Adam held fast to the pommel with his good hand. All he could concentrate on was keeping upright in the saddle like he told Joe he would. His head ached, his shoulder was on fire, and the landscape was beginning to blur. Just when he thought he couldn't hold on any longer, the ranch house came into view. Ears ringing with Joe's call, Adam all but fell off his horse into his brother's strong arms as his father ran towards them.
There was a confusion of voices, his father's issuing orders for one of the hands to fetch the doctor and Joe's reassuring him everything would be ok.
Adam labored up the stairs to his room, Joe on one side, his father on the other. Once in his room, they removed Adam's jacket and gently laid him on his bed. Oh, that wonderful soft bed . . .
A new voice interjected itself. Gritting his teeth as the previous bandages were removed, Adam tried to push away the. . .whatever that was probing at his wounds. A hand caught his arm as his father's voice sounded nearby, "Easy son, easy. Let the doctor take a look."
As exhaustion threatened to pull him to sleep, Adam only caught snatches of conversation. ". . . stitched up. . .fever. ."
"How long. . ."
". . still. . .going to hurt. . ."
Something pressed and wiped against his shoulder, reigniting the sharp burning pain. His eyes snapped open and he saw a blurry Dr. Martin, but the needle Paul held glistened clearly in the lamplight. He tried to move away, but his father's strong grip kept him there.
"Adam, lie still!" Ben commanded. Adam stopped moving and Ben leant closer, resting a hand on his son's warm forehead. "Adam, Paul needs you to lie still so he can stitch up those arrow wounds. Can you do that?" he said gently.
Adam took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Yeah, Pa, I hear you," he said quietly.
"That's good, boy," Ben replied. "I'm right here." Ben took hold of Adam's hand, leaving his other on his son's forehead.
Adam gritted his teeth as he felt the sharp poke of the needle, then tug and pull of the thread being drawn through. He began to breathe shallowly, his grip on his father's hand tightening with each stitch.
While it was hard to watch the doctor work, Ben was determined to be strong for Adam's sake. "Breathe slower and a little deeper, Adam. That's it," he soothed.
Suddenly, Adam's grip loosened as his head relaxed to the side. Ben looked up sharply. "Adam?"
"It's okay, Ben. He just passed out. Probably for the best anyway," Paul said. "Here, help me set him up a little so I can stitch the back." Ben hastily moved to assist.
With Adam resting comfortably after Paul was finished, Ben saw his friend out, then returned to Adam's room to keep vigil over his eldest son.
Water! He needed water to chase away the desert in his throat. It was so hot!
Suddenly, blessed relief. A coolness on his forehead. Someone was lifting his head, a cup touched his lips and he drank greedily, then sank back into the soft pillows, exhausted by the small effort. He welcomed the comforting darkness as it wrapped around him.
His shoulder was on fire and he felt weak, but none of that mattered. He had to keep Marion and Beatrice safe! Belcher's knife was at Beatrice's throat, but Adam caught the rifle and cocked it. Belcher turned and they both fired simultaneously.
The bullet tore through his shoulder as the world went dark; then a voice was nearby.
"Adam, you're all right son, you're okay!" Ben tried to calm him.
How did Pa get all the way out here? Something cool touched his forehead and he opened his eyes; colors and blurry images swam into view. He was home? Memory returned in a rush. Hoss and Joe saving them from the Indians. Riding back to the ranch with Joe. Dr. Martin tending his shoulder.
"Beatrice?" he rasped out.
"They both made it back just fine," Ben said as he poured a glass of water. Supporting Adam's head he helped him drink. "Joe went to help Hoss take the Indians into the sheriff. They came back several hours ago."
"Where are Marion and Beatrice now?" Adam asked.
"In the guest room downstairs. I offered for them to stay here as long as they need to." Ben sensed Adam was quickly tiring. "Try to rest, son."
"Yes, Pa," Adam said, closing his eyes.
Ben smiled to himself as Adam's breathing quickly evened out. Settling again into the chair, he picked up his book.
Low voices came from somewhere then light laughter drifted by. A clink sounded in the room and Adam's eyes flew open. He looked over to see his father standing by the window, a steaming cup of coffee in his hands.
Turning from the window, Ben saw his eldest gazing back at him.
"Pa?," Adam whispered.
"Adam," he said, instantly at the bedside. Setting his cup down, he checked Adam's forehead and was pleased to find no trace of fever. "How do you feel?"
"Sore. How long has it been?"
"Two days," came the reply. "Dr. Martin came by last night. He said your shoulder was healing fine, but it's going to take some time."
Just then the door opened and Joe poked his head in. "He's awake," he called over his shoulder. "Hey brother," he said, striding into the room followed closely by Hoss. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine, Joe," Adam said.
"Glad to see you're awake, Adam," Hoss grinned. "Pa's been frettin' for two days. Ain't hardly slept nor ate."
"Ah, Hoss why don't you go see if Hop Sing has something for Adam to eat?" Ben interjected.
"Sure thing, Pa."
As Hoss hurried off downstairs, Ben stretched his tired arms. "Joe stay here for awhile, will you? I think I'll go wash up a bit."
"No problem, Pa," Joe replied. Closing the door after his father, Joe turned to see Adam trying to sit up on his own. "Take it easy, Adam," he said moving forward. Sliding his arm behind Adam's shoulders, Joe supported his brother as he propped the pillows with his free hand then helped Adam settle comfortably back. Carefully he reached forward and readjusted the sling for Adam's arm.
"Is that better?" Joe asked. Adam nodded, his breathing a little shallow as Joe poured a glass of water and handed it to him.
"Thanks." Adam drank long and deep. "I never said thank you for getting us out of there," he said, handing the cup back.
"Forget it. I'm sorry we weren't there sooner," Joe replied as he sat on the edge of the bed. "We should have been."
Adam stared at him. "Joe, it's not your fault."
"Isn't it? If I hadn't talked Hoss into leaving the horses, if I hadn't insisted on approaching on foot, you wouldn't be laid up." Joe looked down at his hands. "You got hurt because of me."
Adam could hardly believe what he was hearing. Resting his good hand on Joe's arm he spoke earnestly. "Joe, listen to me. If you hadn't come when you did, I'm not sure any of us would have made it out of there."
A single tear trickled down Joe's cheek he hastily swiped away as Adam continued. "You removed the arrows, stopped the bleeding, and kept me in the saddle until we got back home. The only reason I'm here is because of you."
"Do you really mean that?" Joe whispered, raising his head.
"Yes, Joe, I really mean that."
Like the sun shining from behind the clouds, Joe smiled widely at his oldest brother.
Moments later, Hoss returned with a tray. "Hop Sing says you should start with this, Adam," he said, carefully settling it on Adam's lap. "I reckon he knows what he's talking about."
Adam's stomach rumbled as Hoss tucked a napkin under Adam's chin. "Sounds to me like you're hungry," he joked.
As Adam set about eating, his father walked in. "I'll stay with Adam, you two get on back to your work."
"Yessir," Hoss said. "See you later, Adam." Adam lifted a hand in acknowledgment as Hoss headed back downstairs.
Joe didn't move from his perch on the edge of the bed. He could see how his father was exhausted and was determined to make sure he rested as well.
"Pa, why don't you go rest? Hoss was right, you've hardly slept for days."
Noticing his father's close scrutiny, Adam reassured him. "I'll be just fine with Joe here, Pa."
Ben started to protest but a large yawn had him smiling sheepishly. "Alright. Alright, I'll head to bed then. Call if you need me."
A short time later, Ben stopped outside his son's room for one last check before turning in. Pushing the door open slightly, he saw the empty tray set aside, a marginally healthier-looking Adam resting contentedly against his pillows, and Joe opening one of Adam's favorite books to begin reading aloud. Ben smiled to himself as he eased out of the room, confident and relieved that his oldest was indeed alright