Chapter 10

At dinner three days later Ben announced his intention to make a quick trip to the high country.

"But Pa, what fer?" Hoss protested. "Adam'll be back any day now - no use yer haring after 'em."

"I'm not 'haring after him', as you put it. I'm going as far as the Pass to meet him and ride down with him. I figure he has to go through the Pass sooner or later so it's not very likely we'll miss each other."

Hoss chewed at Hop Sing's pot roast and eyed his father dubiously. "Mighty slick up thata way, Pa, what with all the snow and then rain. You sure it's a good idee?"

"That's why we waited a day after the rain stopped, to give things a chance to dry out a little. Carl Waters is going with me - he's an experienced guide through those mountains. Not that I haven't been through them many times by myself, but I thought that this time it might be a good idea for…" he hesitated, not really wanting to discuss why he wanted Carl along. He didn't have to.

Joe and Hoss exchanged a look.

"Well, we'll go with you, Pa," Joe said at last.

"No, you will not," answered Ben emphatically. "I need you both here. I know the cattle have been moved but there's plenty else to do and we're short handed as it is."

Joe lowered his brows. "Pa, if your going to look for Adam - "

"I said I was going to meet Adam," Ben corrected him sharply. "I don't know why you can't listen to what I say."

Hoss cleared his throat. "Pa. All Little Joe means - "

"I know what Little Joe means." Ben paused and adjusted his tone to a more normal register. "Look, Adam's been gone for over two weeks and I'd like to meet him and ride with him for a little ways. Is that really so hard for you two to understand?"

Joe looked at Hoss.

Hoss met his gaze and shrugged. "No, Pa."

"Good. Now, I expect Adam will start back about the same time we start out, but in case he doesn't, I may camp at the Pass for a day or two. So don't panic if we're not back right away."

Hoss looked like he wanted to say something else, but he swallowed instead. "Sure thing, Pa."

"Carl reads the weather well and knows how to negotiate the worst of the mud, so there's nothing to worry about. Just keep the work on schedule and I'll be back as soon as I connect with Adam. Understood?"

"Yeah, Pa."

Ben turned his gaze to Joe.

"Whatever you say, Pa," Joe muttered at last.

"All right, then. We're leaving early, so don't feel you have to get up to say good bye - I'll see you in no time." Hop Sing entered and began clearing away the plates, placing a sweet potato pie in the middle of the table for dessert. "Ah, Hop Sing, that reminds me." Hop Sing put down the coffeepot and waited. "Adam will be back tomorrow or the next day - give his room a good going over, will you?" He smiled slyly at his two younger sons. "There's been quite a lot of traffic in there in his absence."

000

Adam sat at Bridie's desk, gazing out the window. Three days of hard rain had, astonishingly, reduced the snow to almost nothing. The ground was covered with torn branches and some downed trees - aside from that, it was hard to believe the blizzard had ever been. The Pass, he figured, would be open for sure. Time to head home.

"Ground's a bit o' a mess." Bridie's voice unexpectedly materializing over his shoulder made him jump. He nodded silent assent. "We'll see how it looks tomorrow. There'll be some floodin', I suppose, and ground ready ta slide. Let me take a look at yer bandages. They need a change."

Adam obediently followed her to the surgery and sat on the table and let her unbutton his shirt. It was still a painful enough process, but nothing like it had been the first few times and while he held his breath throughout, he was able to remain silent and conscious until she finished. Finally, she rebuttoned his shirt and put away her salve and scissors and bandages.

"Well," she said finally. "That's not sa ill. Yer wonderful resilient, I will say."

"Must be the quality of the medical care," he suggested seriously.

She smiled slightly. "Indeed." She was silent for a long moment. When she finally spoke it was with some difficulty. "Yer not really fit fer a long ride, but the weather changes so fast hereabouts - I don't know but we shouldn't risk it if the ground dries out a bit more. Not that you wouldn't be more than welcome ta stay the winter…" she gave him a touch of her roguish smile "but fine as it would be fer me ta have yer company I suspect I'd have ye wanderin' the four walls like a bear with a sore head once ye'd fully recovered yer health."

Adam gave her a faint smile in reply. His own feelings were confused and he certainly didn't want to seem ungrateful. "I'm sure it would be a wonderful place to spend the winter, especially given the company. But I'm afraid my family will come looking for me if I wait too long - I don't want them risking life and limb, especially since I'm fine."

Bridie gave a decisive nod. "Yer right, o' course. We're about half a day's ride from the Pass. I can take ye there."

Adam frowned. "You don't have to - "

She raised her eyebrows at him. "Happens I do. I hardly trust ye ta behave sensible, like, without me along at least part o' the way. Yer goin' ta find mountin' an' dismountin' difficult, if not downright impossible, without help an if ye run across a tree or sech blockin' the path, what is it ye think ye'll be able ta do about it? Ye'll need a hand. Besides, I know the safest way down, given the ground conditions."

Adam looked indignant. "I hope you don't think I'm going to sit on my horse and watch you drag trees out of the path! And how exactly do you expect to be able to do that anyway? Sheer hard headedness?"

"I expect ye ta do as I ask. Yer still me patient."

"I'd say you're expecting a little too much."

She met his gaze with a steely one of her own, but he wouldn't look away, and after an extended stand off, she did. "Well. Let's hope there are no trees in the path, then."

"Let's hope. Bridie - "

She turned abruptly away. "This had better not be the beginnins' of a speech or a thanks or anything else morbidly sentimental, fer I've no patience fer it."

He caught the sound of something in her voice and said quickly. "God forbid. I was just going to ask you if you'd mind playing the harp. For auld lange syne, like." He winked at her.

The look she gave him was a little misty, but she smiled. "Aye, well. I'm a sucker fer an encore."

TBC

And thank you to my unnamed (drmweaver?) reviewer. We're nearing the end, so hopefully the story will continue to please you! Thank you for your kind reviews.