"Adam!" Daniel screamed. "Brian! Brian! He went over the edge!"
"Crane! Slow the herd down!" Brian yelled and cutting in front of the cattle he crossed over to where Daniel had jumped off his horse and was pointing!
"Adam! Adam! Can you hear me! Where are you!" Daniel was wracked with sobs, and clung to Brian's arm as he jumped off his horse and came beside him.
"Danny, let go." He said gently. "I gotta go down after 'em. Go help Crane. We gotta stop the herd, okay?"
"Adam went over the edge!" Daniel said. "Oh, God! He might be dead! What about Guthrie?"
"Danny, calm down!" Brian said. "Go do your job! Help Crane! Go on!" Numbly, Daniel nodded and climbing up on his horse, rode to help Crane.
Brian made his way slowly down the ravine. It was fairly steep, and he was filled with dread.
Don't be dead, please don't be dead! We can't take anything else. Adam is all we've got. I could never take care of these boys alone. Please, please, please.
He could see Adam's horse just below him. "Adam? Adam!" He hollered trying not to sound like a scared kid.
Climbing down through brambles and bushes, he made his way to where Adam's horse was staggering to stand. He reached out catching the reigns, "Easy there. Easy." The horse seemed alright, although he could see scratches down his legs. He wasn't limping though. He looked around and then he saw them in the distance.
Adam laying with his arms curled protectively around Guthrie, who had just begun to scream at the top of his lungs. He ran nearly twisting his ankle to get to his brothers. Adam appeared to be unconscious, and he freed Guthrie from his sling, frantically checking over his baby brother.
"You okay, little man? You okay?" His voice was high and panicked. Guthrie's face was scratched, as were his arms, but he appeared unharmed.
"Brian!" He heard Crane call from above him. "We're coming!" He could see Evan and Ford sitting on the ground back from the edge, as Crane and Daniel worked their way down to where he stood.
"Over here!" Brian said. "I found 'em! Guthrie's okay, I think!" He set Guthrie, whose wails had turned to sniffs, on the ground beside him. "I'm just gonna help Adam, okay, partner. You sit right there."
He looked at his older brother. His leg was twisted underneath him, and he knew it must be broken. Adam was completely still, his face grey. He moved closer afraid to touch him. He feared that if he put his hand on Adam's skin, he would find it cold, devoid of any heartbeat.
"Hey, Junior!" Brian said. "Come on, man!" He reached out with a tentative hand. Adam's skin was warm, clammy. He put a hand to his brother's neck and was relieved to feel the steady pulse of his heart. "Junior! Hey, man, wake up. Don't . . . don't . . ." He couldn't speak, his voice choked with tears. "You are all we got! Don't leave us, we need you! Junior!"
"Name's . . .Adam." His brother said without opening his eyes. "Call me, junior . . . kick your ass."
"Adam!" Brian said sobbing and throwing his arms around his brother's chest. "Adam!"
Crane and Daniel ran up just then, and Daniel lifted Guthrie into his arms, kissing his face over and over. Crane leaned in where Brian and Adam sat tangled in an embrace. He wrapped his skinny arms around them both. "He okay?" He said panting. "Are you hurt, Adam?"
Adam sat up slowly, a hand to his head. "I don't know yet. Guthrie's alright? Did I hurt him? Is he okay?"
"He's alright. Just scratched, and pretty pissed, I think. You woke him up!" Daniel said laughing and crying all at once.
"What about your leg?" Brian asked.
"I . . .let me see." Adam moved his feet and started to rise slowly. They could see that he was covered in scratches, and some bruises were already beginning to show. He slowly tried to stand but winced when he moved to put his full weight on his left leg. "I twisted my knee, I think. I don't think it's broken." He turned to move and leaned heavily on Brian.
"You look like me, after ninth grade." Brian said with a laugh.
"Nah, I look tons better." Adam said remembering what his mother had always called Brian's Year of Battles. He had gotten in fights just about once a week.
"Is it bad?" Crane asked him.
"I think it'll be okay. I'll ice it, and wrap it. Let me have Guthrie. I can't . . . I can't stop shaking." He admitted. Crane handed him the two year old who had finally settled down.
"You okay, little buddy?" Adam said looking him over. "Did I hurt ya?" He looked at all Guthrie's scrapes and said softly, "Oh, I'm sorry buckaroo." He looked at his brothers. "Let's get back up there, and get him cleaned up."
The brothers made their way slowly to the top. Crane carried Guthrie, although Adam was reluctant to let go of his baby brother. Brian led Adam's horse, who seemed to have managed the fall better than any of them, and Adam leaned on Daniel favoring his knee.
"I guess, we'll set up camp here." Adam said with a grin at Brian. "Maybe you are right. It is a good time to stop."
They set up the camp quickly, but the brothers insisted that Adam sit and keep an eye on Guthrie. He watched amazed at his little brothers, expertly and rapidly got everything set for the night. He watched Daniel make sure the cattle were secure for the night without anyone even mentioning to him that it need to be done. Little Ford and Evan worked side by side and together set up the tents. He could see Crane working on getting a dinner of stew. Guthrie sat beside him in a patch of grass playing with a stick. He reached out and took it away from him, digging out the set of plastic keys that he'd brought along with him. The only toy they'd brought him.
"No sticks. Too sharp, cowboy." He said patting his baby brother's head. Brian came and sat beside him.
"Here." He said. "Sorry, took us a minute to find it." He handed Adam an emergency cold pack and snapped it to activate it. He set it on Adam's knee which had swollen already. "Is it bad?"
"Not too bad. I'm just so relieved. I thought . . .I'm just glad he's all right." He said indicating Guthrie beside him.
"Well, dinner will be ready in no time. A good night's sleep. We might make it home by tomorrow if we push it." Brian said.
"Nah, we got no reason to drive so hard. We'll take it easy. The boys are pretty wore out." Adam said his voice softer than it had been in days. Brian looked up surprised.
"You okay?" Brian asked.
"No." Adam said his eyes filling with tears. "I . . . nearly got myself and Guthrie killed!" His voice rose and the boys all stopped their work looking at him. "I made my little brothers . . . Danny!" He called out, rising awkwardly. "Danny, I'm sorry I yelled at you. You are doing a great, great job!" The brothers came and stood around him.
"Sit down, Adam." Crane said. "You'll hurt yourself worse."
"No, I'm sorry. I've been so mean and . . . you've all done everything so well. I'm sorry. I got no business treating you like . . ." Brian reached out a gentle hand and pushed Adam so that he sat.
"Easy, brother." He said. Adam sat then looking up at his brothers, and unable to stop the wave of grief that washed over him, he began to weep. He buried his face in his hands and sobs shook his entire body. "I want my mom!" His voice carried the sound of grief. "I want dad to be here. I've got no business trying to take care of you!" He felt as if he were shattering inside and that every piece would fly away and be lost forever. And then, he felt his brothers' arms around him, strong.
"Everything is going to be okay." Brian said kissing Adam's face.
"You're doing just fine." Daniel said. "We'll be okay, Adam."
"Don't worry, Adam. It's gonna be alright." He heard Crane say.
"We're brothers." Evan said near his ear his voice still baby soft. "We stick together first."
The brothers held him in their embrace for a long time, as he wept. They held him together until exhausted he slept at last. The left him where he was covering him with blankets, and took turns watching over him, holding his hand; holding on to him even as he slept.