Summary: This is a follow-up to “Family Apart” (you don’t have to necessarily read it to understand this story, though). Adam’s twin brother Tim is on the ranch, getting used to his family he hadn’t known until recently. Involves a hurt Adam, a hurt Joe (know my good will, Joe-girls), and a little cave-in... Enjoy. Note: Some remarks are made that are connected with the story of Mr Philip Diederscheimer [okay, I know they spell it Deidersheimer, but it’s not what I hear them say ;)].
Kinda Awesome
by
Agnieszka Maria (AMG)
Thanks to all my beta readers
Ben eyed him sternly from over his breakfast plate. "I want no argument on
this, Joseph. Tim has to learn about ranch work and duties. Hoss is repairing
the barn roof and hayloft, so this leaves you." His eyes swept around the
table, over their faces, as he spoke about each son. All four, like him, had a growing
feeling that this was not going to be a pleasant family meal anymore.
"Adam has to check over the mine. Tim is not yet as familiar with his
surroundings as you are, and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind having your company. Is
it too much to ask of you? To accompany your own brother?"
Joe puffed with annoyance. "Pa, he calls only Adam ‘a brother’! I’m just a
‘kid’ to him, and he doesn’t even call you ‘Pa’, or ‘father’, or anything like
that!"
"Joseph, that’s enough!" roared Ben.
Tim glanced levelly at Adam, who averted his eyes and seemed to have suddenly
lost his appetite.
Adam was wearing his customary black clothes and occupying his accustomed place opposite his father. Tim chose a different place at each meal, depending on his momentary decision – today he sat beside Hoss – but he had made it a custom to wear white, or, at the most, cream shirts. It lightened his mien, giving him an appearance of innocence.
"Maybe he’s right, Ben," Tim said impartially. Adam was easy to
understand. Hoss was easy to get on with. The kid was slightly unnerving,
though.
"We agreed that Tim would use my name as
long as he wasn’t ready to call me ‘father’," continued Ben in a clipped
tone. "You, Tim, are going to learn about the ranch. You, Joe, are going to behave like a real brother should. Adam,
don’t you forget the mine."
"Yes, Pa," Adam reacted automatically.
Ben noticed Adam’s disheartened tone, but didn’t
comment. Adam was the strongest, if not the only bridge between Tim and the
Cartwrights. Tim’s adjustment to his new family might have
been even more difficult for Adam than for Tim.
Acutely aware of his role as mediator, Adam offered quietly, "Tim,
Joe, I'll accompany you a-ways."
Joe puffed – not at Adam’s offer, just generally, as a man tried very hard. He
pushed his plate away and got up. Tim gazed at Adam rather than Joe, so the
youngest Cartwight wordlessly left the table and went
outside.
Tim shrugged his shoulders in an innocent, repentant manner. "I’ve never
had a brother before, much less a younger one. What do I do?"
Adam shrugged his shoulders, in turn. He said nothing though, letting his head rest in his hands – a picture of abject misery.
"Can we accompany you to the mine rather than dragging you to the
pastures?" offered Tim. "Maybe we’ll work something out on the
way."
Hoss shuffled with his chair, plate empty. "That’d be it,
"South pastures, as far as I know," Tim scratched his nose in Adam’s
manner. "After we leave Adam at the mine. Care to join us,
peacemaker?"
Hoss sighed aloud, yet with a smile, and went out after Joe. Though maybe he
wasn’t as fond of Tim as Adam was, he definitely wasn’t as much against him as
Joe. A brother was a brother. It was sometimes strange to think Adam and Tim
were ‘more’ brothers than Hoss, Joe and Adam, but that didn’t essentially
matter. Surely, he had acted as a peacemaker more than once – often between
Adam and Joe, recently between Tim and Joe. Such similarity only proved Joe and
Tim’s brotherhood, didn’t it?
When he woke up – what woke him? He reasonably
waited for his head to clear; in the process, he became aware of a sound. It sounded
dreadful to him. A wheezing movement of air. Quick. Panicked. A panicked
breath. It was escalating to almost a sob.
“We are close, I think,” decided the miner,
judging by the sound he got by knocking on the wall with a rock. Suddenly he
noticed something by the ground. “Here.”
Tim concentrated on the feeling in his leg. It was creeping upwards. He understood they had been found. He thought he heard them already.
“The wall will collapse.” The miner scratched
his nose worriedly and turned to the others. “We have to get him out as quickly
as possible, and run for our lives. There won’t be much left of the corridor
here after it goes down. Good thing he is just one to get out, I wouldn’t come
back here for all the money in the world after it all goes down.”
Tim patiently waited for the unseen hands to reach his thighs. Adam never responded. The question was, would the wall hold, and if so, for how long?
“Joe!” he tried again. He was really concerned
now. As far as he could remember, Joe was a bit further ahead into the mine –
stupid kid! - and Adam said there were walls. If he could just see something –
anything!
The hands on his legs suddenly got a good grip and started pulling him out carefully. A shudder went through the wall. Tim felt a cold shiver run through him – it would collapse! It would collapse – Adam. Joe.
He pulled himself together and shot out in the
darkness ahead. The ground shook as the stone wall roared in anger, trying to
capture the fugitive with its hundred stony hands.
Then there was quiet.
“Mr Cartwright.” The miner stood uncertainly in
the doorway. His face told Ben that something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
“Adam?” he asked almost breathlessly.
The miner nodded. Ben reached for the sideboard to steady himself. “What happened?”
“He was in the mine. It collapsed.”
Ben took a long breath; he sensed Hoss’ calming
presence beside him. “Did you try...?”
“We tried to get him out,” affirmed the man. “The
wall collapsed.” He lowered his head in defeat. “Some men are still trying, but
we don’t expect... You never know, however,” he tried to diminish the amount of
bad news. “They’re still trying. They have a longer way to go through now.”
“I’ll saddle the horses,” said Hoss. “You’ll need a rested pair of hands,” he showed his huge palms. “We have to get him out, he’ll go crazy all alone in the darkness. I hate darkness myself,” he confessed in the doorway. “Pa?”
Ben breathed a heavy sigh – yet Hoss’ optimism calmed him some. Such things happened, and until now all his sons had come out of them living and without permanent damage. “Yes, saddle my horse. I have to be there.”
Once at the spot, Hoss rolled up his sleeves and stepped into the mine, Ben following close behind.
“Pa, can’t you stay outside?” grumbled Hoss. “You’ll only be in the way.”
“I’ll stay behind you,” his father’s eyes gleamed with determination in the darkness. “I have to see myself that he is fine.”
Hoss sighed with annoyance, but they have
already reached the workers. The miners recognised the coming men in the light
of two lanterns, and some shifted to make a place for Hoss. Somebody pressed a free shovel in his
hand. They worked quietly, slowly, careful not to disturb the balance of the
walls.
“How long now?” breathed Hoss quietly.
“Some two hours, maybe more.” The miner looked
closely at the big man. “Maybe we won’t find what you’re searching for,” he
lowered his voice, careful that Ben could not hear what was said. “It was a bad
cave-in.”
“He was alive?” asked Hoss, determined to
believe his brother was all right. “Did you get to him?”
“Yeah,” the miner stopped to wipe the sweat
from his face. “We already had his legs, when he suddenly jumped forward, I
mean from us, not to us. Then it collapsed. Don’t know what he was thinking.”
“Maybe,” agreed the miner. “I could understand
if they was two,” he added. “Adam is like that, to protect others. But maybe he
had to move like that,” he nodded. “Who knows?”
Hoss stopped suddenly, breathing hard. After a
second he asked cautiously, “But it’s only him in there?”
“Simps saw only him,”
answered the miner wearily. “I heard him tell the two others to go and wait for
him at the pastures.”
“They were here? Tim and Joe?” Hoss worked on,
a distinct disturbing thought materialising in his head. “But they left,
right?”
“I just heard him tell them so, I guess they
left,” said the miner. After a moment he stopped and looked at Hoss in sudden
alarm. “I don’t know,” he said in a hushed voice.
Hoss’ jaw outlined itself clearly against the
side of his face. “Let’s get to work,” he said with new urgency in his voice.
Further back, he heard Ben’s question, “How far
yet?”
“Could take hours, Mr Cartwright.”
Ben stepped back to give the workers more
space, though not before he whispered to Hoss, “I can almost hear him call us
to hurry.”
Hoss nodded, not stopping to turn back to his
father. He thought he could hear Adam’s voice, too, calling, but not this
brother.
***
“Tiiiim!”
A quick breath.
“Tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim!!!”
“Don’t yell, I can hear you.”
Adam almost cried with relief. “For goodness’ sake
– don’t do that – to me! I thought – you were dead!”
Tim carefully got up and dusted off a bit – at
least it felt so. The darkness was as impenetrable as ever. And suffocating.
“Tim? Tim!”
Why does he always worry.
“Don’t panic, Adam. What’s wrong with you?”
“What’s –“ Adam almost choked at Tim’s question. “I’ve been sitting here – for hours – thinking I was alone – and you dead – and you ask me what’s wrong!?”
“Stop yelling. You’re using up air and energy.”
With only the quick, nervous breathing to guide
him, however, Tim stopped, uncertain.
“Okay, Adam, I won’t find you that way. Talk to
me – just don’t yell.”
“You heard – Joe?” Right, what else would he
ask.
“I’ll go get him in a second. First I want to know where you are. Go on.”
“I heard a wall collapse – I think – nothing
shifted here – just more dirt.”
“Good. Go on.”
“I – uhm – I – you
fine?”
“Just dustier than ever,” Tim sneezed.
“Bless you.”
“Thank you. I think I’m almost there… Some
wall.”
“Your voice is closer. – I think – you’re in
front o’ me.”
“And you’re to my side. Okay – okay… Hm. Is that you?”
A hand grabbed his searching arm and squeezed
weakly. “And is that you?”
Tim laughed. “That’s me all right. Now, that’s
your shirt. I think I’m getting up to your face.”
“You think – right.” Adam’s chest heaved
heavily – alarmingly. He still spoke haltingly.
“That’s your chin?”
The spot he was touching moved slightly in
affirmation. “Yes, it is.”
There was some roughness – dirt, blood, who
knows – then something rough, and sticky underneath. Tim sniffed, alarmed.
Blood.
“You hit your head, Adam.”
Silence. But then he felt something move under his hand.
“Where… Joe?”
Keeps asking. How many times has he already
answered that – and Adam still asks.
“Adam, have you felt sick?” he wanted to know.
He needed to check the symptoms to confirm his suspicions as to Adam’s
condition.
“Yes… where… Joe?”
“Adam – Adam, listen to me.”
“Yes?…”
The voice was growing weaker now. Tim swallowed
with sudden difficulty.
“Adam, you have a concussion. Don’t try to move
much, okay? I’m going to find Joe now. I don’t know if I can hear you call, so
just wait patiently. Is that clear?”
“Don’t… leave me… Tim…” Something like – fear?
His condition must be really bad, thought Tim.
“I have to find Joe.”
He felt Adam’s forehead wrinkle; there was a
small moan.
“My head…”
“You hit your head, Adam. Stay here and wait
for me.”
“… Sleep?…”
“No, don’t sleep until I call you, okay? I must
hear you to find you again.”
A moment of silence.
“I won’t sleep. Find Joe?” Adam had somehow
pulled himself together; his voice was stronger and more certain.
“I will. Just be patient.”
The wall ended abruptly, and Tim stopped in
uncertainty.
“Joe?” he tried.
“Adam?”
Tim’s heart stopped for a moment, then exploded
with banging. “You fine, kid?”
“I think I am – I’m just a bit dizzy. I must
have hit my head.”
“Can you move about?”
“Yes. There was something holding me before it
all shook – I hadn’t heard you before. You fine? Both of you?”
Tim stopped against the wall. It reached only
to his waist, as he checked.
“Maybe there was a wall that just collapsed,”
he offered. “We couldn’t hear you either.”
“I called you.”
“So I thought. Can you follow my voice, kid?”
“Yeah – damn!…”
“Joe? Joe!”
“I hit my knee – I think it’s badly bruised or
something, hurts badly; I must have hit it before, too.”
“Can you walk?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Careful, there is a part of wall in front of
me. You have to get through it.”
“I’ll be careful.”
“Okay,
just walk slowly towards my voice, okay? I will stay in one place…”
He spoke slowly, distinctly, constantly,
praying for Joe to come there quickly. The knee, the head – hopefully nothing
else wrong. “Are you dizzy? Have you felt sick?”
“A bit – but I slept mostly.” The voice was
much closer now.
“I’m reaching out towards you, okay? Do the
same now. I think you’re quite close to me.”
He reached out as far as he could into the darkness, praying to make contact at last; however, the touch electrified him. The relief was so intense it almost buckled his knees.
“Joseph.”
The young man leaned over the wall and embraced
the elder one.
“Tim, Tim, I’m so sorry I quarrelled with you.”
“Easy, buddy,” Tim reached over the wall to
lift Joe and help him to the other side. Only then did he hug the boy.
“Hi, I’ve missed you,” he smiled at him. “Can
you walk?”
“I- think so.”
Tim sensed the hesitation. “I’ll carry you. Try
to call Adam from time to time.”
“Is he fine?”
“Just stuck. We have to hear him to find him.
We’ll go along the wall. Can you touch it?”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
“Adam!”
“Adam!”
“Come on, Adam, don’t go to sleep on me!” yelled Tim. “You promised!”
“Adam!” Joe was almost crying with concern. “Adam!”
“… didn’… promise… ”
Tim gasped both with relief and from the weight
in his arms. “Yes, you did. I’m bringing you a surprise.”
“Joe?…” Anticipation. Relief. Voice further
weakened.
“Talk to me, Adam. We have to find you.”
“Now you have to walk, Joe – hold my hand – I
need a free hand to find Adam.”
“I know you’re ‘here’, Adam, I just have to
find out where ‘here’ is.”
“Here...” offered Adam with a smile in his
voice.
Suddenly, they were both startled at the touch. It was difficult to assess the distance in complete darkness.
“Give me your hand, Adam.” Tim pulled Joe
closer and joined their hands. “Now, this is Joe’s hand you’re holding, Adam.
I’m going to look at your head now.”
“Yanks... hard-headed...” In Tim’s opinion,
Adam sounded more like himself now,.
“I’ve heard that somewhere before,” agreed Tim.
“Lie still.”
Joe felt a feeble pull on his hand. He couldn’t
remember Adam ever being so weak. “Joe... you... fine?”
“I’m fine, Adam. I just think I hit my knee.”
“Bad...ly?...”
“I can walk on it. Tim says there was a wall
between you and me, and it had to collapse when it all shook again.”
“Good... couldn’...
hear you...”
“I couldn’t hear you either, Adam. It must have been the wall.”
“Mmm.” A sound of
protest.
“Adam, I have to see to your head.”
“Nonsense... not... see... too dark...”
“A figure of speech, okay?” Tim seemed slightly irritated. “And don’t you give me such a scare again, falling asleep with a concussion.”
“Not... sleep...” the voice sounded offended.
“Sure you didn’t,” snorted Tim. “Just why
didn’t you respond to my calling before and now, huh?”
“... calling?...”
“Yes, I was calling you, for some time, I must
say.”
Silence.
“... fell... asleep?...” Surprise.
“Either that or you passed out.”
“Mmm...”
“Don’t move your head, I said.”
Joe felt another slight squeeze.
“Joe... you... hurt?...”
“You asked that before,” Tim reminded him. Adam went thoughtfully quiet for a time.
“... Concussed?...” he offered at last.
“Yeah, that’s what I told you a moment before.”
“... won’t remem...ber... huh?...”
“No, you might not remember that in a moment,
but we’re here to remind you,” Tim patted Adam’s shirt. “Now lie still.”
There was a sound of cloth being torn, then
Adam moaned quietly.
“It’s okay now,” Tim’s voice was soothing.
“Anything else hurt?”
Adam drew a deeper breath in silence. Tim could almost feel him concentrate.
“Right arm... caught...”
“I’ll see to it.”
“Joe... Joe... You’re hurt?... Knee?...” asked Adam hesitatingly.
“Hey, you do remember,” Joe found Adam’s face
and stroked his cheek. “It’s okay, I just hit it.”
Adam was clearly concussed, and Joe understood
he had to be kept still. He was feeling a bit strange himself; with all the sleep
he got, only now did he begin to feel uneasy about their situation. If it were
not for the self-confident, matter-of-fact Tim whistling beside him, he’d have
been outwardly... well, uneasy. He wouldn’t be scared, of course.
“Oo...ww...”
Tim snorted. “You can’t even say ‘Ow’ properly. You are lying on your arm, that’s how it’s
caught. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“... lying...?... didn’
know...”
“Okay now, what hurts?”
Adam felt Tim’s hands travel over his ribs carefully.
“Head...” he admitted meekly. “Arm... a bit...
I think... legs...”
“Chest?” Tim’s mind raced. Adam’s legs were
trapped, they could have been damaged.
“Free... Cold...” complained Adam. A shiver
confirmed to Tim that Adam was coming out of the shock. His head would become
clearer now. The pain would appear, and it should be easier to say what was
damaged.
The pain would appear.
“Adam, you have problems speaking. Are you sure
your chest is free?”
“Free...” confirmed Adam. “... too much...
effort... speaking...” he admitted after a second of hesitation. He began
shivering.
“Fine...” mumbled Tim. “Lie still now, I have
to see to Joe, just in case. Wait –” he pulled off his vest and wrapped his
twin brother in it as best as he could. “That’s better, I think.”
Now, he carefully groped up to Joe’s face, and
found a crusty, lumpy spot. “Here?”
“Ow – here,”
confirmed Joe; his voice indicated that he was grimacing. His head turned in
Tim’s hands suddenly.
“... talk t’ me...” Adam. He must have pulled
Joe’s hand. “... sleepy...”
Joe squeezed Adam’s hand in response. “What
should I talk about?”
“Anything...”
“Er... You remember
as you got trapped in a cave-in with Mr Diederscheimer?”
Adam groaned. “Anything PLEASANT...” he
managed.
“Come on, Adam, I can’t think of anything else
under the circumstances. Do you remember or not?”
“... do...” he gave in.
“You never really told me what had happened
down there.”
“... cave-in...”
“Adam.” Reproachfully.
“We just... sat there... and waited... for...
someone... to... get... us... Couldn’... hear Gill...
like you... before...”
“You talked?”
“Nothing... else... to do... couldn’... get free... anyway...”
“I guess.”
They heard the sound of tearing cloth again. Joe hissed quietly, then pulled Adam’s hand. “Hoss told me how he heard the alarm and immediately thought you had to be down there. Interesting how he came to the conclusion.”
“Knows... us... too... well...”
“Then he told me how you travelled from one
door to the other with Mr Diederscheimer’s project.
That sounded even more like you, if you get an idea in your head, you won’t let
go. I sometimes wonder which one of us is more stubborn.” Joe smiled
affectionately at Adam in the darkness.
“Both... double... dose...
“With the timber?” guessed Joe, hissed suddenly
in pain, then turned back to Adam. “I thought you were teasing me.”
“I... was...” admitted Adam with a hint of a
smile in his voice. “Knew... you’d do it... no matter... what... just to...
show me...”
At that moment, he started coughing, and
squeezed Joe’s hand as though in pain. Hopefully, thought Joe worriedly, there
was no problem with his ribs. “You know, you sometimes talk too much, brother,” he tried to make his tone light. “At least I could
help you that much then,” he said, coming back to the
prior mine accident. “I was feeling bad, knowing that you got hurt
and I wasn’t there to help you. Hoss sounded real worried when he told me about
it later. I think he was outright scared for you when he heard the alarm
whistle.”
“Wish... he heard it... now... too...”
“Don’t worry, someone has surely sent for
them.” Joe squeezed Adam’s hand reassuringly.
“Good ol’ Hoss will have us out of here in no time.”
“If... someone... knows... we’re here...” Adam noticed, viewing the situation realistically. Tim thought that, given the precarious situation they were in and the need to stay calm, Adam’s statement might not have been the right thing to say at this point. Sometimes Adam should really talk less, he agreed silently with Joe, tying the last strip around the young man’s knee.
He patted Joe’s thigh. “Done. Listen, I’m going
over to the opposite wall and listen a bit.”
Adam shifted expectantly in spite of his
uncomfortable position. “You think... they’ll... find us...?”
“Sure, they know we’re here,” answered Tim, and
sensed them relax. “I felt them touch my legs before the wall collapsed anew. Maybe
they are already back. You two stay together. Joe, you keep Adam awake.”
“Okay, Tim.”
The wall was pretty close. Tim sat down carefully and put his ear to the wall. He thought he heard something – something that sounded like the murmur of voices.
“Tim,” Joe spoke up quietly. “Adam says, take a rock, and knock with it on the wall. They may hear it.”
Tim thought for a second. “I’ll try. You’re
right, they should be able to hear that.”
After a moment there came Joe’s voice again. “Adam says they called them so when they were trapped in the mine, that is, Adam and Mr Diederscheimer.”
“Okay,” Tim knocked hard at the wall a couple of times. “You must tell me more about the guy Diederwhoever when we’re out of here.”
“Sure thing, Tim.”
“They heard us!” yelled Tim suddenly. “They’re
answering! They found us!”
***
Hoss coughed as quietly as possible, as the
dirt settled again in his throat, and he wiped his sweaty face.
“You think it’s far yet?”
The miners shrugged their shoulders or simply
didn’t answer. Nobody knew that.
Working steadily, Hoss thought of his brothers.
He was hoping Joe wasn’t foolish enough to go into the mine with Adam, or
rather against him, as usually was the case. He wasn’t looking forward to a
repetition of the experience he had with Mr. Diederscheimer,
especially since in that case, fewer men had come out of the mine than had gone
in.
“Give me a sign, brother,” he muttered to the
wall. “Give me a sign you’re there...”
He suddenly stopped in amazement. “Shhht!” he quickly ordered. Now everybody stopped and gazed
at him in surprise mixed with anticipation. “I thought I heard something,” he
said slowly.
All of a sudden there came a sound of knocking,
as though somebody on the other side of the wall was trying to contact them...
“Yes!” Hoss remembered just in time not to
shout, but he didn’t quite whisper it. “Thank you, Lord.” He grabbed a stone
and knocked at the wall with all his force. “We’re coming, brother. We’re
coming to get you.”
Ben let his tears fall freely.
In response, the sound of knocking came from
the other side again.
***
“How’s
Adam?”
“Awake – but barely,” Joe squeezed his elder
brother’s hand carefully. The squeeze in response was very weak, but still
there.
“Is he in pain?”
“... leg...”
“There
might be something wrong with his leg,” Joe relayed Adam’s faint answer to Tim.
“You think they are far?”
“Not far,” Tim knocked at the wall again in
response to the knocking from the other side. Such ‘conversation’ had been
going on for some time now. “They should get to us soon. Does the leg hurt him
much?”
Joe was quiet for a moment, then answered, “He
finds it difficult to say, he can’t move the leg to check it.”
He paused attentively. “He says, as long he has
nothing else to worry about, he’ll be fine. And he says it’s nice not to be the
big brother for a change.”
Tim snorted despite himself. “I get it. I’m the
‘big brother’ here, right?”
He listened to the wall for a moment.
“I can hardly hear him,” the concern was
evident.
“You mean Adam?”
“Yes.”
“He says it’s the shock.”
“Mm – guess so. And how are you feeling, Joe?”
“The knee’s a bit stiff – but I’ll live. Are
they close?”
“Certainly. Closer every minute. Not to worry,
big brother Tim is here,” he grinned convincingly. He sensed them smile; then
he sensed pain.
“Did Adam say something?” he asked, uncertain.
“He says it’s good to have you here.”
“Honestly, kids!” barked Tim, unconvinced.
“He’d like to get out.”
“Everybody would,” grumbled Tim, loud enough
for them to hear, then grew serious. “Honestly, Adam, I have nothing for the
pain, but they’ll be here any minute, and you’ll get to a doctor.”
This time he heard the strained whisper from
the opposite wall. “... Stop... sensing me...” He heard the smile, too.
“It’s okay, Adam,” he said gently. Now he
wondered at it himself. “It’s okay.”
He stepped away from the wall a fraction of
second before a shovel broke through.
“Hey! You there, Adam?”
“Hoss,” whispered Tim. “Hoss!” he yelled.
“Hoss, we’re all here! Adam’s stuck, we can’t get him out!”
There was some commotion on the other side,
then the shovel began widening the hole. There was light to be seen.
“I’m coming to you, guys!” Hoss again. “Step
away from the wall!”
Tim hurried to Adam and held his head. “They’re
here, Adam. You’ll be out soon.”
“Mmm...” Adam nodded
carefully. He was clearly in pain. “Hurts...” he admitted at last.
“Not much longer.” Tim stroked his cheek and quickly turned to
grasp Joe’s hand. “You get out, kid. No protest! Tell them to get a doctor –
and some stretchers. I have to stay with Adam, you go first. Go – I’m telling
you – go.”
Joe’s eyes flashed rebelliously. “I wanna stay with Adam.”
“I said go,” Tim’s voice grew cold. “I’m your eldest brother, and you’re gonna listen to me. Hoss,” he turned to the hole, “help Joe out, and get in here with a shovel.”
“Sure thing, Tim,” boomed the voice from the other side.
Joe feigned a piteous look. “You’re worse than
Adam,” he accused Tim.
At that, Adam suddenly coughed out some
laughter. “Music... to my ears... worst comparison... for you...”
Tim shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t seem
offended.
“Out with you, buddy,” he patted Joe’s leg.
“Remember to get a doctor for Adam.”
“I will, Tim.”
Joe carefully squeezed through the hole, and landed safely. His father’s arms captured him immediately into a relieved hug.
“Get doc... for Adam,” Joe managed into his
father’s shirt.
“Adam is hurt?” Ben’s eyes searched his boy’s face worriedly.
“He’s concussed, and he has his legs caught.
They might be hurting him.”
“Might?”
“You know Adam,” Joe sat straight and massaged
his thigh. In the light, the knee looked worse than he’d thought. The trousers leg
and the white strip dressing his knee were both carrying blood stains. “Tim
stayed with him. He took care of us both. He’s like Adam, but with less
scruples.”
“Are you hurt, son? How did you get here, anyway?” asked Ben. “You were supposed to be on the south pastures with Tim.”
“Tim offered to accompany Adam to the mines,
and... it seemed like a sensible thing to do at that moment.” Joe shifted. “I’m
fine. I think I hit my head and knee – and that’s it. Tim dressed it,” he added
hastily, if unnecessarily.
Meanwhile, Hoss carefully put the lamp through the hole, then eased himself to the opposite side. Tim smiled fleetingly at him and turned back to Adam, whom he was trying to support.
“His arm is caught,” he explained briefly.
“Help me lift him.”
Between themselves, Tim and Hoss managed to
lift Adam’s torso far enough for him to pull his arm out. He then fell
exhausted against Tim.
“... enough...” he managed a moan.
“We want nothing else of you,” Tim patted his
arm soothingly. “Hoss will get you out.”
The shovel was already at work. Tim stayed with Adam, holding himself back from physical work. He was beginning to feel the strain of the last few hours.
How many hours, actually?
“You’ve been here for around four hours,” Hoss
answered, methodically clearing away the wall.
“I can’t believe it,” Tim shook his head in
amazement. “Seemed like a full day or more. Adam, don’t fall asleep.” He patted Adam’s cheek, instinctively
alarmed. His own eyelids were drooping, and he felt drained, now that they were
all safe.
“... still... there... ‘Sleep... y’self...”
“I’m not asleep,” protested Tim, but it lacked
the usual energy. “At least not yet.”
He was almost afraid to take a closer look at
Adam. Shock, blood, pain. He knew what he would see. Hoss’ first facial
expression told him enough. He preferred to watch Hoss work at freeing Adam.
“Almost done.” After a few minutes, the giant
straightened. “Adam, can you move your legs?”
“... not...” protested Adam weakly.
“Don’t make him, Hoss,” said Tim quickly. “He
hurts enough. I think his leg is broken.”
Hoss brought the lantern closer. “Which one?”
“The right one.”
Adam jerked but could not prevent a miserable
sound of pain escape, although his lips were pressed tightly together.
“Sorry, Adam – seems broken all right,” Hoss scratched his head worriedly. “We need to get you out of here, brother.”
“Don’t... touch me... without... morphine...”
Adam turned his head weakly, seeking Tim’s eyes and support. “... ‘t least...
laudanum...”
“I won’t let them,” Tim assured him, holding
him closer and stroking the bandaged head. He didn’t dare look into the
pleading eyes. “Get him some pain-killer, Hoss, then we immobilise the leg, and
get out comfortably, huh?”
“How did you know his leg was broken – and which
one,” asked Hoss suddenly. Adam and Tim actually felt each other this time. It
was like exchanging looks.
“I just know,” said Tim awkwardly.
Hoss digested that, thoughtfully observing the
duo.
“You think we can move him?” he asked finally.
“No. Not in that state,” said Tim flatly.
“Will he pass out?” asked Hoss, hope creeping into his voice.
“It’s likely, but nothing I can predict for sure.”
Hoss nodded. “I’ll get the morphine. The wall
seems stable enough.”
“Here,” a new voice came through the hole, and the roundish figure of Dr Martin appeared beside them, panting slightly.
“I hate mines,” he confessed good-naturedly,
carefully measuring off the amount of the drug. “A dose of laudanum coming up.
It will work in a minute. As to Joe, he will be fine. His knee may be a bit
stiff for a time, but not long. His head is fine. Mild concussion, judging by
the symptoms, and he’ll be fine soon. He should stay in bed for a few days, at
least as long you can keep him there. As to the present, he is either asleep by
now, or falling asleep. Ben is taking care of him, and he is naturally worried
sick about you two. You Cartwrights! According to my information, there should
be just one person in here, and all of a sudden I have two and a half patients
to take care of. I’ll examine you too, Tim, whether you like it or not. Sweet
dreams, Adam. Somebody get the stretchers ready.”
Tim smiled wearily, nodding.
Paul waved an ‘okay’ to Ben, passing by just behind the stretchers. Adam was obviously deeply submerged in painless oblivion. Then Hoss squeezed through the hole and landed safely, grumbling something about mouseholes. Tim came through right after him, joking, “A man can’t grow to a decent size without encountering constant challenges, can he?”
Hoss grinned at him, helping him to stand. “At
least one person to understand this man’s
dilemma.”
Tim was still slightly gasping for breath when he fell into Ben’s fierce embrace.
“Are you alright, son?”
Tim coughed a bit, but grinned, “ It seems I’m the only one who is.”
Ben examined him closely, holding his face between his hands. “What were you two thinking, going in with Adam? It’s bad enough one would be in danger, why all three? Have you lost your mind?”
“Er... we didn’t go
in with Adam,” protested Tim, leaning wearily into Ben. “Adam went in after
Joe, and I went in after Adam.”
“What?!” Ben thought he could tear his youngest
apart right now. He adjusted his grip on Tim, who was growing increasingly
heavier.
“He wanted to see inside,” explained Tim.
“And you had to follow, of course,” Ben frowned. “Have you EVER been to a mine?”
“
Nope,” Tim grinned. “I couldn’t let Joe have
all the fun.”
He yawned. He felt like falling asleep on the spot.
“As far as I know, getting into trouble runs in the family,” he grinned
sleepily, when a force lifted him unexpectedly from the ground. Ben turned
towards the exit, carrying his burden with ease. Both Adam and Tim had a rather
light frame for their looks, probably due to a more delicate bones structure.
Tim cleared his throat experimentally and carefully slipped his bare arm around Ben’s neck. “May I?” he asked cautiously.
“Always, son,” Ben winked at him. “That’s what
fathers are for.”
***
“It’s good to know there are things in which one of you didn’t participate,” admitted Tim. “I mean the Diedersomething guy. Joe wasn’t there.”
Adam waited patiently. He had a fairly good
sensation of what was coming, but thought Tim should voice certain things himself.
“I know you take me for family, but all the
things you did, you did together, and I’m out of it. Like a bloody stranger,”
he complained bitterly.
“Tim,” Adam took his hand gently. “We didn’t do everything together. You know I’ve been to college – that’s four years away. I doubt I’ll ever know everything they did while I was gone – and whatever it was, I am... out of it, as you put it. I felt somewhat a ‘bloody stranger’ myself, when I got home. Such things take time.”
“Yes, time and shared experiences, I
guess,” Tim grimaced, remembering the mine.
“Yeah, I guess so.” They smiled.
“Well,” Tim squeezed Adam’s hand. “I don’t
think I’m keen on repeating the last one anytime soon.”
Their laughter drew Hoss and Joe to their room.
“You should be in bed,” rebuked Tim, wrapping
Joe in Adam’s dressing gown and making him sit on the bed.
“I’ll take him there in a moment,” Hoss grinned
at them. “He says he has to move the knee to keep it fit, and besides he’s just
so awful to keep in bed. We wanted to see how Adam’s doing.”
Tim left his arm around Joe’s shoulders, and
gazed at him inquiringly. “Adam will live. Asking for a spanking, are you,
kid?”
Joe grinned at him, and snuggled his curly head
into Tim’s chest. The man stiffened at first, much like Adam at times, then
slowly relaxed. His arm didn’t move from Joe’s shoulders an inch.
“Joe told me you held everything in check
there,” said Hoss. “How did you actually feel in there?”
Tim carefully rested his chin on Joe’s head; he
considered the question for a moment.
“Kinda awesome,
Hoss,” he said at last. “Almost like a real elder brother.”
Ben smiled in the doorway, gazing at his children. Not to let the atmosphere become uncomfortably emotional, he asked, “What do you say to dinner, boys?”
At the mention of food, Hoss brightened like
the horizon at sunrise; Joe immediately turned on his charm, hoping for a meal
downstairs. Tim had felt Adam drift off to sleep just a moment ago, and knew to
let him.
“Adam will eat later, Ben,” he said quietly. “I mean – Dad.”
Ben blinked suddenly against the moisture in his eyes, and rubbed his eyes as though something was in them.
“Don’t get accustomed to that yet,” passing by, Tim patted his shoulder with a smile that was close to being insolent. “I have to get accustomed to it myself, first.”
THE END