Chapter 5

They were about two hours into their trip to heard the cattle back to the Ponderosa. So far it was going pretty good. Rebecca was helping Adam keep the cattle in line. She was learning a lot about ranch work after being married to Adam.

Adam was starting to slow Sport up a bit and he was getting a gut feeling that there was something very wrong some where, but where? Rebecca looked at Adam who was about one hundred yards away from her and started getting worried when she seen the look on his face. She turned buttercup toward Adam and slowly rode toward him.

"Adam, you look worried about something. Is every thing alright?"

"Rebecca, just stay close to me alright. I just have a deep down gut feeling that something isn't right. We're just going to move the cattle slow and try to keep them together the best we can. If one strays, just let it go, just stay with me."

"Alright Adam. What do you think is wrong?"

"I'm not really sure, but I think we are being watched. By who?, we have yet to find out."

"Oh no Adam. Could it be Indians?"

"Could be. Or cattle rustlers. Any way we'll find out before long."

Up high in the trees and rocks Adam and Rebecca were being watched and had been since Adam rounded up the cattle. The three men who had discovered the cattle over a week ago had come back to claim them for their own, when they found them gone they came upon Adam's camp and then heard the cattle in the box canyon. They hid out and waited to see what these people were going to do. This morning when Adam and Rebecca moved them out they followed from a safe distance but now it was time to make their move.

"OK Mort, Jerome, it's time to move in. It shouldn't be to hard with one man and a woman."

"Jack, do you recognize that brand?"

"No, do you?"

"Ya, it's the Ponderosa brand."

"Well now, ain't that interested. So the guy must be a Cartwright."

"That's my guess. Well, let's get this over with."

~0~

As the three rustlers moved down from the high rocks and trees Adam noticed flashes of light from their guns and knew now that they were in for a bit of trouble.

"Rebecca, come over here and get behind me."

"Adam, what's wrong?"

"Rebecca please now." Rebecca did as Adam requested "Stay down now." Adam drew his gun and waited. The rustlers got closer and called out.

"You down there. We don't want any trouble. Just the cattle we're claiming."

"They're not yours to claim . They belong to the Ponderosa and we're taking them home."

"Sorry friend, we can't let you do that. They have been here for quite a while, that means in our eyes they were abandoned and up for the taking."

"Not when they have a brand on them."

"Well, I think you are quite out numbered here friend. No need for any of us to get hurt here. Especially that little lady there with you. But if we have to we will. So, whats it going to be?"

"I can't let you take them."

While the rustlers and Adam were talking the one named Mort circled around and came up behind Rebecca and Adam. He leaped forward with a gun drawn and grabbed Rebecca.

"AWWW, ADAM." Adam swung around gun drawn

"Hold it right there, drop it or she gets it Adam." Adam dropped his gun and the other two came in and grabbed Adam

"OK, what now?"

"What now is we tie both of you up and we take our cattle."

"Adam?"

"It's alright Rebecca. We have no choice now."

"Wise choice. Tie them up Mort."

"Hey Jack, you know she is a mighty fine looking lady."

"Don't touch her."

"Oh what are you going to do about it?"

"I'll hunt you down and kill you."

"Maybe I should just take care of you then."

Jack punched Adam in the gut and he doubled over only to get a kick in the left side and a couple punches to the middle of his back. Adam went down, and then a hard kick to his left leg, and then got a kick to his head and he blacked out.

"Adam, oh no Adam, oh leave him alone."

"Alright little lady, I think he's had enough. Come on guys lets get these cattle and get out of here."

"What about her Jack?"

"Leave her. We have to get out of here."

~0~

"Adam, Adam, oh no, Please Adam, wake up."

But Adam wasn't waking up. And Rebecca was never so scared in all of her life as right now. All she could do is try to make Adam as comfortable as she thought she could. She got some blankets and his pillow and gently put it under his head, covered him up, and then got his canteen to try to give him a bit of water. She tried to open his lips enough to get a bit in at least and managed a bit but most just ran down his chin. "Oh Adam. Please, you have to get some water down you." Rebecca tried again but failed. She then got a cloth and poured some water on it and wiped down Adam's face. Then took his pants off and checked his legs where he was kicked and found bruises and a big gash on his left leg and his left side was bruised badly and dark. "Adam oh my love. Please be alright. I love you."

Rebecca put cool cloths on the gash on his leg and wrapped a bandage around his leg to keep it in place. For now that is all she could do for him. Now she had to make a camp fire and try to set up the tarps for shelter for Adam and get Sport and Buttercup unsaddled and watered and settled for the night as well as the pack horse.

In just over an hour Rebecca had every thing set up and done and Adam was under shelter. She put a bed for herself next to Adam and started some stew for supper hoping that Adam would wake up by then and be hungry. She kept checking him to make sure he didn't have a fever. So far, so good. It would be a long night. Rebecca broke down and cried. There was nothing else she could do but lay down beside Adam and try to get some sleep and hope he would regain consciousness through the night.

At around four in the morning Adam started to moan a bit. It woke Rebecca up, she looked over at Adam, his eyes started to open and he tried to focus. He had a heck of a headache and tried to move his head and then decided that wasn't such a good idea.

"Adam, Oh Adam, how do you feel?"

"Like I was run over by a bull."

"Well, you kind of were."

"Rebecca sweetheart, are you alright? They didn't hurt you did they? So help me I'll kill them."

"Adam no. They didn't hurt me, but they certainly hurt you. You have a big gash on your leg and head and lots of bruises and a real bad bruise on your left side and it's very dark. And they kicked you a couple of times in your back and head. I tried to clean you up the best I could. But Adam, I'm afraid you aren't well enough to rise."

"Oh Rebecca, I think I am going to have to try. We have to get the cattle back."

"Adam, that's all you're worried about, those damn cows? You're hurt, and bad I might ad."

"Sweetheart, this is a side of you I have never seen."

"I guess it comes from being married to a Cartwright. You're all so stubborn."

"Well now, you have figured us out already."

"Adam please, this is no time for jokes. Do you think you can eat something without bringing it back up?"

"Well I don't know. I can try."

"Alright, how about some eggs and bacon?"

"Sounds just fine. Is there any water near by?"

"Yes, right here. Here you go."

"Thank you." Adam took a small drink and it stayed down

"Do you feel ok?"

"Head is pretty sore and makes me nauseated when I move."

"OK Adam, just stay still I'll fix breakfast."

~0~

Within an hour Adam and Rebecca had breakfast. Adam ate very little but at least he ate. After two days of not showing up at the Ponderosa the family was getting worried.

~0~

"Pa, Adam and Rebecca should have been back two days ago. I'm getten worried bout em now."

"Yes Hoss, just what I was thinking. They could have run into some kind of trouble with those cattle. I think we should head out and look for them."

"I'll go saddle up the horses Pa."

"Thank you Joe. I'll have a Hop Sing pack up enough food and supplies for at least a couple days."

~0~