It was a beautiful day in Virginia City. Not a single cloud dotted the bluer- than-blue sky. The sun shone down, making the city sparkle, and it boosted the cheery aroma that seemed to be a tangible thing in the air. It seemed as though nothing could ruin this day.
That's what Little Joe Cartwright was thinking as he rode into town on his black and white pinto, Cochise. Behind him, his brother's chestnut mare, Sport, followed.
Townsfolk called a day's greeting to him as Joe made his way through town towards the bank. Once there, he dismounted Cochise and loosely tied him to the post out front. He walked into the bank, a slight spring in his step as he went up to the front desk.
"Hey, Little Joe!" called the clerk, Jonah, from behind the counter. "How're you doin'? And how's Ben?"
"Morning, Jonah." Joe said, "My father is fine, if only a bit stressed with all the new calves we have to count and brand, and all the fences that need fixing from the winter, and the new breeding stock coming in…" Joe sighed. "We've got our hands full."
"I can imagine that!" Jonah laughed. "Same story, every spring. So what can I do for you?"
Joe slid a bill from his shirt pocket and handed it to the clerk. "Check that into our account, will you?" he said. "I wish I had time to stay and chat, but I've got to go get a few things and pick up Adam."
"Oh, that's right!" Jonah said as he brought out a folder, slipped the bill into it, then put it back, writing a receipt and handing it to Joe. "He's comin' back from Frisco today, isn't he? Well, I won't keep you any longer, Little Joe. Tell your pa I said hello!"
Joe grinned and walked towards the door. "Alright, I will!" he called back over his shoulder.
Saying hello to the men and tipping his hat to the ladies, Joe managed to grab a beer at the Silver Dollar, buy a window pane from the General Store, and only be ten minutes late to pick up Adam.
Yep, and there, in front of the hotel, stood the sturdy form of his older brother, Adam Cartwright. He was engaged in a conversation with Rachel Carter, a fifteen year old girl who hated dresses. She preferred skirts and long sleeved shirts with a vest, and refused to try on any type of dress. She disliked doing inside lady-like things, and spent most of her time outside. She was an odd girl, which is why the Cartwright family liked spending time with her.
Joe led his two horses over while Adam crossed his arms. "Well, look who finally showed up." he said.
"Sorry I'm late, Adam." Joe apologized, thinking it was worth it for that cold beer. "Hello, Rachel."
"Hello, Little Joe!" Rachel grinned. "Adam told me the business in San Francisco went pretty well."
"I would hope so!" Joe returned her smile. "We really need those logging contracts to be accepted." He turned to his brother. "Pa wants to know how it went as soon as possible. And we've got a bunch of work to do back at the Ponderosa, so we need to get home."
"Suits me fine," Adam said, taking the reins for Sport and stroking the horse's neck. "It'll be good to get home. Been nice talking with you, Rachel." He gave her a warm smile. "Have a nice day."
The two men tipped their hats to the girl and mounted their steeds, riding off in the direction of the Ponderosa.
Rachel Carter watched them ride off and shook her head. Mr. Cartwright's got some fine lookin' boys, she smiled. Not that she really thought about that very often. They were too grown up, and she was simply too young. Now, she wouldn't admit it, but she fancied Little Joe a bit. It wasn't serious, though, and Rachel could never imagine getting married to him, so she kept it at a simple crush that would eventually fade away. She let herself enjoy her feelings while they lasted.
Rachel turned and walked down the boardwalk, hands in her skirt pockets (with the pockets being handmade). She knew everyone in town, except the new arrivals, so she called everyone by name and got a similar response.
After a bit of pointless wandering around, Rachel sauntered into the General Store and quickly located her father, Samuel Carter. "Did'ja get the supplies, Pa?" she asked, sliding along the counter up to him.
"Yep, Rachel, I did." He smiled at her.
"And are we going to get the hat that you promised me?" Rachel inquired with eyebrows raised in a pleading manner.
"Sure are, Rae." he said.
Rachel's hazel eyes sparkled. For two months she had been begging her father for a hat that she had seen in the General Store's window. He had finally given in to her pleads and told her they were going to buy it that day. "Can we get it now?"
"First we load up the supplies into the buckboard," her dad said. "Oh, and on the way home we have to stop by the Ponderosa and give Ben the money for Tramp."
Rachel perked up. "The horse money!" she exclaimed, "I completely forgot! Joe and Adam just rode out of here. Can I give the money to them, Pa? I know I'll catch up with them if I use Tramp!"
Sam Carter chuckled, knowing all too well how eager Rachel was to ride her new horse. The Cartwrights were selling him to her. They had let her have a few days to try Tramp out and make up her mind. Of course, the answer had been "Yes," so now they just needed to pay for the horse.
Sam thought for a moment, then drew the money out from his pocket, counted it, then handed it to an impatient Rachel. "You sure they just left?" he asked.
"Yeah, Pa, I'm sure."
"And you've got your knife?" He would never let her handle a gun, but a knife he trusted her with.
"Yeah, Pa, I've got my knife." Rachel assured him, whipping her hunting knife out for him to see.
"Good." Sam ruffled her short, straight brown hair. "When you catch up to them, ask if you can stay at the Ponderosa 'till I come get you. I just remembered some business I have to do here, and it might take awhile."
"You bet'cha!" Rachel grinned. She loved visiting the Cartwrights. "Bye, Pa," she said, kissing his cheek. "See ya in a while! Oh, and don't forget to pick up my hat!" And with that, she bounded out the door.
Sliding her knife back into it's leather scabbard, Rachel performed a hop-skip-and-a-jump to get onto Tramp, her dark brown, almost black mare. Pulling on the reins slightly, Rachel turned him around, kicked his flanks, and galloped off.
Joe readjusted the window pane in front of him, wrapping an arm around it while using his other hand to steer Cochise. Adam rode along side him, glancing around at the familiar landscape and breathing in the hot air of the country.
After a few minutes of small talk, Adam pointed to the window and asked, "What did you do this time?"
Joe looked a bit sheepish. "Early this morning, Hoss and I got into an argument about chores. To help illustrate a point I was making, I threw a rock."
"And you broke a window." Adam finished, chuckling. "Which one?"
"Pa's." Joe thought back to that morning, remembering his pa's shouting and anger after he realised that they weren't being attacked. "He wasn't happy." he sighed. Adam's laughing stopped him. "What's so funny?" he snapped.
"Nothing," Adam smirked, trying to stop. "It's just that I can imagine Pa's face when you sailed a rock clean through his window."
Joe rolled his eyes, but couldn't avoid a weak smile starting to creep onto his face. "It could've scared the fur right off a grizzly." he admitted. He gripped the window pane harder to stop it from sliding out of his arm as they continued riding.
Cantering out from behind some rocks, they had a clear view of Bulker's Ridge, a halfway marker between Virginia City and the Ponderosa. Just as they were passing it, piercing shrieks and whoops rang out, turning Joe's blood cold. "Indians!" he spat as the sources of the screams appeared on the ridge, racing their horses down the side.
Adam and Joe kicked their horses, galloping towards the Ponderosa while drawing their pistols. The Indians gave wild shouts of glee as they let loose with their rifles. The two brothers shot back, bringing down some of the braves, but not nearly enough of them. There were about half a dozen of them (not including the ones who had been shot), all with murderous looks in their black eyes.
Joe urged Cochise to go faster, but suddenly felt pain exploding in the back of his head. His body jerked, and he slipped off his horse, hitting the ground and rolling. The window he'd been holding shattered, and the last thought Joe had before darkness consumed him was that Pa was going to tan his hide for breaking his window again.
Adam didn't even hesitate before turning Sport around and racing back to Joe's side. Dismounting quickly, he knelt by the still form of his brother and fired repeatedly at the Indians, hitting a few of the them, but not stopping them. In no time at all, they had surrounded him, jumping off their horses and pulling wicked looking knives out from their belts.
Adam fought furiously with everything he had, but cuts and bruises started to mount up, including one large whack! to the back of his head. Adam collapsed beside Joe, not even finishing his last thought.
Rachel Carter let out a growl of frustration, feeling completely helpless, as she watched the Cartwright brothers and their horses being hauled away. She had arrived in time to see Adam be cut down and had quickly hidden behind some rocks before the Indians could notice her. She watched as the Indians retreated back up the ridge with their spoils, their shouts of victory echoing as they disappeared into the woods.
Rachel waited another five minutes before tentatively urging Tramp over to the spot of the ambush. She stared at the blood, glass, and bodies and fought down the rising bile in her throat. Glancing at the scuffle marks on the ground and the trail left by the Indians, she considered her options.
She could go back to Virginia City to get help to save Adam and Joe. On the other hand, she knew that they wouldn't last long if they were still alive. The Indians (Shoshone braves, she had noticed) always took scalps when they grabbed prisoners. They would probably ride until they were safe in the mountains, then kill Adam and Joe.
Rachel thought a moment, then drew her small notebook (which she always made sure was on her person) out from her vest, grabbing her pencil and beginning to write. Then she tore the paper out, dismounted, and placed it on the ground, piling a few pebbles on top of it to make sure the wind didn't blow it away. Then she climbed back up on Tramp. Patting his neck, she turned him around and began to ascend the ridge, following the Indian's trail.