Chapter 19

Ben glanced nervously at the sun, they were losing daylight fast and still they hadn't reached the camp where Adam and the girl were. They'd been riding all day as fast as they dared go, their horses were tired and they were tired but in a matter of life or death for the girl their comfort wasn't important. He'd been gone almost two days already, yesterday to Virginia City, today back to the camp. If they were going to make it they needed to push hard. Missie's life was in the balance.

Hoss and Joe looked over at their father as they urged their horses on after his. He was worried sick, they could tell. From what he'd described of the girl's condition they knew all too well that time was off the essence. They had to get there in time, Missie didn't deserve to die.

'How much further?'

'A few more miles.' Ben replied grimly, glancing over at the sheriff who had come along with them. 'We won't make it by nightfall at this pace.'

'Well we ain't stopping so let's pick it up.'

Ben nudged Buck with his heels, the gelding stretching out into a gallop again. The thought they might already be too late played over and over in his mind, there was no guarantee the girl would still be alive, not with how she was when he left her. He'd been praying for her every spare moment of thought he'd had, he'd been woken after midnight from a deep sleep with an urgent conviction to pray for her. Father in heaven, please grant heeling and grace upon Missie. Please restore her to full health-

'A-Adam?'

He looked over from stirring his stew at the girl and stood up. He went over to her, smiling as he tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. 'I'm here.'

'I'm going to be si-'

The words were barely out of her mouth before the girl started to throw up, Adam quickly sitting her up so she didn't choke. She threw up loudly, all the food and water he'd gotten into her tricking down the front of his shirt. 'Oh honey.' He rubbed her neck, he couldn't rub her back from her wounds she had on it. She kept throwing up, tears running down her face. 'Deep breaths, take it easy Missie.'

It felt like her stomach was on fire, it felt like her whole body was on fire as her stomach heaved uncontrollably. Finally she wasn't bringing up anything else, she'd thrown up everything she'd had in her stomach all over Adam. Her eyes widened as she saw his shirt. 'I'm so sorry Adam-'

'It ain't the first time it's happened and won't be the last I imagine.' He replied good naturedly. 'Pa had to go away once when Little Joe was only about seven or so. He got a stomach bug from school, he threw up on me on the way home. I'm no stranger to it.'

'It's embarrassing.'

'Your sick honey, don't worry about it.' He soothed gently. 'Are you feeling better now?'

'No.'

He stroked her cheek softly. 'What's wrong? Tell me where it hurts.'

'Everywhere Adam, everywhere. My back, my feet, my ribs, my head, my stomach. I'm trying not to be a crybaby but it hurts, especially my stomach and ribs.'

'I know.' He wished he had something he could give her, something to take the pain away but there was nothing he could do. He was always the one with the solutions and the plans yet he was helpless to help the girl he'd grown to adore. 'I know. Pa will be here with the doctor soon, they should be arriving any moment now.' He wasn't sure if they would but it was all he could do to comfort her. 'I wish I could make you feel better honey, I wish there was something I could do.'

'Sing.'

'Sing?' He questioned and she nodded. 'Alright, I'll sing you a song just as soon as I've washed this shirt okay? I don't want you to have to smell it and have it make you sick again.'

'Okay.'

Gently he laid her down again, cringing at the warm wet feeling on his chest as he stood up. Walking over to where the water was he unbuttoned his shirt, thankful he hadn't been wearing his jacket when she'd been sick. He took his shirt off, wiping the vomit that had gotten onto his skin off with a rag then put his jacket on. He picked up the shirt and washed it out thoroughly, placing it near the fire to dry and went back to the girl. He knelt down beside her, stroking her cheek gently. 'What do you want me to sing?'

'Anything.'

'Alright then. You'll have to forgive me, I'm a bit out of practice but there's a song I wrote a while back I think you'll like.' She nodded, looking up at him with those brown eyes. He could see she was in pain, she was really hurting but he couldn't help her. He wanted to help her but there was nothing he could do.

I love a quiet girl, I love a gentle girl. Warm as sunlight, soft, soft as snow.

Her smile a tender smile, her voice a velvet voice.

Sweet as music, soft soft as snow.

When she's near me the world's in repose,

We need no words, she sees she knows.

But where is my quiet girl, where is my gentle girl. Where is the special girl who is soft, soft as snow.

Somewhere, somewhere.

My quiet girl.

Missie smiled when he'd finished, his singing helping a little to get her to relax. 'That's very nice Adam.'

'Thanks Missie.' He chuckled. 'It's a little hobby of mine.'

'When I'm better, when I can read and write, do you think you can teach me to write songs?'

'Sure I can.' The girl grinned wider. 'You just got to get better for me.'

'I know, I'm trying.' She replied softly, her expression sobering. 'Adam, I died last night, didn't I?'

He really hadn't been expecting that question and knew the girl probably had already seen the surprise written on his face. He nodded though after a moment, he knew he couldn't fool her. 'You weren't breathing for sometime Missie, I think that's what might have cracked your ribs was me getting you breathing again.'

'I thought so.' Came the soft reply. 'I went to this really peaceful place, Mamma was there but I couldn't touch her. If I touched her I had to stay there. I wanted to stay with her so badly but she said it wasn't my time yet. She said I had to choose though between there and here.'

'And you chose to come back.'

'How couldn't I? I always wanted to have an older brother I could annoy and you'll have to do.'

He chuckled, tossling her brown hair. 'You're a rascal.'

'I know.' She frowned, concentrating closely. 'You hear that?'

'What?'

'Hoof beats, I think your Pa's back.'

He listened closely, a grin coming over his face as he realised she was correct. His father was back, leading out front of his brothers, the doc and the Sheriff. 'Your right, they're back. You'll be alright now, the doc will get you fixed up in no time.'

'That'd be great cause my back and ribs are killing me.'

The group dismounted, Roy and the boys going to take care of the horses as Ben and the doc went to the shelter to see the girl. 'How are you going Missie?' Paul asked as Adam moved aside so he could tend to the girl. 'I heard you ran into some trouble.'

'Just a little and I'm feeling dreadful.' She replied honestly. 'You know I ain't one to complain but I'm hurting really bad.'

'Where does it hurt most?'

'My back, my ribs, my feet. Everywhere.'

'Well, let's see if we can get you feeling better then.'

Ben motioned for Adam to follow him, the pair of them going to the fire to give Paul space to take care of the girl. 'How's she been?'

'Not good, her fever broke early this morning after a long night.' He sighed wearily as he took a seat next to the fire and prepared some coffee for all of them. 'She stopped breathing for sometime, she had me right worried.'

'Sometime after midnight?'

'How'd you know?'

'I got woken up with a desperate urge to pray for her-' He replied soberly, taking the mug off coffee handed to him. 'And you. I knew something must have happened.'

Adam pondered what his father had said as he took a sip of his coffee. 'Well your prayers were answered, as you can see Missie is still with us. I'm glad you got back so quickly, she hadn't been well at all. I was trying to get some fluids into her and some food but she couldn't keep it down.'

'The docs here now, she'll be alright.'

'Hope so.'

'How have you been big brother?' Little Joe exclaimed as he joined them at the fire. 'Keep finding yourself trouble I hear.'

'You must have me confused with yourself.' He retaunted back, his brother helping himself to the coffee. 'While you were kicking up your heels on Pa's table, I was out here helping Missie fight for her life.'

'How is Missie?'

'Better now the docs with her.'

'I'm guessing there's a story behind your shirt sitting here drying.'

'Not an entertaining one I'm afraid, just being in the firing line when she threw up.' His younger brother wrinkled his nose and he laughed. 'You did it on me more then once, maybe you should be the one tending to her.'

'I'll pass.'

Hoss came over to join them, crouching next to the fire. 'How's the Little Miss doing?'

'Docs still in there with her, he'll be busy for awhile.'

'Do you mind if I help myself to the stew?'

'Go ahead, I've lost my appetite right now.'

'Thanks Adam.'

Roy was the last to join them and he took a place across from Adam. 'Missie tell you what happened?'

He nodded. 'Bits and pieces. That man who'd been working on the ranch, he was the one who kidnapped her. She's been beaten up pretty bad.'

'Your father did mention that last night. I'll have to get a statement from her as soon as possible, the men go to trial in a few days.'

'You caught them all then?'

'Most certainly did and am I relieved to have them behind bars. They were the ones responsible for most of the crime around the district the last few months. Between them all they're being held responsible for over fifty murders.'

Ben almost lost his mug of coffee, looking at him in disbelief. 'That many?'

He nodded grimly. 'Afraid so Ben but no one could catch them. They robbed six stage coaches in a week between Reno and Sacramento, there were no survivors left. They had us thinking they were all separate gangs but in reality it was just one big one with a few members doing a job at a time. That girl's father was the mind behind it all.'

'I can't say I'll be sorry to see him face justice, not after what he put Missie through.'

'The injuries on the outside aren't the only wounds she has.' Adam interjected solemnly. 'His men participated too, one of the men was touching her inappropriately.'

'Did she say if they went further then that?'

'She doesn't know, she was unconcious for some time.'

'I'll speak to Paul after then.'

A silence descended upon the group, each of them slowly drinking their coffee as the stars came out in the sky above. After some time they decided to sort their dinner out and so Joe and Hoss worked together to get that organised.

Paul finally emerged from the shelter, coming over to join them at the fire. Ben could see he was exhausted, handing him a mug of coffee. 'Looks like you need this more then I do.'

'Appreciate it.' He nodded, taking the mug. 'Thanks.'

Adam watched him closely, asking what everyone was thinking. 'How's Missie?'

'I've given her some morphine and lardumum for the pain, she's sleeping now and will for sometime. Her body needs to rest.'

'How bad is she doc?' Hoss wondered out loud.

'Weak. You've got a very sick girl in there. Two broken and three cracked ribs, multiple lacerations and bruising mixed with the effects of heat stroke and blood loss make for a bad combination. You weren't exadurating Ben when you came to get me last night, that girl has been through hell.'

'Will she be alright though?'

'I expect so, the worst of it is behind her from what I can tell. How, with what supplies and care you could give her before I arrived is nothing short of a miracle. She'll be just fine with rest and careful nurturing, physically that is.'

They took a moment to digest the information provided then Roy spoke up. 'From your examination of her, was she injured in any other way?'

'If your meaning rape, from what I can tell no, she was spared that.'

'Thank the Lord.' Ben exclaimed softly with a sigh of relief. 'How long do you think until we can move her?'

'She needs to rest for at least a couple days Ben, she's very weak and being jostled around in that wagon won't help her ribs at all. Give her at least tomorrow to gain some strength, you can keep her drugged up to move her but it will be hard on her body. The sooner she does get home though, the better.'

'Will I be able to speak with her soon?'

'We'll see how she is in the morning Roy, I know you're anxious to have justice handed down on those men, so am I but her health comes first.'

'I understand.'

Ben placed his empty coffee mug down beside the pot. 'Can I go see her?'

'I don't see why not. As I said she's sleeping so don't disturb her but someone does need to keep an eye on her.'

'I'll come join you Pa.' Adam added as he stood up and they both went to the shelter. His father sat down beside the girl and he wearily took a seat on the bedroll he'd laid out on the pine branches at the end of Missie's hammock. 'What are you thinking?'

'I'm thinking how lucky we are to still have Missie with us.' He replied softly lest he wake the sleeping child. 'What's on your mind?'

'Just how much that girl means to me, she's got a way of getting herself into people's hearts.'

Ben chuckled. 'I think I know what you mean, Missie has definitely brought an extra spark to the Ponderosa and this family.'

'What's going to happen to her though after this? I mean, I'd like her to stay-'

'I was thinking of adoption.' He added when his son's sentence trailed off. 'If you boys were happy for that. Of course Missie would have to agree to it but I'd certainly want to give her a chance at being part of the family. How would you feel about that?'

'Well I'm not about to let her out of my sight again, I think it's a great idea. I was thinking of adopting her myself if you didn't want to.'

'You were?'

He nodded. 'Probably sounds like a crazy idea don't it?'

'No, no Adam. If you feel that way about her that's not crazy. I'm glad you're on-board.'

'I think I'd like being her brother and not her father anyway.' They both chuckled at that. 'Are we going to try and move her home after tomorrow?'

'We'll see how she is. I do believe she would be better being at home but it depends on how she's doing. I need to be back in time to listen to that trial though, I want to be there.'

'So do I.'

'I hope you're not thinking of anything rash son.'

'No Pa, just want to see what kind of monster would do this to his own child and hear what excuses he comes up with.'

'Your very fond of her, aren't you?'

'She's a good kid, she didn't deserve any of this. She deserves a little love and care and we've got more than enough to suffice her. Besides, I've kind of always wondered what having a sister would be like in addition to brothers.'

'Well, raising girls isn't exactly something I'm familiar with-'

'Neither am I but I guess we're going to have to make do.'

'I suppose you're right.' He turned back to his son, watching the expression on his face. 'You look tired son, you best get some rest. I'll keep Missie company.'

'Thanks Pa.'

'Your welcome son.' Ben smiled, his son lying down on and soon was breathing deeply to announce he was asleep. He looked back at the girl, her skin pale in the glow from the firelight. No, he didn't know the first thing about raising girls but by golly, he was going to give it the best shot he had.