A Laramie Story by: By Elaine Kane
Dedicated to Barbara Taylor and Cathy Hicks without whose support and
encouragement, my story would have never been written.
When I came to something wet and rough was being drug across my face in short sloppy strokes. I also heard a whine creeping into my fuzzy brain. I tried to push away the owner of the offending tongue that was lapping at my face but it wouldn’t stop. I slowly opened my eyes and groaned and the licking stopped when a huge brown muzzle moved into my swimming line of sight. The muzzle huffed at me blowing hot air in my face. I realized it was Jack who had rescued me from the dog’s efforts to rouse me. He seemed to be worried about me too. I reckon he figured he wouldn’t get anymore treats from me if I didn’t wake up. I glanced up at the sun. By the position of the sun it looks like I’ve been out cold for at least an hour.
Jack was still at my side, his reins trailing on the ground. Remembering the last time I tried to sit up I reached out and grabbed his reins in my right hand and slowly pulled myself to a sitting position with my other hand pressed to my side. Although the pain was bad it was bearable this time. I was dizzy and a little sick at my stomach from the effort. I feel like hell, but at least I didn’t pass out.
“Now, you’re making progress Harper.” I looked up with a silly grin on my face as I realized I had said it out loud. The dogs cocked their heads to one side at the sound of my voice. They were sitting nearby watching me
I checked myself over for injuries and found that other than the obvious damage to my ribs, a huge lump on the side of my head and some very tender places along the length of my left side and shoulder. I don’t seem to be hurt nowhere else. Then I turned my attention to the gash in my side and tried to see how bad the damage was to my ribs. Prodding and poking around it, I was relieved to find that there were no broken bones poking through the wound. Looks like my ribs might be badly bruised and maybe a couple of ‘em are cracked. The bleeding must’ve stopped before I came to.
I need water and something I can use to clean and bind the gash. My canteen of water is still on my saddle and I have a clean shirt and bandana in my saddlebags. Those should work. Jack was still standing patiently next go me while I looked for other injuries. His reins were still in easy reach so I grabbed them. “Easy now, Jack” Using the reins for support I pulled myself to my feet until I could grab his headstall. Jack stood like a statue as I hung on to him, swaying from dizziness. My head aches pretty bad and my side sure doesn’t like the moves I ‘m making. If I can just get the ground to hold still I should be all right. I’m in terrible shape but I guess I’ll live.
I grabbed the things I needed from the saddle and looking around I saw a medium sized boulder that I could sit on while I cleaned and bound the gash. Hanging onto Jack’s bridle for support, I clucked and coaxed Jack over to the boulder and sat down with a sigh of relief. Gritting my teeth against the pain, I begun to clean up the wound with my water soaked bandana. Then I made a compress with it and bound it over the gash with strips torn from my extra shirt. All the while Jack and the dogs stood by watching my every move.
The chore of fixing my side left me drained of what little strength I had when I started. My legs are so wobbly I’d best sit down before I fall down, I thought, as I eased myself down the face of the boulder until I was sitting on the ground.
I started thinking about the fix I was in. My pack mule ran off with all my supplies. The only water I have is in my canteen and there’s a little jerky left in my saddlebags that are still tied to the back of Jack’s saddle. I patted the pockets of my vest and shirt to see if there was anything else that would be useful and found the lumps of sugar I kept handy for Jack’s rewards. I sure hope they’ll guarantee Jack’s cooperation on the way home. I really don’t think that Jack would abandon me, but you can never be too sure what an animal will do and certainly not a mule.
It had taken me three days to get this far up the mountain but it was slow going because we were tracking the lion and had to back track a lot. Going at a slow steady pace I figure it’ll take the rest of today and most of tomorrow to get back to the ranch. With any luck I‘ll be home a little after dark tomorrow.
The dogs can catch a rabbit if they get hungry and Jack can eat the sparse grass that grew along the way. Thank God I have the jerky and the canteen of water. On the way here I had come across a small stream that the dogs and Jack can drink their fill from and I can refill my canteen. Things could be worse, at least I don’t have any broken bones.’
I sure hope that pack mule has hightailed it back home. If he has it will probably be there by midnight tonight.
By the position of the sun I figure there‘s about another four hours of daylight left to travel in. So, Harper, you’d best get up on that mule and head in the direction of home. With any luck someone will come looking for me after that pack mule shows up and they’ll meet me on the way. I sure hope it’s sooner than later.
Looking around for a something to help me get up on Jack’s back, I saw the dead cat lying in a crumpled heap. I wonder why it had attacked the dog? Maybe it was so exhausted from being chased for three days and it had felt cornered. Unable to go any further it had turned and attacked.
Sitting there, I thought, No one would believe me if I tell ‘em the mule had killed the cat. I gotta figure out a way to get it back home, but how?
After resting for a bit, I clucked to Jack and held out a lump of sugar to him. He dropped his head reaching for it and I grabbed the headstall and began pulling myself to my feet. He pulled his head up slow as I rose from the ground. Looking at the cat again, an idea came to me. I can wrap it up in my bedroll tarp. I clucked to Jack and hanging onto his bridle for support I guided him to the mangled pile of fur. I got my bedroll tarp and the rope from the saddle. Now comes the hard part. Gritting my teeth against the pain I eased down to my knees. Spreading the tarp out I somehow got the lion rolled up in it, wrapped the rope around the bundle and tied it tight. Rising with Jack’s help again I looped the other end of the line to the saddle horn. I reckon Jack won’t mind dragging his trophy behind him. Jack looked at the bundle and just wiggled his ears.
A small boulder that I could use to mount up was close by so I gripped Jack’s bridle and guided him over to it. Using the rock like a stepstool, I pulled my aching body into the saddle. Once the waves of pain and dizziness had eased, I clucked to Jack and whistled for the dogs to follow and we set out for home. The dogs ran up ahead as though they were leading the way.
The effort of wrapping up the lion left me wore out and the pain in my side was getting worse with every jarring step that Jack took as he picked his way down and around the rocks and uneven ground of the mountainside. The dull ache in my head was turning into a constant throbbing. I think I can make it home in one piece as long as I can stick to Jack’s back. I know he’ll get me there somehow.
I wonder if the Pattersons would sell Jack to me. Then another thought struck me; I can’t wait to see Slim’s face when I tell him that it was Jack who killed the lion. I sure didn’t contribute none towards its demise.
I’ve been riding for almost four hours now and it’s almost sundown. I’m exhausted and can barely stay in the saddle. Jack has pretty much kept going in the direction of home and I’ve only had to concentrate on not falling off. Looking up through blurred eyes I saw an open space among some boulders where we could stop for the night. I tugged on Jack’s reins.
“Whoa, Jack that looks like a good spot to stop. The boulders will offer us a little shelter.”
Climbing out of the saddle I almost fell when my legs buckled with weakness as my feet hit the ground. Hanging onto the saddle I grabbed my bedroll, my saddlebags and hobbles for Jack and dropped my saddlebags and bedroll on the ground.
I guess I oughta leave Jack’s saddle on him. The shape I’m in, it’s too heavy for me to lift. With a groan I put the hobbles on him and I removed his bridle so he could graze on the sparse clumps of grass growing nearby. I hate to leave him saddled but there’s no way I’m going to have the strength to put it back on in the morning. Besides, my ribs hurt something fierce when I pick up anything heavier than a feather.
I need to build a fire. The mountain air gets cold at night. Hanging onto a nearby boulder I leaned over to pick up a piece of wood I saw but the effort was too painful. I couldn’t overcome the feeling of dizziness when I bent over to pick up the wood and my side screamed for me to stop. It’s a good thing I’m wearing my jacket and I’ve got my bedroll or I‘d be spending a cold miserable night lying on the bare ground with nothing to cover me and no fire to keep me warm.
Giving up the idea of a fire I spread my bedroll in the space between two boulders and sat down on it. The boulders will be handy supports in the morning when I get up. I didn’t realize until today how much a fella uses his ribs to do a simple thing like sittin’ down or standin’ up.
Sitting on the bedroll, I pulled out the jerky from my saddlebags and began eating it and shared the last of it with the dogs. They had stayed close to Jack and me as we headed home. I stretched out on my bedroll and wrapped up in it. As was their custom on our every night the dogs lay down on each side of me and snuggled up against me. The added warmth of their bodies is going to help fend off the cold night air.
CHAPTER 4
It’s morning already and I feel like I haven’t slept a wink. I looked up at the sun. Damn! I’ve overslept. I wanted to get an earlier start than this. My whole body is stiff and sore from my fall and the pain in my side and head is worse than it was yesterday. I feel groggy from lack of sleep. My ribs were paining me so much last night I couldn’t get comfortable and I kept waking up.
The dogs and I had finished off the jerky last night, so there was nothing to eat for breakfast. All I need to do is mount up and get going again. I struggled to my feet with my gear in my hands. I made my way over to Jack and put his on bridle and took off his hobbles. Then I checked the saddle’s cinch to be sure it was tight enough. It’s a little loose but I’ll have to chance it as I sure don’t have the strength to make it any tighter. I’ll just have to try and not put too much weight in the stirrup when I get on. With an iron grip on Jack’s bridle I headed for a nearby rock to use to help me climb aboard.
Then it dawned on me, Jacks afraid to move for fear I might fall off his back. “Jack, really, it’s okay, I’m fine, I promise I won’t fall off.” Boy, do I feel foolish talking to this mule. I guess if a good and gentle horse can be protective of a small child on its back, why not a mule with an injured man on it’s back?
Urged by a much harder jab of my spurs, Jack stepped forward and began picking his way down the mountainside. The dogs ran ahead but kept within my sight.
I sure hope the Pattersons will sell Jack to me. He sure is one hell of a good mule. I gritted my teeth and grabbed the saddle horn with my right hand and pressed my left arm against my aching side. I slumped in the saddle steeling myself against the pain of the jarring movements of Jack’s walk as he looked for safe footing over the rock strewn and uneven ground.
A familiar voice broke through the fog of pain that had stayed with me as Jack carried me toward home. “Jess?” the voice asked. I became aware of my surrounding and realized that it was late in the afternoon. I had barely managed to stay on Jack’s back for the length of the trip down that mountain. I was slumped over in my saddle hanging on with both hands wrapped around the saddle horn in a death grip. I had given up trying to hold Jack’s reins hours before and had tied them together leaving them long and draped over the horn. Like a homing pigeon Jack had followed the trail home without any guidance from me. I had been riding since we left camp early this morning and hadn’t dared to stop to get off for fear of never being able to get back on.
The voice spoke again sounding very concerned and a hand touched my shoulder, “Jess? Then the hand gave me a harder nudge. “Jess? Are you all right? Hey, Pard. You don’t look so good.” I finally recognized the voice of my friend and boss, Slim Sherman.
I looked up through glazed eyes and saw the two concerned faces of my best friend. I blinked my eyes to clear my vision and Slim’s two faces became one. “Hi Slim, you got any water and somethin’ to eat?” My voice was no more than a croaked and raspy whisper.
Help had arrived and I relaxed my hold on the horn. It was a big mistake as I almost lost my daylong battle to stay conscious and began to slip sideways out of Jack’s saddle. Slim jumped down from his horse and grabbed me before I fell.
He helped me down and eased me to the ground. Getting his canteen off his horse, he gave me some water. I was pretty thirsty and gulped it down. Then Slim checked me over to make sure I was going to be all right. He gave m a light rub on my shoulder. “Looks like you’ll live.”
With typical Slim Sherman sarcasm, he added, “I might've known you’d figure a way out of doing any work when you got back from your vacation.”
I just sneered at him. I was too stove up and tired to respond with a proper Jess Harper come back. It feels real good to be off Jack’s swaying back and on solid ground. That’s all that matters to me right now.
In spite of his remark he looked very relieved to find me alive and not hurt too bad.
“How’d you know to come looking for me Slim? Did the pack mule show up?” I still couldn’t manage more than a croak when I spoke.
“Yeah, evidently it came ambling into the Patterson’s yard late last night. Mr. Patterson sent one of his hands over to tell me about it. I got worried and figured I’d better try and find you in case you needed help. By the looks of you, I’d say I was right.” Without pausing he added “So, Jess, did you get the mountain lion?”
Grinning, Slim looked at me and spoke in a soft voice, “Just testing how bad you’re hurt, Jess. If you were in real bad shape you wouldn’t care what I said.”
I hate to admit it, but he was right.
“So, what DID happen to you?” he asked.
“It’s ‘bout time ya asked,” I snapped. So I told him how Jack had dumped me on a pile of rocks to fight the mountain lion.
“I’m surprised you didn’t bust anything more than your pride, Jess. By the looks of that knot on your head you’re lucky you didn’t crack open that hard head of yours. I imagine those ribs are pretty painful too” Slim said in wonderment.
He then realized that I had said that Jack had attacked the mountain lion. “You’re kidding. That’s not possible. You’re joking aren’t you, Pard?”
“Nope, no joke, Jack went after that cat like the devil himself.”
Slim’s eyes widened in disbelief as I told him how Jack had single handedly done in the cat. “Likely story, Pard, are you sure you didn’t go to sleep in the saddle and fall off Jack’s back? That blow to your head must’ve made you see things that weren’t there.”
I scowled at him and he removed the smirk on his face. “There’s no way a mule would attack a mountain lion” Slim persisted.
It was getting late and would soon be dark, so Slim set up camp to spend the night. We would set out for home in the morning. He tried to make me as comfortable as the hard ground and our two bedrolls would allow.
“What are you going use to keep warm?” I asked after he had finished fixing the blankets over me
“I’ll be just fine, Jess,” as he pointed to his saddle blanket and saddle lying next to the pile of wood he had gathered to make a fire.
“Slim, do me a favor, will ya?”
“Sure, you name it, Pard.”
“Before you make supper would you take Jack’s saddle off and give him a good rubdown and if you’ve got any grain, feed him? Also, there’s some hobbles in my saddlebag. Would you mind putting ‘em on him so he could graze? He hasn’t eaten since last night and he’s been wearing that saddle for two days now.”
Digging into my pocket I handed him a lump of sugar. “Oh, and give him this while you’re at it.”
“Are you sure that’s all, master?” Slim said grinning. “I’ll be glad to, Pard, since it looks like Jack may have saved your life. He could’ve bucked you off and then ran off like the pack mule,” he added and strode off to take care of Jack.
Supper was beans, biscuits and coffee. As hungry as I thought I was, I was too tired and hurting too bad to eat much. I did drink all my coffee. I put my plate down after a few bites and pulling the blankets over my shoulder, I closed my eyes. As if on cue, the dogs took up their places on either side of me as they had done every night of our trip. I don’t remember when I fell asleep.
CHAPTER 5
I heard Slim stirring around the camp and opened my eyes. It was morning and I had spent another bad night trying to sleep on the ground. I can’t believe the places I hurt. I even hurt in places I didn't know existed.
Noticing I was awake, Slim came over to me. “Morning Jess, how are you feeling?”
“If you have to know, I feel like hell. How else do expect me to feel?” sounding a little gruffer than I wanted to.
Slim ignored my foul mood and smiled at me. “Are you hungry, Jess? Would you like some cold biscuits and coffee? Sorry, it’s not more but I left in a hurry yesterday,”
I looked up at him. “I could use some coffee and the biscuits will be fine, Slim. I’ve been a little sick to my stomach since my fall and haven’t felt up to eating much.”
Slim brought me the coffee and biscuits. He helped me sit up and eased me back on Jack’s saddle for support. While I ate he began breaking up camp. I tried to eat a biscuit but my stomach objected. The coffee tasted good but it didn’t set well either. I was pretty much out of it and just sat there on my bedroll half conscious and feeling awful helpless.
I’m having a hard time breathing. I tried to take a deep breath but it hurt too bad. I must not be getting enough air. I remember catching myself several times trying to draw a deep breath and regretting it right away. At the time it felt like I’d been holding my breath.
Finished with his packing, Slim came up to me, and looked down at me. “You ready to go home, Jess?”
“Sure.” Was all I could manage in reply.
“Okay, then, let’s get going.” He reached down to help me up. I could barely stand as the world tipped and my knees buckled. To keep me from falling Slim grabbed me around my waist and eased me back down on to the bedroll.
“This ain’t gonna do, Jess. I think you should ride double with me on Alamo.” “I can’t take a chance on you falling off and hurting yourself even worse than you are now,”
I just nodded my head. I didn’t even have the strength to argue with him. Riding double with Slim didn’t seem like such a bad idea at all.
Slipping his shoulder under my right arm, Slim lifted me to my feet. He supported me with his arm wrapped around me as we walked to his horse. He helped me into the saddle and once sure I wasn’t going to fall off he grabbed Jack’s lead and tied it to the saddle horn. Looking at Jack, I noticed that Slim had tied Jack’s prize bundle to the mule’s saddle.
He called to the dogs that had been chasing a rabbit they had scared up while exploring the area around the camp. They came back as soon as they heard Slim’s call and sat down panting, with their tongues hanging out.
With his little group ready to go, Slim climbed up on Alamo and eased down behind me on the skirt of the saddle. Holding on to me with his right arm to avoid my injured side he clucked to his horse and we headed for home at a slow walk.
I don’t remember much of the ride back to the ranch. With Slim supporting me, I was soon lost in a haze of pain as each stride Alamo made jarred my side and head. Feeling secure with Slim hanging on to me I no longer felt the need to stay awake and I passed out.
I came to as Slim was lifting me off Alamo’s back. We had finally made it home. Much to my embarrassment I realized that he carried me like a baby into the house and put me in my bed. I was too weak to protest this last insult to my person. It felt too good to be on a soft bed and off Alamo’s back.
After making sure I was resting comfortable. Slim headed to town for the doc. As soon as my head hit the pillow I either passed out again or fell asleep.
I didn’t wake again until Slim and the doc arrived later that afternoon. Doc didn’t waste any time checking me over. He cleaned the gash in my side and then stitched it up then he sat me up and wrapped a new bandage around my ribs.
Hoping to ward off the pain, I had kept my eyes squeezed shut through the whole ordeal. I didn’t open them until he finished. I looked up to see Doc holding a spoonful of suspicious looking liquid and indicating that I should swallow it. I frowned at him with my fiercest frown. “What’s that for?” I growled.
“To ease the pain you’re feeling,” he said, ignoring my menacing look. With a scowl I swallowed the foul stuff. I figure it wouldn’t hurt to take it this one time. I’ll never admit to it out loud, but I’m hurtin’ somethin’ awful. Then Doc helped me lie back in my bed. I sure am glad he’s finished with his doctoring.
Looking down at me Doc said, “That’s a nasty bump on your head but I don’t think you have a concussion.” He continued, “Oh, you’ll have a bad headache for a while, but it’s nothing to be concerned about. I didn’t find any broken bones and I am surprised that none of your ribs were broken.”
Then he spoke the dreaded words; “You are not to ride a horse for at least three weeks and no heavy lifting for about six weeks, young man.” I opened my mouth to protest, but stopped when he held up his hand.
I groaned and grumbled to myself, I wouldn’t mind not liftin’ anything heavy for a couple of months, but don’t tell me I can’t ride.
“You more than likely have a couple of cracked or separated ribs, maybe both. You need to let them heal, Jess. Before the week’s over they’ll become even more painful than they are now,” Doc continued. “I’m leaving a supply of this painkiller for you. I want you to take a teaspoon full every four hours.”
I scowled at him again. He ignored me and said. “Because of the pain in your ribs you’re not breathing deeply enough and you aren’t getting enough air into your lungs. That can lead to pneumonia. You don’t want that do you, Jess? This painkiller is going to help you breathe better.” Looking at Slim he said, “Slim, make sure he takes his medicine at least until he can breath better.”
I started to protest again but Slim broke in and said, “Don’t worry, Doc, I’ll make sure Jess behaves himself.”
Dadburn it! I can’t get a word in edgewise with those two gangin’ up on me. I have my own ideas as to how long it’ll take me to get over this slight mishap. ’Sides, I have plans and a couple of banged up ribs ain’t gonna stop me for long. I had started making plans for another kind of trip during my time on the trail of that cat and I aimed to carry them out as soon as I got back on my feet.
Not to worry, Slim, Jess won’t feel much like doing anything for quite a while, so it shouldn’t be too hard to keep him in line,” Doc said as he headed for the door.
I can’t believe they are talking about me like I wasn’t even in the same room.
After Doc left Slim turned to me with a big grin and said, “Don’t you fret none, Jess, I’ll save all the dirty work for you to do when you’re well.”
He ducked out of the room fast, expecting a barrage of objects to come flying his way. I would have thrown a pillow at him but the effort was more than I could handle. So, I pulled the covers up to my neck and real slow I rolled over on my good side. With the painkiller starting to work it’s magic, I was soon fast asleep.