Chapter 1
The cabin looked as lowly as it's occupants. A two room shack slowly coming apart in the winter storms. Red Peters dropped his traps by the front step and headed in, exhausted.
He stood warming himself by the fire as his wife finished preparing their meagre evening meal. He watched her as she moved to and fro putting plates and cutlery on the table. Her dress of faded flowers hung on her bones. Her face once young and pretty wore a constant frown. Her once shining red hair was scraped from her face and tied up for convenience. She was only 29 but look much older.
"Iris I may as well have stayed here today, I ain't caught nothin. I shoulda gone fishing. Least then we'd have fish for supper."
"Didn't ye ask old man Grimes if he needed ye on the farm today?"
"He said he didn't. I can't keep askin Iris, he might decide I'm too much work an not give me the three days he gives me."
"Ben Cartwright was here again Red, he said iffen we don't get off his land real quick he's gonna send men in to evict us," Iris ladled the last of the beans on to his plate, as she gave her husband the damning news.
"I done told him I get paid end of the week and I kin pay him rent iffen this land really is his. I'm not so sure this land even is his. I ain't never seen no deeds."
"I said prayers today that he is excepting of your offer, I prayed hard." Iris shook her head as she poured him a cup of coffee. "don't cause no trouble Red."
"I won't, I just get so plumb mad when..."
Both froze at the sound . A dull thump at the front door. Red got up slowly signalling for his wife to stay where she was. He reached for his rifle and threw open the door. Iris watched in horror as he took off after someone.
"Red come back," she went to the open doorway. She watched him chase down a small figure headed for the nearby woods. She watched for a moment until she was startled by a sudden sound at her feet. She looked down and her eyes grew wide as she looked into the face of a chubby, blue eyed infant.
Red caught up with the trespasser and scooped him up as he was just a small boy. The child struggled kicking his legs as Red carried him back to the house.
"Iris, it's just a kid, out at this hour of the night." Red carried him into the house but stopped dead as he noted his wife sitting by the fire with an ominous bundle in her arms.
"That ain't what I think it is, is it?" He asked, getting closer.
He still had a hold of the young boys arm, "You was leaving that baby here youngen?" He asked.
The boy looked over at the baby, his doll like features held an intense look that Red couldn't read.
"I asked you a question boy," Red spoke sharply. The boy winced at his tone but made no answer.
"Red, what we gonna do, it's too late ta head in ta town an see the Sheriff." Iris said as she held the infant to her chest and rubbed his back.
Red took the baby from her and handed it back to the older child. He led the child to their door.
"Now you go on home or your pa will skin ye alive," he told the child.
"Red, it's dark out," Iris called out from her place by the fire. She got up and went to him.
"Send him off tomorrow."
"Iris, no one will believe us. I'm already in trouble after we stole them chickens. We'll be done for kidnapping." He turned to the child again.
"You go on home boy."
The child turned for the door and was heading out but Iris blocked his path.
"They'll be eaten by coyotes Red."
"Damn it Iris, I was looking forward to us gettin together tonight, now that ain't gonna happen."
"It can still happen."
They both looked around at the poky cabin, a table, three chairs, fire place, one bed.
"Maybe tomorrow night Red," Iris mumbled.
In answer Red took the baby back from the boy and handed it to her.
"I don't wanna hear a peep outta you," he growled at the sleeping child.
"And as for you..." He took hold of the older child. The boy yelped as his clutching hand made contact with his back.
"There ain't no call for that Red," Iris snapped at him.
"I barely touched him," Red said plaintively. The child shrunk back against the wall.
"What's the matter with ye boy, your pa give ye a licken?"
Red took hold more gently this time and began to undo the buttons on the child's shirt.
"You got a name boy?" He asked. "He can't be any more than seven Iris. His Pa could be one of them minors down by Willows creek. His Pa will kill me iffen I don't get him home."
Red found a tag on his shirt.
"A...D...A...M. what's that spell Iris?" He asked.
"I dunno, how am I supposed to know." She mumbled as she took the baby back to the fire.
"We'll have ta just call him..." Red had just opened his shirt. The words died on his lips and he hissed air between his teeth.
"Your Pa do this boy?" He asked as he peeled the garment from angry red stripes. Puss had begun to ooze from some of the gaping swollen wounds streaked across the child's back.
"Iris, take a look at this," Red turned him so his wife could see.
"Oh my lord," she exclaimed. "Did his pa take a bull whip to him, what the heck."
"Who did this boy?" Red asked him directly.
The boy didn't answer, a haunted look crossed his face as tears clouded his vision.
"Alright, don't take on snivellin, you don't have ta say nothin. Iris I'm gonna get that tin bath from round back. I'll fill it and put some whisky on his scars an you heat some milk for that there baby."
The bath was extremely painful. Adam sat with his knees up to his chest as Red poured alcohol infused water over his wounds. He squeezed his eyes tight and gritted his teeth against the sharp, stinging pain.
"I hope you appreciate this boy, I was keeping this half bottle fer Christmas ye know," Red looked down and could see his discomfort.
"You kin holler boy if ye want, I won't think badly of ye," Red told him, remembering punishments he had endured as a child.
"Nearly finished now youngen," Red said gently as he took up a large towel to wrap the boy in. Adam stood up and Red sat him in his lap patting gently on his injured back.
"Who did this to ye boy, don't ye wanna tell me?" Red asked as he applied a soothing balm to the worst parts.
Adam couldn't answer, every time he tried to form words it was as if his mind raged like a terrible storm. Once again he could hear the shouting, the cursing. Once again he was crouching holding his brother, his eyes shut tight against the worst of the violent scene played out in front of him. He put hands out as if to ward off the images that crowded in on him.
"Alright, ye don't wanna talk jist now. It'll keep till tomorrow."
Soon Adam was sat at the table drinking hot milk and eating cornbread dipped in honey. Hoss was sleeping in a corner by the fire, swaddled in blankets.
Adam's back was stiffly wrapped with makeshift bandages and he was swathed in a warm oversized shirt.
A full belly and warm fingers and toes were usually enough to bring Adam contentment. Cold nights on the trail had taught the boy to appreciate the simple things but just now he didn't feel that glow of happiness. Just now he felt totally lost.