This is m first GI fic and my first DT fic. I've only ever seen like 5 or 6 episodes of Dusty's Trail and I've seen all but the third season of GI. It's like impossible to find a copy of the 3rd season x3 Anywho, since I've only seen a few episodes of DT, I'm not too sure if the California Gold Rush was the reason for the wagon train to be heading for California. But in this fic, it's the reason now lol

I'll update as soon as I can, granted I can get more than a few minutes on the computer to finish the next chapter. So updates will vary depending on how often I get to type things out.

Chapter 1

In the 19th century, life was hard. Much harder than life as we know it today. Back then the west had yet to be tamed and the mighty nation that is the United States of America was still in its youth. The California Gold Rush was in its prime, drawing people in by the thousands in their attempt to strike it rich. From lands far and near, people flocked to California for the opportunity to change their lives. And it was that very reason that Carter Brookhaven and his wife, Daphne Brookhaven, had funded the wagon train that would take them and many other people to the gold rich state. But thanks to the blundering of a young scout by the name of Dusty, him and six others, the Brookhavens included, ended up separated from the main wagon train.

For the past few months, under the lead of Mr. Callahan, the wayward travelers had been trying to find the rest of the wagon train or find their way to California on their own. But every time it seemed like they were close, Dusty did something else to make them loose their way even more. Despite all of his blunderings, Dusty was still well liked by the people who seemed to becoming almost like family. Even though Dusty seemed to mess everything up and cause them trouble, he had a good heart and always had good intentions. He even provided them with some humor.

One day, after a days worth of traveling, the small wagon train stopped to make camp. Still having a couple of hours until sunset, everyone decided to use that time to relax and do their own thing while supper cooked over an open fire. Andy, a book smart man that knew more about things most people had never even heard of, sat next to the steaming pot of stew, stirring it occasionally as he relaxed. In the covered wagon he drove, two young women sat talking about men, their plans once they reached California and whatever else came to mind. Lulu, the older of the two, sat on a stool fixing her long blonde curls. Lulu was a show-girl who loved to dance and perform on stage. She could've been considered a flirt as well. Betsy, the younger of the two, was a shy school teacher, planning to go to California to teach children who were in need of a school. While she liked to look nice like Lulu, she tended to use a more casual look, meaning little to no make up and wearing her dark brown hair down and a simple, yet still fancy dress. Despite their differences, Lulu and Betsy were best friends.

Sitting in their stagecoach, Carter and Daphne Brookhaven talked about their favorite thing. Money. Being the owner of several banks in the East, the Brookhavens had it made. They had been eager to get to California to open more banks while the Gold Rush was still going strong. But at the rate things were going, it was looking unlikely that there would be any banks opening in California that were owned by a Brookhaven.

While the two of them talked and made plans that would likely never get to be played out, outside, Mr. Callahan was on the hunt for his 'little pal' as he liked to call Dusty. Unlike the others, Mr. Callahan had known Dusty a few years prior to their unintentional exile into the untamed wilderness that was the Wild West. In those years, Cal had been, and still was, Dusty's boss. And during those years, the older man had learned to be patient with the young man he now considered more of a son than an employee. But there were still times when Dusty managed to push Callahan past his breaking point, earning the younger man a long lecture and numerous threats, none of which Callahan even actually intended to carry out.

"Dusty, where are you!" Callahan called, cupping his hands around his mouth to help the sound carry further. Not getting a reply, he sighed and shook his head. Spotting Andy stirring their supper, Callahan walked over. "Andy, have you seen Dusty? I need his help and he's done vanished again."

"No sir. I haven't seen him since we stopped. But when I saw him, he was with Freckles again." Andy replied, looking up at his friend. Freckles was Dusty's appaloosa pony that he had accidentally caught while practicing his roping skills. Since breaking him and getting him back from the people who had originally tried to capture the wild horse, the two were inseparable. More often than not, Dusty would be found wherever Freckles was and vice versa.

Callahan nodded and scratched his head in thought. "Well, if you saw him with Freckles, that means Dusty's likely to be where he is."

"Yeah. Do you need any help looking for him?" Andy asked before tasting the stew. Satisfied with the taste, he stirred it again before putting the spoon off to the side.

"No, that's alright. He can't be too far away. But if you see him before I do, tell him I'm looking for him." Cal said, hooking his thumbs in his gun belt.

"I will. Good luck." Andy replied as the older man walked off.

At that same moment, Dusty was unintentionally hiding out in a nearby very thinly wooded area. He was standing next to Freckles, adjusting the appaloosa's bridal and saddle. Once satisfied, the bumbling young man looked his horse straight in the eye.

"Alright Freckles. Don't move or anything." Dusty told him as he put a foot in the stirrup. Bouncing up and down a couple of times, he got the momentum he needed to mount after the third bounce. Freckles snorted and stomped his hooves, clearly not liking to be mounted. Dusty held onto the reins, trying to get the young horse under control. "C'mon Freckles, stop acting like that. I gotta mount ya to ride you. Besides, it's not that bad." At hearing his master say those words, Freckles turned his large head towards Dusty, giving him a 'yeah right, you're not the one being ridden' look. Not catching the look Freckles gave him, Dusty patted the horses' neck. "Okay pal, let's go." Snorting again and throwing his head up, Freckles took off at a fast trot. Frowning, Dusty pulled on the reins, trying to get him to slow down to a walk. "Darn it Freckles, slow down!" Unfortunately for Dusty, Freckles didn't slow down. Instead, he reared slightly before he broke out into a full fledged gallop, dodging trees and bushes as his hooves pounded on the dry western soil. Hanging on for dear life, Dusty did everything in his power to get the powerful animal to stop or at least slow down. Unfortunately for Dusty, his ornery horse had other plans.

Not being the most graceful human alive, it was only a matter of time before Dusty lost his balance and his grip on the reins. And that time came when Freckles approached a fallen tree laying across some bushes. Not having enough time to go around the clear end, the young horse had no choice but to jump. Flexing his powerful muscles, Freckles leaped into the air, sailing over the tree with grace and ease. Dusty managed to hang on as they went over the tree, but when Freckles' hooves hit the hard ground, he was jolted out of the saddle and thrown over Freckles' shoulder where he hit the ground and bounced once before rolling to a stop. Feeling the extra weight on his back suddenly disappear milliseconds before a giant blur zipped past his face, Freckles let out a startled snort before skidding to a stop before changing direction and taking off at a gallop, a cloud of dust being kidded up from Dusty's meeting with the ground and Freckles' sudden stop and acceleration. When the dust cloud finally settled, it revealed an unconscious Dusty laying on his side, his clothes dirty.

Back at camp, Callahan was getting frustrated. When he had gone to see if his bumbling friend was with the horses, he found all but Freckles were present. Knowing that proved Dusty was off goofing around with the horse, Callahan planned to have a good long talk with Dusty when he returned. Deciding Dusty would return in a little while, Callahan headed back to camp to get his half of the work done that needed done. Before he'd taken more than a couple of steps however, the sound of hooves hitting hard ground hit his ears. Looking in the direction of the sound, Callahan saw a speckled white horse approaching at a trot. Recognizing it immediately, Callahan reached out and grabbed the reins when the horse slowed to a walk.

"Whoa boy." Callahan said soothingly. Freckles looked at the human and threw his head back with a snort as he pawed at the ground. A small cloud of dust stirred up around his hooves before settling to the ground. Not seeing Dusty, Callahan sighed. "Wonder where Dusty is. It's not like him to let you come back by yourself." Freckles only snorted and shook his large head, making the metal parts on his bridal rattle and cling together. Walking Freckles over to the other horses, Callahan tied him to a low tree branch before patting his muscular neck. Turning away, the wagon master headed off in the direction Freckles had come from, all the while figuring Dusty couldn't be far behind.

Groaning as the dull throbbing in his head made itself known, Dusty slowly came around. Sitting up slowly, he put a hand to his head, wincing when he felt the large bump that formed on the back of his head. "Ow...that really hurts..." He muttered as he let his hand drop onto his lap. When the dull throbbing finally disappeared, the young scout got to his feet. He looked around, trying to figure out how he got where he was. It was then that it hit him like a ton of bricks, or more appropriately, a horse kicking him. "Freckles? Hey freckles, where'd ya go?" Not getting an answer, Dusty headed off, albeit unsteadily. "Freckles! Freckles, where are you?" Still not getting a response, save for some birds calling out, Dusty grew increasingly worried. Hoping his horse went back to camp, Dusty decided to head back. Besides that, he had a nasty headache and he was still unsteady on his feet, which made avoiding things he could trip over a greater challenge than usual. Deciding to concentrate on not falling as much as his aching brain would let him, which wasn't much, Dusty headed off in the direction he and Freckles had come. He really hoped Freckles was at camp, safe and sound. And if not, he hoped Mr. Callahan was there. The older man would definitely know what to do. Or at least that's what Dusty thought.

Hope you liked the first chapter of "Dusty's Island." Kiwi, my parrot, says he wants at least 5 reviews for this chapter or he'll come to everyone's house and steal your food. (He would too if he knew how to find people's houses xD he loves his yum yums)