Ch. 1
Cooper Smith reached down and grabbed his near-full canteen. He sat upon his horse, looking across the plains toward the shadowed mountains. Taking a quick drink, he spurred his horse forward. He intended to reach the mountains before nightfall, find a trail for the wagon trains, and get a head start early in the morning light. It was brought to Chris Hale's attention, the wagonmaster of the train, that there was another Indian uprising and the fighting could impact the already scouted route. Duke, the other scout, and Cooper Smith were sent out for alternate routes. The Army could not send any help due to the low amount of manpower and for the protection of the nearby settlers.
There was no clear direction that didn't have signs of Indian ponies that Coop could find a clear path. He scanned the ground as his horse walked slowly until the sunlight disappeared due to the setting sun and the tall mountain trees. Though on previous nights the sunlight seemed to slowly shrink down and the night sky slowly rose, this night was different. The sun disappeared as if it was hiding from something on the mountain. A noise echoed across the mountain as the wind whipped up around Coop and his beast. The sudden wind caused the animal to jump and Coop to lose focus. He reined his animal close, settled her down, and realized his light was fading faster than expected. He pushed his animal toward the mountain to bed down for the night. Unfortunately, the wind gust, the animal getting scared, and the lack of light would set Cooper Smith, wagon train scout, up for disaster; a key detail was missed, for three dozen Indian pony hoof marks were a stone throw away from where the scout was looking.
With his horse tied to a nearby tree, Cooper Smith lay on his horse blanket watching the small fire flicker as the wind moved around. He found a small clearing, an old camp from years ago. There were thick trees in all three areas with small thickets; the trees stopping at the face of the stone mountain. Coop had his back against the mountain stone in hopes of stopping some of the wind from attacking him. The leaves violently shook as the rain began stabbing at the ground. The miserable conditions were the least of his concerns though, Coop grabbed his revolver and waited. The sound, he heard it again, he cocked the hammer back before a sharp pain wrecked his body. He fired quickly, three shots before he silently yelled into the rainy night. Gripping his weapon, he ran his ungloved hand to the shaft of an arrow that was snuggled deep into his left shoulder. He heard the noise again and felt the sharp arrowhead rip through his cheekbone,
"A near miss, too near" whispered Coop. He fired in the direction from where that arrow came. A grunt and more shuffling followed a quick break in the battle for Coop to get to his horse.
She reared as he neared her, pulling at the rope that held her still. Coop grabbed the white mane, swung up, and then untied the rope. He did not have to spur the horse, she took off once she realized that she was free. The animal was not his normal one that knew what he wanted to do, that animal was injured from a previous scouting trip. This horse was new to him, she was new to the wagon train. Her previous life was living peacefully in a stable back east, but then her owner decided that a move out west was best for his health. Unfortunately, he died the first week from a lung disease and she was placed amongst the other horses. It was fear that caused this horse to run, thickets tore her legs, and rain blinded her eyes, but still she ran. Behind her hollers echoed, as if they were in pursuit. Then suddenly the trees opened up and the mountain was bare. The weight on her back was gone, but she didn't stop; she kept running.
Ch. 2
Cooper Smith was barely conscious when the tree branch took him off the horse. He hit the ground and slid into the mud, but he couldn't lay there letting the pain knock him completely out. He heard horses following, he needed to conceal himself. Coop stuck his revolver into his soaked pants. He mustered all his strength and pulled himself into a thicket bush. Thorns ripped his soaked clothing, ripped his exposed skin, causing more blood to leak from his body. The pursuers galloped past, except for one, this rider stopped. The horse turned in a circle, impatient that the pursuit ended abruptly. Coop dared not to move; he watched as moccasins landed in the mud, splashing everywhere. The revolver already set for action, slowly and as quietly as possible was aimed at the approaching feet. A screech in the darkness caused the feet to stop just a foot away from where Coop was hiding. The moccasins left the ground and the horse ran off. Coop attempted to push himself out of the thicket, but succumbed to his pain-ridden body.
It was the cool rain that brought Cooper Smith back into a state of somewhat consciousness. Yet, his view was different than before. He was still lying on his back, but he had not been in a thorn bush. Rain was still drenching him, but he wasn't as cold as he was before. There was a fire somewhere close by, he could smell the wood, and he could feel the warmth. Turning his head nearly caused him to vomit, but he had to try. A rain slicker was pulled between two trees, underneath was Cooper's saddle, saddle blanket, and the rest of his gear were neatly placed in it, drying off near the fire. It was not a big fire due to the rain, but it was warm.
His view was then obstructed by a black stetson hat with a yellow tassel cord. It was hard to make out the face, but the eyes, they were nervous. They darted up and down, then side to side, as the figure hunched over the scout. He would occasionally stand up, like a prairie dog, listening into the woods. The stormy, night sky had begun to fade and a sliver of sun colors graced the gray clouds.
"It is hunting you, cowboy. You have to stay quiet if you don't want to be found. I have to get you under that tarp, have you sittin' up while I get that arrow out."
Cooper Smith had no voice, any movement caused havoc across his body. The man, as gently as possible, lifted Coop's good arm over his shoulder. The scout's eyes shut, and nausea flowed freely through his system. He rolled his head back, and the world spun. He swore for a brief moment his runaway horse was amongst the trees, dry and watching him. He felt his body being lowered against a tree, the fire warmth blessing his cold face.
"This will hurt, I need you to pass out." It was at this moment that Coop felt the shaft of the arrow grasped, his mouth opened up, and then nothing.
Ch.3
"Mister Chris, tomorrow is the day, I can feel it in my bones!" Charlie Wooster remarked.
"You have been saying that for three days now Charlie!" Remarked Duke Shannon. "Let me go back out and find him, Chris, I am sure I can do it."
"That rain in those mountains would have wiped out any tracks if he went that way. No Duke, I need you here."
"Do you think he is hurt, dead maybe?" A worried Barnaby West looked at the men. They all looked at each other, fearful of the other's response.
"Look Coop has gotten into worse scrapes and gotten himself out of all of them!" Replied Bill Hawkes. He threw the rest of his cold coffee onto the ground, threw his metal cup at Charlie, and dug his hands into his pockets. It was a comment that no one wanted to think about or even have been spoken aloud. Yet, it was now before them, a reality that Cooper Smith could be in serious trouble. Chris Hale rubbed the stubble on his face and looked at the men, hiding his fear he smiled.
"We will go to Fort Centarious, talk with the commanding officer, and see what he recommends. Maybe he has news on Coop." The wagonmaster turned and looked across the prairie as a low mist moved quickly to cover the ground. Over his shoulder, he told the men to pack up for the night, they would have an early morning. Everyone turned to get their respective sleeping quarters ready.
Charlie began packing his equipment to ensure the morning dew would not rust his pans. He was standing behind the chuck wagon when he felt that someone was watching him. He turned suddenly to see a cavalryman standing behind him. Charlie didn't hear him approach or see a horse around. The cavalryman looked exhausted, worn out as if he had run a long distance. There was a bandage on his right arm and dried blood stained his blue shirt. His blue pants were stained with mud and torn in some areas. He, too, wore a black stetson with a yellow tassel cord. His eyes looked hollow and lifeless as he slowly looked around the wagons. He did not acknowledge Charlie until the old man mumbled a few words out; his lower lip trembling.
"Can…can I help you sir?"
The trooper turned and looked at Charlie, confusion over his face. "Do you work on this train?"
Charlie nodded his head up and down quickly.
"Cooper Smith is your scout?"
Charlie took a step forward, his heart rate increasing. "You know where Coop is? Is he with you? Is he hurt?"
The trooper smiled for a second before repeating his question. "He is your scout for this wagon train?"
"He is and boy howdy have we been missing him. Where is Coop?"
The trooper once again ignored his question, but suddenly turned and looked toward the mountains in the distance. The mist crept toward the pair, silently. He turned back toward the cook.
"You must be cautious, there are Indians in the mountains, they come down during the day."
"Is that how you got hurt? I can look at that!" Charlie took a step forward and put his hand on the soldier, but he pulled away slowly.
"I was ambushed, I was meeting back up with my comrades." He paused and looked at Charlie intensely, the hollowness gone. "Cooper Smith met them too. Trooper Killensly is with him, but don't wait for them. Take a southwest direction, you will find an old path, used by the garrison for emergencies. The engineers made it when they first built the fort."
"You should tell Chris Hale he is…" Charlie's sentence was interrupted.
"No! I don't have time, I have to find the patrol. There is an ambush, they have to be warned!" The trooper anxiously looked back toward the mist. "Stay away from the mountains, don't look for Coop, we'll get him to you. I must leave now Mr. Wooster, follow the directions and you will be safe."
Charlie turned toward Chris' direction and pointed while talking. "I really think we should go talk to Mr. Hale, he is right over ...there" Charlie had turned back to where the trooper was standing to find no one. He looked around the wagon to see if he could see the man running or catching up a horse; he found nothing, but the mist wrapping around his boots. He turned around and ran toward the direction of Chris' sleeping arrangement.
Chris Hale rubbed his forehead trying to understand Charlie's rambles.
"Slow down Charlie and explain how you know Coop is okay."
Charlie sighed and sat on a barrel. At this point, Bill had awoken as well as Barnaby and Duke.
"Like I said a trooper from the fort came by and explained that Coop is up in the mountains hurt, but one of the other troopers is taking care of him. I think they will take Coop to the fort, he didn't say that, but he wants us to go there."
"And he gave you directions that are not on a map," Duke questioned, raising his eyebrows.
"He said it was clear, southwest and we will see a path!"
"Is it marked? This trail, is there a sign or anything telling us this path will lead us to the fort?"
"I didn't ask!" Charlie responded.
"Did you ask his name?" Bill replied.
Charlie stopped and thought, "I don't think so."
"Thank you, Charlie, I think it's time for everyone to get some sleep." Chris retorted after some silence had passed.
"Mister Hale, I promise it was all real. I felt his arm, I saw his eyes. I didn't imagine it or drink the wrong coffee." Everyone else had walked away, but Charlie stepped closer to Chris. "Coop is okay, I told you he would be okay."
"I believe you Charlie, get some sleep." The old cook walked to his bed as Chris Hale stood beside the fire. He looked in the direction of the mountains, they were a half a day's ride away. He contemplated what he should do next.
It was still early as the wagon trains lined up ready to go. Chris Hale and Duke Shannon sat atop their horses silent. Bill rode up next to them, awaiting the orders from the wagonmaster. Chris's gaze drifted back toward the mountains,he rubbed the stubble on his chin.
"Head them southwest Bill, let's find this path that Charlie told us about." Bill nodded and yelled "Wagon Ho" to the group. Wagons passed behind the two motionless riders who stared at the mountain.
"Are we going after Coop?" Asked Duke.
"I can't spare a single man, Duke, we have to trust the Army can deliver Coop back to us and not get tricked into an ambush." Chris turned his horse to follow the wagon train with a reluctant Duke Shannon following him.