"A Growing Up Time"
                            by Donna Hume

1 –

 The cold wind leached all the heat out of the air which the bright sun was showering upon the ranch. Lucas was walking out of the house, stretching then going back inside for his coat. The air smelled like snow and Lucas shivered as he walked to the barn. Once inside, he opened his jacket a little, just a little because it was still cold. He threw some corn to the chickens, mucked out the stalls and gave both Blueboy and Razor some fresh oats. He milked the cow and started looking around. Something wasn't right, but he couldn't fathom what was wrong.

Lucas walked back into the house, put the milk bucket down, than he called to Mark, "Hey, are you gonna' sleep all day!" Then he went back outside to get more firewood, when he re-entered the house he walked straight to the fireplace to stoke the fire. After he got it really blazing, he took off his coat and gloves and rubbed his hands together. He called again, "Mark, the work is all done this morning, you can get up now, the only thing left to do is make breakfast and eat it." No sound came from the bedroom; Lucas went over and stood silently in front of the door, listening, hesitant to enter. He opened the door and Mark was missing.

Now he started to look around, things were out of place. The chair on the far side of the table was tipped on its' side, lying on the floor. All his things seemed to be here, his hat was still here, he even left his rifle, there was a gnawing in his gut. Lucas opened the door and started shouting, "Mark, are you out here? Mark, where are you? Mark, answer me." The only answer he received was the wind lashing at him. What happened, where was his son, how could he have just disappeared?

2 -

Lucas didn't even bother to put on his coat, he ran to the barn yelling "Mark, you answer me son, do you hear me?" Still no response. Lucas was cold but he saddled up razor and took him out to the front door, He went inside and looked around again. When he grabbed his coat he realized that Marks' coat was still on the rack, as was his hat. Lucas put his coat and hat on, grabbed his rifle and extra shells, he left so quickly that he even left the door open as he jumped on Razor an rode off towards town.

There was a gamut of emotions running through his head, everything from fear, worry, anger, loss, and guilt. Why did he stay so long in the barn, he knew Mark never slept that late, why didn't he hear anything? This was not like when Mark ran away, he would not have been stupid enough to run away in this weather without his coat. There had been no harsh words between them, who would have taken him and why?

Lucas rode Razor hard, harder than he had ever pushed him before. It was his fault Mark was missing, he felt something was amiss when he was in the barn; he should have come in sooner. Mark was his only reason for having the ranch, for living. Too many thoughts, he needed answers.

By the time he got to town, Razor was in a real lather, Lucas didn't care. He rushed into the Marshals' office but Micah wasn't there. He needed help, now, he didn't have time to go searching for Micah so he did the first thing he could think of, he grabbed his rifle and shot three times into the air. Almost everybody in town came running out, they stood and looked at this man, their friend, but now he looked like some deranged person and they all stepped back.

Micah went over and asked, "Lucasboy, what is going on?" "Micah, I don't have time for civilities, Mark is missing!" "Lucas, he has run off before.." "Micah, I am telling you someone took him, he didn't run off, are you gonna' help me or just stand here wasting my time?" "Lucas, calm down. Tell me what happened while I saddle my horse. Nils can start gathering up some people to help but we need to know what you know!"

"Micah, I only know that he is gone. He was asleep when I went out to the barn. When I came back inside, a chair was turned over and Mark was not there. Micah, he didn't take his coat, hat, not even his rifle. You know if he had left on his own, he would have at least taken those things and he would have taken Blueboy. Micah, what am I gonna' do without that boy? He is my life. I have never been this scared!"

3 -

Lucas was pacing, why was everyone so slow? He went to get up on Razor, he was gonna' go find his son, he couldn't wait anymore, he wasted too much time just coming into town. Micah put a hand on Lucas' shoulder "Lucasboy, calm down a minute" "Calm down, calm down, my boy is out there somewhere, probably freezing, if, if... and no one is doing anything."

"Lucas, you can't ride Razor like that, you will kill him and that won't help you find Mark. Everyone is willing to help find him, give them a chance to get their horses and they'll be here. Come on, let's get you another horse ready to ride."

Lucas took his foot out of the stirrup. Micah had never seen him with tears in his eyes before. He could only imagine the pain. Nils returned to the barn, said there were about 20 men getting ready and would meet them here at the barn. "Lucas, you want me to saddle up that stallion over there for ya? He's only green broke but he's a good horse." said Nils as he was taking the saddle off of Razor. Lucas didn't even realize what Nils was doing, he couldn't seem to focus, once he realized what was happening he said "Thanks Nils, I just don't know what I'm doing, all's I know is I need to find my boy!"

Lucas was just standing against the barn door, head down with his hand over his eyes. He knew he had to be strong but it was hard, he felt so guilty. Why hadn't he checked on Mark sooner, why? Once Nils had the stallion saddled, he brought him over to Lucas, Lucas looked up, wiped his nose on his gloves, grabbed the reins and jumped up on the stallion. After a moment, he looked down "Thanks Nils". "Lucas, I can go stay at the ranch if you want, you know, in case Mark comes back." "That would be fine Nils." Lucas knew Mark wouldn't be coming back on his own, he just couldn't say it aloud. As Lucas turned the stallion to head back to the ranch, he saw his neighbors there and ready to help find Mark." Too choked up to say anything, fearing his voice would break, he just nodded his head and headed for the ranch. There was a cloud of dust as they all rode off to the ranch.

Micah forced Lucas to ride a little slower, returning to the ranch. They need the horses to still be able to run, not to have them already run out. When they got to the ranch, Lucas jumped off the stallion and ran into the house, it was then he remembered he had not closed the door. "Mark, Mark, are you here?" he shouted as he ran through the house. Silence was his answer. John Hamilton came into the house, told Lucas that Mark was not in the barn or the shed. Lucas just pushed past him, he needed to see for himself.

Now, knowing Mark was not there, he started looking for tracks. If someone came in and took Mark, there had to be signs, tracks. So many horses here now, where does he start looking. Finally, off to the side of the house, he saw foot prints, two sets of men's boots and it looked like they were dragging someone along, someone who was fighting, someone with the same size boots as Marks'.

4 -

 Meanwhile, from the time Lucas left to go into town for help, two men struggled with a gagged Mark, he was kicking and twisting, trying to get out of their grasp.  It was useless; they were both big men with big hands and held him tightly in their grips.  Once they were out of hearing distance, they wrestled him down to the ground, Marked kicked again, striking the bigger man in the groin; this angered Joe and he kicked Mark in the gut.  Mark groaned and this seemed to entice Joe to be more vindictive, he pulled Mark up off the ground and started punching him in the face.  Before Bob could convince Joe to stop, Marks’ face was bruised and bloody, his left eye was already so swollen it was obvious he would not be seeing out of it for days.  Joe hit him one more time, for good measure, he said, and Mark lay on the ground unconscious.

Bob pulled Joe away “Great Joe, how are we gonna’ get him on that horse now, you know we can’t wait around, McCain will be on our trail with blood in his eyes.”  Joe glared at Bob, “If he can’t ride sittin’ up, he can ride draped over the saddle, just tie him on, after all, if this is gonna’ work, we gotta' keep him alive.”  “Maybe you shoulda thought of that before you started beatin’ on him.”  “Hey, all we gotta’ do is keep him alive, nobody said nothin’ about keepin’ him hale and hearty.”

Bob and Joe threw Mark over the saddle and threw a light blanket over him before they tied him down.  Bob said, “Maybe we oughta put another blanket over him, it is mighty cold.”  “Bob, I don’t care if the kid gets frostbite, I want him to suffer, I want McCain to know there is nothin’ he can do for this brat.  I want him to know what we have done and how much more we can do.  I want him hurt, hurt real bad, before we start on him.  Maybe he can even watch this wimp die, crying.  Won’t that be a sight to behold?”  “Joe, this ain’t exactly what I signed on for.”  “Well then, maybe you can stay here and tell McCain how sorry you are.”  With that, Joe pulls his gun and kills Bob.  “This is gonna’ be better that I had hoped, when McCain sees I am capable of killin’ my partner, it’s gonna’ drive him crazy, he’s gonna’ become reckless.  Oh yeah, this gets better by the minute.”

5 –

Mark wavered in and out of consciousness; grateful to know he was still alive, grateful when the pain finally brought him back to an unconscious state.  Now, it was dark, and finally, thankfully, he was lying on a bedroll.  The pain was still intense but al least it was not aggravated by the bouncing on the saddle or the saddle horn.  His throat was dry and his stomach ached from the beating and the lack of food.  Joe noticed him, awake.  “So kid, ain’t the man your Pa is are ya?”  “What do you want?” Mark managed to speak in his scratchy voice.  “Can I have some water, please?”  “You want water, huh kid?”  With that, Joe threw a canteen at Mark.  “Your Pa sure taught you some good manners, too bad he didn’t teach you how to fight.”  “I can fight, alright, but it was two against one, I didn’t have much of a chance.”  Joe glared at Mark; “You think you can take me, huh kid?  I don’t think so, you can’t even stand.  We’ll see what you’ve got when we get where we’re headed.”  Joe threw some food at Mark, gave him a chance to eat and then tied him to a tree.  Mark asked for another blanket, it was mighty cold, Joe just laughed at him and covered himself with the extra bedroll that was Bobs’.

As cold as it was, Mark drifted into sleep.  Morning brought the sun but very little warmth.  Joe walked over to Mark and kicked him in the leg, “Hey kid, you feel like doin’ a little ridin’ today, or do you want to be slung over the saddle again?”  Mark opened his eyes, still groggy from the lack of sleep and the reality of pain.  Joe was impatient, he kicked Mark again, “Hey kid, I’m talkin’ to you!”  “Yea, I can ride.  Where are we goin’ and what do you want with me?”  “We’re goin’ to meet some friends of mine, and you, you’re just the bait.”  With that he put out the campfire,  hoisted Mark up on the horse, tossed him the bedroll and off they went.”

6 –

Mark had a hard time sitting in the saddle, everything hurt.  His sides ached from being kicked and his face and head hurt from the beating he took from Joe, but he knew if said anything, Joe would just sling him over the saddle again.  He forced himself to sit erect and look past the pain.  He could barely see from one eye and everything was blurred out of the other but he maintained his balance.  He had to think, think of what was going on, how he could escape.  Who were the rest of Joes’ friends and what did they want with his Pa?  He never met Joe before, why was Joe so angry with him?

 Back at the ranch, Lucas was ready to get up on the horses and start chasing after whoever took Mark.  “Lucasboy, it’s getting dark, you can’t follow those tracks sitting up on that horse.”  “Micah, what do you want me to do, wait till morning?  Look at the weather, there is a storm coming, the tracks will be gone soon.”  “I’m not saying we should wait until morning, I’m just suggesting we walk the horses, let them recover from the ride here, and you can track at the same time.  We’re ready to walk all night, if that’s what it takes.”  “I know you’re right Micah, we’ll take it slow, for now.”

Lucas followed the trail, watching carefully for any and every sign.  Then he saw something that enraged him.  “Micah, look over here, there was a struggle.  That’s blood.  What did they do to him?”  Lucas started up on the stallion, John stopped him “Lucas, you still have to follow the tracks, you can’t just go riding blindly. I know you want to find him.”  “You don’t know anything, it’s not your son who’s missing, it’s not your son who they beat, get out of my way.”  Lucas pushed past John and Micah, trying to mount the stallion but he was skittish and Lucas couldn’t get a foothold in the stirrup.  Micah grabbed him “You’re right, none of us know how you hurt but we are here to help even if that means tying you down until you calm down and start thinkin’ straight.”  Lucas was ready to strike at anyone but he knew he couldn’t take down 20 men.  His rifle was on the stallion, even if it had been in his hands, he would not have been able to shoot any of them.  “OK, we’ll walk the horses while I track but as soon as there is a trail I can follow from the saddle, I will be riding, with or without any of you.”

7 –

Sweeney was stumbling around; this really wasn’t something he was used to doing.  He kept tripping over branches, never quite falling, until he came upon something bigger.  He reached out to see what he tripped over and found a body.  “Oh my God”.  “What?” yelled Lucas.  “I think I found a body.”  “Mark, Mark” Lucas was shouting as he ran towards Sweeney, he bent down and felt a coldness that only comes with death.  He stumbled backwards, afraid to know but more afraid not to know.  He reached out again, this time looking harder, it was not Mark.  He looked around at the signs indicating the struggle.  There had only been two men, this had to be one of them.  Tears filled his eyes, grateful the body was not Mark but knowing that if one man could do this to his partner, there was no telling what he could do to Mark.

Sweeney said, “Lucas, I’m just holding you back, I’m no good at this.”  Lucas stared him down, “You tellin’ me you ain’t wantin’ to help me find my boy?”  “No, no Lucas, I’m just sayin’ that I am holdin’ you back.  From this point on, mark your trail, I’ll go back to the ranch and see if Mark is back yet.  If he is, I’ll send Nils back to get ya.”  “Sweeney, you see this?  Mark ain’t back at the ranch and you know it, some madman has my boy.  Are you gonna’ help or not?”  John stepped between Sweeney and Lucas “Lucas, you know better than that, every man here is willing to stay as long as it takes to find Mark.  Sweeney isn’t used to this kind of tracking, he will slow us down and you know that as well as I do.  Let him go back to the ranch, if we mark the trail for Nils, he can follow us with more supplies while we keep looking.  It takes a brave man to admit when he is in over his head.  Sweeney is thinking of what is best for you and finding Mark.”  They did need more supplies; they really hadn’t brought much of anything, who knew they were going to be out so long?  Lucas just nodded his head, Sweeney got up on his horse and headed back to the ranch. Lucas hung his head and walked on, following the trail. 

Marks’ face felt funny, not just because of the swelling and bruising, something was really different.  He reached up to his face and found the dried blood.  It was around his mouth and nose, even a little next to his swollen eye.  He tried to determine if it was just dried blood or actual wounds, he would have to wait until they stopped again, if they did, and what was Joe gonna’ do to him then.  It started raining, more sleet than rain.  Mark tried to wrap the bedroll around him a bit more, Joe just laughed at him.  Joe said, “It’s time to stop for the night kid, you ready to take me on yet?”  “I’ll take you on, if you think that will make you a big man.” With that, Joe got off his horse and pulled Mark off his and beat him some more.  Once Mark fell on the ground, Joe just kept kicking him until sometime after Mark lost consciousness. 

8 –

Lucas and the rest of the men kept following the trail.  Lucas never slept; he just kept walking, following the trail.  Some of the other men rode their horses, dozing as they could.  They all wanted to find Mark, find him safe, but they did not have the same tenacity as Lucas.  Once it was daylight, he followed the trail from atop the stallion.  Micah had to force him to stop, at least long enough for some coffee and food; nobody would last if he didn’t give them some type of a break, not even him.  Lucas consented, grudgingly, but only stopped long enough to drink some coffee and eat a bite of food, then he was back on the stallion.  By nightfall, he believed they were gaining ground, that was when it started raining.  He was beginning to lose his resolve.  How could he follow a trail if it was washed out?  John said, “Lucas, I know you want to go on, but you have to get some rest, so do we.”  “You sleep if you want, I’m goin’ on.”  Micah grabbed him again, “Lucas, you can hardly stand on your feet now, what good are you gonna’ do Mark if you fall on your face?”  Again Lucas agreed, he lay down until everyone was asleep, then he saddled the stallion and started off on his own.  He knew he had to follow the trail while there was still a trail to follow.  The rain was so cold, it really wasn’t washing out the trail, it was hard to follow but follow it he did.  Around midnight, the others awoke, they all saddled up, they needed to catch up to Lucas.  Sam, a U.S. Marshal who also happened to be a full blooded Indian, was in a nearby town and had heard about Mark missing so went out to join the posse.  He found Lucas, wavering in his step while tracking Mark and the man who took him.  Lucas was so tired; it didn’t take much to knock him off his feet.   Once down, Lucas was so sleep deprived that he couldn’t get up though he kept trying, eventually he was fast asleep.  He started to wake just as the rest of the posse joined up.  Sam told Lucas to stay on his horse, doze if he could, Sam could track just as good as Lucas, “Let me take the lead for a while, I’ll ask for help if I need it, meanwhile you can get some of your strength back.”  Lucas knew Sam was a good tracker, maybe better than himself but Sam didn’t have the same investment in this search as he did, still, as hard as he pushed himself he found little strength to resist. 

The morning brought bright sunlight, this time it even brought warmth.  Mark was cold but could barely move from the beating that Joe gave him.  He forced himself to stand steadfastly against Joe.  “So kid, you got some stamina after all.  Your old man will be proud of you, if you’re still alive when he finds you.”  “What did my Pa ever do to you?  Why do you take such joy in hurting me?” said Mark with all the strength he could muster.  “You are part of your Pa, that’s all you need to know, now get on that horse or I’ll through you over the saddle.”  As Mark tried to get up in the saddle, Joe started towards him, Mark knew he had to get up or Joe would lay him across the saddle and he didn’t think he could survive the bouncing on his ribs.  With every inch of strength he could muster, he hoisted himself up into the saddle, at the dismay of Joe.

Lucas and the rest of the posse were back on the move.  Sam had convinced Lucas they needed to rest, at least a couple of hours.  Both Sam and Lucas knew they were getting closer.  Lucas was getting edgy, again he got that feeling in his gut, something ominous was gnawing at him.

Around noon they came upon the spot where Mark had been held captive for the night.  More signs of a struggle, more blood, Lucas could only see red.  He was starting to ride off when Sam yelled to him, “Lucas, your boy” he didn’t get a chance to say anymore before Lucas was next to him and off the stallion, looking on the ground.  “Lucas, he’s not here, but he is leaving a trail of his own.  He must know you would be looking and with the weather as it is, well, he’s a smart boy.”  Lucas looked around a little more carefully now, he had been in such a hurry to go off and find Mark that he didn’t pay attention.  “I guess I’m just not thinkin’ clear.”  “Lucasboy, how could you be thinkin’ clear?  You ain’t hardly rested or ate.”  John said, “Lucas, we are gaining on them, just try to stay focused a little longer.”  Again Lucas just glared, he knew everyone was there to help but he felt so useless, so guilty.  He was supposed to protect Mark, what kind of a father was he?  Micah knew what he was thinking, “Lucasboy, you know I couldn’t love that boy more if he were my own grandson.  You did everything you could do, you taught him everything you could.”  “Yea, well apparently I didn’t teach him how not to get beat.”  “Seems to me you’ve been beaten a time or two, you lived through it, so will Mark, he’s of the same stock.”  “I was a man before anyone started in on me, Mark is still a boy.  He takes more after his mother, gentle like.  I never really taught him how to fight, to protect himself; I always thought I would be there to protect him.  Then I go off and let somebody, some animal, do this to him.”  “You didn’t let anybody do this to him, they took him.”  “I was supposed to be there and I wasn’t.”

Mark was in some major pain; he never felt anything like this in his life.  While he was riding, and marking the trail, he realized how much his Pa had protected him from all this and he never loved him more.  He wasn’t gonna’ give Joe any reason to beat him anymore.  He decided what his Pa said about a time to fight and a time to walk away applied in this situation.  He may not be able to walk away, but he didn’t have to antagonize Joe either.  He may have thought he was being a man when he tried to face up to Joe but he now realized that there was more to being a man than fighting, you had to use your head for something other than a punching bag.  He was making sure he broke branches, making sure the horse stepped heavy every now and then, along with every other trick his Pa had taught him when tracking.

9 –

Harry Chase was pacing in the shed, waiting for Joe, Bob, and Mark.  It wasn’t a great place to stay, the roof leaked but from the looks of the outside, it was better than anyone else was experiencing.  Harry began to question whether he did the right thing, having Joe and Bob kidnap Mark.  He wanted Lucas to feel the loss he felt when Lucas let Millie know about him.  She came to see him after he left town, just to slap him in the face.  Harry loved Millie, probably the first time he ever really felt anything and she wanted no part of him.  He lied to her about her brother, now she told him she never wanted to see him again.  Yes, Lucas needed to feel that kind of loss but not by taking Mark.  Harry knew that Lucas would try to kill him, just for taking Mark.  There wasn’t much he could do about it now.  Maybe he could just send Mark back home and he could run.  Maybe Lucas would just be grateful to have Mark back and take him back home.  “Yea, and horses will fly too!”

10 –

Lucas was paying attention to all the tracks Mark was leaving for him, like a trail of breadcrumbs.  His breadcrumbs were easier to follow than the horse tracks, no one needed to be walking, they could follow what Mark did right from their saddles.

It was mid-afternoon when Nils arrived with supplies.  He had a couple of horses; Razor was one of them, loaded down.  Sam forced Lucas to stop and eat something.  Nils had brought beans, cornmeal, some bacon, coffee, and a lot more water.  Lucas thanked Nils but really didn’t want to wait, they were so close.  “Lucas, do you want to be able to help Mark when we find him or do you want him to have to watch you die before they kill him?”  “What makes you think they didn’t kill him already?”  “I don’t, but if he isn’t, you won’t be doing him any good by getting yourself killed.”  “Without Mark, I don’t care if I get killed,” said Lucas as he pulled out of Sam’s grip.  Micah looked directly into his eyes and said, “Lucasboy, you may not care if you are dead or not, but there a lot of good people here that don’t want to see that happen.  You wanted our help to find Mark, now accept our help!”  With his eyes cast downward, glazing over with tears, he sat down to have some coffee and beans, he actually felt a little better, physically.   He was ready to push on and everyone knew it.  Nils had already put the saddle on Razor for Lucas and took the stallion for himself.  As they all finished saddling up, Lucas was already on his way, following a well-laid trail.

Harry heard some horses coming in, kind of slow; it had to be Bob, Joe, and Mark.  He knew if it was Lucas, those horses would be riding fast, riding to find him.

11 –

Harry came out of the shed, he saw two riders coming closer.  Had they already decided to let Mark go?  That would probably be for the best.  He never should have come up with this stupid plan.

 As the riders came closer, he noticed one was of slight build, that had to be Mark.  Why was he riding so stiffly, he was a good rider?  Were was the other man?  Maybe he could still send Mark back without Mark ever knowing who had him kidnapped.

Mark and Joe rode right up to the door of the shed.  Harry didn’t notice how bad Mark looked, he asked Joe, “Where is Bob?”  “I killed him.”  “Why?”  “Cause he didn’t like the way I played.”  With that, Joe nodded his head towards Mark.  Harry looked over at Mark; he couldn’t do anything but stare in disbelief.  Joe said, “So you like my handiwork then?  Bob didn’t have the stomach for it, now Bob doesn’t have a stomach.”  Joe was laughing like a crazy man.  Harry stepped back, having serious fears about Joe.

12 –

 “I just told you to grab the boy, I never said to hurt him, especially not like that.”  “Yea, well you had your agenda and I had mine.  I got the boy here and we both hurt McCain.”  Harry started to help Mark off the horse.  Joe told him to step back, he killed Bob, it wouldn’t bother him any to kill Harry too.  “I’m gonna’ help this boy, my God, he looks half dead.”  “He will be in a minute.”  Harry ignored Joe and helped Mark out of the saddle and said, “You’ve done enough already.”   Harry laid Mark gently on the ground, covered him with a blanket and started to tend to his wounds.  Joe was mad, real mad; he shot Harry in the back.  That’s when Lucas and the posse showed up, Harry was laying over Mark, still alive but less so than Mark.

Before he could get close enough to do anything, Lucas shouted, “What the hell are you doing?”  Joe shouted back, “I’m teachin’ you a lesson.  I’m showin’ you what I had to endure in prison.”  His voice was dripping in cynicism.  “I’m showin’ you what 15 years in prison, 15 years, does to a man.  The beat us every day, some days, when we couldn’t get up no more; they would throw us in the hole.  Your kid, just about the age I was when you sent me there.  “Me?  I never sent you anywhere.”   “It was you, you told the sheriff that I was the one who robbed the stagecoach, that I was the one who shot that old lady; and for that they sent me to prison.  Your kid only got half of what I got my first week there.”  “I didn’t send you to prison, you sent yourself by doing what you did.”  “I was just a kid.”  “So to get back at me you hurt my son?”  “I’d have killed him, if you hadn’t got here when you did.”  “I’m gonna’ kill you.”  And with that, Lucas rushed at Joe, no one dared stop him and after looking at Mark, no one wanted to stop him.”

13 -

Lucas was still sleep and food deprived but no one even noticed him get off the horse or strike at Joe, they only saw what happened next.  John was going to shoot Joe but Sam told him to wait.  Lucas had to extinguish some of that rage before he could take care of his son, besides, John might miss with the way they were wrestling.  Micah and Nils ran over to Mark.  Micah pushed Harry off of Mark; he didn’t even try to find out if Harry was dead or alive.  Mark looked real bad; if they didn’t know it was him they would not have been able to recognize him.  Micah had a whiskey bottle, he knew Lucas wouldn’t approve but he gave some to Mark anyway.  Mark had to be in such pain, Micah believed he needed something to help him survive these injuries.  Nils took the whiskey away from Micah and started to use it to clean up Marks’ wounds.  That eye looked bad.  They needed to get him back to North Fork, to a doctor, and soon.

Lucas and Joe were hitting each other, Joe was stronger, he hadn’t been worrying himself sick over that brat of McCain’s.  Every time he hit Lucas, he laughed like someone fresh out of an insane asylum.  Joe may have been stronger, but Lucas had more resolve.  Lucas didn’t know Mark was still alive; all he could think was that this animal killed his son.  They kept hitting each other, over and over.  Every time Lucas was knocked to the ground, it took him a little longer to get up.  Joe wasn’t waiting for him to get on his feet any more; he was hitting Lucas with everything he had.  Once Lucas was down, he couldn’t get up any more, Joe pulled his gun.  Just then, Harry pulled his gun from his holster and killed Joe.  Lucas heard him say, “I never meant for this to happen,” then he died.

Sam and John went over to help Lucas up, to bring him to his son.  Lucas tried to fight them off; he didn’t want to see his son, he had seen too many of his loved ones dead, he didn’t want to see Mark that way too.  “Lucas, Mark is alive, he needs you now more than ever.”  Lucas dropped to his knees next to Mark, took him up in his arms and wept, “Son, I am so sorry, so sorry, so sorry!” as he rocked Mark in his arms.  “Pa, what are you sorry for?”  “Mark, I should have been there to protect you.  This should never have had to happen to you.  I’m so sorry!’  “Pa, you don’t need to be sorry, you found me.”

Nils found a wagon and hitched the two packhorses to it.  He found some hay and put it in the back, making a softer pallet.  He brought it around to Mark and Lucas.  They lay a bedroll over the hay and then helped Lucas get Mark up into the wagon.  It would have been easier if Lucas had let them do it themselves but there was no way Lucas was gonna’ let go of Mark.  Lucas covered Mark with a few more bedrolls and they headed back to town.  Lucas had thought it was a long journey to find Mark, this journey back seemed longer as he watched Mark slip in and out of consciousness.

14 - 

 Mark lay unconscious in the doc’s office; Doc Burrage had given him a good dose of Laudanum.  Lucas asked, “Doc, is he gonna’ be OK?”  “He’ll live but it will take some time for him to get over this trauma.  He’ll probably get over the physical problems before he overcomes it emotionally.”  “What about his eye?”  “I don’t know Lucas, it is so swollen, I can’t get in there to see anything.  Send somebody over to get that eye doctor.”  Lucas turned away for a moment to call for someone to get the eye doctor, that was when Doc Burrage lanced the swelling over Marks’ eye.  Lucas grabbed him by the collar, “What, he hasn’t been hurt enough, you have to hurt him more?”  “Lucas, I had to do that.”  “What do you mean, you had to do it?”  “I had to get some of that pressure off of his eye or he would go blind for sure.”  Lucas stepped back, blinded, how would Mark feel knowing that his father was at fault for his blindness? 

The eye doctor arrived.  He was looking into Marks’ right eye, looking for any damage to it; it was slightly injured but would definitely be OK.  Then he started to look into the left eye.  It was hard because the eye socket was so swollen.  Mark started to groan and Lucas grabbed the back of the eye doctors’ shirt.  “Mr. McCain, I realize you are concerned for your son but please do not accost me, especially when I am examining his eye.  Do you want me to make it worse than it is?”  Lucas glared at him, “I would never do anything to hurt my son.”  “Then please leave me to examine him.”  Lucas thought to himself, I’ve already done enough.

The eye doctor said, “There seems to be a break in the eye socket itself.  I put it back into place but we will have to wait until the swelling goes down more before we can see if there is any permanent damage.  What happened to this boy?”  Doc Burrage pulled him away before Lucas could say anything.  “Lucas, you just stay with Mark, I need to consult with this eye doctor.”  Before he could leave the room, Mark woke up and started groaning loudly from the pain, Doc Burrage gave him some more Laudanum. 

Lucas never left Marks’ side, he read different passages from the Bible to Mark; sometimes he thought maybe he was reading them more to himself.  Micah came by to sit with Lucas and Mark as often as he could.  Lucas didn’t want anyone else to see him or Mark this way.  Lucas said, “I remember what you said about Mark being like your grandson, thanks.”  “No need to thank me, I’m the one who needs to be thankin’ you.  I wouldn’t have this way of thinking if it weren’t for the way you and Mark make me feel like I’m part of the family.”  “Just the same, I remember.”  Micah just nodded and held Marks’ hand.  Meals were sent over for Lucas and Doc Burrage had an extra cot for Lucas so he could get some sleep too.  “Lucas, I don’t need to have two patients, you just lay down there and get some sleep,” with that, he set the cot right next to Marks’.  He knew the only way Lucas would sleep was if he had at least one hand on Mark.  “I don’t need any sleep!”  “And I say you do, now do as I say before I give you some Laudanum too.”  With that, Lucas lay on the cot next to Mark, his left hand over his sons’ body and his right hand on his rifle.  He tried to go to sleep but he just kept running it through his head; big man, big hero, The Rifleman; what good did that do him now, what good did it do for Mark?

15 –

Lucas finally fell asleep; he slept just a little over a day.  When he woke, his arm was still across Mark but Micah had taken the rifle out of his other hand and lay in next to him on the cot.  Micah was there when Lucas woke, “Where is my rifle?”  “It’s right there next to you Lucas.  We didn’t need you dreamin’ of all this and accidentally end up shootin’ somebody.”  “And what was I supposed to do if somebody came after him again?”  “Nobody was gonna’ come after him again.”  “And just how do you know that?  We didn’t think anyone was gonna’ come after him the first time.”  “Lucasboy, there was no one else involved, but I figured you would be upset so I have had round the clock deputies standing outside Docs’ office, front and back.”  “Thanks Micah, I just can’t stop thinking how I let him down, I’m not gonna’ let that ever happen again.”  Micah knew Lucas would have to let Mark live his own life, without his Pa wrappin’ him up in some kind of cocoon to protect him; but he didn’t say anything then, Lucas would only get more riled.

The eye doctor came back to take a look at Marks’ eyes.  His right eye was fine, nothing wrong with it at all.  The left eye was a different story.  The eye socket was healing but there looked to be some problems with the eye.  Might have been cause it was swollen so badly for so long.  “Doc, it’s a good thing you cut that eye when you did, I’m sure he would have been blind permanent if it had gone unchecked much longer.”  Lucas just stood, looking at both doctors and his son, waiting for someone to tell him if Mark was gonna see out of that eye.  He couldn’t wait any longer, “Well, what’s the prognosis?”  “Mr. McCain, it is still difficult to say just how much damage was done, there is still a lot of swelling.”  “So, you went to Medical School so you could tell me you don’t know?”  “No, I am telling you I can not give you any real answers at this time.”  Lucas wanted to strike out at him, he knew it wasn’t the doctors’ fault but this was his son and he needed some answers.  Did he want to know how Mark would be because he loved him so or because he felt so guilty?  Micah had just come in when both doctors’ were finishing up, he saw the look on Lucas’ face, “I know that look, you are worried for Mark and you have no reason to feel guilty.  I don’t want to fight over this; there has been too much fightin’ already.  Why don’t you sit down there next to Mark and read somethin’ outa’ that Bible there?”  Lucas sat down and put his hand over Marks’ heart and started reading from the Bible, Micah sat and listened.  When Lucas was through reading, he and Lucas started talking over what it meant and how it applied to this situation.  Lucas finally started to feel some relief from his guilt, but only slightly.

After about two weeks, Doc Burrage finally told Lucas he could take Mark home.  Doc said he would be out everyday to check on Mark and with that he handed Lucas about 4 packets of Laudanum with directions as to how and when to give it to Mark.  He made sure Lucas understood, using too much was dangerous.  He could have let Mark leave sooner but he wanted to make sure Lucas was just a tad more in control of himself.  Doc knew that if Lucas hovered over Mark too much, it would be more harmful to both of them.

It was about another 3 weeks of Doc coming out everyday, he told Lucas to bring Mark into town for the eye doctor to check his eye.  “Did you find something wrong?”  “No, but then I don’t know all there is to know about eyes.  I just want him to confirm that everything is OK.”  “Doc, is he OK to ride the horse or should I bring him in on the wagon?”  “Lucas, stop babying that boy, he is doing fine, at this point I am more worried about you.”  “Me, why me?”  “Because you’re holding onto him so tight, he’s not gonna’ be able to breathe.  You’re treating him like he’s 6, he’s 16.  Let him grow up, trust him to come to you if he is having trouble readjusting from this trauma.”  Lucas knew Doc was right but he almost lost his son, he couldn’t let that happen again.  Something was different between Mark and him, Lucas believed that Mark blamed him for everything that happened.

16 –

Mark was afraid every time Lucas walked out the door.  Yeah, he had his strength back and he could see pretty good; heck, he didn’t even hurt anymore.  The way Lucas was always around, Mark began to think that his Pa thought Mark could have handled things better, he felt like he let his Pa down.

 When they were in town, Micah met them at the Docs’ office, he wanted to be there for Mark and Lucas.  He wanted them both to know that he really cared about both of them, like they were his family.  The Doc told Mark his eye had healed right nicely, he shouldn’t have any problems, maybe need some glasses when he got older but everything was good now.  The beatings had not injured the optic nerve as he had suspected, he finally told them what he had been worried about.  “Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”  “Why, so you could worry more?  He is fine and you can thank the Lord for that.”  “We have been, we have been.”  Micah looked over at them both and said, “Well, how about dinner on me, you know, to celebrate?”  Mark wanted to know if he could have the big steak and some apple pie.  “What’s the matter son, don’t you like my cookin’?”  “It ain’ t that exactly Pa.”  “That’s OK son, I’m a little tired of it myself.”  All three started to laugh, it was the first time any of them had laughed since this whole ordeal started.  It felt good, like some of the pain was going away.  Mark said, “We have to do this more often.”  Micah said, “What, laugh or have me buy dinner?”  They all laughed again.

 17 -

 After they had dinner, Micah rode back to the ranch with Lucas and Mark.  They took the horses to the barn and Micah offered to help Mark with unsaddling his horse, Mark said thanks but he was feeling pretty good now and it felt good to be able to do this.  Lucas said, “Well, if it feels so good, you wanna’ unsaddle Razor too?”  “It doesn’t feel that good.”  After the horses were taken care of, Micah and Lucas stayed in the barn to talk, Mark didn’t seem to want to leave.  “Mark, why don’t you go into the house son, we’ll be right along?”  “No sir, I think I’d rather stay with you.”  At that, the three of them went into the house and Mark headed straight for the bedroom.

“Lucas, you and Mark need to talk, anyone around you can feel the tension between you.  Have either of you really talked about this whole thing?”  “No, Micah, we haven’t.  What am I supposed to say, sorry son, I wasn’t there for you?  Sorry Mark, I let someone beat you half to death?”  “No, but you do need to let him know what is running around in that head of yours and he needs to tell you how he feels.  You are both holding back and it is causing a rift between you.  Both of you believe you let the other one down.”  “I did let him down.”  “No you didn’t, but you are letting him down now.”  “What are you sayin’?”  “I’m sayin’ that by not talking to each other about this, you are both hurting and blaming yourselves instead of the men who did it.”  Lucas looked at Micah, just staring, not knowing what to say.

Lucas and Micah were talking and not really paying attention to the time when about an hour later, Mark came out of the bedroom.  “Mark, what have you been doing in there all this time?” asked Micah.  “Nothing, not really.”  “Mark, is there something you want to say to me?” asked Lucas.  Micah kept silent, this is the conversation he had told Lucas he needed to have with Mark.  “No Pa, not really.”  “You know Mark, we have always been able to work through things because we told each other what was going on, we were truthful with each other.”  “I know Pa, there isn’t anything I have to say.”  Lucas just cast his eyes downward; he believed Mark just couldn’t find a way to say that Lucas let him down.  “OK, I can’t just sit by and watch you two destroy yourselves.  Both of you are either too stubborn or too stupid to lay it out there so I will.”  “Micah, you stay out of this.”  Mark looked at both of them, did they know how he felt?  “Lucas, I will not stay out of this.  You told me on many occasions that I gave sound advice, well now you both are gonna’ listen to what I have to say.”  “Micah, now is not the time.”  Mark looked up with tears streaming down his face, “I’m sorry Pa.  I should have been stronger.  I never should have let them take me away. If only…”  “Mark, what are you talking about, this was not your fault.  I’m your father, I was supposed to be there for you, I let this happen to you.”  “No Pa, I should have been able to do something…”  This back and forth of taking blame continued until Micah couldn’t stand it anymore.  “Will both of you quit trying to take the credit for hurting each other?”  “Micah, what do you mean, taking credit, neither one of us is trying to take credit for anything.”  “Yes you are.  Lucas, you keep blaming yourself because someone came in and took Mark.  You blame yourself that you didn’t force him to fight.  You blame yourself because you didn’t get to him fast enough.”  “Micah, that’s right, I do blame myself, who else is to blame?”  Mark looked at Lucas and said, “Me Pa, that’s who you should blame.”  “Mark, you didn’t do anything.”  “That’s right Pa, I didn’t do anything.  I let those men come in here and take me away.  I let them beat on me.  I didn’t get away.  I put you through all of this because I’m not man enough to take care of myself.”

18 – 

“Mark, what are you talking about?  Two men came and did this to you, while I was here.  If I had been paying attention, this never would have happened.”  “That’s only partly true Pa, I’ve seen you take on more than two men and you never let them do this to you.”  By now, Mark and Lucas were yelling their hurt at each other, each still claiming the blame for themselves.  Again, Micah interrupted, “Enough!”  Lucas and Mark looked at him.  “Why don’t you two stop for a minute and see how much you both hurt?  Look at you, standing across the room from each other, shouting at each other.  This is the time that you should be coming together, for each other; this is the time when you should reach down deep inside yourselves and remember you are family and family works together.”  Again, stares from Mark and Lucas.  “Why can’t both of you be man enough to walk across that floor and hold on to each other like you did when every other crisis came along?”  With that being said, Micah walked behind Lucas and shoved him toward Mark.  He knew, at this point in time, it would not have been a good idea to push Mark, not even for this.   As Lucas got closer to Mark there seemed to be a magnet, drawing each closer to the other until they were hugging, just like when Mark was a little boy.  Lucas realized that Mark wasn’t a little boy anymore, he didn’t fit in his arms the way he used to.  Mark didn’t seem to notice, all he cared about at that moment was that his Pa didn’t blame him.

Micah was about ready to walk out the door, he wanted them to have time to finish their talk, take the time they needed to mend.  Lucas saw him walking away, “Micah, where do you think you are going?”  “Well Lucasboy, I thought I would just head back to town and so’s you two could finish talking and start healing.”  “You’re not going anywhere, Mark, I want to introduce you to your Grandpa.”  Micah looked thunderstruck, so did Mark.  “Why don’t we all sit down and I’ll tell you why Micah is your Grandpa?”  Micah said, “I’d kinda’ like to hear that story myself.”  Lucas started telling Mark about how Micah was there, all the way while trying to find Mark.  Micah told Mark how hard it was to keep his Pa calmed down enough to make sense of what he was doing.  “Lucas, how does all this make me his Grandpa?”  “I remember what you said Micah, Mark you need to hear this, Micah you said you couldn’t love Mark anymore than if he were your own Grandson.”  “Did you really say that Micah?”  “Yes, I did, and I meant it too.”  Lucas looked at Micah and said, “I guess that makes you my Pa.”  That got a hearty laugh from all three of them.  Mark started to tell them about his ordeal, and how he finally remembered the things that Lucas had taught him about trackin’ and walkin’ away.  It was morning before they were through talking and Lucas said, “How about I make some coffee?”  “Can I have some too Pa?” asked Mark.  “Mark, I think you’re a little too young… Never mind, if you want coffee, you can certainly have some coffee.”  After the coffee was ready, Micah poured a cup for all three of them, after the first taste Mark said, “Ugh, how can you drink this stuff?”  Mark got up from the table and was getting ready to go out to the barn for some milk.  “Mark, do you want me to come with you?”  “Yes Pa, I do, but I have to do this by myself.”  “Yea, I guess you do.”  The whole time Mark was gone, Micah practically had to sit on him to keep from going after Mark.  When Mark did return, there was relief on everyone’s faces.  “While I was out in the barn, I got us some fresh eggs, who wants breakfast?”  Lucas and Micah practically ran each other over trying to get to the kitchen.

After breakfast, Mark looked at Lucas and asked, “Pa, would you teach me how to fight?  I mean, really teach me!”  “Sure I will son, you can practice on your Grandpa!”

THE END

This is a story based on the TV series “The Rifleman”
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