"Got a match?" Ben hissed at Manson, as he dusted himself off.
"What fer?" Manson asked, sadisticly pokeing Joe to see if the boy was still alive. Joe was and whimpered as Manson's gun came in contact with his wound.
"I need to light a lantern, it's to dark in the cave now that the sun is gone. It was dark enough before that," Ben said through clenched teeth as he watched Joe struggle in vain to get away from his tormentor.
Joe's hazel eyes were glassed with fever. He was pale and his face was covered in a shine of sweet. Ben was sure that at least one of the bullets was still in his son's body and even more sure that there was an infection. He wondered, not for the first time, that if he did manage to get Joe and himself free of this man would Joe live?
Hazel eyes locked on brown ones, and there was a fleeting smile on Joe's face and flash in his eyes. Ben, despite the circumstances, found his body warming. Joe, for as sick as he was, was faking much of it. Playing himself off as weaker then he was in order to give them the upper hand. It was bold, and strategic. In fact, now that Ben thought on it, Joe had been the one to come up with a plan in the first place. Ben inwardly smiled, Joe didn't think much, but when he did he was dangerous.
Manson, now board with tormenting Joe, sighed, "There's a lantern" he said pointing to the one hanging on the wagon. "And here's a match," he said tossing it to Ben.
Ben caught the match but pretended to have dropped it, and so bent down to look for it. He quickly got the dynamite lit and started to back away from the wheel on his hands and knees closer to Manson and Joe.
Joe catching on to his father's actions and, aware of their plan, started to relax his muscles, cause Manson to loosen his grip. So when Ben yelled "Joe move!" he was able to dive out of the wagon and roll clear just in time.
There was an explosion as the back half of the wagon crumbled away. The horses spooked and started running, tearing free of their load. Manson was thrown off guard by Joe's sudden actions, and so was helplessly tossed into the air when the dynamite went off.
He had no time to recover as Ben was quickly on him. The two men fought briefly, but Ben had a clear head, and protective urges on his side so Manson soon fell under his fist. As soon as he was sure that Manson was out, he rushed over to Joe.
He caught his breath as he got a look at Joe's unmoving form.
Willy had been leading the others up to a rocky path. The land they were on was the last stretch of the Virginia City territory before they reached 'no man's land,' the dessert between Virginia City and Carson City. He prayed to just about every god that he knew that they would find the missing Cartwrights, for he was very fond of the family.
Ben had taken him under his wing when Willy had decided to come back to civilization, given him a job first hunting cats, then hunting strays, making sure the transient went as smoothly as possible for him. He had held Joe captive many times telling the boy about his adventures up in the mountains. He had also been the one to help Joe catch and break his prized Pinto, along with Adam of course. In many ways the Cartwrights had become family and he'd be damned if he failed them.
Suddenly there was a loud BOOM! From the direction they were heading, and all four riders pulled to a stop. A quick glance at each man's face said everything that was needed. They hurried on, now sure of the direction they should travel.
Ben's breath caught in his throat, and he fell to his knees by Joe. "Joseph?" he chocked as he slowly remembered how to breathe. "Joseph?"
"Pa…" Joe sighed as he tried to turn himself. He soon gave up on the movement and fell to the ground, he was too tired and sore to care very much anyways, he just wanted to face Ben. "Pa…you ok?" he gasped out.
Gently Ben rolled his son over, using the moon to study his son. If possible Joe was even paler, and was defiantly burning with fever, Ben could feel it through the cloths. He had dirt caked all over him, and his wands were bleeding again. But Ben was just relived that Joe was alive, let alone awake and lucid.
"I'm alright son, I'm just fine. We have to get you to Virginia City. It's a long ride, and we're going to have to ride double. Think you can manage?" Ben asked calmly, knowing that the best way to keep Joe calm was keeping himself calm.
"Did you bring Buck?" Joe asked ruefully.
"No, Buck's getting re-shoed…" Ben said with a smile. It was no secret amongst the ranch that Joe and Buck didn't get along to well.
"Then I'll manage," He said and began to sit up. Ben helped him to his feet and held him steady until the world stopped spinning. Ben looked around the area to see if they could spot his horse, but there was no luck. The dynamite had spooked the horse away.
'Thank God there isn't a fire ore we'd be in even worse trouble,' Ben thought angrily. "I'm afraid we're going to have to walk Joe. The horse is gone," Ben said softly.
"Which horse Pa?" Joe asked shakily, still trying not to throw up.
"I believe it was Duke," Ben said slightly confused by Joe's question.
"Then we don't have to walk," Joe said with a smile, and now Ben was worried. Was his son losing it?
"Joe," he began, but was cut off by Joe's sharp whistle. The sound of hooves could be hared a little ways a way. Joe gave another whistle and then waited. His efforts were rewarded a few seconds latter when Duke came into view, and walked right up to him.
Joe praised the animal verbally, his Pa held on to his right arm and he couldn't move his left anymore. He turned and smiled at Ben, and when he saw the amazement in his eyes.
"He's one of the new horses, I helped Charlie and Adam break him last week. I trained him to come," he said meekly.
"I can see that…" Ben said and shock his head. He quickly gathered the rains to Duke and held him steady while Joe slowly and painfully pulled him self into the saddle. Ben quickly mounted behind him and together they started off for home.
The four riders were in the home stretch, only they didn't know it. All they knew was that they were heading in the direction of the blast and that was all they had to go on. It was a thin hope at best.
Coming on a clearing Adam, who was in the lead suddenly pulled to a stop, and held his hand out for the others to do the same.
"What is it Adam?" Hoss asked as Chubb danced uneasy around him.
"Hooves, I hear hooves…" Adam replied coolly, his hand resting on his gun.
"I don't her nothin' Adam," Roy said frowning."
"Shhh…" Adam insisted, and the sheriff decided to hummer him. It wasn't long before the sounds of an approaching rider reached all their ears.
Taking a chance Hoss pulled out his gun and fired three shots into the air, and to their great relief they received another three shots.
"Pa!" Adam called pushing his horse on. "Pa!"
"Here Adam! I'm here! I've got Joe!" Ben called as he came into view.
Never had three words brought so much joy and one sight so much relief. They had Joe, Ben was safe, and everything would be ok. Or would it?
Adam could barely stifled a gasp when he saw his baby brother. Joe did not look good. His face was a mask of pain, but his eyes were open.
"Hey there buddy," Adam said softly running his knuckles gently down his cheek. He heard Hoss behind him, and could tell that the big man was battling for control of his emotions. Willy and Roy were respectfully holding back.
"'Ello Adam…you come to give me a lecture 'bout missing school?" Joe said in a teasing voice, though the affect was hindered by the pain on his face.
"I think you've learned your lesson for today, so I'll let it pass," Adam joked back.
"Yeah Short shank's, don't worry 'bout ol' Adam here. He didn't do what he was suppose to ether. He spent all day looking for you!" Hoss joined in.
"You see this Roy? Joe's hurt and they're still fighting. I tell you be glad that you don't have three boys!" Ben called to Roy and Willy who were both snickering in the back ground, his own tone light and playful.
"You know what amazes me Ben, is that Joe can even stand to joke 'bout anything right now," Roy said as he came up to them and gently ruffled Joe's hair. "Where's the pound scum responsible?" Roy asked Ben, suddenly growing serous.
"He's up yonder, just follow our tracks. I'm sorry I can't take you, but I have to get Joe to the doctor," Ben said, maneuvering Joe as gently as he could so he wouldn't fall off.
"That's alright Pa, I'll go with Roy and help 'im brin' the scamp back," Hoss reassured.
"And I'll ride to town and get Paul," Adam piped in.
"No Adam, I'll do that. I know the country better and I'll get there sooner. You help your Pa with Joe," Willy said and before anyone could argue he was gone.
"Well, I guess that settles that," Joe said weakly. "Pa, I don't feel so good."
"I know son, just hang on, we're heading home."