Thankful

2026 Round-Up Challenge

By Bakerj

~~~

The air smelled dry and dusty as if something had been burned into it.  I opened my eyes and shut them tight at the dazzling sunlight.  Muddled images crowded my mind.  What had happened? 

Granite pressed into my back, anchoring me to the present.  Pieces came into focus—the land we covered, campsites, conversations with Pa, and… yesterday.

Pa had been riding stiff in the saddle for the last hour, so when I recognized the spot ahead, I pointed it out.  “Let’s camp here.”

“Still got daylight left.”

“I know.  But I’m beat, and we won’t find a better place further on.”

When Pa turned Buck, I chuckled at his stubbornness and eased out my aching back—six days on this trip.  Sleeping in my own bed sounded real sweet.  Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough. 

Tomorrow… today.  I tried to roll from the rock behind and gasped at the pain.  The dried blood cracked under the movement but kept its grip on my torn skin.  I slipped shaking fingers between the boulder and my shirt to peel the sticky, blood-soaked material away from the rock.  Feeling around, I winced at the furrow the bullet had plowed.  Air shuddered through my lips as fire radiated around my side.  Everything had been fine last night…

We dug into beans and talked about the trip.  Pa’s eyes lit up when he got to one subject.  “I think that section by Bear Flats will do just fine.” 

“Yeah.  That stand of trees is just what we need.”

“I’ll get to the land agents as soon as we get back.”

I gazed at the distant hills.  Once dark with pines, the mountains showed white, laid bare, stripped to the earth.  “It’s a miracle that stand is still there.” 

“We did what we could.”

The remorse in his voice had me turning to meet my father’s eyes.  Pa had done more than any man in the territory to protect the land.  “If it weren’t for you, there wouldn’t be a tree standing anywhere ‘round here.”

I swear, Pa blushed.  Tossing his coffee dregs aside, he said, “C’mon.  Let’s turn in.”

There’d been a dawn streaked with orange.  Sneaking across, I’d removed the extra blanket I’d slipped over Pa, tucking it back into the pack horse’s gear before stoking the fire.  Coffee, bacon, and beans were ready by the time Pa stirred.  He was making jokes about my poor cooking when they’d walked into camp…

Standing, we watched the two approach.  They were both young, and one trailed a lame horse.

Pa welcomed any man in need.  “Looks like you’ve got trouble.”

The taller one tipped back his hat.  “Yeah.  Darn horse.  We’ve been walking the last three miles.”

“You’re welcome to some coffee and breakfast.  We’ve got plenty.”

“Thanks.”

“Where’re you headed?”

The shorter one scratched the scruff of blond hair under his hat.  “The Ponderosa.”

“You’ve found it.  I’m Ben Cartwright.”

This could be their future boss.  They exchanged a glance.  Why was it off? 

“You’re Cartwright?” 

The change of stance was like a shift in the wind.  But it stood the hair on the back of my neck.  I caught Pa’s eyes.  He’d seen it too. 

“That’s right.”

“We heard you’re hiring.”

Pa pursed his lips and nodded, slow and long, while he shifted his tin cup from one hand to the other.  “Could be.  We’ve round-up coming soon.  You got experience?”

“We ain’t interested in punching cattle.”  My gaze shifted to the tall one.  Impatient, he was already through with the pretense.  “We know you’re rich, Old Man.  Hand over your money.”

How dumb were these two?  “Look around.”  A glare fixed on me.  “We’re on a pack trip.  How much money do you think we’re carrying?”

“More’n we’ve seen for a while, I bet.”

“Running from the law is no way to live.  I’ll give you work, and your horse can get the chance to rest and heal.”

Pa was always willing to give a man a second chance.  I wanted to believe he’d succeed, but these two already looked too fond of the easy life. 

“Working’s for suckers.  An’ I see three good horses right there.  An’ the law can’t chase without witnesses.”

There were no choices left.  When they reached, so did we.  Pa knew how to handle a gun, but this wasn’t the time for chances.  I aimed for his opponent first, then mine.

Noise and powder shook the air.  I staggered back.  My legs no longer able to hold me up.  Through the mist of gunfire, I saw them drop, but so did—

“Pa!”

The world spun away when I lurched upright.  Hitting the ground earned me a mouthful of dirt.  I fought the nausea down and cursed long and loud for being a fool.

“What’ve I told you about that kind of language?”  Lifting my head, I met my father’s eyes.  Blood covered one side of his face from where the bullet had grazed him, and yet he managed to joke and smile.  “You all right, Son?”

I pulled out a grin in return.  A few feet away were the upturned boots and lifeless bodies of our would-be killers.  “Better than them.”

Two dead over a few dollars and horses!  What a waste.  But they’d chosen their path. All we’d done was save ours.

I’d just as soon forget that long, slow, painful ride home.  When I could’ve quit, Pa pushed us on, and when he sagged in the saddle, it was my hand under his elbow keeping us moving forward.  But we made it down.  Together.

One shout brought Hoss, Candy, and Hop Sing running.  More than grateful for my brother’s strong arm to lean on, we made it inside to the welcome fire that took the chill off.

Leaving the bodies behind hadn’t sat well with Pa, but neither of us had been up to loading them on horses.  Candy would make the report when he went to town for the doc.  We’d leave it to Roy to bring them in.  

I won the tussle over who’d get taken care of first.  So, Hoss worked on Pa.  I must’ve looked rough because he kept telling me what a good job I’d done at cleaning the wound out, instead of chiding me for forgetting to cover it. 

Pa was a worse patient than me.  I bit my lip, watching him fight down his frustration as Big Brother’s fussing continued.  Then I remembered I was next.  But eventually we were done. 

When Hoss followed us to the stairs, Pa reached breaking point.  “Son, we can make it to our rooms by ourselves.”

Hoss never gave up that easy.  “Soon as it’s ready, I’ll have Hop Sing bring you up some supper.”

I gave him a wink and shuffled after Pa. 

He could grumble, but that didn’t stop me from seeing Pa to his bed.  When I returned to the door, he called my name.  He was smiling, but the relief in his eyes still flipped my stomach.  “It’s good to be home.”

“Sure is.”

I hovered in the doorway watching Pa settle into his bed.  The bandage shone stark against his skin.  We’d come close.  Too close.  But we’d survived, and for that, I was thankful. 

The End

[Feb 2026]