As they left the coulee Garrett let his horse pick her way through the trees till they got back to his game trail. Upon reaching the trail he nudged his horse for a little more speed so they could get home before any of the men returned and follow them and before he passed out.
They rode the trail hard until where he left his pack mule. Stopping at the trap line, Garrett gently laid her forward upon his horse so he could dismount. Gathering the pelts he left when he went to save Genisis, what seemed like ages ago now, pelts that he didn’t want other trappers to steal, as it had happened before to both himself and Red. Gathering the pelts up and tying them to the mule and the mule reins to his saddle, Garrett remounted his horse and once again eased her back into his warm arms. With his arms around her, Garrett gently kicked his horse and slowly made their way out of the forest and back onto the path home.
Few feet from his trap line Genisis started to squirm in his arms, though she was still unconscious and burning with fever her dreams told her to fight. Fight her way free from the men she still believed had her.
“Please, don’t… touch me” Genisis mumbled as she tried to squirm out of his arms.
“Genisis…” Garrett whispered as he softly stroked her hair as he stopped his horse. “You are safe with me… I have you now.”
“Don't hit me. Please don't hit me.”
“Don’t worry, my young, naive girl no one will ever lay a hand on you. This I promise you from now until my last breath.”
He couldn’t explain how but his words somehow broke through her fever. With Genisis settling down Garrett nudged his horse onward and continued on toward his cabin. After a while the motion of the horse appeared to settle her down for the time being. Looking down he saw that she had drifted back off to sleep.
The journey was slow not only because his horse was carrying a double load but she was also already tired from all of the climbing. Just before he reached the top of ridge that over looked his home he gave a high pitched shrill whistle, one that was only used when either Red or he were in trouble. After warning Red to his need, he let his horse descend the hill at her own pace, eventually making their way down to the cabin.
No sooner he heard the shrill whistle, Red dropped what he was doing and came running out of the cabin as if a bear was chasing him. Even from a distance he could see his son was carrying something or someone, only he couldn’t really tell. Running with all the speed his old legs could muster, he met his son half way up the hill only to stop in his tracks. Seeing in his sons arms a woman, and not just any woman but the one Garrett loved since he first laid eyes on her.
“What happened!!?” Red shouted as he quickly examined Genisis but could see only minor cuts and bruises, apart from her wound behind her ear. The blood she loss was great, even an old mountain man like him could see that since her dress, skin was covered in blood and growing cold.
“Are you alright, my son?”
“I’m alright father.” Garrett replied as his father took a quick look at his son seeing only cuts to his face through the drying mud that covered his face.
“You need a bath…” Red joked.
Though he joked Red could not see the blood stained shirt that his sons coat and Genisis’s body covered.
Winching slightly in pain hiding the pain from Red, Garrett nodded “I guess so…father we have to get her inside.”
“Alright, my son.”
By the time they got down to their valley floor, the cabin door seemed to get further and further away. At least through Garrett’s eyes, the amount of blood he lost was starting to take its toll for he was getting light headed. Yet he shook it off so that Red would not see or worry so much about him and focus solely on Genisis and her pain.
Gently as he could Garrett lowered Genisis into his father’s awaiting arms, where his father’s arms were strong his were barely hold her. Red held her until Garrett got down from his steed and passed her back to him, while he tended to the animals. Carrying her inside the cabin with what little strength he had left, and laying her on his bed Garrett took off her boots. Not wanting her to get any colder he picked up a blanket to cover her broken and bruised body. His legs barely got him to the settee, as he sat down; rather fell down Garrett’s eyes rolled back into his head. With all his strength now gone, he to fell unconscious, waiting for Red to come back.
While Garrett was tending to Genisis, Red took the horse and mule to the barn, mumbling to the horse how his son gave him such a fright. A fright that almost made his old heart stop ticking. Stripping the saddle and blanket off the horse he rubbed her down then threw some hay in the pen as well as a pail of water. Turning to the mule he did the same thing for the animals deserved it for bringing his son back and saving Genisis. Grabbing the pelts he headed to the shed where they will stored with the rest until the next trip.
As he threw the pelts onto the shelf ledge, a sudden feeling of doom crept over him a doom he felt a long time ago. Half walking half running Red headed back into the cabin, entering he saw both were okay, exhausted but okay. Looking around the cabin he saw Genisis in Garrett’s bed while he sat on the settee. Going straight to the bed he saw that she was unconscious but alive. Something she would have to arouse from on her own. Despite Genisis being a woman Red couldn’t help but care for his son first before anyone else because he was his son.
“Garrett, what happen out there.” said Red as he walked toward the settee. But there was no answer only silence.
Gently shaking him Red asked “Garrett?”
But the silence remained as his limp body fell forward. Quickly catching him before he fell on the floor Red noticed the blood on his side.
“No!” shouted Red.
“Not my son, oh please lord not my son. Not again.”
Wasting not a second longer, Red laid his son back down on the settee, tearing his shirt off and saw the deep wound below his ribs. Staring at the gaping wound and the blood that continuously drained from it tears ran down from the harden mountain man’s eyes. Wiping the tears from his eyes and gently stroking his sons face, all Red could think about was why did it have to be his son.
“Don’t worry son I will take care of you. You will not die, do you hear me? You will not die.”
Hurrying to the stove he took the already boiled water for coffee and poured it into the bowls he took from the cupboard. In one bowl he mixed salt in order to sterilize the wounds. Along with some cloths and bandages from the storeroom shelves. Taking everything he went back to his son to attend him and hopefully save his life once again.
“You did this. You just had to ignore his warning, you child. Now you will have to wait.” Red mumbled stopping in front of his son’s stolen bed. “My son comes first, not you.”
Placing the bowl, cloth and bandages on the stand, he went back to get a knife to cut off Garrett clothes. Kneeling beside his son and as gently as he could Red removed the coat first before cutting his shirt off. With the shirt cut away Red was not only shocked but appalled by the bruises his son’s body was covered in.
All result of the fight.
The bruises were not the only thing that surprised him for there was another less severe knife wound to his left shoulder, a wound that would heal on its own. Through his heavy sighs Red took a wet cloth and washed away the mud and blood. Eventually his son face started to shine through the mud, a sight that made Red tear up more because he looked so young. Almost as if all his hard years had been erased and his life was new again.
“My son…My Garrett. My Little Wolf.” Red cried out kissing his sons warming forehead.
Fever had set in.
Turning his attention to the wound Red washed it as best he could with the hot water and salt mixture. The mixture seemed to slow the bleeding down enough for Red to grab his needle and sew the wound together since this would be the only way such a deep wound could heal. Once this was sewn Red cleaned the rest of the cuts and slash on Garrett’s body making sure that none would get infected. Placing a healing poultice on the deep knife wound Red bandaged it tightly to keep it in place but leaving all the rest to heal naturally since they were all minor and would scar over in time.
“Lord, watch over and protect my son once more. He saved a life at the cost of his own…” Red started to recite a prayed as he covered his son. Asking for the heavens to watch over and protect him from death.
Collecting fresh water and salt mixture Red turned his attention to Genisis. Sitting beside her he pulled the blanket back and started to wipe the dirt and blood from her face as well as her arms. Rolling her onto her side, he wiped the blood from the back of her neck and examined the wound behind her ear better than before. In the light he saw that the gash was not that deep and the bleeding had almost stopped.
“You’ll be fine, when you wake.” Red patted her shoulder knowing that she would be out for several days which wasn’t good yet better than the alternative. Pulling the blanket up he recovered her up and placed a cold cloth across her eyes to reduce their swelling.
Her eyes were nearly swollen shut from the beating.
Looking at her face it was going to be a while before the swelling go down. Her lips were also split from the beating. Looking at her Red knew she was a complete mess but he also knew it could have been a lot worse.
For the first time in a long while Red found himself once again caring for children. Despite being adult he still saw both as children. Leaving Genisis for now Red went back to check and see if his son's wound was still bleeding. Pulling back the blanket he saw only a few small spots on the bandage.
“Damn near gave me a heart attack boy!” Red laughed not out of humor rather joy as he kiss Garrett forehead once more before taking a whiskey bottle from the cupboard and taking a well-deserved long drink.
Staring into the night Red somehow knew that this was only the beginning of a story long in its tale. A tale that perhaps would not have a happy ending or it just might. Time and future is something that no one could predict. Taking one last drink he headed for bed to get some rest for morning would be here early and so too would trouble.
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