Mark huddled with his knees pulled up and his forehead resting on them. He couldn't bear to look at the unnatural angle of the horse's neck and he tried to hold back the tears as he listened for the sound of Freddie returning with Luke. There was nothing to be afraid of. His pa would come for him and everything would be all right. He whispered to himself, "Pa's coming," over and over and over until the words lost all meaning, all the while listening for the sound of Luke's voice.

"Mark!"

The boy's heart raced as he stood up and cupped his hands around his mouth. "Down here, Pa!"

Luke ran to where his son's voice floated up out of the ground and threw himself on his stomach. "Mark, are you hurt?"

There was a sharp cry below him as the ground crumbled and he started to pitch forward. "Pa, it's caving in!"

The big man scrambled backwards as a huge chunk of earth fell into the hole. "Mark! Answer me!"

There was a dreadful moment of silence, then the boy's voice came, fainter than before. "Pa? Pa, I'm half buried!"

Teddy came forward and knelt beside Luke. The big man's face was on the ground and he was shaking, then he looked up, his jaw set. Teddy grabbed him. "Lucas, wait!"

"Let me go." Luke's voice was very low.

"No." Teddy had seen that agonized look in the eyes of a wounded deer waiting for death. "Wait, Lucas. Please. Let me think."

"There's nothing to think about. I have to get my son."

"Get him or die with him?" Teddy's voice was harsh. Luke hesitated and the young man pressed his advantage. "You'll never be able to get him out without the whole thing falling in and burying him alive. There's another way." He pulled Luke to his feet and walked him about twenty feet away. "We can dig down here and tunnel across to Mark."

"That'll take hours."

"Then we'll need lots of help." Teddy shook Luke. "Go, man! Go and gather everyone you can find. You too, boy. Get your father to round up his friends. Come back with shovels and torches. Hurry!"

Luke returned first with Micah and a dozen men from North Fork and Teddy held his horse as he swung down, shovel in hand. "Freddie's folks'll be here soon. Where should we start?"

The young man took the shovel. "You can't dig." The big man's eyes flashed but Teddy went on firmly as the others gathered around. "Mark's been asking for you. He needs to hear your voice."

The rest of the men murmured agreement and Micah said softly, "Go on, Lucas boy. We have plenty of hands for digging." Luke wavered and the marshal gave him a push. "You're the only one who can help Mark hold on."

Luke swallowed hard and nodded, then went over as close as he dared to the hole in the ground. "Mark?" He could barely get the name out and he closed his eyes for a moment, then said more strongly, "Mark!"

"Pa!" The boy's voice was very faint. "Pa, I'm awful cold."

"I know, son. You have to hold on. Did Teddy tell you what we're going to do?"

There was a sob. "He told me it would take a long time."

"I'm sorry, son. I'd come down and get you right now if I could." Luke took a deep breath. "It'll be a while but I'll be here. I won't leave you, Mark, not for a second. But you have to do your part too. You can't…" The big man's voice broke. "You can't leave me. Do you hear me?"

"I won't." Mark's voice sounded a little stronger.

All through the night the men dug, going in shifts as more came in. Women came as well, to fix food and strong coffee to keep up the strength of the men. Luke talked to Mark, going over their plans for the ranch, quoting from the Bible, reciting poems, even teasing him with tears in his eyes. And Mark clung to his father's voice as a lifeline, answering him with a voice that grew steadily weaker as time passed.

The sun was coming up when they finally broke through, pulling Mark into the tunnel and passing him up to Luke. The big man held his son tightly, and his wasn't the only face wet with tears.

"Let me through." Doc Burrage knelt next to Luke and Mark. "How you doing, Mark?"

The boy was shaking with cold and his face was white under the mud but he managed a smile. "I feel a lot better now." He touched his father's face. "Are you all right, Pa?"

Their eyes locked. "Never better, son. Never better."