Part 15
Over night the temperature had dropped some and morning once again found Vin and Ezra huddled together trying to stay warm. They had briefly woken last night after initially falling asleep and searched the group of rock for any shelter. They found a small den much smaller than the one before, at the base of the outcropping of stones on the southern side. Overnight both boys had developed a slight fever from the lack of food, a minimum amount of water, the large amounts of exercise and the cold of two nights without any protection.
Again this morning, Ezra had been sick but with no food left in his stomach there was nothing for him to bring up. The retching did cause further pain as his battered body protested at the constant heaving. Vin himself experienced some sickness but he was better able to deal with it since he started this journey in better condition. He had tried to rally himself and Ezra to get a move on but both boys were too exhausted and becoming dehydrated to go anywhere. Their energy was running low.
“Well Ezra, maybe we better take a break for now and stay here.” Vin knew they should try to find better shelter or more water or even some sign of civilization but he just didn’t feel well enough. So he sat near their small shelter and unseeingly looked out across the barren and open landscape.
Ezra could barely nod his head in agreement. He was just so tired and cold and hurt. He snuggled close to Vin and once comfortable fell asleep again. After a little more looking out into nothing Vin laid his head atop Ezra’s and closed his eyes. They would move after a couple more hours of sleep he thought.
A couple of hours turned into five and both boys only awoke when their bodies graving for sustenance became too great to sleep through. Waking groggily the two boys shared long and greedy drinks of tepid water from the last canteen. The sun had risen to almost it’s zenith and the landscape wavered and shifted in the heat that rebounded off of the flat bleak and desolate land. Ezra winced as his eyes could barely take the brightness of the sun. The pounding inside his head seemed loud against the silent environment and he could barely concentrate on the idea of keeping the water down that he had just drunk. Soon his overheated body rejected the liquid refreshment and as a result his head seemed to explode into pieces.
Vin didn’t fair much better. The heat was already getting to him too but the sounds and the smell of Ezra being sick caused his own stomach to roll and he too lost the precious fluids he so desperately needed. When finished he unsteadily got to his feet. Taking several deep breaths as he leaned against the rocks he looked over at Ezra who was sitting with his legs tucked up underneath him and bent over. His head was being clutched in his hands so tight that the knuckles were turning white to match his pallor and he was rocking back and forth in obvious pain. Vin walked the couple of steps it took to reach him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
“Come on Ezra. I know you don’t feel well and neither do I but we have to get moving.” He again nudged the smaller boy on the shoulder when he didn’t get a response.
Green eyes red rimmed from crying and bloodshot from the headache that thrummed a staccato beat in his head looked up at Vin. Vin looked pale and sweaty and his nose was red from running after being sick himself. Ezra attempted to get up but all he could do was wobble about a bit before collapsing in a heap upon the desert floor.
Vin hated to use the boy’s fear against him but he knew he had to get Ezra up and moving. “Ezra, we have to get moving. If we stay here any longer Mr. O’Leary will catch up to us. Come on.” This time he was able to get Ezra standing though still precariously. Vin’s stomach again knotted but this time it was in guilt because he could clearly see the deep-rooted fear coming from those big green orbs. Unable to look into them any longer, Vin turned and found the canteens and together the boys took off across the heated terrain.
They finished what was left of the water within two hours but luckily this time it did stay down. The further they trekked the worse they felt. They were growing sicker with each step. They were so tired and confused that they did not notice when they left this morning that they were headed back the way they came, heading east instead of west. About another three hours of walking and the boys could go no further. The sun was beginning to set and the air was turning cooler. Vin became aware of a small grunt and when he turned around he saw Ezra, unmoving, collapsed on the ground face down. As he began to clumsily make his way back to the younger boy he became dizzy. He made the mistake of bending down to try to rouse Ezra but found himself falling over the smaller prone figure instead. Just before darkness claimed him he thought he heard someone shouting his name and the sound of horse hooves pounding against the arid ground.
**********************
Part 16
It was around nine the next morning that Chris, Josiah and Joseph had reached Stinking Springs. They approached the area with caution because they could not be completely sure that Mr. O’Leary had not already arrived. Finding no sign of him they searched the area and allowed the horses to rest for a couple of hours. It was during their searching that Joseph found the almost erased tracks of two small boys that headed to the southwest of the camp, not to the north as Mr. O’Leary had said.
Setting out once again, it was a long and hot ride. They were grateful that they had taken the time to let the horses rest and cool off for two hours. This way they did not have to stop and rest and water them as often as they would have if they had continued after the nine-hour ride to reach the springs.
None of the boys talked much; all were worried about the two small boys out in this inhospitable wasteland, alone and in who knows what condition. They found the area where Ezra had been sick that first morning about two hours into their search. Josiah and Chris gave each other bleak looks and Chris could be heard swearing under his breath as Josiah sent up prayers for their safety. If the boys traveled this far away from camp that first night, what had happened? They knew that they had to find them and get them hidden before O’Leary appeared. They again made the decision, although reluctantly to rest another two hours. Joseph argued that in this heat and with little shelter to be found it would be best to take the time now and rest the horses where they could at least get some shade. This way none of them risked becoming sick and the horses would use less water if they didn’t work until extremely parched. So for two hours the three boys and three horses took advantage of the little shade available.
A little over three hours later as the sun was nearing it’s resting place in the heavens a small movement across the landscape caught the attention of the three somnolent travelers. Josiah and Joseph didn’t even move until Chris was already several feet in front of them, pushing his horse hard and fast and shouting at the top of his lungs.
“VIN!!!!” Could be heard streaking across the motionless air as boy and horse thundered down on the now collapsed figure. Chris had to amend that as he got closer for he could clearly see as he brought his horse to an abrupt halt that Vin was half lying on top of another small figure. “Ezra?” He whispered. Fearing the worst when neither boy moved or made any acknowledgement that they even heard the horse approaching them.
Chris himself was deaf to the approaching riders at his back as he knelt on the sandy dirt beside the two immobile youths. His one hand held tight to the one rein of the horse he had been riding, his subconscious acting on the knowledge that the horse could mean life or death for them. His other hand was gently stroking the hair off of Vin’s face so he could get a better look at him.
Vin’s face was flushed and nearly dry, not much perspiration was beading on the boy’s features. His lips were dry and chapped and his neck and hands where they were exposed to the sun were red with sunburn. He could almost feel more heat radiating off Vin than he could the hard baked earth underneath.
“Oh my…” Josiah gasped once he saw his two youngest friends lying out in the middle of nowhere. “Are they…?” He didn’t even want to finish the question as he looked to Chris for answers.
“They’re alive but they’re not in too good of condition.” Chris informed the other two boys.
Joseph passed his reins to Josiah, who seemed frozen in place and made his way to the two prone boys. Kneeling down opposite Chris, Joseph checked Vin and then gently, with Chris’ help, rolled him off to the side so he could get to Ezra. He easily turned the slight form over and took note of his condition. Like Vin, Ezra was flushed and there was not much evidence of sweat on his face. The exposed skin of his neck and hands were also burned and his lips were also dry and chapped. If neither boy had had their hats, he figured that their condition would have been much worse than it already was and right now it was pretty bad.
He stood up and looked around the open expanse that surrounded them. “We need to get them cooled down but we also need to find some place that will protect us all for the night, the temperature is going to dramatically drop as soon as the sun sets.” The other two boys looked to Joseph and waited for his instructions. Though Chris was not one to take orders he knew that out here he was out of his element, Joseph was the expert.
“I hate to move them too much but I think it would be best to take them back to that outcropping of rocks that they used the first night they were out here. At least there some shrubs could be used for a fire tonight and then if we can’t move them in the morning we will have some sort of protection from the sun.”
Josiah and Chris nodded their agreement. Chris mounted his horse and Josiah passed Vin up to him then he turned to Joseph who once again was on his horse and passed Ezra up to ride with him. As soon as he was sure both sick boys were secure on the horses, Josiah then turned to his own and mounted up. They then rode quietly back to the small projection of rocks.
*********************
Part 17
Orrin and Ethan along with the other men from town rode for five hours, stopping every once in a while to be sure they were following the correct trail when they found something interesting. “Looks like one horse headed along the road and the other three turned off to go along the creek bed.” Tiny the stable owner and local tracker informed the sheriff and his deputy.
“Joseph.” Ethan muttered in both awe and anger. He was still trying to cope with the fact that his nephew had left town in the middle of the night to help some kids no older than himself to find some other kids that were much younger. ‘The things that boy gets into…’
“Ethan?” Orrin questioned his deputy. He heard his muttered word and wanted an explanation.
“Joseph would of taken the creek bed. If they all figured that this Mr. O’Leary was headed to Stinking Springs then he would know that the creek bed route would take about three hours off their journey.” He admitted to Orrin.
“How would he know that?” Orrin’s voice held admiration for the young boy’s knowledge. Hell he admired all of them. After all there is a difference between admiring and accepting.
“John Taylor.” Ethan stated wryly. That was all that needed to be said and despite the situation Ethan couldn’t hold in the chuckle that escaped once he saw Orrin trying to contain his mirth of the turn of events.
John Taylor often took Joseph out scouting, hunting and foraging with him. An old Indian with no family left to speak of and being one that refused to move to a reservation, he has been living and walking this area of the territory longer than any could imagine. For the most part he did not use a horse but preferred to get around with his own two feet but on occasions when he would take Joseph along he would consent to Ethan’s wishes and ride a horse so that the boy wasn’t gone for weeks at a time. Thanks to John Taylor, Joseph was very knowledgeable about most of the area surrounding Paradise and he had a fair bit of knowledge on survival.
Secretly Orrin was thrilled that Joseph went with these boys. He didn’t wasn’t him in danger but he figured they were better off for having him along. Ethan was too but you would never get him to admit it, at least not until after he could tan Joseph’s hide.
“Alright boys.” Orrin addressed the group of riders. “Ethan and I are going to follow the creek bed, you lot follow the other trail along the road. We will meet up at Stinking Springs. If for any reason the trails don’t lead there, send one of your party there and we will figure out what to do then.
So the group split up. Ethan and Orrin followed the creek bed and by four o’clock that afternoon they rode up to Stinking Springs. Unbeknownst to them they mirrored the actions of the boys that had rode in there much earlier today. They left their horses in a wooded area off from the springs and carefully approached the old campground on foot with weapons drawn. Moving about quietly and slowly they checked the vicinity and found no signs of human life.
“Ok, Mr. O’Leary stated that the boys took off to the north so lets look around there first.” Ethan was in a rush.
“Hold on Ethan.” Orrin placated in an understanding tone. “First we need to see to the horses. It’s been a long day for them and if we don’t take care of them they won’t be doing those boys or us any good. After we have them settled for a break then we can look around for any signs as to what our next move may be.”
Ethan thought about arguing, after all his nephew was out there on his own with two boys that know nothing about this country and here Orrin was requesting a break? But his common sense took over and he knew Orrin was right. It wouldn’t do any good to find a trail to follow if the horse couldn’t carry you.
“You’re right. Lets get them in the shade, fed and watered.” He reluctantly agreed as he headed to the place where the horses were tethered and led his and Orrin’s into the former camp.
After seeing to the horses the men walked around and found various signs but none of them led out of camp, they were all from the normal traffic of a camp the size of the Orphan Train. They started their search pattern near the center of camp and began to radiate out from there working towards the edges of the oasis-like location. Having split up to cover more ground, Ethan was studying some tracks that led to the north when Orrin called him.
“Hey Ethan, I want you to come and look at something for me.” He called from a small distance away. Ethan took one more look at the rail he had found and walked in the direction he thought he had heard Orrin’s voice.
“Where are you at?” He called to his friend when he couldn’t see him anywhere in site.
Orrin’s head appeared out of a dense area of foliage just behind Ethan. “Right here.” He said to the man. Ethan was startled by the sudden voice behind him and just as quickly turned with his gun drawn.
“Whoa!” Orrin cried out as he brought his hands up in a defensive position. “It’s just me.”
Ethan rolled his eyes and carefully put his gun back into the holster. “Don’t you know better than to sneak up on a man that has a gun?” He amusedly inquired.
Orrin chuckled back at him and shook his head. “Just get in here.” Ethan followed Orrin into the small foliage surrounded enclosure. He followed the sheriff to the near center of the arena-like area and his eyes immediately came upon what must have drawn Orrin’s attention. Kneeling down to get a closer look he touched his fingers to the reddish stain that marred the soil and rubbed it between his fingers.
“Blood?” He looked to Orrin for confirmation.
“Yeah, not much of it nor that fresh, say about two days old.” Orrin left the information speak for itself.
“Then assuming that it isn’t any of the kids, I am guessing we found the site where Mr. O’Leary received his bloody nose.” Ethan was confidant in his summation.
“That’s my guess.” Orrin had come to the same conclusion. When Ethan had interviewed Mr. O’Leary back in Paradise he noticed that the man’s nose was swollen and discolored, as were his eyes. When asked what had happened be claimed that it was an accident that in the rush to load the kids and supplies onto the wagons to move on that morning he had been accidentally hit by one of the boys he was helping into the wagon. The funny thing was is that when Ethan then talked to the kids and asked what happened to Mr. O’Leary’s nose none of them knew. At the time he had put it down to the anxiety of the situation but since he and Orrin talked about that interview over the last few hours and in light of his disappearance, his answer was becoming more suspect.
“Do you think that one of the two that disappeared that night was responsible?” Ethan wanted to know if Orrin had the same disturbing feeling that he did.
“We don’t know for sure but I find this an odd place to be in with children.” He pointed to the ground where children sized footprints could clearly be seen along side an adults. “It looks like some sort of struggle went on here, that is for sure.” Orrin added his thoughts. Both men had troublesome thoughts floating through their minds and if they found anything to be true that Sean O’Leary was harming any of the children on the Orphan Train in anyway, well then he might not just make it back to Paradise.
After looking around the hidden enclosure some more and coming up with nothing else, Ethan led Orrin to the site where he had found some tracks leading to the north. They followed them for a distance and could see that an adult traveled this way recently but they had no idea if it was O’Leary or if these tracks obliterate the ones left by children two nights ago. They knew they had at least an hour’s wait before the other group met up with them here so they took the opportunity to have a meal of jerky and hard tack. They checked their canteens and made sure they were filled and gave their horses a little pampering by brushing them thoroughly.
A little over an hour and Tiny called out to them. “Rider coming in.” He rode into the camp and dismounted. Ethan took his horse the short distance to the creek for water and began to rub him down as Orrin offered the man some hardtack and jerky.
“What did you find?” Orrin asked Tiny.
“Well I lost the trail for a few miles before coming across any prints. It was hard to tell if any of them belonged to that lone horse or not. Too much traffic kind of killed it. We went ahead and followed, the rest of the boys are about an hour further north. Riding in here I did pick up that shoe print again and it was heading north not coming in so I figured he may have tried sweeping away his trail thinking that once it was lost no one would continue in that direction or bother to keep going. What about you two, did you and Mr. Cord find anything?”
“We did see those tracks to the North but they are only the one horse. We haven’t found any sign of the three the kids took.” That was another thing that worried Orrin and Ethan.
Tiny looked over the area himself and noticed some unnatural drifts on the dirt. “This here looks like a spot that someone swept away a trail.” He was more talking to himself than anyone but Ethan and Orrin followed him as he continued to look around. “Yep, definitely someone tried to cove something up. They lead to the southwest.” He finally stated as fact while looking to the two lawmen. “What do you want to do?”
“Tiny, I want you to ride back to the others and set up camp. Come morning I want you all to follow the trail north. If you make it to Fort Bascom or Tascosa before coming across any sign of a man or children then wire back to Paradise and wait there until you hear from either Ethan or myself.
Ethan and I are going to make camp here and then we will set out tomorrow morning and see if this leads anywhere.” He indicated the wiped out trail.
“Ok.” Tiny really had nothing more to say, these two men were in charge. “Watch your backs boys.” He then mounted up on his somewhat rested horse and headed for the northbound group.
“Orrin?” He knew Ethan would object to setting up camp. “We still have a half hours daylight left. Lets start now. Plus there is a full moon tonight to see by.” Ethan was pleading. He couldn’t take this waiting anymore.
“Ethan, I want to find Joseph and the other boys too but we are not going to do them any good if we collapse from exhaustion. Lets get some sleep and we will head out in the morning.” Orrin all but demanded.
“But…”
“No Ethan! Do I have to make this an order?”
“No. But you can’t tell me that you don’t feel it too?”
Orrin did, he felt that feeling of dread and danger nearby. Common sense warred with that feeling. Unfortunately for the boys Orrin was a practical man.
“Get some sleep Ethan.” That was all he needed to say.
******************