CHAPTER 6

Adam had taken the lead now and for some reason he seemed to keep having an overwhelming feeling about going in this one direction. He wasn't sure why he picked this direction, but something seemed to keep urging him forward. And so they continued on into the blinding snow even though they couldn't really see where they were going. The wind had picked up again and for the last hour had been whipping all around them as they pressed their horses forward, each lost in their own thoughts as they tried to battle the storm. Finally when Adam felt like they shouldn't go any further, the wind slowly started dying down until there was an unusual calmness in the air. Adam wiped at his eyes as he peered through the hazy surroundings and noticed something lying on the ground a few feet in front of him.

"Pa, look over there! Is that a body over by those rocks?"

Adam hurried over to the rocks as he literally dismounted Sport before he had even come to a complete stop.

"Pa, it's Joe!"

Adam quickly grabbed the lifeless body and hugged him to his chest. By now Hoss and Ben had ridden up along side Adam and as Ben dismounted, he quickly grabbed a blanket and took it to where Adam was holding Joe.

"Is he still alive, son?" Ben asked, as he wrapped the blanket around Joe's cold body while Adam checked for a pulse.

"He is alive, pa…but barely."

Both Adam and Hoss started rubbing Joe's arms and legs hoping to get some circulation back into them. Hoss had brought a blanket over also and had given it to Ben to put on Joe.

Ben started lightly patting Joe's face while softly talking to him as he rocked him back and forth in his arms.

"Joe, my son, come back to us. Papa is here now and everything will be all right. Come on, Joe, you can do it. Take a deep breath for me, boy."

Adam was rubbing Joe's legs as he added, "Yeah, come on little brother… use some of that grit that you have shown us so often and open up those eyes and come back to us."

Joe could hear voices in the distance but he couldn't make out what they were saying to him as he felt like he was waking from a deep sleep. Gradually the voices seemed to become louder and then he felt his body being shaken as he slowly opened his eyes to his father looking down at him.

"Pa, is that you?" His voice barely above a whisper as he tried to focus his eyes on his father's smiling face.

"Oh, son, you have come back to us! Yes, it's your pa, and I am mighty glad to see you, my wayward boy. We have been looking for you for two days now. I was starting to worry that I would never get to look at that mischievous grin of yours ever again."

Ben pulled Joe to his chest as he felt tears of joy well up in his tired eyes, all the while rocking him back and forth in his arms. Joe snuggled close, breathing in the familiar smell of his father's tobacco, knowing that being in his father's strong arms was just where he wanted to be.

Ben looked to the heavens as he gratefully whispered, "Thank you, Heavenly Father, for bringing my boy back to me."

Holding him close, Ben continued to rock Joe back and forth until he placed his hand on Joe's wind chapped cheek as he caressed it tenderly before moving a wayward curl off of his forehead. Joe looked up into his father's face as he smiled contentedly.

"You know, pa, I don't think I am ready to grow up just yet, and I've decided that I want to stay a boy for a just little while longer."

Ben looked down at his boy as a tear started to slide down his face and tenderly replied, "That is fine with me, son…mighty fine for sure."

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The fire was starting to blaze now as everyone sat around enjoying its warmth. Joe had three blankets wrapped around him and was sipping some hot coffee as he looked into the flames.

"Pa, I tell you there was a stallion! He is the reason I am alive. He let me get on his back and brought me to that group of rocks over there and then lay down in front of me to shield the wind. I was totally lost and he was the one who brought me to this spot. He just had to know you would find me here. I guess he wanted to help me cause I helped him."

Adam came over and put his arm around Joe's shoulder as he patiently explained, "Joe, we looked all around here for any signs of a horse and couldn't even find a single hoof print. You just must have imagined it when you became so cold, plus you got a pretty good knot on the back of your head. Did you fall and hit your head?"

Joe nodded as he muttered, "Yeah, I hit my head when Cochise got spooked and reared up and tossed me off."

Tears quickly welled up in Joes eyes as he stubbornly insisted, "I didn't imagine him! I worked for a whole day getting him free from the boulders. His leg was stuck between some of the small boulders over there and I kept talking to him until he would let me get close to him. Then when he realized I was not going to hurt him, he finally let me move the rocks holding his leg. I really hoped he would stay and let me gentle him so I could take him home. But after I freed him he watched me for a minute then headed out across the field, and I figured that was the last I would see of him."

Joe took a small sip of his coffee and a bite of the sandwich he was holding as he continued telling his story.

"So I went back to Cochise and we started heading for home. The storm was really starting to pick up then and I had my head down letting Cochise move at his own pace, when something startled him and he reared up and I fell off. The next thing I knew… Wind Runner was nudging me to wake up."

Hoss smiled as he asked, "Who is Wind Runner?"

"That is what I named the stallion while I worked on getting him free. I thought he needed a name and just figured by the way he looked, he probably could run as fast as the wind. He was the most magnificent looking horse I have ever seen. He had this noble bearing about him, Adam, just like the horses in those stories you have read to me about those kings and such. And then when I finally saw him run…he surely could run like the wind!"

"You saw him run?" Ben asked, as he sipped his coffee.

"Yeah, I sure did! After I got him free from the boulders he ran off, and that is when I saw how fast he could really run. He practically flew across the field, pa. It was a beautiful sight to see."

Joe stuffed some more of his sandwich into his mouth and started to speak again.

"Slow down, Joseph, the sandwich isn't going anywhere. Just chew the rest of it before you continue on with your story," Ben said, as he smiled at the enthusiasm of his young son.

Grinning that impish grin that only Joe could pull off, he quickly finished his sandwich and took a deep breath and started again.

"Then after I fell off of Cochise and woke up, Wind Runner was standing over me. So when I couldn't find Cochise, I started off looking for him. And the funny thing was that every time I would start walking, Wind Runner was right behind me. Finally I realized that I wasn't going to find Cochise and didn't know which way to go or what to do. That is when Wind Runner started pushing me. He just kept pushing me in the same direction over and over again. I wasn't sure which way to go anyway cause of the blowing snow, so figured I might as well give in and go where he pushed me."

Joe took another sip of his hot coffee as he watched his family listen intently to him tell his story.

"Then, pa, it was the craziest thing. Wind Runner got down on all fours so I could get on his back. I wasn't sure if I should at first, but he just kept nudging me to get on. I'm not really sure how far we went until I was so cold that I was shivering. That is when Wind Runner stopped by those rocks over there for me to get off. Then he lay down in front of me shielding the wind once more. I fell asleep and the next thing I knew… you were looking down at me, pa."

Joe looked around at his family as he anxiously asked, "You do believe me, don't you?"

Ben came over and put his arm around his son's shoulders and took his cup from him.

"What I believe now, son, is for you to get some much needed sleep. We will head out the first thing in the morning. The sooner we get you home, the better I will like it. Then Doc Martin can take a look at you and make sure everything is alright."

"Yeah, I guess I am kind of tired now. You know, pa, I was going to gentle him and then give him to you as a Christmas present."

Ben squeezed Joe's shoulder tightly as he said lovingly, "Having you back and safe with your family is the best Christmas present I could ever have, Joe. And don't you ever forget it!"

As Ben looked around at all of his sons his eyes misted as he added, "My sons are what bring me joy, and if I never got another Christmas present ever again, as long as I have you three boys in my life…I am blessed and life is good."

Joe smiled at his pa and laid down as Ben adjusted the blankets around him and was soon fast asleep.

"Pa, do you think there really was a stallion?" Hoss asked, as he watched his younger brother sleep.

"I don't know for sure, Hoss, but your little brother sure believes there was."

"Yeah, he sure does. But you know, pa, they have been talking about that mysterious stallion since I was a kid. Nobody has ever seen him. I just think it was one of those stories that gets passed around 'tween folks," Hoss said softly so as not to wake Joe, then he stirred the fire causing a warm glow to envelope the weary family as a few lone sparks quietly made their way into the darkness of the night.

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The next morning broke bright and clear with blue skies and sunshine. It was still cold enough that you could see the breath from the horses in the crisp air, but it was perfect weather for the long ride home. Ben was putting out the fire as Joe came over beside him and stood there hesitating to say what he wanted to say.

Ben looked up at Joe and asked, "Son, what is wrong? Do you need something or are you in pain?"

Joe started scraping his boot in the dirt as he gave a sidelong glance at his father before he asked him the question that had been playing on his mind since he woke up this morning. Finally he decided to just ask him what he wanted to know so he could quit fretting about it.

"Uh, pa…are you uh…gonna tan me for running away when we get home? I know I probably deserve it and I will understand if you want to."

Ben stood up and put his arm around his young son as he answered, "Well you did run away and didn't tell anyone where you were going. That is a mighty big offense and you sure gave your poor old pa here some more gray hair for all the worrying I did. Even your brothers were sick with worry…so I certainly should! But I haven't decided yet what your punishment will be, Joseph. I will have to give this a little more thought before I make my decision."

Smiling sheepishly Joe offered, "Well I understand, pa. But while you are thinking on it you might remember what an ordeal I have been through, and just maybe I have learned my lesson after all and a tanning won't really be necessary this time."

An amused smile tugged at the corners of Ben's mouth as he answered, "Come on you rascal, let's get you home."

Soon they broke camp and everyone was gladly heading for home. Joe was rather sad as he quietly rode along behind his family. He was very relieved they had found Cochise and that he was all right of course, but he felt for sure his family didn't believe his story about the stallion. He had to agree, it was quite the story. A wild horse, especially a stallion becoming so tame that he could ride him without ever being on him before was a pretty far fetched story. Even Joe was beginning to wonder if it really did happen, or if he had imagined the whole thing.

Later on in the morning they stopped to rest the horses and take a break. Hoss and Ben were off to the side talking about one of the new ranch hands that Ben had hired, so Adam took this opportunity to speak with Joe alone.

"How are you felling, Joe?" Adam asked, as he sat down beside his brother.

"I am doing all right now that I have warmed up and don't feel like an icicle anymore," Joe grinned.

"Yes, you were mighty lucky we found you when we did. We were all so worried about you, Joe. This is a mighty big area to get lost in and I hate to imagine if we hadn't found you in time."

Joe took a deep breath and slowly released it as he looked at his brother.

"I know Adam and I am so sorry I put you to all that trouble. I am so sorry I was so reckless and foolish. And all because I wanted to show how grown up I am."

Adam put his arm around Joe and drew him close.

"Ah, Joe, we all go through that stage of wanting to prove to the people around us that we are a lot older than they want to give us credit for. Hoss and I did the same thing when we were younger. Unfortunately you are the youngest and so no one wants to admit that maybe you are growing up."

"You and Hoss felt this way too? Did you do something as stupid as I did?"

"Oh we did a lot of reckless things…all boys do."

Grinning Joe asked, "Did ya get a tanning for some of those reckless things?"

Adam let out a soft chuckle, "Oh yeah, we got some pretty good tannings for some of the things we did."

"You did? Well, pa hasn't decided yet if he is going to warm my britches or not for me running away," Joe frowned, as he found the button on his coat rather interesting as he rubbed it between his fingers.

Then he flashed Adam a lop sided grin as he added, "I told him that I thought I had been punished enough with all that I had gone through. Do you think he will decide to let it go?"

Lightly tapping the front of Joe's hat so it went down over his eyes Adam smirked, "Well, I know what I would do if I was making that decision."

Lowering his head Joe muttered, "Yeah, I know what you would do."

"I would agree that you have learned your lesson from being out on your own in this storm, and now I think you realize that being a man is a lot more than always getting to do what you want to do. Taking responsiblily for your actions is a very important part of growing up too."

Slapping Joe lightly on the back Adam grinned as he said, "And I have been doing some thinking on that very subject and decided that maybe you can help with the new horses coming in."

Joe jumped up and grinned from ear to ear as he happily exclaimed, "You mean it, Adam?"

Putting up his hands in front of him Adam laughed.

"Now hold on there, Joe. I will let you help more and take more of a hands on with the horses, but you still are not ready to break them on your own just yet! Besides, we have to convince a certain father to let you help more, you know that."

"I know, and thanks for being such a great big brother," Joe grinned, as he pulled Adam into a hug.

Taking off Joe's hat Adam ruffled his hair as he quipped, "Ah, you're a pretty good little brother too."

An hour later as the family was riding towards home with Joe still bringing up the rear a few feet away from the rest of the family, something made Joe stop and turn his head towards the cliffs.

At first the sound was faint but then Joe heard it again. It was the sound of a horse whinnying in the distance. Joe looked over at a far off cliff and saw a lone horse standing there. He knew instantly it was Wind Runner. No other horse would stand so proud and regal as he surveyed his surroundings. Joe started to yell for his family to turn and look over at the cliff so they would see that he wasn't crazy and there really was a stallion.

But then he slowly grinned and shook his head, "No, my friend, this will just be between you and me. I don't care what my family thinks. I know I was there when you needed me—and you were there when I needed you. That is all I will need to take with me. Good bye, Wind Runner… thanks for being my friend. Maybe we will meet again someday."

And so Joe quietly watched his friend in the distance as a swirling mist suddenly appeared around the lone stallion, causing him to rear up on his hind legs with his mane and tail gracefully flying in the breeze as he pawed at the air. Soon the mist completely engulfed him and just as quickly it appeared, it disappeared taking the majestic stallion with it.

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Well, was the stallion real or something that Joe imagined from being cold and injured? Or was it a guardian angel sent at Christmas time to help a wayward boy find his way home to his loving family? I will let you, the reader decide as this story comes to an end.

I have really enjoyed writing this story about Joe and this beautiful stallion and would be delighted if you would take a few minutes and let me know if you enjoyed it too. May you have a peaceful and joyous holiday! ~ Sierra