Lucas slowly opened his eyes and held his hand in the air to block the sun's rays that where entering the room from the bedroom window.
'What in the world?' Lucas thought. 'The sun shouldn't be this high yet it...' Lucas looked at the time piece on his nightstand which read quarter after ten.
"Mark!" Lucas said with agitation in his scratchy voice as he looked at his son's neatly made bunk.
"Second time this week! I told him not to do it again! He-" Lucas' statement was interrupted by a fit of coughing which took quite a bit out of him. Lucas sighed after his breathing returned to normal and proceeded to walk into the front room of their home. He saw coffee and oatmeal on the stove and noticed a note on the table as well.
Pa,
Took the buck board to school so I could pick up materials to fix the fence out in the south pasture. Chores are done and cattle have been checked on, so no reason you should be leaving home. Get some rest.
Love,
Mark
Lucas didn't know weather to be angry with Mark or proud of him. Lucas supposed he was a little of both. Lucas knew he had been too sick to not show some signs of illness, especially with the coughing spells having started the day before. Mark was concerned for his Pa and was trying to take on more responsibilities around the ranch to relieve Lucas. So as a father, Lucas was proud to see his son recognising a need and stepping up to help out. But also as a father, Lucas felt Mark was taking on too much responsibility and Lucas didn't think he needed to sleep as late as his son was letting him. After finishing breakfast and doing the dishes, Lucas stepped out to the yard to chop wood but they had enough to last them a week.
Lucas figured there had to be something his son had forgotten about or not finished, but as he checked each chore, he realised Mark had done everything... perfectly. Lucas was more than frustrated at this point and walked out of the barn... and then froze.
'Wait a minute... where are the...' Lucas ran back into the barn and as he entered Razor's empty stall, saw another note.
Pa I told you to get some rest.
For a moment Lucas' temper flared, but then he laughed and shoved the note in his pocket. He admitted to himself that Mark was right. He did need rest, but there was no way he would tell Mark that. Mark was going to get quite an earful when he got home!
Lucas sat on the chair on the front porch enjoying the fresh air, as well as the peace and quiet. Lucas nodded off to sleep but woke up hearing someone stepping onto the porch. He grabbed his rifle and pointed it to the direction of the noise.
"Easy there Lucas. Mark sure wasn't lying... you must be in pretty bad shape to fall asleep out here. Can't believe you didn't hear the carriage come up."
"Just a little off guard is all. I'm fine Doc, whatever Mark told you-"
"I have reason to believe it. He's taking pretty extreme measures... I saw he had all the horses with him this morning."
"He's over-protective I'd say. Son over protective of his father... just isn't right."
"Just goes to show how much he cares about you Luke. I'd be right proud of having a son like Mark. Took a lot of nerve to take the horses and get me against your wishes."
"Stubbornness is more like it." Lucas replied.
"He gets it from you. Now, am I going to have to fight that McCain stubbornness or will you let me examine you right away?" The doctor asked.
"You'd win anyway, go ahead. But when that boy gets home..." Lucas said as they walked into the house.
"Take it easy on him Lucas, he's just worried about you. And I can understand why by the look of ya... you look exhausted." Doc said as he gestured to a chair before Lucas sat.
"I don't know why, Mark didn't wake me this morning and I didn't rouse until about ten-fifteen." Lucas said, letting agitation into his voice again. Doc began examining the rancher.
"Mark said you've been kinda weak and tired for about the last week... and you started having coughing spells about yesterday?" Lucas nodded. "When did your voice start getting scratchy?" Doc asked as he pressed the stethoscope to Lucas' chest.
"Oh I'd say about three days ago. Doc, it's really not-"
"Lucas McCain, face the fact: You are sick. With sickness comes lack of energy and strength. You've got to let yourself heal. You should've been in to see me the beginning of this week, I'm glad Mark took the initiative to ask me to come out here. I'll send Mark home with the medicine you need and write out instructions for how much and when to take it."
"Doc..."
"I'm also putting you on bed rest for a few days. Absolutely no work for you."
"Mark can't take care of..." Lucas' voice was cracking which was making it hard for the doctor to keep his stern composure.
"Mark is a very capable young man who can manage things with Micah's help for a few days. You're gonna kill yourself if you don't slow down. If you won't do it for you, do it for Mark. He's more than concerned about you, he's really worried and rightly so. If this cough settles any more than it has you could get a nasty infection and you could be laid up for weeks. It's better to take a few days off now than a few weeks later." Defeated, Lucas gave in.
"Alright, Doc. Will you please tell Mark I want him home right after he picks up supplies?" Lucas asked as he stood to walk the doctor out.
"Sure thing Lucas. I'll be by to see you in a few days." Doc said, laughing. "...And by the way your voice sounds, don't be surprised if you lose it."
"Thanks. I'll see you next week." Lucas said as he watched the laughing doctor drive away.
Steven Griswold looked up from his desk to see Mark McCain still sitting in his desk.
"Is there something you needed, Mark?" Steven asked.
"Kind of... is there anyway I could have missed behaved in class so badly you needed to keep me a few hours after school?" Mark hopelessly asked. Puzzled, the teacher moved towards the boy's desk.
"Mark, why on earth would you want to be kept after school?"
"To have some excuse for why I was late coming home." Mark replied.
"Why don't you want to go home? ...Did you have a disagreement with your father?"
"I guess you could say we did... a pretty serious one..." Mark saw the question in his teacher's face and explained. "See, Pa started getting sick about a week ago. I kept asking him to go see Doc Burrage but he wouldn't, said he was fine. He started to get really weak and even though he tried to not show it, I knew doing the simplest things was making him tired. He started getting really bad coughing spells yesterday and when he didn't wake by the time I was supposed to leave for school... I decided to take all the horses with me so he couldn't leave the ranch and ask Doc Burrage to go see him."
"So now you're not looking forward to his lecture when you arrive home?"
"Uhuh." Mark said followed by a sigh. The teacher chuckled at the situation. He knew Lucas and Mark where both very stubborn, but it wasn't very often that the son's stubbornness beat the father's.
"Don't worry about it Mark, I'm sure Lucas will come around. Sometimes we have to choose between doing what someone wants and doing what someone needs. Even though your father didn't want to see the doctor, he needed it, and you where mature enough to make the right decision."
"I just hope Pa sees it the same way. I suppose being late coming home would just make things worse... I better be going Mr. Griswold." Mark said as he gathered his things.
"I will see you in school Monday, Mark. Tell your father I hope he is feeling better soon."
"I will." Mark said over his shoulder as he left the schoolhouse.
Steven let his laughter out after Mark shut the door. Oh how priceless Mark's demeanor was!
Mark stood in the store waiting for the supplies he needed when he saw Doc Burrage pull up to the livery.
"Be right back to pick up the supplies!" He hollered to the back room.
Mark crossed the street and walked up to the doctor.
"Well?" Mark asked.
"Your Pa has a bad cold Mark. From the sound of his voice, don't be surprised if he loses it. I'll be sending you home with some medicine for him. I've put your Pa on bed rest-"
"How am I supposed to keep Pa in bed?"
"Mark, for once I think your Pa has accepted that he's sick. He's still as stubborn as a mule, but he might just listen to us this time if we ride him enough. I'll talk to Micah about coming out to help you with the cattle and I'll be out in a couple days to check on him.
...Mark you where right to ask me to go see your Pa, he could've gotten a nasty infection... and frankly still could. I want you to keep a close eye on him. If he gets fever or chills, I want you to ride out to get me, understand?"
"Yes sir. Do you think it could get bad?" Mark asked with concern.
"No, not really, but keep an out... just incase."
"Doc, how much of an earful am I going to get?" Mark asked.
"I'm not sure Mark, he wasn't too happy about the horses." Doc laughed as Mark grimaced. "Your Pa did want you straight home after picking up supplies, so do that, come get the medicine, then I suggest you hurry home."
"Yes sir." Mark said as he turned to walk back to the store. After what Doc had said, Mark knew he was right to have done what he did, his Pa was getting so exhausted and looked awful, but he wasn't looking forward to trying to explain that to Lucas.
Mark loaded the supplies into the wagon and then picked up the medicine from Doc's.
"I hope I live to see you check up on Pa..." Mark said as he walked out of the office.
"Calm down Mark, it'll be fine!" Doc laughed.
Mark stopped the team outside the barn and began to un-harness them, then let them out in the paddock with Razor and Blue Boy. He knew he didn't need to unload the buck board since he would be fixing the fence tomorrow but started on that next anyway.
'Maybe if I stall long enough... Pa will go to bed...' Mark knew it was a fat chance... but he could at least try.
Lucas had seen Mark pull into the yard and watched his son tend to the horses. He could see that Mark was nervous and knew exactly why. After Mark finished unloading the buck board he went back into the barn to grab a brush and walked into the paddock to start brushing down the horses. Lucas chuckled at what he knew his son was trying to do and exited the house. His son's back was to him as he walked up to the paddock and leaned on the fence.
"Avoiding me?" Lucas asked. Mark jumped and looked at his Pa. He turned back to his work and thought a moment before answering his Pa. There was no getting out of this talk. He turned to Lucas and carefully choosing his tone, answered.
"Pa... I know you think you don't need a doctor and you can just go on and your body will just heal itself, but that's not the case. You where just getting worse and worse... and I was getting worried about you. I... I suppose you're wanting some sort of apology, but Pa you needed to see Doc and I'm not sorry for getting him..." Mark nervously continued. "...and I'd do it again if you needed it. Pa please understand I didn't do it to disobey you or defy your authority, I know your my Pa and I'm supposed to listen to you. But Doc Burrage even said it could've gotten to a really bad infection." Mark's eyes pleaded with his Pa to understand.
"Are you done defending yourself?" Lucas asked in a low and scratchy voice.
"Yes sir..." Mark said as he closed his eyes, preparing himself for the lecture he was about to receive. Lucas climbed over the fence and took the brush out of Mark hand, then put it in the barn.
'This is going to be a long night...' Mark thought. Then, he suddenly looked up confused at his Pa as Lucas put his arm over Mark's shoulders and started to walk out of the paddock.
"Good, supper should be ready any minute." Lucas squeaked out.
"Ya... Ya mean you're not mad?" Mark asked as they entered the house. Lucas smiled.
"No, Mark. You where right, I did need Doc. I was just too stubborn to admit it. Thankfully I passed some of that stubbornness down to you. Now aren't you supposed to be forcing me to take some medicine or something?"
"Oh yeah!" Mark exclaimed. "I-"
"Left it in the saddle bag..." Lucas finished for his son as Mark tore out of the house. That boy! Lucas was overtaken by another coughing spell as he started to laugh at Mark's forgetfulness. When Mark returned Lucas was still trying to catch his breath.
"Pa are you alright?" Mark asked as he rushed over to his Pa.
"Yes Mark." Lucas answered, finally able to breathe normally.
"Pa, I really didn't want to go against what you said about seeing Doc, but you..."
"I understand, son. I know I needed it and you did it out of love. Now let's eat, I'm starving!"
Mark breathed a sigh of relief. His Pa wasn't angry and was actually going to take his time to recoup. Mark didn't care about all the extra chores he would have the next several days, as long as his Pa got the rest he needed!
"Last one, Mark." Micah said as he handed Mark the last fence post. "After we're done here, why don't we head back to the ranch?"
"You go ahead Micah, I have to check on the rest of the cattle."
"It can wait, Mark. We've been working all morning and afternoon, you should take a break."
"A rancher's work is never done, Micah. You should know that by now!" Mark said as he smiled at the man he thought of as a grandfather. "These spring storms have been causing quite a bit of trouble. Yesterday I had to help three cows that had gotten bogged down before I left for school."
"What time did you get up yesterday?" Micah asked as he hammered the last nail. The boy had looked exhausted when he came into town the previous morning, and looked worse now.
"Well I couldn't get back to sleep after Pa's hacking woke me up so I started on the chores."
"You didn't answer my question." Micah said as he watched Mark untie Blue Boy from the back of the buck board.
"I know." Mark gave Micah a mischievous grin.
"What time should I tell your Pa you'll be back?"
"I should be home about our normal supper time, tell Pa I'll fix somethin' when I get back. See you Monday, Micah."
"So long, boy." Micah replied as he swatted Blue Boy.
"Lucas McCain, I'm going to hog tie you!" Micah exclaimed as he got off the buck board and walked into the barn.
"Micah, I stayed in bed all morning like Mark asked me too. He didn't say anything about this afternoon, and he forgot to muck the team's stall this morning so I figured..." Lucas said before coughing a few times.
"You know what he meant. I'll finish the stall, you get back inside. You and Mark are both gonna work yourselves to death." The old man grumbled.
"I can finish, Micah. It'll do me good to exercise some." Lucas and Micah stared at each other, waiting for the other to give in.
"Stubborn McCains." Micah said as he grabbed a shovel and started to help Lucas.
"Where's Mark?" Lucas asked.
"He said he had to check on the rest of the cattle. I told him he needed to take a break, but he wouldn't listen. Lucas-boy, that son of yours is working himself too hard. He told me he couldn't get to sleep after your coughing woke him up yesterday morning so he got up to do chores. I don't know how early he was up if he did all his chores , checked on the cattle, and got three cows out of the mud... by himself."
"He did what? He knows he's not supposed to mess with the cows that are bogged down without help. Those cows get mean... he could've gotten kicked or trampled or stuck himself!"
"You need to talk with him Lucas-boy. He feels with you sick he needs to do everything. Granted, he's getting older and more capable, but he's doing too much for a boy of his age, let alone one of his build. Been out working on that fence since five."
"He came in for breakfast at eight... I figured he had just been working on chores out here. Thanks for telling me Micah, I knew Mark had been working hard this past week... I guess I just didn't realize how hard. Did he say when he would be home?" Lucas said trying to keep his coughs at bay.
"About supper. But he's not the only one working too much. Lucas-boy, slow down for just a few days."
"I'd say only mucking out one stall is pretty slow."
"Well it ain't slow enough. I'd like to stick around and see you stay in that house but I've got things to do." Micah said as he put the shovel away. "Mark said to tell you he'd fix sipper when he got back, so get back to bed!" he ordered as he mounted his own horse.
Lucas went into the house and put a stew on the stove to simmer. He wasn't going to sleep all day and Mark was going to be exhausted when he came home. Lucas worked on the books for a while, and put them away when he was satisfied that everything was balanced. Not knowing what else to do for the next two hours while he waited for Mark to arrive home, Lucas sat in his chair and read from his Bible.
Mark felt a drop of water hit his hand. Then another... then another.
'Rain? Again? You've got to be kidding me! If that calf doesn't show up soon...' Mark complained to himself.
"There you are!" Mark said as he saw the calf tangled in a bush. He dismounted and got down to untangle the animal. He carefully checked it over before releasing it from his hold.
"Come on now, let's get you back to your mother." It was a little early for there to be calves to worry about, but one of the mother cows had given birth prematurely. Suddenly, something caught Mark's eye as he was mounting Blue Boy, and he squatted back down to examine the dirt that was turning to mud. It was hard to make out because of the rain... but it had to be...
'Wolf!' Mark's mind went racing and he cautiously looked around for any other sign of the predator. Mark started to follow the tracks, but soon the rain had washed away any trail the wolf had left. Mark turned around, headed back home... and suddenly realized something.
'I'm on the edge of the ranch... it's going to be dark in a few minutes... and...' Mark groaned.
'Pa's going to kill me.'
Lucas startled awake as a clap of thunder shook the house. He walked to his bedroom and as he looked at the time piece, realised that the clouds hadn't just taken over the sky, but the sun had set. Suddenly he realised his son wasn't there.
'Mark should have been home over an hour ago...' Lucas' mind raced as he walked to the barn and saw that his son wasn't there either.
"Mark!" Lucas hoarsely called, hoping to hear a reply. When no answer came, Lucas returned to the house, unsure of what he should do.
'Mark could have been delayed by the storm... but he should have been here long ago...'
Ten minutes passed. Fifteen. Twenty. Finally, Lucas had had enough and saddled Razor then ran back into the house. He tried to grab a few things he might need if Mark had gotten hurt. Lucas was more than worked about his son. Mark was on the range, alone, in a torrential downpour. As Lucas was walking into the bedroom, he heard horse's hooves outside the house. Lucas dropped the saddle bag and ran outside, then let out a sigh of relief as he saw his son dismount Blue Boy.
Mark felt strong arms wrapping around him and was startled at first, but then realized they where his Pa's. He turned around and returned the embrace.
'Pa shouldn't be out here!' Mark suddenly realised. He started to walk back into the house, arm wrapped around his Pa... supporting him. Mark realized just how tired and weak his Pa was after sitting him down in the chair.
"Pa, what where you doing outside in the rain?" Mark asked.
"Mark Mc-" Lucas started as he stood. Mark watched his Pa's lips move, but didn't hear the rest of his name. For a split second, he though something was wrong with him until he heard the thunder clap and saw the confusion on his father's face. After remembering the doctor's words, Mark let out a bout of laughter. He tried to stop it after seeing his father's stern face, but failed miserably. After regaining his composure, Mark ordered his father into their room.
"Pa, you've got to get out of those wet clothes and I've got to take care of Blue Boy." Lucas opened his mouth to tell his son he wanted an explanation, now, but no words came out.
Mark walked out of the house and led Blue Boy into the barn. He saw Razor was saddled and took care of him as well. He felt bad for having made his Pa worry, but there was nothing he could've done to prevent what had happened.
Lucas changed and sat in the front room waiting for Mark to come back in. Lucas tried to talk, and felt like a fool trying, but no words came out. He grabbed a pen and paper and wrote his questions out.
Mark saw his Pa sitting at the table and as he sat realized he smelled food. Lucas noticed Mark was limping and wrote a new question.
"Pa, didn't Micah tell you I would make dinner? You where supposed to be resting today!" Lucas just shoved the first of many questions in front of him.
'Are you alright?'
"I'm fine Pa. You where supposed to rest today... I can see-"
'Your leg, what happened?'
"Huh? Oh that, Blue Boy lost his footing and I fell. I just pulled it a little."
Lucas gave Mark a questioning look.
"I just pulled it, that's all, I promise."
'Where were you? Why where you late?' Mark read the question and got real serious.
"I'm sorry Pa, I really am. There was nothing I could do! I went to check on the cattle and the calf was missing..." Lucas started writing a question. "It took me a while to find him and it started raining. I found wolf tracks-" Lucas' head shot up. "It was just one wolf, and I couldn't follow them very far after getting the calf untangled because the rain washed them out." Mark could see frustration on his father's face. He didn't know why his Pa was mad with him.
'Let me see your leg. You need to get out of your wet clothes. What Calf? Why'd you start following the wolf by yourself? What where you going to do if you found it? Play with it?'
"Slow down Pa, ...I didn't tell you about the calf?" Lucas shook his head. "Oh... sorry..." when Mark didn't continue, Lucas wrote on a new sheet of paper.
'Ok, what calf? There shouldn't be calves yet.'
"Bessie went into labor Tuesday when I was checking the cattle after school and you where in town. She gave birth to a nice strong calf even though it's a few weeks early. Sorry I forgot to tell you." Lucas thought he heard a little bit of nervousness in his son's voice.
'Have you seen this wolf?'
Mark shook his head.
'Is this the first time you've seen signs of a wolf?'
Mark nodded. Lucas could sense Mark was shrinking back.
'Go change, and then we'll finish talking.' Mark nodded and went to the bedroom. Lucas took a moment to calm down and then wrote his son another note.
Mark felt tears threatening to fall. He didn't know why his Pa was mad and didn't like it when he was. Mark looked at his arms and legs and saw a few bruises developing. His leg hurt more than he would've liked to admit, but he told himself to forget about it and focus on getting Pa better. Mark took a deep breath and walked into the front room where he was handed a note.
'Mark, I'm frustrated with me, not you, so put that idea aside. I was so worried about you and had so many questions, and couldn't just ask you them. It's going to be tough for me not being able to talk, so I need your help. I love you Mark and was just worried about you, understand?'
Mark nodded as he gave his Pa a hug.
"Now Pa, just because Micah and I leave you unattended all day, doesn't mean you can go against the doctor's orders. You've put me on bed rest several times, you know how strict your rules are." Lucas gave Mark a look and wrote a note that said,
'Do you really think your going to keep me in bed?'
"No, but I had to try. Pa, please, I can see that you're exhausted..."
'Set the table and let's eat!' Lucas wrote making sure to show Mark the smile on his face. Mark obeyed, trying to conceal his limp. As Mark sat down and served the stew, Lucas wrote another note and told Mark to tell him about his day. Mark talked about everything he had done, and told his Pa how Micah smashed his fingers with the hammer several times.
'Mark, what time did you get up this morning?' Lucas waited for Mark to answer, but Mark was hesitant. 'Mark, no secrets.'
"Well I would've gone back to sleep if I could've, but you where coughing and I was really alert and awake, so I figured I could get up and start chores."
'That doesn't answer my question. Out with it.'
"...I'm not sure...Three? ...Three-thirty?" Mark sheepishly admitted.
'Mark, you know better than that!'
"I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd do something productive..." Lucas sighed and lifted his eye brows as he wrote yet another note.
'Mark, you've been working too hard. I appreciate that you've stepped up and helped out more, but getting up this early and doing everything you have been is too much. Tonight I want you to pull the army cot out and I will sleep out here so you can get some rest. Then tomorrow morning, just do the normal Sunday chores and that's it.'
"Pa, I can sleep on the army cot, it'll be more comfortable for you in our room."
'I'm sleeping out here and that's final. I don't want you up before seven-'
"Seven?!" Mark exclaimed. Lucas nodded and gestured for Mark to finish the note.
'And if you let me sleep late again, there will be trouble. Where does your leg hurt?'
"Just around my knee where I wretched it a few years back, but that's always been prone to injury. I can get the cot now, I don't think the rain will let up anytime soon." Mark stood up to leave but Lucas came around the table, put his hands on Mark's shoulders, and made his son sit back down. Mark protested, but Lucas rolled up Mark's pant leg and took a look at his knee anyway. Lucas saw the knee was swelling, as well as his son's ankle. Lucas tried to talk, but only got part of his sentence out.
"Just... little... Mar..."
"It doesn't hurt that bad, really. Just when I walk on it." Lucas reached for the pen and paper.
'You fell, but how exactly?'
"Blue Boy slipped... Sending me flying sideways, but my foot got tangled up in the stirrup..."
'How long was it until you got unstuck?'
"Honestly Pa, I don't know." After thinking a moment, Lucas wrote the next note.
'I'm going to go get the cot. Soak your ankle in some water.'
"Pa, please let me get it. Going out in the rain won't do you any good." Mark said as he put a hand on his Pa's shoulder. "It's really not that bad. Please let me get it." Lucas thought for a moment, then went to write something down when Mark stood up and walked out of the house. Lucas stood to follow Mark, but suddenly he didn't have the strength to move. Everything started to swim and Lucas sat back down in the chair.
Mark knew his Pa wouldn't be too happy with him, but Lucas would just have to live with it. It wasn't very often that Mark would disobey his Pa, but it was times like these when he could muster up the courage to disobey Lucas out of love. Mark took his time to get the cot, his leg was giving him problems and there was no reason to over do it and make things worse.
Upon entering the house, Mark saw that his father had fallen asleep at the table, so he set the cot up and put the proper bedding on it.
"Pa... Pa, I set the cot up for you." Mark said as a gently shook his father. "Come on Pa." Mark knelt down next to his father. "Wake up, Pa..." When Lucas didn't respond, Mark picked his Pa's head up off the table and holding his chin, shook his face.
"Pa! Wake up! PA!" Mark's mind was spinning. He didn't know what he should do. Get the buck board? No it was raining too much... the team was skittish and the road would be muddy. Get Doc?
'I can't leave Pa by himself...' Mark thought. Then as he looked at his unconscious father, 'I have to. Mark, think. Cold compresses for the fever... lay him down... how?' Mark pulled the cot as close to the table as he could, then positioned it so he could pull Lucas down from the chair and into the bed. Mark struggled to keep Lucas from falling, but eventually got him situated in bed. Mark filled a bowl with water then got a washcloth wet, wrung it out, and laid it on top of his Pa's forehead.
"I'll be back, Pa." Mark said as he stood over his father. Mark didn't want to leave his Pa... He couldn't... He jerked his head up and tried to emotionally detach himself from the situation.
'Focus!' Mark knew he couldn't. 'Get help... Pa needs help...' Mark saddled his father's horse and took off in the storm.
Micah rode up to the school house just as the children came running down the front steps. He looked for Mark, but didn't see him or Blue Boy. Figuring that Steven may have sent Mark on an errand, the Marshal dismounted and entered the school building to find out where the boy was.
"Good afternoon, Marshall. Is there something I could help you with?"
"I was wondering if you could tell me where Mark is? I didn't see him come out with rest of the childr- students, and didn't see his horse out front."
"I'm not sure, Marshall. He didn't come to school today. I figured Lucas had him stay home to help out with things since Lucas has been put on bed rest..." the school teacher laughed before continuing, "how is keeping him in bed coming?"
"I haven't been out there since Saturday, but it wasn't coming at all then. Poor Mark has had to deal with him the last two days by himself. I was just on my way out there but figured I'd ride to the ranch with Mark. Maybe I-"
"Micah! Razor showed up in town without a rider! There's no sign of Lucas anywhere!" Milly yelled as she came running into the school.
"Hold on Milly, slow down. What happened?" Micah calmly asked as he put his hands on Milly's shoulders.
"I was working in the store and I saw Razor walking down the street without Lucas on him! Something's wrong!"
"Calm down Milly, Razor may have just gotten free from a post."
"Micah! Lucas is supposed to be on bed rest! At the very least, he's somewhere in town while he's supposed to be in bed! I already checked the livery, your office, the telegraph office... everywhere. I haven't seen Lucas anywhere! Something's wrong!"
"Milly, let's not jump to conclusions. I was on my way out there anyway, I'll head out now."
"Jump? I'm not jumping to anything! Micah, something is seriously wrong!" Milly tried to get through to the men standing before her. Micah walked towards the door and put his hat on.
"I'm going Milly, don't worry." Micah said as he walked out of the building.
"How was Mark in school today? He must be tired, trying to keep up everything while Lucas is down..."
"Mark wasn't in school, Micah and I supposed Lucas asked him to stay home."
"Lucas? Ask Mark to miss a day of school? Are you men blind?" Milly asked as she stormed out of the school.
"Lucas? Mark?" Micah called as he entered the McCain's yard. He dismounted and walked up onto the porch. "Lucas-boy?" Micah called as he rapped on the door. After waiting a minute, Micah let himself into the house.
"Lucas!" Micah hurried over to where his friend lay. "Lucas-boy, wake up!" Micah tried to rouse Lucas, but to no avail. Micah called for Mark several times, but he got no answer. Figuring the boy was out on the range, Micah went to the barn to hitch the team.
"Blue Boy...? Where is Mark?" Micah hurried to finish hooking the team up to the buck board and pulled it along side the house. He jumped out of it and ran inside the house. Micah, with much effort, pulled Lucas up out of bed and half carried, half drug him to the buck board. As Micah was situating Lucas, a buggy came into the yard.
"Micah, what happened?" Milly said as she ran to the side of the wagon.
"I don't know I just found Lucas inside." Micah replied.
"Where's Mark?"
"I don't know. I'm taking Lucas into town." Micah jumped out of the buck board and stood in front of Milly. "Blue Boy is in the barn, and with Razor showing up... I just don't know what's going on. Stay here and wait for Mark and bring him to town."
"What if he doesn't show up? What if... what if something happened to him?"
"If you're not in town by six, then I'll be back out here with a search party." Micah said as he rode away.
Mark slowly opened his eyes and stared at the ground. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts, but everything was all jumbled. As he sat up, Mark rubbed his head and felt a large goose egg on the top left of his forehead. What had happened?
'I saddled Razor, rode out...' Mark remembered the bridge was flooded and so he tried to go around the quickest way he knew how, but with the storm being so bad he had lost his way. Mark had wandered aimlessly for hours, finding himself in the middle of the woods. He couldn't find a road... He couldn't even find a path! Then something howled... and Razor got even more skittish and started rearing. Mark remembered trying to keep Razor steady as the horse blindly ran deeper into the woods. He saw the tree branch and then... darkness. Mark slowly stood up, using a tree to steady himself. The sky had a little light in the East, but the sun wasn't showing itself yet. Mark decided the best thing to do would be to climb a tree and try to figure out which way to go. He unsteadily started up the tree he was standing next to, and eventually made it high enough that he could see over the top of the forest. He was fairly close to the foothills of the mountains he often saw way out in the distance when riding home from school.
'Keep the sun to my left until about noon.' Mark told himself. 'Just get to a town or ranch...' Suddenly, Mark remembered his whole reason for being out.
'Pa's still unconscious at home! I've got to get help!'
"Doc! Get out here!" Micah yelled as he stopped the team in front of the clinic. Doc Burrage, hearing the urgency in the Marshal's voice, quickly got up from his desk and ran outside. Upon finding Lucas in the back of the wagon, the doctor asked what happened.
"I don't know, I found him inside his home." Micah said, and then turned to men standing in the board walk. "Help me get him inside the clinic!"
After the men placed Lucas on the examining table and Doc Burrage shooed them out of the office, he turned his attention to Lucas and began examining him.
"Micah, get some wet compresses and put them on his forehead, then remove his boots and shirt." The doctor ordered. It didn't take long for Micah to complete the tasks given him, but by the time he was done, Doc had also completed his examination.
"Well? Doc? What's wrong?" Micah asked.
"That infection I was worried about set in. From the sound of his breathing, I'd say it's been there for a couple days. Mark should have gotten me yesterday, by the looks of Lucas... by the way, where is the boy?"
"Hopefully on his way here with Milly... no one knows. He didn't attend school today, and when I got to the ranch Blue Boy was in the barn, but no sign of Mark. Razor came walking through town a few hours ago, saddled but no rider." Micah said, discouraged.
"Are there men out looking for him?" The doctor asked as he began to administer a shot to Lucas.
"If Mark and Milly aren't in town in forty-five minutes, the whole town will be out there."
"I pray the boy's alright... it'll be hard on his body, but Lucas will pull through. If we don't find Mark... Lucas can't know the boy's missing."
"We'd better find him, or Lucas will know. Lucas has a way of knowing when something's wrong... especially when the boy's involved. I hope we find Mark before Lucas wakes up..."
"There's nothing else we can do but wait for Lucas to wake up... Micah, I know it's early but why don't you start getting men together... I have a feeling that Mark won't arriving with Milly any time soon..."
"I was thinking the same thing... thanks, Doc." Micah said as he left the office.
Milly had tried to keep herself busy with cleaning the house, but it hadn't taken that long to clean the front room. Even with Lucas being sick the men did a descent job of keeping the house clean. Milly entered the bedroom and stopped in front of the desk. On it she saw several pictures. Her gaze fell on the picture of Lucas and his late wife... feeling like she was intruding, Milly walked back out of the bedroom and then sat at the table.
"Oh, Mark where are you?" Milly asked aloud. Mark had almost become... like a son to Milly. Both Lucas and Mark held special places in her heart, and she wondered if one day... she might be Milly McCain. Thinking back on the picture in the bedroom, Milly doubted it. Still, she loved both men dearly and was worried for them both.
Soon, Milly heard hooves outside the house. For a moment she thought it might be Mark, but she realized there where too many horses and, Milly also realized, Mark was out there without a horse. Milly greeted the large search party outside of the McCain home.
"Mark hasn't returned...?" Micah stated more than asked.
"No, he hasn't." Milly replied.
"What's the plan, Micah?" Oat Jackford called from the middle of the crowd. Milly wasn't surprised to see the 'gruff' rancher there. Everyone knew he had a soft spot for Mark McCain, though he completely denied it.
"Milly will stay here incase Mark returns. The rest of us will spread out, heading in four directions away from the ranch. We'll use the house as a base and return in a few hours. If you find anything, fire three shots in the air." Micah replied before dividing up the men and sending them on their way. Stepping down from his horse and onto the porch where Milly stood, Micah talked privately with Milly.
"Lucas got a pretty bad infection from that cold of his. Doc's looking after him. If Mark returns, keep him here until we come back. Lucas will be fine, but I want to talk with him before he goes racing into town. If you wouldn't mind fixing something for the men..."
"I'm sure they'll be hungry when they come back... find him Micah, please." Milly begged.
"We will." Micah said as he mounted his horse and rode off.
'Please watch over the boy...' Milly and several other silently prayed.
Not too long after Micah left with the search party, Mark figured it was time for him to start walking again. By two o'clock Sunday, he had realized the sun was too hot for him to travel during the day, and decided to find a shady area to rest during the hot parts of the day. Mark wasn't sure how long he had been out after falling off the horse, and wasn't really sure what day it was. He hoped it hadn't been as long as it seemed... He prayed Lucas wasn't lying unconscious in their home... but Mark was pretty sure he was and told himself he had to keep going, to find help for his Pa.
Around midnight, Mark suddenly realized there where dark, angry clouds in the sky. Before Mark could find shelter, he found himself caught in the storm. Mark wandered the forest, unable to tell which direction he was walking, and thanked God when he finally found a cave he could take shelter in. Mark told himself he was just going to wait out the storm, and then start walking again, but exhaustion overtook him and he drifted off to sleep.
"Did you find him?" Milly asked for the fourth time as she welcomed the last group into the McCain home.
"No sign of the boy any where... I'm sorry, Milly." Oat said as he removed his wet hat.
"You... you must be soaked, come in and stand by the fire. There's blankets on the chair." Milly offered, trying to put on a brave face. Every man could see the worry on Milly's face, they all knew what Mark meant to Milly, Lucas, and... themselves. He was a special boy, no doubt. A boy, turning into a man, that touched each of their lives in a special way.
"Wait a minute, where's Micah?" Milly asked, suddenly realising that the Marshal hadn't come in with the last group.
"He headed for town. Said he'd check a few more places on his way in, but needed to see how Lucas was doing." John Hamilton replied.
"But he..." Oat began, then turned to talk to everyone. "And the rest of us will be here at day break to start up the search again. The boy can't be that far."
"No one's seen him for two days... He could be 'that far'." One of the men spoke up.
"Ryerson, weather he is or not, you and every other man on my pay roll will be here at dawn to start looking!" Oat ordered as he stormed out of the house.
"Oat Jackford... never thought I'd live to see the man cry..." One man said
"He wasn't cryin', you're imagining things!" Another man spoke up.
"Sure he was!" A third man injected. Soon, the house was filled with arguments over weather Oat Jackford had wet eyes or not.
"IT DOESN'T MATTER!" Milly yelled over everyone else. "Get home and get some rest! You can squabble like little children after we find Mark!" The men quickly quieted down and said goodnight to Milly as they left the house.
"Would you like me to escort you home?" Mr. Hamilton asked Milly.
"No thank you, John. I need to stay here and clean up. Besides, if by some miracle Mark returns, I don't want him coming home to an empty house."
"Alright, I'll see you in the morning."
"But... the bank?"
"My staff can handle it. Good night, Milly."
"Good night." Milly replied as she walked the banker out. After closing and bolting the door, Milly made her way to the sink to begin washing dishes. She began to laugh at Oat Jackford's teary eyes... then her laughs turned to sobs as she thought about Mark out in the storm, alone.
"Please tell me you found..." Micah simply shook his head, stopping the doctor from finishing his statement.
"Nothing?"
"Not a trace... how's Lucas?" Micah asked.
"His breathing is getting a little better. He keeps moaning for Mark."
"When do you think he'll wake up?"
"I'd expect any time now." The doctor replied.
"How many days before you release him?"
"That depends on when we find-"
"MARK! MARK!" Lucas yelled from the back room repeatedly.
"Moaning?" Micah asked sarcastically as he and the doctor hurried to the door.
"This isn't normal, Micah." The doctor shot back in a serious tone.
Upon entering the room, Micah and the doctor saw Lucas fighting an unseen enemy in his sleep.
"Micah, hold him down." The doctor ordered.
"Lucas, wake up! Lucas! It's not real!" The doctor shouted at the patient.
"Mark!" Lucas yelled again, as Doc Burrage slapped him across the face. Lucas stopped struggling with Micah and began to struggle with coming out of unconsciousness.
"There you go Lucas-boy..." Micah encouraged.
"Micah?" A confused Lucas asked as he opened his eyes. "Where am I? Where's Mark?" Lucas demanded.
"It's alright Lucas-boy, you're at Doc Burrage's... Mark's..." Micah didn't know what to say.
"At Milly's." The doctor said.
"What happened?" Lucas asked.
"We where hoping you could tell us that." The doctor replied.
"I don't remember... doesn't Mark know?"
"We found you unconscious after school today." Micah said... referring to him and Milly.
"Doc, I want to see Mark..." Lucas weakly stated after a fit of coughing.
"It's in the middle of the night, wait for morning. Micah, would you go ask the cook at the hotel to fix some broth?"
"At this hour?" Micah asked. The doctor nodded and Micah left.
"Lucas, what's the last thing you remember?"
"It was... Saturday night, I think. Mark ran out to get the cot even though I told him not to... Doc, how's his leg?" Lucas suddenly asked.
"His what?"
"His knee and ankle, he pulled Saturday?"
"Oh, healing just fine." Doc answered. 'Lucas is going to kill me when he finds out the truth...'
"I stood up to go after him and felt dizzy... that's all I remember. But that was Saturday night, and it's Monday?"
"Yes, The medication I gave you may be messing with your head a little, it will clear up."
Doc Burrage continued to ask questions as he examined Lucas, trying to keep his lie straight.
After he finished and Micah had come back with the broth he told Lucas what was wrong.
"That cold of yours turned into a nasty infection. I'll have to keep you here for a few days to administer your medication. That cold has settled in your lungs and it'll take quite a lot of energy for your body to fight it. Try to get some rest, Luke. It's what's best for you." The doctor said as he stood to leave the room.
"Doc, first thing..." Lucas coughed a few times before continuing. "I want... to... see Mark."
"After breakfast." Doc Burrage said as he and Micah left.
Upon entering the front office, Micah and the doctor sat down.
"Here's the story, and don't mess it up. The medication is keeping Lucas from remembering Late Saturday night until now. You and Mark found him unconscious in the house Monday after school. Mark is staying with Milly and his ankle and knee should be fine in a week or two." The doctor said.
"Mark's knee and ankle?" Micah questioned.
"Apparently, Mark somehow injured his knee and ankle Saturday on his way home."
"That means he's out there right now with..."
"Unattended injuries." The doctor finished for the worried Marshal.
"Lucas is going to see us both dead when he finds out the truth."
"You saw him, he's in no condition to be tracking his son. But I think I'm going to conveniently plan a vacation right about the time Lucas finds out." The doctor sighed.
"How are we going to keep it from him? If Mark's not over here after breakfast..."
"Beauty of modern medicine. I'm going to mix a sedative with his water tomorrow morning that he drinks with breakfast. When he wakes, we'll tell him Mark stopped by, but he was sleeping, so he went to school."
"And when Mark doesn't stop by after school?"
"Chores at the ranch."
"Dinner?"
"Sedate him for the night."
"Is it really good for him to be sleeping that whole time? And when we run out of excuses?"
"It's not bad... but it's not good, either. Hopefully we'll find Mark before we run out of excuses... and hopefully if that doesn't happen he'll be healed enough to look for his son when he finds out."
"We're dead men, even if Mark does come back safe." Micah bluntly stated.
"Maybe we can lock ourselves in the jail... throw the key away..."
"He'd find it and string us up by our toes."
"Micah, I'm going to get some sleep. I don't want to think about it." The doctor said, knowing what Micah was saying was true.
Mark woke up with the sun streaming into the cave. At first, he enjoyed feeling the sun's rays, then he realised he had fallen asleep.
"Great!" Mark exclaimed sarcastically. "Now I've gotta wait for the sun to set before I can get going again..." Mark began to think, 'Actually, it doesn't feel too hot... maybe I could walk for a little while.' Mark began to stand, and began to feel pain in his knee and ankle as he put weight on them. 'Come on Mark... Pa needs you to do this...' before Mark reached the opening of the cave, his leg wasn't the only thing hurting. His head ache had returned, worse than it was before, his stomach hurt from lack of food, his throat hurt from being so dry, and he felt like he was going to throw up. Mark knelt down and began dry heaving, and eventually let himself lie back down. He would continue, after the sun set.
After looking all day Tuesday with no sign of Mark, Micah, Oat Jackford, and a few other men set out early Wednesday morning with provisions for several days on the trail.
Milly insisted on staying at the ranch, but Micah made her go back to town where it was safe.
"Safe!" Milly complained to herself as she drove her buggy home. "I can take care of myself! What will Mark think when he comes home and doesn't find his Pa?"
"What if..." a new thought struck her. 'Mark never comes home...'
"Well, Lucas how are you feeling this morning? You're looking a lot better than I expected." Doc said as he entered the back room Thursday morning. Lucas was quickly recuperating, much to the doctor's delight.
"I'm not sure, Doc. I can't think straight..."
"Well that's probably from the s... medicine. Headache? Chills?"
"No..." Lucas said as Doc Burrage placed the stethoscope to his chest.
"Your lungs have cleared a lot since Monday."
"Monday... Doc, I woke Monday... what's today?"
"Thursday morning."
"Why haven't I seen Mark?"
"By the time he gets over here you've fallen asleep, and when you're awake, he happens to be somewhere else. Just bad timing." The doctor said with his back to Lucas.
"I want to talk to Micah." Lucas said as his brain began to clear. 'Something's wrong...'
"Not right now..."
"Yes, now." Lucas ordered.
"Micah's gone."
"Where?"
"...Marshal business." Doc said as he busied himself with writing scribbles on a page.
"Where Doc?!"
"He didn't tell me."
"Let me talk with Milly."
"Lucas you're not up for visitors..."
"I'm feeling fine! I'm just back to that pesky cough. I've got plenty of energy and I'm wondering why you're keeping me here!" Lucas said as he sat up.
"You're sleeping so much, you don't have enough energy to..."
"Let me talk to Milly!" Lucas yelled. He knew she couldn't lie to him properly.
"Lie down and drink this, I'll get her." The doctor said as he handed Lucas a glass. "You need more fluids, drink it." The doctor said when Lucas didn't listen the first time. "Do you want to talk to her or not?" Lucas begrudgingly drank the glass of water and watched the doctor walk out of the room. Something was definitely not right.
"Milly," Doc Burrage said with concern as he entered the general store.
"What is it?"
"Lucas..."
"Is he all right?" Milly asked as she rushed towards the doctor.
"Too alright..."
"How can he be 'too alright'? What happened?"
"He's caught on that something's wrong. I sedated him without him knowing... he wants to talk to you and I wanted to fill you in on the story we're using-"
"Story? We're using...?" Suddenly, Milly connected the dots. "You mean you haven't told Lucas?! Doc!"
"Micah went along with it. Lucas hasn't been in any condition to be out looking for Mark, and we where hoping to have found the boy by now."
"Lucas is his father! He has every right to know his boy is missing!"
"Milly, if Lucas went out there and started looking for Mark, he could go back to the way he was when found him three days ago... or even worse! We would have no Mark and a half dead Lucas." Milly subconsciously redirected her anger at the doctor into worry for Lucas.
"Milly, Lucas will wake in about three or four hours, I didn't give him much of a sedative. When he wakes up I need you to be there to talk to him. Tell him he simply fell asleep again. Mark's been staying with you, Micah and Mark found Lucas Monday after school. Mark has been keeping up with his chores at the ranch, as well as his homework, and minding us and Micah. Micah is away on Marshal business for the time being, and you and Mark have both been in to see him, but he's been asleep when you drop by." Milly nodded. "Oh, and on more thing. Remember that Mark's leg is healing nicely."
"Doc... I can't lie to Lucas..." Milly began.
"You have to."
"I mean, I can... but I can't. Lucas will see right through me... he knows me too well."
"Just do your best and pray they find Mark soon."
As morning broke, Mark came over a hill and saw a river.
'Water!' Mark wearily thought. He made his way down the hill side, stumbling several times. Mark felt so weak and tired... He didn't know if he could reach the water. Finally, Mark placed his swollen leg in the stream and let himself relax as he drank from his hands. Mark knew he needed to keep going... but he was so tired...
Mark woke several hours later. It was hot and he decided to submerge himself in the water. He swam across the river after dunking himself several times. Standing on the bank, he suddenly thought he recognised where he stood... but couldn't quite figure it out. Mark started up the next slope, and as he reached the top turned back around... there was just something about that place...
Images of three men surrounding a lady flashed into Mark's mind. They took turns hitting her... then one of them killed her with his own hands. Mark thought about himself sitting on Blue Boy, unable to make himself move...
'I'm on the ranch! That's the dam! Pa!' Out of no where, Mark suddenly had a boost of energy. It was still difficult, but he ran as hard as he could towards where he knew his home was.
"Pa! Pa!" Mark yelled as he raced up the porch steps. Upon entering his home, Mark saw that the army cot was gone, and everything was clean.
"P...Pa?" Mark nervously called as he made his way into the bedroom... no Pa. Mark didn't know if this was good or bad. Suddenly he had little energy left and his leg was threatening to give way. Mark hobbled out of the house and into the barn. Blue Boy was still there, but the team and buck board where gone.
'what's going on?' Mark had a bad feeling. He mounted Blue Boy bare back and slowly urged him towards town. He wanted to go faster, but he could hardly hold to Blue Boy's mane as the horse walked out of the yard.
"Lucas? Doc said you wanted to see me...?" Milly said as she handed Lucas a clean shirt to put on.
"Milly, what's going on around here? Why haven't I seen Mark... or you for that matter?"
"...We came in to see you several times... but you where always sleeping." Lucas could see Milly was nervous... meaning she was hiding something.
"How's the boy minding you?"
"Very well, he's been... very helpful, keeping up with his school and chores at the ranch as well..." Milly said as she turned to pour Lucas a glass of water... and wipe a tear away.
"How's his broken arm and leg coming?"
"Fine." Milly turned and handed Lucas the glass with a smile on her face. Lucas' smile turned to a frown. He had Milly where he wanted her, but was disappointed it was in the middle of a lie.
"Milly, would you hand me my rifle please? It's in the corner." Lucas pleasantly asked.
"Why do you want your rifle?"
"Because," Lucas began in a serious tone as he sat up. "Mark doesn't have a broken arm or leg, and as soon as you tell me what everyone has been keeping from me, I'm going to go find my son!" Upon hearing Lucas' statement, Doc Burrage entered the room.
"Lucas please... they're looking for him. You're sick, you need to rest!"
"I'm fine Milly! Yes I'm a little sick, but we all know Doc has been over exaggerating my condition to keep me here," Lucas turned to the doctor, "and you're not going to put me to sleep again! I wondered, but after this morning I was sure you where sedating me. I want the whole story, now!"
"Don't, Milly." Doc calmly said.
"I know Mark's missing, and I'm going to look for him! Anything you keep from me will be one less thing I don't know to help me find Mark!"
"No one's seen Mark since Sturday night! Micah found you at the ranch, unconscious on the army cot. Blue Boy was still in the barn, but Razor showed up in town without a rider Monday... that's why I went over and found Micah loading you up. I stayed at the ranch until Micah shooed me home Wednesday before he left with a long term search party. They looked all over the ranch and the surrounding areas Monday night and all day Tuesday."
"Where's Razor now?" Lucas asked. Doc Burrage was stepping away from the conversation.
"At the livery."
"Thank you Milly. Doc, I'll deal with you and Micah later!" Lucas put on his hat and boots, then stormed out of the office and down to the livery. Nils saw Lucas coming over and didn't wonder why. He was putting a full sized saddle on Razor when Lucas came storming in.
"I'm praying for you both, Lucas."
"Thanks." Lucas grunted as he helped Nils finish saddling Razor, then mounted the horse and rode out.
Figuring his son had gone for help, Lucas headed home using the shortcut Mark often used when he was in a rush, even though Lucas didn't like it. It cut through wide open prairie and narrow canyons that where asking for trouble. Lucas was so focused on getting to the ranch, he didn't even notice the rider he passed. Suddenly Lucas heard a wolf snarl and a scream, whipped Razor around, and headed towards the noise. Coming over the rise, Lucas shouldered his rifle and carefully aimed at the wolf on top of the man. He hit his target with the two shots he fired, and hurried to help the man get the wolf off of him.
"Are you alright?" Lucas asked as he turned the man... the boy...
"Mark!" Lucas yelled. Mark simply groaned as Lucas picked his son up and got Mark in the saddle, in front of him. Blue Boy followed Razor out of habit as Lucas raced to town.
"Mark, can you hear me? Mark!"
"Pa..." an unconscious Mark mumbled.
"It's alright, I've got you..."
"We had no right not to tell him, he was going to go out anyway!" Milly defended herself for the hundredth time. "You men are so... so..."
"DOC!" Lucas yelled as he entered the office with Mark in his arms.
"Lucas?" The doctor said in surprise.
"How did you find-" Milly began before she was interrupted by Lucas.
"He was attacked by a wolf and who knows what else!" Lucas said as he laid his son on the table. Doc Burrage began examining Mark, telling Lucas and Milly to do various things.
The doctor first attended to the scratches and bites by the wolf, then Mark's leg. Lucas looked his son over and realised that Mark's ribcage was much too visible. As the doctor was cleaning Mark's leg up, Lucas brushed Mark's bangs out of his face.
"Doc, there's a knot on his head... and I think he's running a fever." The doctor finished the leg and moved to take Lucas' spot.
"He must've hit his head on something. You've heard his coughing and his breathing is not very good... he probably spent a few nights out in the rain, and I think he took a swim sometime today. I think he's got pneumonia."
"Doc, will he be alright?"
"Mark is dealing with lots of things at once. Twisted ankle, wretched knee, the pneumonia, concussion no doubt from hitting his head, injuries from the wolf, and then whatever else has happened to his body the last five days. But he should pull through, give him time." Lucas breathed a sigh of relief.
"Now, about you. I'm glad you found Mark so quickly and that he's safe. But I'm also glad because days in the saddle would've put you back where you where a few days ago. I don't know how you've healed as much and as fast as you have, but you still need to rest and finish fighting this infection. I'm keeping you and Mark as patients until one of you is fully functional again."
"Fine, but I stay with him all the time. You tell me everything that's happening, and no more sedatives!"
Doc Burrage set up a second bed next to the first one in the back room and after settling Lucas and Mark, Doc walked Milly back to her store. As they entered, Doc saw one of Oat Jackford's hands.
"Ms. Scott, the search party needs more supplies, we didn't pack enough food or canteens. It sure does get hot out there..."
"I'll send you with some Billy, but you can tell everyone to come back. Lucas found Mark."
"He did? When? How? Is he alright?"
"The boy is suffering some serious injuries, but will be fine in a few weeks. We'll fill everyone in on the details later, but you need to get back out there and tell everyone Mark's safe." Milly got the supplies together for Billy and he set off to call off the search party.
Doc Burrage returned to the office and checked on Lucas and Mark throughout the night. Friday morning, the doctor found Lucas sitting in the chair next to Mark's bed instead of sleeping in his own.
"Lucas, get back into bed! Get some sleep!"
"I need to be here for Mark when he wakes up."
"You need to be rested for Mark when he wakes up!"
"I'm not moving until he wakes up!"
"I'm going to-"
"Doc, you can't do anything about it!" Lucas said. A flustered Doc Burrage walked out of the room. Lucas bent down and kissed Mark's forehead, and suddenly felt arms wrapping around his neck.
"You know, it's good to hear you arguing again. Last time you gave in to Doc Burrage you where so bad off, you scared me half to death!" Mark half laughed, half cried.
"Mark?!" Lucas whispered as he pulled back and held his son's face in his hands.
"Pa please, get some rest." Mark had so many questions, but they could wait.
"Doc!" Lucas called.
"Pa, just lay down, please?" Mark pleaded
"As soon as Doc Burrage looks you over." Lucas said as the doctor entered.
"Pa..."
"I'll even sit on the bed while he does." Satisfied with his father's answer, Mark directed his attention to the doctor.
"How do you feel Mark?" Mark hesitated, he felt horrible... but his Pa needed to be at peace.
"Mark, tell the doctor how you feel, it's alright. From what we see you've been through a lot."
"...well my head does hurt a lot. I'm sore from falling off Blue Boy Saturday, and then today. My leg has been giving me lots of problems... I feel queasy, but most of all I'm really... really hungry."
"I'll get you some broth. When was the last time you ate?"
"...Saturday... morning..." Mark looked to his Pa, almost apologetically. He felt what he was saying was going to hurt Lucas. And in in a way it did... Lucas hurt for his boy, but returned Mark's gaze with a warm, loving look, telling him, 'It's alright.'
"Well, we will have to fatten you back up. What happened to your head?"
"I'm not exactly sure, but I think of hit it on a tree branch riding in the storm Saturday night. I guess I'm sore from falling off Blue Boy then, too."
"Everything should heal fine in the next couple weeks. You'll have some scars from the wolf, but they will probably fade over time. I am curious, how did you wretch your knee again?"
"Blue Boy lost his footing, I fell out of the saddle sideways, but my leg got twisted up in the stirrup. He was startled by the storm and went a ways before I could stop him."
"Your knee will probably take a bit longer to heal than it did last time, but it will. I'm going to get you some broth Mark, and breakfast for Lucas. I want both of you to rest." The doctor said as he walked out of the room.
"Pa, it sure is good to hear your voice again... I missed you so much... I was so worried..." Lucas stood up and walked to Mark's bed.
"Pa you said you would go to bed..."
"I am." Lucas said as he laid down and put his arm around Mark.
"I love you." Father and son said simultaneously.
"Lucas McCain! Does Doc Burrage know you're out of bed?" Milly asked as she pointed her finger at the tall rancher walking down the board walk. Lucas turned around and walked towards Milly.
"Doc Burrage had to make some house calls this morning before he looked Mark over one last time, I figured I'd get my errands done now so I can take Mark straight home."
"You know very well the Doc was still concerned about you over doing it, and he hasn't let you put of that office for a reason!"
"Milly, a walk to the hardware store, livery, and Marshals office isn't going to kill me!" Lucas laughed. Milly sighed and put her hands to her hips. "You sure are pretty when you're mad."
"Lucas McCain!" Milly exclaimed before rushing back into the store.
Mark woke up and didn't see his father in the bed across the room.
"Pa?" He called. "Pa?" Mark got out of bed and walked to the door. "Pa? Doc?" Mark called as he entered the front room. After receiving no answer, Mark threw on the shirt Milly had brought over and his boots, walked out of the office and down the board walk.
"Milly have you seen Pa?" Mark worriedly asked.
"Mark what are you doing out of bed? Get back down the street!"
"Milly, have you seen Pa? He wasn't at the office... He's supposed to-"
"Mark your father is running errands so you can leave as soon as Doc releases the two of you. Though it looks like you've already released yourselves..."
"Pa was supposed to stay in bed this morning!"
"I know, he wouldn't listen to me. Your father is as stubborn as a mule."
"Do you know where he is now?" Mark asked.
"Probably the Marshals office."
"Thanks Milly." Mark said as he took off.
"Mark you're in worse condition than your-" Mark was gone. "McCain's!" Milly sighed.
As Mark talked with Milly, Lucas had made his way back to the doctor's office, and was surprised when he opened the door to the back room and saw no Mark.
"Mark?" Lucas called. He glanced around the room and when he didn't see Mark ran out of the office.
"Micah have you seen Pa?" Mark asked the Marshal.
"Just left here. Headed back to Doc's. How you feeling?"
"Better than I was a few days ago, still a little sore. Thanks Micah." Mark said as he turned and walked out of the office. Mark wasn't watching where he was going as he stepped out onto the board walk, and Lucas was running as he turned to enter the office. Mark and Lucas collided and though Lucas breathed an, "Excuse me." He didn't really see who he had knocked over. "Micah, Mark's gone! I left him at the office fifteen minutes ago and-"
"Calm down Lucas-boy, he's-"
"Calm down? Micah Mark's missing again!"
"Lucas!"
"Micah, list-"
"Pa, I'm right behind you!" Mark interrupted. Lucas turned around to see Mark getting himself off the floor.
"Mark where have you been?"
"Where have I been? I've been looking for you, where have you been? Doc Burrage told you..."
"Doc Burrage is an over-"
"Doc Burrage has two strong headed patients. Let's get you two back over to the clinic so I can officially release you." Doc Burrage said as he entered the office.
All four men walked back to the doctor's office where Doc Burrage gave Mark and Lucas a final examination. He gave Lucas instructions on treating Mark's scratches and bites from the wolf, and gave Mark a new pair of crutches to borrow. He wasn't too happy Mark had decided to walk around town that morning.
"Both of you take it easy, no need to over do it. I will see you Saturday." Doc Burrage said as Lucas climbed up into the buck board. The Marshal and Doctor watched the father and son ride out of town.
"Mark?" Lucas said for the fourth time as he snapped his fingers in front of his son's face.
"Huh? Sorry Pa, what'd you say?"
"I asked for the salt." Lucas replied. Mark handed Lucas the salt without saying anything and went back to his thoughts. Lucas stared intensely at Mark, trying to figure out what was going through his son's mind. Mark had seemed deep in thought all day, but Lucas couldn't figure out what his son was pondering. After supper was eaten and the dishes where done, Lucas went onto the porch. He was debating weather to ask Mark what he was thinking about... or wait for him to say something himself. Lucas had found himself waiting for Mark lately instead of pushing a matter, but when Mark came out and joined him on the porch, Lucas decided to try to get it out of Mark.
"Mark?"
"...Yeah Pa?" Mark replied as he looked towards Lucas.
"What's been bothering you today?" Mark shrugged his shoulders. He was trying to get over this feeling... but how?
"What is it?"
"Two things actually... I think..."
"You think? Well what's the first one?"
"Well the first one hasn't been bothering me, I'm more just curious... No, confused. This morning when you came running into Micah's office... it was like you had blocked out the entire world... you looked so worried..."
"I was 'so worried', Mark. You where gone."
"Pa, I've seen how you love me and worry about me... but it leaves the question in my mind... why?"
"Why?" Lucas asked in surprise. He didn't know if he understood the question or how to answer it.
"I understand we're family, but still, you loved me before I could do anything. You care about me, and put up with me... even when I'm nothing but trouble. Why do you love me and worry about me... or... and I guess this is the second thing, why do I worry about you?"
"Mark..."
"Pa, why do either of us care? Wouldn't it be easier if no one cared in this world?" Mark said as he turned away. "Wouldn't it be simpler to... to...
"To what?"
"Pa... why do I have to be so... scared of losing you?" Mark said as he sat down and began crying. "Pa... I can't... can't stand to think about you dying! But I do... all the time... and then being lost out in the woods for five days wondering weather you where dead or alive..." Mark sat up, wrapped his arms around his Pa's neck, and buried his head into Lucas' shoulder.
"Please tell me you're alright... please Pa, don't leave me!" Mark sobbed. Lucas returned his son's embrace and then ran his fingers through Mark's hair.
"Mark, you know I'm fine. I love you son, and there's nothing that's going change that. I'll always be here for you Mark, weather I'm right next to you or a thousand miles away, we'll always be connected here." Lucas said as he tapped over Mark's heart. "Before you where born, our bond was created and it's gotten so strong, wild horses couldn't tear it apart. We're partners, remember? Partners are ways there for each other." Lucas continued as he took Mark's face between his hands. "I love you, so much Mark. I know you love me too. We can't let worry or fear for each other destroy us. We have to live in the now, not in the 'what ifs'."
"Pa... I..." Tears continued to flow down Mark's cheeks.
"Shhh..." Lucas said as he rubbed the back of Mark's head. Mark was soon asleep in Lucas' strong arms and the father gently picked his son up and carried him to bed. As Lucas pulled the covers over Mark, he began to rouse.
"Go back to sleep..." Lucas whispered.
"I love you Pa... thank you for... everything." Mark said said as he took hold of his father's hand. Lucas waited for Mark to slip back to sleep before releasing Mark's hand and sticking it under the covers. Lucas got into his bunk and waited for the tears to stop.
The love he felt for and from his son was overwhelming.
