Terrifying Times

by smp4ever

My family had left for the cattle drive. That’s what I was told by Sheriff Roy Coffee when the stage finally pulled into Virginia City.  It wasn’t my fault the driver had an accident and we were stranded for three days in the middle of nowhere in inclement weather.  Roy said my Pa wasn’t angry with me.  In fact he was relieved when he got word everyone on board was only mildly injured or just shaken up.  Pa had told me it was too close to herding the cattle to be going off visiting friends, but I’m stubborn and insisted I’d be back in plenty of time.  The problem was the accident, not me. That’s the attitude you have when you’re nineteen years old.  The incident hindered my return home for a whole week. The cattle drive couldn’t be delayed any longer.  I understood. 

I rented a horse from the livery stable and headed home, home to what I knew would be an empty, pitch black, and lonely house. The ride back to the ranch didn’t lift my spirits. It was going to be dark soon and the night air had turned cold. Above me hung ominous looking clouds passing over the full moon. The chilly air and whispering wind seemed to carry secrets that only they understood. I felt a nervousness that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand-up. Even Cochise had apprehensions.  I could feel his muscles tense. He was tossing his head from side to side and his ears were pointed in different directions.  I patted him on his neck and spoke reassuring words but they didn’t convince or comfort me either. There was something unnatural and strange about this gloomy, dreary night.  Every sound made me jerk in my saddle.  Snapping twigs, creaking tree trunks, shrieks and screams of animals all had me on high alert!  I looked in every direction but all I saw were bizarre shadows that were made by the illumination of the full moon. Like being caught in a trance, they seemed to beckon me to follow them.  I shook my head back and forth like Cochise to snap myself out of this daze!

Finally, I was at the ranch.  After stabling Cooch, I walked from the barn into a cold house that possessed an eerie stillness. Instead of feeling safe and secure in my own home,  I sensed impending doom! 

Get these thoughts out of your head, Joe!  Focus on what needs to be done!

First order of business was to light a lamp and then get a fire going. Thankfully there was wood in the box.

Oh, the heat feels really good. 

I had been chilled to the bone when we were stranded in the middle of nowhere after the stagecoach accident. The ride home tonight had the same effect. 

Standing in front of the fireplace eased my shivering. With the room lighted and warmed, it didn’t feel as desolate. I walked back over to the credenza to hang up my hat and jacket and to lay my holster and gun down. Propped up on the piece of furniture was a note from Pa saying what he wanted accomplished while he and my brothers were away. By the look of this list, Pa definitely was annoyed, even angry with me for going off to visit friends and missing the cattle drive.

Sorry, Pa. I really do feel guilty.

The list would have to wait until tomorrow. I didn’t even want food.  Right now my only desire was to drag my exhausted and aching body upstairs to my bed. 

I extinguished the lamp, but left the fireplace to eventually burn out on its own. 

The shadows from the flames looked like stretched out tendrils twirling, twisting and reaching out to grab me. That uneasy feeling returned.  I quickly took off to my room, threw my clothes on the floor and jumped into my soft, comfortable bed.   The last thing I remember was laying my head on my pillow, and that’s it. 

It didn’t seem like I had been asleep very long when I was awakened by an eerie, moaning and wailing sound that kept growing louder.

 Where was it coming from? 

It was very strange. The sound was so nearby. 

Maybe an animal got injured right outside the front of the house. 

I quickly got out of bed and began investigating the noise.  I was at the top of the stairs when I realized I didn’t have any clothes on. 

 Oh well, no one is left on the ranch, so what does it matter?  

As I began heading downstairs, a blood curdling shriek filled the house! My gun was too far away.  It didn’t matter.  I couldn’t see anything anyway. More strange noises were coming from all around me, muffled voices, a scraping sound! 

Slowly, I continued descending the steps. Squinting, I saw something hovering by my Pa’s desk. The embers had just about died out in the fireplace but a slight glow remained. In the dim light, I could see the thing extend itself to its full height. My eyes almost popped out of my head when a huge, grotesque figure began moving forward. 

Please don’t find me! 

I crouched down behind the Indian woven blanket on the landing hoping I wouldn’t be discovered.  Peeking out from the side, I saw the creature was gone! Like a puff of smoke, it disappeared!  

Where’d it go? Maybe it was just my imagination!

Something wasn’t right. I was sweating and shivering at the same time. How I wished my father and brothers were here with me!  

Sighing, I started back up to bed when unexpectedly,  a deep, gravelly voice bellowed, “You should have listened to your father. How selfish of you to visit friends when you had a responsibility! Now you can suffer the consequences!”

Where was this frightening voice coming from?  It seemed like I was hearing it inside my head. How did this horrific ogre get in there?  My head felt as if it was going to split wide open! 

I held my hands over my ears hoping to shut out the sound of this evil spirit!  

My heart was pounding and my mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton. 

There was no choice. I had to do something!  

Hoping my voice didn’t sound as feeble and as shaky as I felt,  I croaked out, “Who are you? Show yourself!” 

Then without warning, this immense, hideous creature, with its teeth bared and slime oozing out of its mouth, appeared and started moving closer and closer toward me. I was frozen in my spot! 

How could this pale, hairy faced monster, with protruding eyeballs materialize out of thin air? 

It was practically on top of me!  I tried not to pull away or look into its face.  If it sensed fear, I knew this creature would destroy me. I stood firm demonstrating my courage.  

It’s working!  I’m safe now! The ugly beast is backing off!

Or so I thought, when suddenly it lunged at me and grabbed my arms.  I spun around as another gruesome, slimy evildoer appeared and seized my legs.  I’ve never experienced feeling so helpless and weak. 

How many tentacles did these unnatural beings have?

They were so strong! One of the disfigured monsters pinned me down and I couldn’t move! Its hot, fiery breath was so close to my face. I was suffocating! I tried not to look into those red, devilish eyes, but I was under its spell. I felt like I was being burned alive.  Flames were creeping up all around me.  

I’m burning up!

“What do you want with me?” I shrieked.

Growling, the beast, with superior power lifted me like I was a rag doll.  We were flying around, and around, and around. My head was spinning.  I was so dizzy!

 Where am I now? It’s so cold here! I hear sloshing!  Lake Tahoe?

Then the repulsive creature thrust me down into the icy lake. I tried to push myself out but it kept immersing me over and over again!  It was drowning me in the frozen liquid!  I was shivering and trembling. My teeth were chattering.  Then its furry claws forced my mouth open, pouring cold water down my throat. I was choking! 

“Please, please STOP!” I gurgled.  “Let me out of this frigid lake!  Why are you doing this to me?” 

My voice sounded so weak and raspy. 

“Do you want money? I’ll give you whatever you want. I just don’t want to end like this!”

I was gasping for breath!

What’s happening? 

The monsters finally pulled me out of the freezing lake.  I tried to run for my life but their spell was too strong.   My legs felt like they had been turned into rubber. Once again, these powerful creatures lifted me up and this time dropped me down.

The ugly, slimy creature grabbed me and forced me on my back.   

Now what?  

“Leave me alone!” I wailed.

Large, powerful hands were forcefully hitting me on the sides of my chest. I tried to get away again.  I was thrashing about.  But the massive creature held me down while the other one was pounding me.  I started gagging and coughing!  There was a rattling sound coming from my lungs. Then junk came flying out! 

The monsters were slowly killing me!

Fight back, Joe! Fight back!

I started lashing out! I caught one of these devils in the jaw with my left hook! I heard a loud, painful groan. 

That’ll teach you. Don’t mess with Joe Cartwright!

Finally, I was showing them I was the boss, until…

The brutal beast grabbed me again and began putting a sack over my head. I tried twisting out of its grip but to no avail. I was immobilized!  I realized this would be my final torment!  My body was too tired.  There was no fight left in me.  Ready to succumb to my tormentors, my head popped out through the sack.  I laughed. I was given another chance. The smile left my face quickly because my nostrils picked up an odor.

What’s that horrible smell? 

The sadistic monster was placing something on me. It was burning my chest. The stench was turning my stomach.

I can’t take this torture any more!  

“STOP! PLEASE STOP!”

Then a gentle hand started stroking my sweat drenched forehead and hair. 

“Come on, Son, open your eyes. We need you back in the land of the living!

Joe! Joe!  It’s time to wake up!” 

Who’s calling my name?  Pa?

“His fever is finally coming down and his breathing isn’t as rapid and shallow.”

“The congestion’s breaking up, too.  Joe really coughed up a lot of mucus with that last percussion of his lungs.” Doc Martin said.

“Seems like Joe’s emerging from his delirium and hallucinations. He certainly was out of his head with that fever!”

 Then Joe opened his eyes.  Ben was so relieved.

“Welcome back, Son!” 

In a very weak voice Joe asked, “Pa, what happened?”

“You developed pneumonia! You’ve been extremely sick for a number of days, but it looks like you’re finally turning the corner.  Doc says you are improving but you’ll need plenty of bedrest and we’ll have to continue some of the treatments! 

“You look pale and real tired, Pa, so does Doc!  

 Your eyes look bloodshot and puffy, like you’ve been crying.”

Joe raised his hand up and touched his father’s face. “Guess you haven’t shaved in a while?”

“You kept us quite busy, Son!”

“We were very worried about you, Joe.”

“Now, Young Man, I want you to breathe in the onion poultice!” 

“No, that’s disgusting!”

Ben gave Joe a look that he, like his adult brothers, more than understood. 

“Just rest and keep inhaling from the poultice on your chest. Understand? I’m going to walk Doc Martin out. I’ll be right back.”

Paul picked up his bag and looked at Joe with one raised eyebrow.

“You heard your father.  No arguments!   Just follow his instructions.  If you don’t cooperate,  I have additional treatments that won’t be as pleasant!” 

Won’t be as pleasant? What could be worse than this onion poultice?

Joe kept his thoughts to himself and in his frail voice said, “Bye, Doc. Thanks for all you did for me, but don’t hurry back!” 

Doctor Martin smiled and said, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Joe!”

With that, Ben and Paul walked out.

“Thanks so much, Paul! I was so frightened for Joe, especially when his moaning and wailing got louder and louder because of that extremely high fever.  He was so delirious. It was hard understanding all the strange things he was shouting! I hated restraining him but he was flailing and thrashing all around. I was afraid he’d not only hurt himself, but would also interfere with the treatments.”

“You had to do it, Ben. I know it was difficult for you having to ignore Joe’s pitiful outbursts, but we had no choice.  However, as weak as he was, he still clipped you pretty good!”

“Yea, tell me about it! That southpaw of mine has a powerful left hook. My jaw can attest to it!” Ben said, holding his chin.

“Better you than me, My Friend.” 

“I thought I was going to catch it again when I was trying to get his nightshirt over his head. The way he reacted,  you’d think I was trying to stick him in a sack or something!”

“You know, Ben placing Joe in those ice baths along with making him drink cold water was the key to bringing down his dangerously high fever.”

“My son was a challenge!  I had to keep immersing him in the tub every time he fought to get out!”

“Cold water therapy has been around since ancient times. Hippocrates and Plato fostered the use of cold water in ancient Greece.  James Currie, a physician in the mid-1700s was one of the first doctors to use cold water to treat fevers. Vincenz Priessnitz, an Austrian, started the method of putting patients in a very cold bath while in the midst of a fever.  Drs. Wilson and Gully followed in his footsteps. I could go on forever, but I’m just so thankful it worked for Joe.  I’m especially happy we didn’t have to resort to using the Scottish physician William Cullen’s method.”

“What’s that Paul?”

“Cold water enemas!” 

“Let us be grateful!” Ben said as he rubbed his jaw again.

“It’s a good thing, Ben, you decided to leave the drive and return to the ranch. It must be the combination of your motherly and fatherly instincts. I was coming out to the Ponderosa myself right after Roy told me he didn’t like the way Joe looked or sounded when he got off the stage last week.”

“We both did the right thing, Paul. 

I’m just concerned now, that Joe’s going to think we were such horrible monsters.  Between alternating the poultice and ice bath treatments, restraining him, and performing the chest percussion to move the mucus, he may never forgive us for torturing him like that!” 

Paul Martin winked at Ben and said, “Let’s hope he doesn’t remember!”

The End

Author’s notes:

The technique of chest percussion was first described in 1761 by Austrian physician Leopold Auenbrugger.  It was used to detect diseases.  The first description of chest percussion as a technique to move mucus in the lungs was 1934 by Nelson.  Chest percussion is a traditional technique that involves gently clapping or striking  the chest wall with cupped hands. The rhythmic percussion helps to loosen mucus in the airways so it’s easier to cough up.

Obviously,  I took liberties in using the percussion to move Joe’s mucus and made the clapping a lot harsher to make it more dramatic while Joe was delirious!

In the 1800s, one of the uses of an onion poultice was for congested breathing.

The term ‘southpaw’ was first used in the 1810s. The earliest evidence of its use was in the 1813 comic strip, The Tickler. The term was used as a funny name for a person’s left hand, especially when used for striking a blow!

All notes were taken from researching in Google.