When Time Runs Out
by
Janice Sagraves

<+>ONE <+>

The weather faded Overland Express stage ground and complained as it made its way along the high mountain road. Its destination was Virginia City, not quite an hour away at this rate Luke Hodgins figured it. The burly, auburn-haired man had been driving for the line for six years now and was considered one of their best. It was said among the other drivers that Luke could get through a howling blizzard on a moonless night with eight-foot of snow on the ground in temperatures cold enough to freeze fire.

“Come on, you temperamental females!” Luke shouted as he gave the whip a subtle crack off to the side out of danger of hitting a horse.

Nat Danveer gave him a sideways glance as his fingers tightened on the side of the seat. He had been riding shotgun for the line for nearly as long and had his share of scrapes, but Luke’s driving still made him twitchy as a rabbit’s nose. The coach swayed and the motion played havoc with his stomach. Not that it made him sick, but he had to work to keep it where it belonged. He wanted to say something but over the years he had learned that with Luke it was best to just grin and bear it so he braced his lanky legs against the floorboard and took it.

This time out the entire four-horse hitch was comprised solely of mares, and Luke wasn’t exactly ecstatic about the fact. It would be too much to call Luke Hodgins a misogynist, but it was a well known fact that he didn’t trust the fairer sex. Of any species.

“Come on, you dangblamed women!” and he cracked the whip again.

The coach lurched and practically threw Charlotte Cunstable into the handsome stranger’s lap. The attractive twenty-two-year-old had come west for the first time with her mother, and she was seeing sights and meeting people that made her giddy with excitement. She had never been away from home and this was an adventure like none she had ever experienced.

“I’m terribly sorry,” she apologized as she scooted back into her seat. She readjusted her pert straw hat and pushed back a soft brunette wisp from her face.

“That’s quite all right, Miss Cunstable,” he said in a rich baritone that didn’t fail to produce gooseflesh along her arms. “When ol’ Luke gets behind the reins it’s to be expected.”

“You mean he always drives like this?”

“Charlotte,” snapped the severe-looking, prim woman sitting next to her. “What have I told you about talking to strange men?”

“But Mother…”

“Oh, that’s quite all right, ma’am,” he said with the hint of a grin. “I don’t mind. And we have been properly introduced.”

“I told you, young man, when we left Salt Lake City; my daughter has been raised in a respectable manner. She’s no dance hall girl, as I’m sure you’re well acquainted with.”

“I’ve known my share,” he said with a smirk. “And the name is still Adam Cartwright, ma’am.”

“I’ll thank you not to be saucy with me.”

“As you wish, ma’am. Ladies.” He tipped his hat to them then pulled it down over his face and leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms over his broad chest.

“Mother, was that really necessary?” Charlotte whispered.

“I didn’t raise my only daughter to go chasing after men, and the only reason you are along is because your Uncle Elijah specified it in his will.”

“But Mother, he was only being polite.”

“And don’t you think I know why? We’ve both heard how the men out here are, and the women only foster that kind of behavior.” Harriet Cunstable’s keen hawk brown eyes darted briefly in his direction. “Now I want you to sit back and don’t speak to him for the rest of the way.”

Charlotte swallowed her ire and the corners of her delicate mouth pinched in. “Yes, Mother.”

She watched as her mother settled back and began reading the small book she had brought along for the journey. Charlotte put her hands demurely in her lap and furtively let her gaze stray to the handsome raven-haired man across from her on its way to the window. He was tall and long-limbed, with dark hazel eyes that could open the door to a woman’s soul. Her heart fluttered as she noticed the sides of his finely sculpted mouth turn up ever so slightly. He was still watching her from beneath his dust coated black hat and it made her flush. She glanced at her mother, returned the smile then looked out at the rapidly passing scenery.

Rocks kicked loose by the horses clattered and rolled down the stony side of the cliff face as the stage continued on its way. This area wasn’t called Treachery Pass without good reason. It cut through some of the most rugged, forbidding territory in these parts. To one side it rose up into one of the craggy foothills of the Sierras and on the other it continued almost sheer to the uninviting lunar landscape below, strewn with boulders, dead trees and the remains of people, horses and wagons that had been unfortunate enough to make its acquaintance. And it was common knowledge that among the ruined conveyances was what remained of a stage coach and the driver, five passengers and four horses that went with it.

But Luke had driven it many times with such reckless abandon as now without mishap and didn’t fear it. He had been a teamster since the tender age of thirteen, and he knew his own capabilities. However, the fact that the team was entirely female did add a measure of unease.

Nat, on the other hand, had gotten a good fright going the moment they had entered this nightmare in stone and dirt and had to fight to keep from swallowing his teeth.

Luke snapped the reins and cursed and the animals continued to plow on. As soon as they cleared the pass he would stop at the small stream at the bottom to water the horses and let the passengers stretch their legs. For now, though, he was in a hurry to get out of this inhospitable terrain to where the going would be smoother and faster. It was hot, dusty and gritty, and he was looking forward to a libation in one of the myriad saloons in Virginia City. He had no preference as to which one, just as long as the beer was cold and wet and washed the sand from his craw.

The road leveled out but hadn’t begun its downward descent when the coach jolted and rocked as it hit a dip that Luke didn’t remember being there before. As it pitched down in front and the traces drug the ground the sharp snapping of splintering wood managed to reach human ears mingled in with the rattle of wheels and the thump of hooves.

“What was that?” Nat shouted above the din.

But before Luke could answer his eyes fell as the tongue separated from its moorings and his pulse bounded. “Hang on!”

The horses were going around a curve to the right causing the stage to shear away from them. In a valiant, if futile, effort to hold the vehicle to the road, he tugged back on the reins in hopes that the momentum of the driving team would pull them along toward the side of the mountain. If he could get it grounded it would stop them, but it wasn’t to be. He found himself wrenched from the seat just as he reached for the brake lever.

Nat made a frantic grab but not in time and all he could do was watch as Luke was jerked away by the running team. Now it was up to him so he scooted across the seat and got hold of the lever but before he could warn the passengers the coach suddenly struck something in the road, and he lost his grip and flew off into the dust.

An irate Mrs. Cunstable had already regained her seat and Adam was in the process of helping her daughter up when the coach began to slide sideways. With a sudden jerk everyone was tossed about and the door sprang open. Charlotte screamed as she slipped toward the opening. Her feet were out when steel grips encircled her wrists, and she was yanked onto the seat next to Adam and his arms wrapped around her.

“Hang on!” he shouted. “We’re going over the side!”

With a tremulous whimper, Charlotte buried her face against his chest so she couldn’t see what was coming.

The coach continued its sideways plunge toward the abyss and was headed for the bottom when it miraculously hung on a dead tree. But the front started to turn and thought to head straight down until it snagged on a low hanging limb.

Inside, the dust had begun to settle amid choking and hacking. The door opening was effectively blocked by the tree so there was no danger of anyone falling through it.

When he realized that they had stopped Adam looked out the window to try to make an assessment of their situation. The coach had come to rest at an angle that allowed him to see down into the canyon where they could yet wind up. Rocks continued to loosen and roll off into oblivion. His arms tightened, and his eyes went to something more pleasant. “Are you all right, Miss Cunstable?”

“I think so.”

“How about you, ma’am?” he asked as his gaze went to the wan face of the petite woman in the other seat.

“I’m in one piece.” She looked out and was treated to the same view he had, and her eyes shot to his face.

“I’m afraid so,” he said with a nod.

“So what do we do now?” she asked as her fingers bunched in dark blue her skirt. “We obviously can’t stay here.”

“Well, for right now I think that’s all we can do. I’m afraid if we move around too much we could still wind up down there.”

“Down where?” Charlotte asked as her head rose. The sight that greeted her thrust her into fear like none she had ever known. Her young heart pounded and nearly stifled her breathing as her hands clenched on the fabric of his black coat.

He could feel her quivering against him and felt the jerky, quick breaths running through her. Moving her as gingerly as possible he put himself over the window so she could no longer see out. He couldn’t miss the terror alive in her vivid indigo eyes, and he wished he could do something to erase it.

Abruptly, the coach shifted as more rocks skittered down the side. Its weight came more to bear on the limb and a dry cracking sounded around it. A woman’s high-pitched scream pierced the clear, stagnant air then it went dead silent.

<+>TWO<+>

Luke Hodgins looked as if the horses had trampled him but fact of the matter was that the ground had done it without any assistance from them. One shirt sleeve was torn and hung only by the cuff and part of the upper seam, and the skin was badly abraded from wrist to shoulder. Both knees were bloodied and exposed, and his face looked like he had landed in some gravels, and he was covered in dust. In short, he was a mess, and he wished he could just go to bed someplace. He managed to sit up and put his hands on either side of his head to keep from losing it. As headaches went, he’d had some real pips, usually alcohol induced, but this had to be the granddaddy of them all. He took a deep, cleansing breath and it made him realize that he had probably broken or at least cracked some ribs.

He groaned as lucidity gradually seeped into his befuddled brain. As it did the blur cleared from his eyeballs, and he could see where he was, recollection dawned hard. “The passengers and Nat,” he gasped.

With Herculean effort he got his feet under him and pushed himself away from the ground. He doddered where he stood and tried shaking the cobwebs from his head – which wasn’t the best idea he ever had – then he staggered back along the road. His eyes kept scanning for anything that would tell him what had happened and it wasn’t long before he spied a heap off to the side of the road. Quickly as he could limp, he made his way to it.

He got onto his knees and the pebbles bit into his already damaged skin. “Nat,” he said as he reached out and touched him. “Nat.” Gripping a shoulder he pulled and the man flopped onto his back.

Glazed eyes stared lifelessly up to the sky and blood ran from one corner of his mouth. Just like Luke, his clothes were dusty and torn, and he was scraped and bloodied.

Luke gave his head a nudge and it wobbled to one side without any effort.

“Neck broke.” Out of respect he lightly closed the dead eyes then shoved himself to standing with unsteady arms.

Then he noticed the skid marks in the dirt from where the stage had left the road. He dreaded to look but he knew he had to. Stepping to the edge, what he saw sent waves of pure astonishment through him like a spear. About twenty or so yards away the stage rested against the trunk of a dead tree, which he hoped was still firmly rooted. The end of a limb seemed to be holding it in place like a protective hand.

“Hey!” he shouted with his hands cupped around his mouth. It made his head thump even more but that didn’t concern him right now. “Anybody in the coach?”

“Luke!” a man’s familiar voice answered.

“Yeah, Adam, it’s me! Are you an’ the ladies all right in there?”

“For now! Nobody’s hurt but if we move the whole thing threatens to go to the bottom! I was beginning to wonder about you!”

“I’m stove in somethin’ fierce an’ look like eighty miles o’ bad road..., and Nat’s dead! Busted neck!”

“I’m sorry about that!”

“Me too! Look, I won’t be much help gittin’ you outta there, so I’m gonna head off toward town! Maybe I’ll run across somebody, or maybe even the horses! I’ll git somebody to come back as soon as I can!”

“We’re not going anywhere!”

Without hesitation he started off in the direction that would take him to Virginia City. He had to get help back here as soon as possible, and there wasn’t a second to waste.

Charlotte still sat with her head resting against Adam’s chest and his arms around her.

“I think we need to try to put less weight at the front since that’s the way it seems to wantta go. If I could lean back against the tree that should take some of it.” He started to ease away from her and off the seat.

“Do you have to?” Charlotte asked as her fingers squeezed around his lapels.

“I think it’ll be better, and you’ll be all right.” He smiled and touched her cheek.

“You’re added weight could make the tree break, dead like it is,” Mrs. Cunstable said.

“It’s pretty steady to be holding a ton of coach, and I don’t think I’m gonna make that much difference.”

“But you don’t know that for sure, you could be wrong,” Mrs. Cunstable said flatly.

“I could be. I have been before. But either way, we’ll soon find out.”

Carefully, he began sliding out from under Charlotte. As lightly as possible he settled her into the corner then slipped down and tentatively leaned back against the tree. There were a few restrained cracks and all held their breaths. With the easiest movement he could manage he sat down on the floor, with his back against the trunk. This put him so that he was looking straight out the opposite door window.

He blew out his breath and allowed some of the tension to leave his muscles. So far, so good, but they weren’t out of the woods yet. Not by a good long shot. Right now the whole thing hinged on Luke and if he could get help to them in time, and the tree holding was no small issue. His hands balled at his sides as he thought of his family. He hoped they didn’t find out about this until it was over, especially if he wound up spread all over the canyon floor.

“Well,” he started on a more cheerful note, “all we havta to do is wait for help to get to us, and that shouldn’t be so hard. As long as we don’t move around so much we’re all right.”

Mrs. Cunstable shot him a look, and he read the doubt in her grayish-brown eyes. He knew she was thinking the same thing he was – that their chances of getting out of this alive were thin at best. Then her gaze rose, and he followed it to the girl huddled in the corner of the opposite seat. Her slim, supple arms were wrapped around her, and he discerned a minute tremble in her dainty hands.

A gentle touch on her elbow made Charlotte look around into his sympathetic face and the dark eyes comforted her. She forced a slight smile and felt a little less frightened simply for his being there. “I’m all right,” she falteringly.

“Of course you are,” and he gave her arm a pat.

Then he held his other hand out to her mother, who simply glared at it then shook her head. Her mother could be so unbending at times, and to her this man was nothing more than a lowly cowboy. Still, if she had to be in this situation she couldn’t think of anyone she would rather have with her. Stodgy though she could be Charlotte knew that the woman who had helped to raise her would always take care of her. And this man she was trusting with her very life and knew that she could, though she couldn’t explain how she knew. Granted, she had only just met him some days earlier, but from the moment she had in Salt Lake City she had known there was something special about him. And now she was seeing some of it in his courage and compassion and the way he took charge of the situation. She had always wanted to meet a man like this – she only regretted that she could die with him after having known him for such a short time.

<+><+><+><+><+><+><+>

The heat of the day had come into full swing when the brothers came into town. The July sun – though it wasn’t as hot here as it was in the flatlands – bore down on everything and made things more than a little stifling. The air was still and a heavy haze shrouded the mountains.

Hoss Cartwright had driven the buckboard into Virginia City to pick up his older brother who was arriving on the noon stage. He had been in Salt Lake City for the past two weeks to work out a deal with the railroad for supplying ties for a new spur line, and quite frankly Hoss was eager to see him.

Joe Cartwright – riding alongside on Cochise – had come with him for the same reason and as an excuse to come into town. He savored the idea of a cold beer while they waited and another with his brothers before starting home. He glanced up at the sky and could see that it would be high noon before too awful long. And if the stage was a little late, he wouldn’t mind since it would give him time for a second beer.

They came up in front of the stage depot, and Hoss stopped the buckboard close to the boardwalk. Joe reined in around in front of him but didn’t get down.

“Joe,” Hoss started as he dropped the reins and got out, “why don’t you go on over to the Silver Dollar an’ git us a couple beers while I take care o’ things here? It’ll be cooler waitin’ there than out here in all this hot.”

“You read my mind, big brother,” Joe said as he headed the paint up the street. “I’ll we waiting so don’t take too long.”

As Joe went on Hoss came up onto the boardwalk and went right to the agent’s window. “Mornin’, Mike.”

“Mornin’, Hoss,” the reed-thin man said with a knowing grin. “I don’t think I havta ask why you’re here.”

“Nope, Mike, you sure don’t.”

“I got a wire as soon as they pulled out the other day. They left right on schedule and with Luke Hodgins driving they’ll make good time. A better man at the ribbons you couldn’t ask for.”

“Yeah, ol’ Luke’ll git ‘em here right enough. “Thanks Mike.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Hoss stepped down into the street. He took his hat off and ruffled his fingers in his fine brown hair then put it back on and started off for the saloon. A frosty beer with Joe while they waited would be a good way to wile away the time until Adam got there. He would always be grateful to Sam for having ice brought down from the high Sierras and packed in sawdust and straw. He still had the coldest beer for miles, and Hoss could almost taste it. He smacked his lips and kept on walking.

<+><+><+><+><+><+><+>

Luke couldn’t be sure how far he had gone, but each step grew draggier than the last. He had driven this way so many times that he knew the area by heart. On this day, however, his vision was clouded with pain and it had oozed into his brain. But he couldn’t dwell on anything but that he had to find help, and he had to find it as fast as he could.

How he wished he could just sit down and rest for only a few minutes, but right now that was a luxury he didn’t have the time for. His stage hung from that tree by an invisible thread that could snap at any time and the lives of three people – one of them a friend – hung with it.

He inhaled deeply and it cleared his head some. If only he would meet someone, but he knew better than to pin his hopes on that so he kept going. He realized that in the condition he was that it wouldn’t take long to reach the end of his tether, but he wasn’t going to go down without some kind of a fight.

The air at this altitude was clear as fine crystal, and he thought he heard something, but maybe it was only a trick of his pain saturated mind. Then he heard it again, and this time he knew what it was. He stopped in his tracks and forced his head up and blinked away the haze. It was too good to be true and it made his heart beat faster. Maybe now they all stood a chance.

<+>THREE<+>

With soothing sounds and gentle words Luke approached the four horses still in full harness and the wooden tongue from the coach still between them. Fortunately for him and the ones he had been forced to leave behind they hadn’t gone far.

“Good girls,” he said as he began stroking the muzzles of the two front horses.

With as little wasted motion as possible, he started unhooking the off leader, a big bay with soft brown eyes. He unfastened the chains and led her away from the others. He gave her a healthy pat on the neck, her long black mane coarse beneath his hand then he gathered the long reins, grasped the collar and mustered all his strength to swing onto her back. “I’ll send somebody back for the rest of ya later,” he said then nudged her into a trot and they were off.

His chances of making it in time had just increased, thanks in no small part to the mare between his legs. That is, if it wasn’t too late already.

<+><+><+><+><+><+><+>

The coach remained settled against the tree precariously at best and short term at worst. Now and then a rock would break loose and skitter down the side but the big vehicle seemed disinclined to move at the present. The sun beat down like a merciless, watching eye with no intention of making things easier for those inside.

Adam could see that Charlotte was frightened but her mother kept it well hidden. Since Luke had started off things had remained quiet and with little said verbally, but eyes spoke volumes and the tension could be cut with a knife.

“So,” he started briskly, “what part of New England do you come from?” He could tell by their expressions that he was right. “I recognize the accent.” His grin broadened. “If I had to guess, I’d say Massachusetts.”

“That’s right,” Charlotte said, her eyes dancing. “But how did you know?”

“It was more than just a wild stab. My father was born and raised in Boston. He was first mate on a sailing vessel, and he married his captain’s daughter. She was my mother, and I was born there, though we left when I was still a baby.”

“You all came out here together?” Charlotte asked as her hands clasped in her lap.

“No,” he said on a breath, “she died when I was born.”

“Do you mean he came all the way west on his own with a young boy?” Mrs. Cunstable asked evenly.

“Not exactly, but that’s a whole other story. I’d like to know a little about my charming traveling companions. You said something about an Uncle Elijah. He wouldn’t happen to live in Virginia City, would he?”

“Yes, he did, but I don’t normally talk about family matters with perfect strangers,” Mrs. Cunstable sniffed.

“I don’t exactly think I’m perfect,” he said with a snicker, “but I would like to know. I might know him.”

“I seriously doubt it. He was a very wealthy man who owned a silver mine and I doubt if he knew many cowboys, if any.”

Adam discretely covered a smile with his hand. “Well, you never can tell. I know my share of mine owners, and I’m pretty good friends with some of them, but the offer still goes.”

“Well,” she started, “it would be nice for someone who knows the area to give any assistance he could. Very well then.” She tugged on her jacket. “His name is Elijah R. Mainwaring, and he came to seek his fortune eleven years ago. He started in California in the gold fields then came to Nevada in 1855. He became a very wealthy and powerful man with the discovery of silver.”

“Mainwaring,” he said as a single eyebrow rose. “No, that name doesn’t strike any chords, and I don’t know anybody named Elijah in the mining business. What does the R stand for?”

“Rathburn,” Charlotte chimed in. “It was Grandmother Lane’s maiden name.”

His brow furrowed in thought, and then a light went on in his head. Lije Burns. Could it be? To play it safe he decided not to mention it just yet. “Nope, I’m not familiar with that one either. But like you said, we move in different circles and maybe we’ve just never met, but I would still like to help, if I can.”

“Thank you, Mr. Cartwright, but I think I can handle things from here. Elijah engaged a very capable attorney to handle his affairs, and he will help us once we arrive.”

“If we arrive.”

“Charlotte.”

“I’m sorry, Mother, it’s just that…” The girl ducked her head.

“It’s all right,” Adam said as he patted her hand. “Nobody’s gonna think any less of you because you’re scared. To tell the truth, I’m scared spitless.” He could tell that Mrs. Cunstable didn’t care for his wording.

The slightest hint of a smile adorned the girl’s lips as she looked at him. “I guess I’ll have to take your word for it.”

“Mr. Cartwright, what do you think our chances are of getting out of this predicament the driver’s recklessness has put us in?”

He glanced at Charlotte. “Well, as long as we sit tight and don’t…”

“I want your honest opinion, Mr. Cartwright, and you needn’t look at my daughter anymore. She’s a grown woman, and she has been raised to handle bad news.”

“I doubt anybody can be raised to do that. I’ve had my share and believe me, I know you can never be prepared for that sort if thing.”

“I’m sure you have been subjected to it living in this savage wilderness, but breeding and proper upbringing produce a different class of people. You, as a cowboy, I don’t think would know anything about that.”

Adam could feel the heat beginning to nibble at the hair on the back of his neck but he would keep his temper in check. Fear sometimes made a person say things they didn’t mean, and he would give her the benefit of the doubt. “Being a cowboy doesn’t make me any less human.”

“That’s not what I said, and you know it. Or do you? After all, you had to grow up away from decent civilization, and I would blame your father for that for bringing you out here.”

The temper slipped. “Mrs. Cunstable, I went to Boston College for four years, and I’ve seen quite a bit of my small part of the world, including New England, but I think my father did pretty good raising three cowboys all by himself. It wasn’t his fault that he lost three wives, or would you blame him for that too?”

Mrs. Cunstable sat in stunned silence just looking at him. A little regret filled him but when you started taking shots at his family, especially his father, you got what you asked for.

“Look, we’re gonna be stuck in here together for goodness knows how long, so we might at well be civil with each other.”

“Very well, Mr. Cartwright, but I won’t apologize for what I see as right.”

“Fair enough. Now why don’t we talk about something a bit more pleasant?”

“I’d just as soon we didn’t talk at all.”

“As you wish.”

He picked up his hat and stuck it on his head then pulled it down over his face and crossed his arms over his chest. This day had just gotten longer, and he didn’t care for the idea of being incarcerated with this snooty woman but there wasn’t a whole lot he could do about it.

<+><+><+><+><+><+><+>

Luke kept the big mare moving along the road that had been hewn into the side of the hill. He couldn’t be certain how long he had been going – it felt like three years and a day – and the pain had crowded into his mind and dulled it. This wasn’t going to get any better or easier as he went on but he couldn’t do a thing about that.

The agonizing stiffness and ache that permeated every inch of him wanted to swamp the sense of urgency and replace it with indifferent lethargy. He knew, however, that if he let that happen Adam and the ladies could pay for it.

“Nope,” he said and forced himself to sit up straighter, and his back screamed out for relief but he would die before he gave in to it.

With a click of his teeth he gave the horse a kick in the sides and they picked up some speed and the jolting shot pure torture through his ribcage. The pain threatened to cut him in two, but he knew that it wouldn’t let things get tedious.

<+>FOUR<+>

The sun was slowly approaching the zenith of noon and heating things up on its way. The only thing that afforded any kind of relief was that this was in the mountains but it was still plenty warm.

Buzzards had discovered the body of Nat Danveer and were making the most of the banquet. Wings fluttered and they squawked and squabbled as they vied with one another for the choicest bits. But Nat was beyond caring and had simply become another link in the food chain.

Since Adam had lost control of that Cartwright/Stoddard temper of his with Mrs. Cunstable no more words had been spoken. The silence in the coach had become oppressive so he decided to break it.

“Miss Cunstable, Charlotte. Do you mind if I call you Charlotte?”

Her eyes flitted to her mother then back to him. “No,” she said boldly. “I’d be pleased if you would.”

He couldn’t miss the disapproval in the woman’s face. “But only if you’ll call me Adam, and I insist.”

“All right…. Adam.”

“Charlotte. You hardly know him.”

“Mother, can’t we put the rules aside just this once? After all, we could die together, and I don’t think it’ll hurt a thing for us to get to know each other. People shouldn’t have to leave this world as strangers.”

Adam tried not to grin at the girl’s showing of backbone, which he suspected rarely came to the surface with her mother.

“Very well,” the woman said stiffly. “But that’s all the familiarity I’ll allow.”

“Whatever you say,” he said then turned his attention back to the girl. “Now, you know something about me but I know very little about you except why you’re out here. What part of Massachusetts are you from?”

“Have you ever heard of Salem?”

“I’ve not only heard of it, but I’ve been there many times. In fact, an old classmate and very dear friend of mine lives there. I haven’t been in a while, but if I’d known about you I would’ve made the effort to go back.” He tried ignoring the withering look he was getting from the opposite seat. “Have you lived there all your life?”

“We live in the house my father was born in, and so were I and my brothers. I have five, and they’re all older. Did you say you have two?”

“That’s right, and I’m the oldest. I was never blessed with sisters. We live on our ranch not so awful far from Virginia City.”

“And are you married?”

“Charlotte Marie Cunstable! What do you mean by asking a thing like that?”

“It’s all right, ma’am, no harm done. I don’t mind.”

“It’s not you I’m worried about. A lady doesn’t ask such a thing of a man she hardly knows.”

“I don’t see why when you want to know something you can’t simply ask?” Charlotte said as her voice came up an octave.

“Don’t you dare talk to me in that manner.”

“Ladies, ladies.”

“The way I raise my daughter is none of your affair, so I’ll thank you to keep your opinions to yourself.”

“Ma’am, this whole thing has us all on edge and snapping at each other won’t help. It was an innocent question, and I don’t mind answering it.” Then his dark hazel eyes went to Charlotte. “I’m not married and never have been.”

Mrs. Cunstable obviously wasn’t happy but she just sat glowering and said nothing else. He tried not looking at her, he had enough to worry him and being watched by an angry, over protective mother hawk he didn’t need right now.

<+><+><+><+><+><+><+>

The big bay mare had just come around a dipping curve in the road when she suddenly reared, her feathery front feet pawing the air and whinnying with wide-eyed fright.

Before he could react to it, Luke toppled backward and hit the ground in a wad with a grunt and a dull thud. His mind spun like a cyclone and all he saw was hard packed dirt. He wasn’t even sure where he was at the moment as he tried regaining his badly addled wits.

Every curse word he knew and even a few he had made up as a child to aggravate his mother ran through his mind. As he sat up and things began to reorient themselves it dawned that he had just been thrown by that blasted female. With a groan and feeling as if everything in his body had been broken over again, he pushed himself to his feet and swayed back against a large embedded stone. His hand went to his head, and he blinked in an effort to refocus his fuzzy eyes. Gradually, things began to register and some of the fog cleared from his vision. With another attempt, he shoved himself away from the rock and began tottering toward the large brown glob with black at both ends.

“Whoa, easy, girl, easy,” he said soothingly as he carefully approached her. “We don’t have time for this danged foolishness.” He took hold of the collar and a handful of mane and leaned against the animal to steady himself. “We’ve gotta git help an’ you tossin’ me around like a rag doll ain’t gonna do it. Now let’s try this again.” With a moan and mustering all the strength he had left in reserve he swung onto her back, nearly falling off the other side and gathered the reins into his hands.

The pain in his body had multiplied and made the simple act of breathing an exercise in misery, but he knew he couldn’t give in to it. However, he would use that to his advantage, since it would keep him from going to sleep, something he dearly wanted to do. Sitting up and stiffening his back, which made him want to cry out, he nudged the horse into a brisk trot and they were off again. And behind them – which he hadn’t seen – they left in the road the remains of a badly trampled and mutilated rattle snake.

<+><+><+><+><+><+><+>

The inside of the Silver Dollar saloon provided a cool oasis from the day’s heat. It still being morning only a few of the heartier souls – including the two youngest Cartwright sons – were enjoying its liquid comforts. The girls who worked there dotted the room like brightly colored birds, complete with feathers in their hair. The piano in the corner, which usually contributed its tinny notes to the festivities, was at the present quiet.

Joe and Hoss had gotten themselves a table close to the door so that they could hear the stage rumble into town. Between them were two beers, the sweat running down the sides of the heavy glass mugs onto the green tabletops. The brothers had been there for a while and neither appeared to have taken more than a couple sips. The foamy heads had dissipated to a few loose bubbles on top of the golden amber liquid, and fists clutched the handles like the throat of an enemy.

Both boys had grown reticent and seemed to have lost interest in why they were there. Hoss’ intense blue eyes bore into the depths of the mug, and he didn’t notice that he was the object of his brother’s concentrated emerald gaze.

With a huff, he got up and went to the batwing doors, taking the beer with him, and stood and looked out into the street. It was the usual hubbub and bustle but something seemed different. He took out his watch and opened it. Quarter of noon. The stage would be coming in before long, but that notion, for some odd reason, didn’t exactly fill him with ease.

“You feelin’ it too?”

“Feelin’ what?”

“That something isn’t right.”

Hoss put his watch back into his pocket then looked at his little brother standing next to him.

“I don’t know what it is, Joe. Maybe I’m just in a hurry for our brother to git here.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s it,” Joe said unconvincingly.

Simultaneously, they raised their mugs and took a swig as they looked out beyond the saloon’s porch into the glaring sunlight of the last fifteen minutes of morning.

<+><+><+><+><+><+><+>

While polite conversation continued between Adam and Charlotte inside the coach a gaunt wolf decided that the buzzards had eaten their fill and ran at them. They scattered amid screeches and the mad fluttering of wings and made for the nearest convenient perches so they could keep beady eyes on their lost meal. Most of them lit in the dead tree, including the limb holding the stage in place, and several took to the railing around the top of the stage. It wasn’t much extra weight but it was enough to upset the delicate balance. The big vehicle shifted forward, sending more rocks clattering to the bottom.

Charlotte stifled a scream with her hands as Adam grabbed her and jerked her onto the floor with him. Maybe the repositioning of weight would be enough to keep them from winding up scattered over the canyon floor like those other poor unfortunates. As the girl huddled against him he looked around and couldn’t miss the fear alive in her mother’s grayish-brown eyes. He reached out and this time took her hand and held it firmly. Her fingers were strong but he detected a minute trembling in them as they wrapped around his hand.

But their luck held and so did the tree as the birds flew off in search of a more secure place to light and the coach reseated itself. For what seemed like eternity, breaths were held then released all at once. They were still among the living and had escaped the clutches of death for a second time.

Adam’s arm tightened around the girl, and he heaved a heavy sigh. He had no idea how much longer they could hang on before the whole thing let loose, and the eldest son of Ben Cartwright died along with two ladies from Salem, Massachusetts. His mouth had long gone dry and what he wouldn’t give for a tall, cold beer. He closed his eyes a let himself imagine he was in the Silver Dollar sharing one with his brothers and talking of better times.

<+>FIVE<+>

Straight up noon had come and gone and it was now twenty-three after the hour. As long as he had been driving the Overland stage the folks of Virginia City had never known Luke Hodgins to be this far off schedule, even in the nastiest weather, and it had them on edge. And since he had left Salt Lake City on time they hated to think about what could be causing the hold up. Whatever it was, though, they feared it was going to prove to be bad. They had seen and heard of accidents before that could chill the blood and everyone there knew the reputation of Treachery Pass.

Of all the people in town, the two that were most distressed were the brothers of one of the passengers. They had come into town to pick him up, and he still wasn’t there, and all manner of dark images swirled in their imaginations. What would they tell Pa if this turned out for the worse?

Sheriff Roy Coffee was coming down the street when Joe and Hoss Cartwright spied him.

“Sheriff!” Joe shouted as he and his brother made a beeline for him.

Roy stopped near the stage depot and no one had to tell him what the topic of this conversation was going to be. Adam was on that stage coach, and he knew the nature of this family when it came to each other.

“Afternoon, boys,” he said as they approached him. “Before you ask, I don’t know a thing. I thought I’d talk to Mike an’ see if he’s heard anything.”

“Don’t bother, ‘cause we just did an’ he ain’t,” Hoss said as the sunlight caught in his fretful blue eyes.

“Oh,” Roy said desolately and took his hat off and ran his hand over his balding head.

“I think we oughtta go looking for ‘em,” Joe said with a glance at his brother.

“Where?” Roy put his hat back on. “All the way back to Salt Lake? If they’ve had an accident, an’ we don’t even know they have, it coulda been anywhere along the line. Maybe they even had to take a detour. So just where an’ how far back do you propose we go?”

“As far an’ wherever we havta. This is Adam,” Hoss said as his mouth set.

“I know who it is, but that don’t change nothin’. We can’t just go gallivantin’ off without knowin’ where to look an’ what we’re lookin’ for. We don’t even know they’re in trouble.”

“Ah, come on, Roy,” Joe said sharply. “If the driver was anybody else but Luke Hodgins I might go along with that, but you know as well as I do that he’d get that stage in here on time if he had to haul it himself. And when was the last time he was overdue, let alone by this much? It’s goin’ on half an hour.”

“I know how long it’s been. Now I think the best, the only thing we can do is to just wait it out.” Roy found himself on the business end of two grimaces. “I know, I don’t like it a bit better, but that’s about the best we can do. Look,” he grasped each brother by the arm, “why don’t you go on to the Silver Dollar an’ have a beer, an’ I’ll let…”

Joe swiped the man’s hand away and emerald fire burned in his eyes. “Where do you think we’ve been all morning since we came into town? Roy, Adam’s in trouble, we can both feel it. Now, if nobody else is gonna do something about it we will.”

Roy just looked at him then his doleful brown eyes went to his hulk of a brother then back to him. “Joe, I’m sorry, but until we know more I think we’d best just set tight. Now I think you should both go back to the saloon. I’ll send some wires on down the line an’ see if I can pick up anything, an’ that’s the best I can do.”

“Come on, Joe. He’s right, an’ you know it.”

But Joe stood firm.

“Come on, little brother,” Hoss said and took hold of his arm.

Roy stepped onto the boardwalk and watched them go, wishing like mad that he could do more than he was about to do. He hadn’t let on, but he feared that before this day was out Ben Cartwright could be left with only two sons.

<+><+><+><+><+><+><+>

The wolf had eaten his fill and the ever present buzzards had returned, and were making as much noise and business about it as before. Other than this, it was still as death and the mountain air hung stagnant and muggy.

The stage coach held precariously to the darkened skeleton of the dead tree and appeared not to have moved since those winged scavengers had nearly sent it careering to the jagged terrain below. Dust had settled over it, and a few rocks had lodged against the wheels, but for the present it wasn’t going anywhere.

Exhausted with fear, Charlotte had fallen asleep against Adam’s chest, his arms securely around her as if they could afford any protection from harm. Her breathing was soft and deep and it aroused a need inside him, a need to keep her from being hurt. But if this thing let go he couldn’t even save himself, let alone the two women with him.

“Mr. Cartwright,” Mrs. Cunstable said softly. “I need for you to tell me the truth about our chances of getting out of this alive.”

His dark eyes were directed to her stern face. “I’m sure I don’t know. I’ve never found myself in a situation like this before.”

“Don’t try to spare me, young man. I know that whatever our odds are that they aren’t very good. You heard as well as I did what the driver said about being hurt…, and even if he does find help there are no guarantees that it’ll be in time…. I’m fifty-five years old, Mr. Cartwright, and I’ve lived a full life. I’ve been the best wife and mother that I could be, and I’ve tried doing right by my family…. But Charlotte hasn’t even been alive for half of that, and she doesn’t even have a steady suitor. I know you wonder why I’m telling you, a common cowboy, all this.”

One side of his finely sculpted mouth crooked. “No, I don’t. When we think we’re gonna die, if we’re able, we need to talk to anybody who’ll listen, stranger or no. Well, I’m here, and I’m willing to listen.”

“Thank you for that…. I’m sorry I’ve been so curt with you, but Charlotte is the only daughter I have. I’ve raised her to be a proper lady,” her eyebrows rose, “and I have heard stories about the west and the people who populate it.” A sad smile managed to brush away some of the gloom. “I suppose I’ve been doing the very thing I raised my children never to do.”

“And what might that be?”

“Judging a book by its cover.”

“That’s all right. I am, after all, a man of the west, though I do have tendencies toward things more than just riding, shooting and roping.”

“What kind of tendencies, if you don’t mind my asking?”

“I don’t. I like books, music, poetry, and I studied engineering and architecture in college.”

“You’re an architect?”

“I know that’s a little hard to believe coming from a common cowboy, but I designed our house and helped our father to build it. Maybe I could show it to you someday.”

“I’d like that very much, but I’m afraid we’re both being overly optimistic to be thinking that far into the future. Don’t you?”

“Maybe. But I don’t think it’ll hurt anything. If we don’t make it we’ll be disappointed but not for long, and if we do we’ll be pleasantly surprised. Now why don’t you see if you can follow your daughter’s example? It could be a while yet before we’re rescued.”

“I couldn’t.” Her eyes darted to the sleeping girl. “I’m too worried about her.”

“I understand.”

With a grave sigh, she crossed her hands in her lap and looked out the window that faced the slope they had slid down. He followed her gaze to the road so tantalizingly close yet so far away. Much as he tried not to let it, his family came into his thoughts. He doubted they had any idea what had befallen him and he preferred it that way. Filling his lungs, it disturbed the girl, and she shifted though didn’t wake. Looking down at her, he couldn’t help think of her father and his own. Before this day was over they could both lose a child, and one a wife.

<+><+><+><+><+><+><+>

The road had begun its downward incline which ended at the small stream where Luke had planned on watering the horses before heading on into Virginia City. Though the situation had changed drastically that was still his goal, and he figured that if he could make it that far with the shape he was in he could make it all the way.

“Come on, girl,” he said as he nudged the bay with his knees. “We’ve got folks acountin’ on us.”

Her heavy feet clopped against the hard soil as she picked up speed into a canter. It was all he could do to cling to her back, and his hand was clenched in her mane as an assurance against falling off, something he couldn’t afford to do. He knew that if he did, he would in all likelihood, not get up again.

As they drew closer to their first destination, he let the idea of the water preoccupy him. Where as before he had focused on beer, the notion now of that cool, crystal clear nectar that ran over the rocks in a white froth made him salivate. Try as he might, he couldn’t remember the last time he had ever been so thirsty.

The pain in his joints and muscles had formed into a solid ache that reached to all points of his body and gave the sensation that even his hair hurt. His fingers had stiffened into bunched knots from where he gripped the reins and the horse’s mane, and his legs had stiffened against her sides. Even if he made the stream he wondered if he could walk to it.

They kept going and the pace was killing to the injured man but he knew better than to let up. He knew that if he gave in they were all lost and there was no going back.

<+>SIX<+>

Luke became aware of a soft washing sound that trickled through his head like distant chimes, and it took several seconds for it to register what he heard. He batted his eyelids to make sure he wasn’t seeing what his mind was telling him to, and his eyes narrowed.

He reined in and slid from the horse’s back, his knees thinking to buckle as his feet made contact with the ground. Barely making it to the stream’s edge, he dropped onto all fours and submerged his head into the crisp water then came up for air with a gasp. The mare stood next to him and lowered her head to drink, and he followed her example and did the same.

It was cold and sweet and refreshing and it eased his parched throat and restored some of the energy that had been lost along the way. Difficult though it was, he forced himself not to gulp and savored every revitalizing drop. He knew he was wasting valuable time, but he figured that without the water he probably wouldn’t make it to town.

It would be so easy to fill his belly to busting then lie down on the bank and doze in the sunshine while the dulcet, fluid music played in his ears. The idea was so enticing that he had to fight it off as one would an attacking animal. Adam and the ladies couldn’t afford for him to dally any longer than he already had.

“You ain’t got time to think o’ yourself,” he said as he sat back. “Your work ain’t done yet.”

The mare raised her head and water dripped from her bristly chin as he looked around at her. Much as he dreaded it, he knew he had to get on her again.

“All right, girl,” he said as he rigidly got to his feet. “I think we’ve both had enough for now.” He gathered up the reins and got hold of the collar. “It’s time we’re movin’ on.”

Digging deep inside himself, he marshaled up a last vestige of strength, renewed by the water, and swung onto her back.

“Let’s go, girl.”

He gave her his knees and they were underway at a walk. The desire to open her up was there, but so soon after drinking it could spell trouble so he didn’t, for he knew that without the animal he would never make it, and wondered if he would with her.

<+><+><+><+><+><+><+>

Things inside the coach were getting really disagreeable. Thirst had taken hold and the inability to heed the call of nature was also teetering on becoming more than just a discomfort. But being in mixed company as they were, it was a subject not to be spoken of.

Charlotte sat still nestled back against him, afraid to move and possibly upset the delicate balance once more. But if she had to be stuck in a position she couldn’t think of a better one. She could feel his work hardened muscles as his steady breathing moved his full chest and of his arms that helped stave off the fear that nipped at her. The disapproval that she had seen in her mother’s face and eyes before, she also noticed, had softened. She sensed more of an understanding between them, and she couldn’t help wondering if they had talked while she slept and, if so, what about.

“Mr. Cartwright…. Adam.”

“Yes, Miss Charlotte.”

“Since you first mentioned it, I’ve wanted to ask you about something. I’m not meaning to be presumptuous but if you think that I am, you don’t have to grace it with an answer.”

“All right, go ahead and ask, and I’ll be the judge.”

“You said that your father had lost three wives, and I… I understood it that you only have two brothers. I would’ve thought that…, well, being married so many times that…” Her indigo eyes dropped briefly.

“No, there’s only the three of us. Like I told you before, my mother died when I was born so I never got to know her. My second mother was shot in the back with an arrow during an Indian attack and died in front of me in my father’s arms while I held my baby brother Erik.” His mouth turned into a fond grin. “We just call him Hoss, and if you ever saw him you’d know why.” His face saddened again. “And then my third mother, Joe’s mother, was killed when her horse fell on her. I saw that happen too…. Pa never remarried after that, and not because he isn’t still desirable to women, because he is, but I guess the thought of going through that again is a bit overwhelming and makes him wary.” An air of poignancy touched his dark eyes.

“Then you’re half brothers,” she said, her eyes riveted to him.

“That’s right, but our father has always done his best to keep us close, and for the most part, he’s been successful. Oh, there have been fights and misunderstandings and cross words like you’d find in any family, but there’s also trust and love and a willingness to stand up for each other. Now, does that satisfy your feminine curiosity?”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up. I never thought about it being so tragic.”

“Tragic it was and tragic it is, but the passage of time has lessened some of the pain, and I think it helps to talk about it. When you lose somebody you love, it’s one of the blackest times in any person’s life, but we havta pick up the pieces and go on. Those we’ve lost wouldn’t want us sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves and crying away our lives. Life is too short to waste it in self-pity, and lamenting what isn’t truly lost. As long as we remember them they’ll always be with us.”

It went quiet and the dropping of an eyelash could have been heard. Mrs. Cunstable sat and watched him, and as she did she realized that she had been so wrong. There was nothing common about this man that she and her daughter had found themselves thrust into danger with. Simply by observing and listening to him she knew that he was sensitive and intelligent with a gentle, caring nature. She had been trying to protect her only daughter from what was new to her and found that she had been protecting her from the wrong thing.

<+><+><+><+><+><+><+>

The road straightened out as Luke came to more level ground and left the highest part of the trek behind him. Virginia City lay ahead and before long he would be there and tell what had happened and get help on its way.

With a slap of the reins against her withers the big bay moved into a sprightly gallop for such a large horse, her mane lashing the wind and tail trailing behind. Her iron shod hooves thumped the road in a steady staccato that pounded to the rhythm of the breeze blowing in the trees.

“Almost there,” Luke said under his breath. “Almost there.”

<+>SEVEN<+>

The stage was now seven minutes from being an hour and a half late, and the people of Virginia City were facing the grim reality that something had definitely happened to the big carrier. They had no way to know where or when it had run into trouble or what had become of it, only that something wasn’t as it should be.

Curt Dudley at the telegraph office had been told that as soon as the answers came to the sheriff’s wires that they were to be brought straight to him. His legs wound him across the street, several pieces of paper clutched in his hand, and the strong sense of urgency propelling him forward.

Joe and Hoss were in the sheriff’s office when Curt burst in. “I’ve got ‘em,” he blurted as he waved them in the air and went to where Roy sat behind his desk.

The brothers and the telegrapher watched as the wires were read, and it didn’t take keen eyesight to see what was reflected in Roy’s face.

His eyes rose to the three men before him. “It made all its stops and always left on schedule…. They should be here.”

“I’ve gotta get on back,” Curt said.

“Thanks, Curt, and don’t tell anybody about this just yet.”

The man agreed then dashed out.

“Now don’t you think we oughtta go looking for ‘em?” Joe asked as he leaned forward and rested his hands on the desktop. “We’ve wasted enough time as it is.”

Roy looked at each of them then to the papers in his hand then back to them. “I don’t think there’s much else we can do. We’ll get some men…”

But he was interrupted by a commotion outside and they turned toward the door. Suddenly, it jerked open and a flustered man stood framed by the doorjamb.

“Luke Hodgins just came in on one of the stage horses, and he’s nigh onto killed!”

Roy scrambled to his feet, and he and the brothers followed the man out. Some men were just bringing the driver down off the big bay as they were joined by the sheriff and the Cartwright’s.

Luke was half out of it and anyone with working eyes in their heads could see what had happened to him. He looked as if his own stage coach had run over him, and he had to be held up or he would collapse.

“Luke, what happened?” Roy asked as he stood in front of the man. “Luke!”

At the sound of his own name, Luke finally looked at him. “The stage… gone…. Danveer dead.”

A hubbub of voices rose around them until the sheriff shushed them with raised hands.

“Luke, where’s the stage? We’re your passengers?”

Luke started going down but a stocky man got behind him and shored him up.

“Luke Hodgins, where’re your passengers?” Roy repeated more urgently.

Luke tried focusing his bleary eyes. “Over the side.”

This went through the group like a round of buckshot, and Roy had to quiet them down again.

“Stage broke away and… went over side…. Passengers with it…. Stage hung on dead tree…. Havta to get ‘em, sheriff. Havta…”

“Where Luke? Where’d they go over…? Luke!”

“Treachery Pass,” was all he could say before he passed out.

“Some of you men get ‘im to Doc Martin,” Roy barked. “The rest of you come with me.”

Joe gripped Roy’s arm and words would have only gotten in the way. Eyes of blue, brown and green communicated and a frown accompanied by a shake of the sheriff’s head said it all.

<+><+><+><+><+><+><+>

It didn’t take long for the party of fourteen men led by Roy Coffee to ride out. No one had to tell them the need for expediency or that it could already be too late. When you lived all or a good part of your life in a rugged country such as this with death and tragedy all around you just naturally knew.

Joe and Hoss rode in silence alongside the sheriff and their expressions bore taciturn evidence of the fear that lurked inside them. Their brother and anyone with him could already be dead and scattered over the canyon floor like the pieces of a morbid jigsaw puzzle. And if they were that would be their final resting place for there was no way to raise them. They were thankful that Pa was ignorant of what was going on and dreaded having to tell him if this turned out for the worst.

Time passed slowly though they rode hard. Their surroundings formed into an earth hued blur as their attention was focused elsewhere. They didn’t have time to let themselves enjoy the song of birds, the scent of pine or the rush of water. No, at the moment the only thing on these fourteen minds was to get there as fast as humanly possible and pray they weren’t too late, though no one held out much hope.

One of the teamsters from the freight company in town had been chosen to bring a wagon along behind just in case it was needed. He couldn’t keep up with the merciless pace the others held themselves to, but it didn’t matter. As long as he got there was all that concerned anyone.

When they got to the stream they found the three remaining horses of the team and one man was left behind to take care of them.

As the road rose it dropped off on the right and one slip of a hoof could pitch rider and mount to an early grave. But the driving pace kept up without relent. A clock ticked in each man’s head and eyes scanned for any sign of what they dreaded to find. Scattered luggage, pieces of the coach, the body of Nat Danveer or skid marks was what they sought, anything that would give them a sign.

No one was really sure how far they had ridden when Roy reined in and held up his hand and the men stopped. Ahead and off to the side was a gaggle of quarreling, fluttering buzzards and sticking out from the feathered mass was a man’s legs. Each face registered revulsion as they watched in horror as the birds pecked and fought over their booty

A shot rang out and then another and they scattered and flew leaving behind two of their own, fallen victim to a bullet.

Smoke curled up from the end of Joe Cartwright’s rifle as he stared at the mutilated corpse of a man he had known and even shared a few beers with. He felt his brother’s hand squeeze his shoulder and he only nodded then returned the long gun to its scabbard.

“We must be close,” Roy said. “We’ll slow down from here, an’ keep your eyes peeled.”

They started on again but didn’t get far.

“There! Wheel marks!”

They stopped again, and the search grew more frantic.

“There it is!” Joe shouted and pointed down the side.

Hoss had to check his little brother to keep him from trying to climb down to it. “Whoa, Joe! Take it easy. They ain’t no way to git down there from here.”

“Hoss is right, Joe,” Roy said as he came to them. “An’ we ain’t even sure if they’re still alive in there.”

“Adam! It’s Joe! Can you hear me?”

Adam’s heart rate increased, and he wanted to jump up with a lady under each arm and climb out right now but he knew better than to even breathe hard.

“Yeah, Joe! We’re all right! There’re two ladies with me!”

“So whadaya we do know?” one of the men asked.

“I’m open to suggestions,” Roy said as he pushed his hat back.

“About all we can do is pull ‘em out one at a time an’ that’s gonna take all of us,” Hoss said then stepped back to the edge. “Adam!”

“Yeah, Hoss!”

“We’re gonna lower a rope down to you an’ bring you up one at a time, but first we need you to git that door open! Do you think you can do it without sendin’ the whole thing to the bottom?”

Adam looked at Mrs. Cunstable then her daughter. “I don’t know but I can sure try!”

“Now how do we go about that? One false move and this whole thing could go,” Mrs. Cunstable said.

“I know, but if we’re gonna have a chance at getting out of here we havta to get it open.” His mind took off in a frenzied whir. Then a notion came to him. “Miss Charlotte, I need to move you aside here so I can get to the door.”

“Can’t I do it?”

“Those doors are heavy under normal circumstances, but these circumstances are far from normal. Now let’s see how easy we can do this without upsetting the apple cart.”

As delicately as they could manage it he eased himself out from under her, and she scooted to the side as much as she could. Next, he began working his full length along the floor toward the door. The women sat in frozen silence as he gradually drew closer to his objective.

“So far, so good,” he said as he continued inching along.

Finally, he got close enough and took hold of the handle. Getting the door open a crack wasn’t so much of a problem, but getting it open enough for a person to get through was a whole other matter. And strong as he was, gravity at this point was his enemy.

“If I can get it over the other way far enough gravity’ll take over. But pushing it hard enough to get it to do that could be hard enough to dislodge us. Of course, it’s the only way out of here so here goes.”

Taking a deep breath, he started to push on it and found out just how ponderous it had become, but he couldn’t afford to stop. Turning sideways as much as he could he moved his hands closer to the hinges and continued working until it was almost vertical.

“All right, one or two good ones should do it,” he said through a grunt.

He glanced down at them then with all his might he shoved and it very nearly went. “Go,” he said through gritted teeth and gave it his best shot.

The door teetered for a second then – just as he’d said – Sir Isaac Newton’s discovery got hold of it and it slammed back against the side of the coach.

Every heart there stopped as the stage shuddered and rocks rolled down the precipice accompanied by the crackling of dried out wood, and they waited to see if they would go with them.

<+>EIGHT<+>

The rope snaked its way down toward the door opening and inside and Adam grabbed it. “All right, which of you ladies wants to go first?”

“I want it to be Charlotte.”

“Mother.”

“Don’t argue with me, child. Your life is ahead of you, and this is not the time to be like your father. Now do as I say.”

“You’re mother’s right. Now try to stand up and let me get this tied around your waist.”

Charlotte moved with the grace of a timid swan as she left the spot from where she had been scoonched against the front seat. He helped her to stand then brought the rope around her middle. His fingers deftly knotted it then he wrapped her hands around the long end.

“Hang on tight, sweetheart.”

Without warning, she pulled his head down and kissed his lips lightly, and her mother said nothing.

“It’ll be okay, and I’ll see you topside,” he said looking down on her then turned his attention to the road. “All right, Hoss, pull away!”

The other end had been dallied around the horn of one of the saddles.

“All right, Glen, back ‘im!” Roy shouted.

One of the men backed the horse and the rope went taut, and the others pulled and guided it and a dark-haired, pretty little thing emerged from the coach. Light as a feather, it didn’t take them long to get her to safety.

“Are you all right, Miss?” Joe asked as he worked to undo his brother’s knot.

“I’m fine, just please get them out of there.”

“We will, ma’am,” Roy assured her.

She stepped to the edge and watched as the rope was once again lowered.

“All right, Mrs. Cunstable, it’s your turn,” Adam said as he took hold of the long piece of hemp.

“I think you should go next.”

“What kind of gentleman would that make me? No, ma’am, my pa didn’t raise me that way. Now, here.” He held his hand down to her, and she took it, and he cautiously pulled her to her feet. “I’ll fasten this around you just like I did for your daughter.”

Their eyes met and that warming smile that friends and family had come to expect from him reached out to her. Then she grasped the rope in front of her as Charlotte had.

“All right, Hoss!”

As she was pulled free the stage lurched, and Adam braced himself for the fall but it settled back, and he could breathe once more.

Mrs. Cunstable was heavier than her daughter and took a wider assortment of puffs and grunts to get her onto terra firma. Once untied, she went to her daughter and gave her the biggest hug she ever had.

“Okay, Adam, here she comes!” Hoss shouted and started the rope down one last time.

The women held onto each other as it went through the door opening and into the coach.

At last, now he could get out of this wheeled coffin. Adam tied the rope around his midsection and knotted it then gripped it until his knuckles whitened. “Pull me up, Hoss!”

Adam was heavier and longer than either of the ladies and as they started to pull him free the rope twisted, and he banged into the side of the door opening and dropped back. Agony ran through his shoulder and down his arm and made its way along his spine. That was the last straw and the stage started to let go, and he felt it give way around him. A sudden jerk brought him up again, and he struck his head sharply on the side. Pain and every star in the universe shot through his skull and then blackness enveloped him, and he was swallowed by a void.

Everyone watched horrified as the big Overland stage began sliding down the side and thought to take Adam with it. One hand went to Mrs. Cunstable’s mouth, and Charlotte closed her eyes and looked away as she clung to her mother.

Adam just hung there like a worm on the end of a fishing line, his arms limp at his sides and his head bowed forward as the men tugged him up toward them. Hand-over-hand they worked and they didn’t have time to pay attention to the stage coach’s final plummet into the canyon.

Adam was finally drug onto the road and lay senseless. The women and his brothers knelt on either side of him, but he wasn’t even aware of his own name, let alone them. A trickle of blood ran down the side of his face from the gash above his right temple.

“Adam,” Joe said and unfastened the rope and pulled it from his brother’s waist. “Adam, can you hear me?” He took his brother’s hand and began slapping the back of it. “Can you hear me, brother?”

Still Adam didn’t move except to breathe.

A canteen was handed to Mrs. Cunstable, and she wet the linen handkerchief she had pulled from her sleeve. She wiped his face with it and cleaned away some of the blood. “Mr. Cartwright,” she said softly as she wiped his heavy hair back from his face.

“Please wake up,” Charlotte said as she took his other hand. “Please, you have to be all right.”

Slowly, senses began to awaken and awareness gradually took hold. His head throbbed, and so did his shoulder but it was a good indicator that he wasn’t quite dead yet. With a moan, his eyes fluttered open and squinted against the brilliance of the sun.

“Hoss, Joe,” he rasped.

The canteen was held to his lips and the stale water ran down his throat, and it felt good and helped to revive him. He looked up into those hawk brown eyes and saw that they hovered over a gentle smile.

“Welcome back,” Mrs. Cunstable said. “For a few minutes we thought we were going to lose you.”

“Where’s… Where’s Charlotte?”

“I’m right here,” the girl said as she leaned past her mother, and her hold tightened on his hand.

“Luke made it?” His eyes wafted back to his brothers.

“Yeah, brother, he made it. He’s pretty badly banged up an’ we left before we knew how bad hurt he is, but he was alive,” Hoss said. “Now let’s git you three into the back o’ that wagon. We don’t wantta git caught up here after dark; it’s badernuff in broad daylight.”

Adam forced himself to sit up and thought his head was going to fall off, and he couldn’t help the groan as he rubbed the back of his neck

His brothers got on either side of him and helped him to his feet, but his legs weren’t under him very well, and he staggered in to Hoss.

“I think I’m gonna need a little assistence here.”

“Ain’t a problem,” Hoss said as his eyes twinkled in the light. “We’re just glad you’re here for us to assist.”

Putting his arms around their shoulders they started off with him, preceded by the women. The bedraggled survivors were loaded into the back of the large freight wagon and made as comfortable as possible after a few necessities were seen to. Eyes couldn’t help flitting to the body wrapped in the blood-dotted blanket, a grim traveling companion to be sure and mute testimony to the tragic accident that nearly claimed the lives of everyone involved.

The wagon started back down the road and headed toward town with the party of men coming up behind it. The need for haste had waned though they did want to get back to Virginia City.

Joe and Hoss wouldn’t be happy until Paul Martin had a look at Adam and made sure he was all right. He had taken a nasty crack on the head and been knocked unconscious, though not for very long. Still, they had come so close to losing their older brother and they weren’t taking any chances. In fact, they might even spend the night at the International House and give him a chance to recover before heading back home to the Ponderosa.

Adam looked around at his brothers coming along behind eager to get back home and see Pa. This trip had turned out to be more than he bargained for, and he just wanted to put it behind him and get on with his life. Taking a deep breath, he rubbed at the pain in the side if his head. Home. That word had never sounded so good.

<+>EPILOGUE<+>

Two days had passed since the mishap that had nearly taken four lives and had claimed one, but things had calmed down and pretty much gotten back to normal. The coach and every bit of luggage and the mail was a total loss but possessions could be replaced and letters rewritten, a life, however, was irreplaceable, and on the whole they had gotten off lucky for it could have been so much worse.

Ben Cartwright had turned several shades of white when he found out what had come about and why his sons had been so late in getting home. He had fussed and made over his eldest son, and Adam had chafed under it in typical Adam fashion. But now he was back to his old self and had come into town to check up on Luke and the ladies.

He was coming down the street from the direction of the boarding house where the driver always stayed when he had a layover in town. As he crossed in front of the legal office of David Phillips, Mrs. Cunstable and her daughter stepped out onto the boardwalk. He could see right off by the looks they wore that things had not gone as hoped.

“Good morning, ladies,” he said as he reined up in front of them then stepped down. “You’re stirring bright and early.”

“I could say the same for you, Mr. Cartwright,” Mrs. Cunstable said as he came to stand with them, and tipped his hat courteously.

“This is practically the middle of the day for me. You havta get up with the sun on a working ranch.”

“Are you in town on business, Mr. Cartwright?” Charlotte asked.

“What happened to Adam?”

“Adam,” she said with a trace of embarrassment.

“No, actually, I wanted to see about Luke and find out how you and your mother are doing.”

“We’re doing just fine,” Mrs. Cunstable said. “And how is Mr. Hodgins?”

“Being Luke is about the best way I can sum it up. He wants to get back to driving so bad he can taste it, broken ribs not withstanding.”

“After what happened?” Charlotte asked as her eyebrows rose incredulously.

“That’s what he does and it’s as big a part of his life as breathing. He enjoys it like some people enjoy playing cards or the guitar. He’s good at it, and he knows it.”

“If not for him we probably wouldn’t be here,” Mrs. Cunstable said as she eyed him straight. “Of course, if not for him we wouldn’t have been in the accident in the first place.”

“Probably, but as least you’ll have a story to tell your family when you get back home.”

“That may be, but I think I’d just as soon go home empty-handed.”

“I think I’d have to agree.” His eyes darted to the door with Phillips name and occupation painted on it. “So how did things go with your inheritance?”

“I was left the deed to a worthless mine that played out years ago, and Charlotte got a medal. Mr. Phillips said it was from the Mexican/American War. And Elijah had to borrow the money to pay his legal fee. He hadn’t worked a decent job in years and when he did work it was just to get enough money to drink on. Did you know that he didn’t even go by his rightful name? Everyone just knew him as Lije Burns.” She gave him a long hard look. “But then you did know that, didn’t you?”

“I suspected it. I know a lot of people in the mining business, but Elijah Mainwaring I’d never heard of. When Charlotte told me his middle name was Rathburn I put two and two together and came up with Lije Burns, but I decided not to say anything in case I was wrong.”

“And I thank you for that. All those letters he had written to us all those years telling about his great wealth and influence were nothing but lies and unfulfilled dreams. Elijah always did have trouble coping with failure. He was my brother, and I loved him but that doesn’t change the way he was. You are indeed a gentleman, Mr. Cartwright.”

“Well, that being the case, have you had your midmorning meal yet?”

“No, we were just on our way to the hotel for it.”

He got between them and held out his arms. “Then why don’t you let a gentlemen escort you, and since I haven’t had mine either I’ll just join you, my treat.”

“I think that’s a splendid idea, don’t you, Charlotte?”

“Yes, Mother, I do.”

They took his arms and the three of them sashayed across the street and headed for the International House. They had gone through a nightmare together, and they had much to talk about before the ladies headed back to Salem probably never to see him again. But for now, for today, they were three survivors just glad to be alive and in each other’s company.

THE END

RETURN TO LIBRARY