CHAPTER 16- HOME

"Come on you two, we're heading back to the ranch. You can catch the stage to Laramie in the morning." Jess called to the men as he rode by them.

Slim stood in his stirrups to stretching his back. It had been a long day. The tall cowboy watched Jess till he disappeared from view. A small worried smile played across his lips. Everything was gonna be fine. He sat back in the saddle and spurred Alamo towards the cattle. Andy on Cyclone was barely visible in the dusty air. Slim motioned to his brother and the Dixons to keep the herd moving. He figured, at this pace, they'd make the foot hills before dark and set up camp for the night.

"I'll lead, Carl you follow, then Hank. Keep up with me or I just might leave ya." Jess handed each man a handful of jerky. "This here's lunch. If we ride hard, we'll be back at the ranch in no time."

Hank watched Jess sway. "Skinny, the way you're swaying, it looks like you're gonna fall out of your saddle any minute."

"You let me worry about stayin' in the saddle, just keep up." Jess answered gruffly.

"Smith, your leg is bleedin' really bad. Maybe we should stop."

"Ain't stoppin." Jess retorted.

Carl added in agreement. "Come on Smith, stop and wrap something around your leg and at least stop the bleeding?"

"Ain't stoppin', that's what them wolves is waitin' for."

"What wolves?" Carl asked.

"The ones that's been following us the last mile or so. They'll usually stay clear of horses, but don't wanna take the chance. Seen 'em take down a rider once, back in Texas." Jess shoved his hat down further on his head as he leaned down and wrapped another bandanna about his leg hoping to stop the bleeding. They were close to the ranch now. Suddenly a gray streak bound out of the bushes directly for the pack horse. The pack horse reared. Jess pushed his knees into the bay and took off at a lope, pulling the pack horse along. The Texan pulled his pistol. Turned. Aimed. He missed. The motion of the horse and the fast running wolf made it an impossible shot. He steadied his gun hand and waited till the wolf was just about upon the pack horse. He swung Trav around to face the wolf once more and fired. The wolf fell dead. Two others high tailed it back into the underbrush. Well, so much for wolves not attacking horses.

Jess urged Trav back to a lope. The men followed. Both nervous. Seeing a wolf close up had them both scared. The wolf had been bigger and faster than they'd expected . The attack had been so sudden. Hank watched as the Texan swayed in his saddle then caught himself and straighten up. He slowed his pace waiting for the tenderfoot to catch up. Jess removed his foot from the stirrup.

"Hank, I want ya to rein up next to me, get down, hand your reins, the extra horses and the pack horse over to Carl, then mount up behind me. I ain't gonna make it by myself. The ranch is just over the hill."

Hank did as he was told, the reined his horse up close to the bay and swung his leg out of the saddle dismounted and handed his reins to Carl. Hank, placed his foot in the stirrup then swung his leg over the back of Jess' saddle and settled his rump behind the saddle. Jess handed the reins to the Easterner. "Wake me if you see any more wolves. Trav will take us home and don't slow him down, just keep me on him. If need be, release the horses and your mount and make for the ranch. We can come back and get 'em later. Get up, Trav, home." The Texan urged the bay. Trav started off at a mile eating lope, pulling the horses on the lead rope. Carl followed as he kept watch for another wolf.

Hank felt the cowboy relax against his chest and wondered if he'd passed out. He held tight to the cowboy finding it hard to keep his balance only sitting on the rump of the horse as the unconscious man swayed first right then left. The horse slowed. Ahead was a well-traveled road. The bay, stopped, turned to his left and since the road was hard packed the well-trained gelding picked up his pace. The horse never hesitated when they came to a small stream that crossed the road. Trav plowed through the the small stream then picked up his pace anxious to get home. The road continued to curve up a long hill. When they reached the top of the rise, the men were relieved to see a small ranch house in the valley below. The bay never hesitated and headed straight for the ranch. The men rode into the ranch yard not sure what to expect. Hank grabbed the cowboy, as he slumped towards the ground. A woman stepped out of the house and onto the porch toting a shotgun. "Steady, Trav." she cooed to the horse. "What happened to Jess? She demanded as she set the rifle against the house.

"Jess who." Hank asked.