but he won't be as alone as he thinks he is when he gets his grand adventure. \u00a0Story features Joe but Ben and Adam have prominent roles too. rating = T \u00a0WC = 1346","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/2-joe.jpg?fit=237%2C221&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5331,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5331","url_meta":{"origin":7131,"position":4},"title":"Learning a Lesson (by Rona)","author":"Rona","date":"June 25, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Set five months after \u2018Alone\u2019, Joe quarrels with his family, then falls foul of some outlaws. It isn\u2019t necessary to have read \u2018Alone\u2019 before reading this one. Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0 \u00a0 (9,930 words) Alone Series, links to all the stories within the series are included.","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7307,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7307","url_meta":{"origin":7131,"position":5},"title":"Home Alone (by Sibylle)","author":"Sibylle","date":"May 7, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0\u00a0Hoss and Joe\u00a0alone at home. A prequel \u00a0 Rated:\u00a0K \u00a0 WC 600","rel":"","context":"In "Family"","block_context":{"text":"Family","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1008"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Joe-Hoss.jpg?fit=505%2C638&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7131","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7131"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7131\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7131"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7131"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}