Chapter 17 Sulphur springs - finale
His mind was playing tricks on him.
"Pa!"
A smaller figure hurtled through the dark forest, followed by the solid, reassuring silhouette of Micah Torrence.
"Pa!" The apparition threw itself into his arms, buried a small, warm, moist face against his cheek. Wrapped wiry arms around his throat.
A raw sound escaped his lips, and Lucas closed his arms around his son. He was not ashamed of the tears running down his face. It took him a long time until he managed to believe his senses, until he was satisfied that the boy was unhurt, solid, warm and – laughing with relief.
"Mark!"
Micah stepped slowly closer from where he had silently stood guard over their reunion. "They're all back, safe and sound. Nobody's hurt, though they're a bit shaken. We daren't stay, Lucas, consensus is to ride home through the night."
"How? How long…?" Lucas had to clear his throat twice, unable to form words.
"Only just now, Pa, I came to find you."
Lucas managed to regain his feet, Mark's hand tight and safe in his large paw. Together the three made their way toward the campsite, which was crowded by fathers with children, and a surprising amount of horses.
"How? Mark?" Lucas would have grinned at his inability to speak, had the subject not been so dire.
"Eirik, Pa! Didn't he tell you? I thought he went to look for you?"
"Eirik?" The name chafed. It galled to say it out loud.
"Yes, Pa!" Mark pulled at his father's hand until the tall man knelt down and focused wild eyes on his son. "Eirik knew where to go, he followed where they took us. He climbed in through a window. He stole the horses, had us saddle up two together, Miss Schuler rode with Ellie, who had hurt her ankle. He even had water and food for us."
Hands still running over his boy's solid form, Lucas had trouble following the boy's story.
"Lucas, we are leaving. Where is that farmhand of yours? He should know about being followed."
"No, Pa, they can't follow us, they have no horses!"
Miss Schuler extricated herself from Cade's embrace and stepped up to the men. "Eirik told me we have taken all the horses there were. Even so, I would be happy to ride home, however long it may take us. Some of the smaller children managed to sleep on the way out here, and I think the older ones can manage. Right?"
"Yes, Miss Schuler!" The chorus was surprisingly energetic. Laughter could be heard.
"We managed to make the trip a bit of a game. See who of the older ones could ride so calmly that the younger ones slept. We had food and water and… the upper hand after the fright."
"Explain, please." Lucas throat hurt.
The young woman glanced around, until she found the make-shift map the rifleman and his search parties had crudely painted earlier.
"Mark, what did Eirik tell you? Come, together we should manage this."
"Wait until we're well under way, Miss Schuler." Micah had the situation in hand.
Soon the group had left the clearing behind.
Lucas had one hand wrapped securely around his boy, and pushed his mare beside the one carrying Miss Schuler. He needed to hear all sides of this story.
It turned out the farmhand had indeed gone fishing in the morning, and returned just to see the strangers draw guns. He had witnessed the attack on the Swenson-couple, Cade's futile attempt and the children herded onto the wagon and away. He had followed the abductors to the border of the forest, where he would loose cover. During the trip that followed he must have heard enough to orient himself – the men were planning to use a pass at the head of the valley to cross over into the next one. Eirik had turned back, unable to follow the group unnoticed through the tree-less, empty ravine. The children described the rockslide as a scary, loud noise and horrid smell, but it did not endanger them. Though it crushed the wagon under it – the children had been taken onto the horses of the abductors.
Miss Schuler's expression at times spoke of untold horrors, but she did not speak up. It had been a difficult trip, up the steep side of the valley to a pass overlooking the scenery, and down into another, gentler valley until they reached a hollow where two decrepit buildings stood beside a little spring.
At the settling of solid darkness, the men locked the group into an empty barn and put a guard in front of the door. The young teacher had managed to make the children sleep then. She estimated three hours had passed before a noise alerted her. The way her hand cramped around Cade's spoke of the horror she had endured, until the creature that so scared them revealed himself to be their saviour. Eirik had explained how they had to be very quiet – he could not be absolutely certain he had gotten all the kidnappers, because of some confusion. The young man had led the small group away from the two houses to where the small herd of horses waited, saddled and all, and bade them mount. All but one child settled, Eirik mounted little Freddy on his back, wrapped the first horse's bridle around his wrist, and led them down and out the valley at what speed he deemed safe. He had explained that he had knocked the two guards unconscious, and locked the other men – sleeping - into the second barn. They would eventually manage to get out of the building, Eirik had not dared set it aflame, scared of the possibility of a forest fire.
Thoughts were crashing in Lucas' mind, horribly interweaving and robbing him of his breath. Eirik carried no guns… never had. He did not know if the young man even knew to handle one…
"Pa?"
"Yes, son?"
"Eirik is hurt."
"What do you mean?"
"We made a short pause when we crossed a brook, because he tried to clean a wound in his side."
"Miss Schuler?"
"Aye. He said he got stabbed while fighting our guard. He would not let me help him, afraid of scaring the children. Downplayed the whole thing. I'm no doctor, but it was bleeding freely, and looked…" she grimaced.
"Pa, it looked worse than when he got cut by Cade's brother. Like that bullet wound you got just after we settled on the farm."
Lucas tightened his grip on his boy.
"Pa?"
"Yes, Mark?"
"Where is he?"
"I don't know, Mark."
"Spirit was waiting for him at the mouth of the valley. He said he'd sent him away to make a false trail in case there were more kidnappers. How smart must that stallion be to know where to find his master? A horse is no dog, right Pa?"
"Right, son. But I've heard stories about those half-wild native breeds. Spirit probably turned back after a while, and maybe heard you coming down through the forest."
"That's a good explanation." Mark was satisfied for the moment.
"Pa?"
"Yes, son?"
"Remember when I was little, when I got scared, you always made me imagine I was playing a game with you? And only after you would explain how the situation had been dangerous?"
"Yes, Mark."
"Eirik did the same with Freddy and Ellie. Made them laugh, even. Miss Schuler helped, too, of course."
"Of course."
"Mark?"
"Yes, Pa?" the boy's voice was sleepy.
"I might have to leave you with Micah once we reach town."
"Going to look for Eirik?"
"Yes."
"All right, Pa. But be careful!"
"Cade will make his brother ride to the Fort, ask for a contingent of soldiers to keep the town safe until that stupid money is on it's way."
"Money? The men wanted money?"
"Yes. There was a gun man who rode with me on the Coach with five thousand gold pieces."
"Wow. That's a lot of money. Would you have paid that much, Pa?"
"I would have robbed that bank if need be, Mark."
"Cool." The boy almost slept.
"Micah, I'm leaving Mark with you."
"What happened in that forest between you two?" The older man knew something had passed.
"Ugly words, Micah, words not easily forgiven. And if he's hurt, I owe him…"
"Hurt? How?"
"A knife wound, Miss Schuler said."
"Can't have been too bad. He carried the child down, after the day and night he'd had…" Mica pursed his lips. "At least take a fresh horse, Lucas, your mare is done for."
"Here, McCain." It was Zachary Valance.
"Mr. Valance!" the two men turned.
"I came down to lend a hand wherever possible. Take Pinto, he's fresh and itching for a good ride. He's closest to your size. Blankets, some bandages, water and jerky in the bags."
"I'm not going to argue with you for politeness' sake, Mr. Valance. Thank you." Lucas reached for the large, dappled mare's head. "Let me say goodbye to Mark."
The boy was standing close by with tired, adult eyes and wordlessly grasped his father around the middle.
"Mark…"
"I understand, Pa. You have to find him, after everything he did. I'll be waiting for you both. You don't have to worry about me."
God, this boy. "And I don't want you to worry about us. I'll bring Eirik home, I promise."
Both summoned a brave smile, then Lucas kissed his son's forehead and swung into the saddle.