The Wandering One

Chapter 1

Terrin slid off her horse, lurching and falling to her knees as her feet hit the ground. She shook her head and, gripping her horse's mane, managed to pull herself back into an upright position. She agonizingly staggered her way to the large oak door of the ranch house in front of her. Her trembling fist managed two knocks before the girl collapsed in an unconscious heap.

Adam was passing by the entryway when he heard something akin to a soft thud on the door. Curious, he opened the door to find a person lying in a heap on the ground. He scooped the figure up quickly while hollering, "Pa! come quick!".

Adam quickly brought the figure into a bedroom on the main floor and gently set the person down on the bed as his father, Ben came racing in, out of breath.

"What's going on Adam? Who is this?"

"I don't know. I found them on the ground at the front door."

Adam quickly took a moment to really look at the figure lying on the bed. It was a girl! She had short black hair and tanned skin as if she spent the majority of her time outdoors. She was wearing a ragged pair of mens trousers and a shirt that was practically rags. Her feet were clad in moccasins.

Adam's father acted quickly, calling out for Adam's younger brother.

"Hoss! Get in here!" He then turned to Adam, "Saddle up and ride to Doc Martin's as fast as you can."

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Adam, Ben, and Hoss all waited impatiently in the study. Doc Martin had been with the girl for two hours now and they were all getting anxious. They barely spoke a word to each other, each caught up in their own thoughts. All three wondering where this girl came from, who she was, why she was dressed so oddly. Adam thought about the girl's horse that he had discovered standing right where the girl had left him. When he and the doc arrived back at the Ponderosa and Doc had kicked them all out of the girl's room, Adam and Hoss had seen to her horse, or rather had tried to. The horse wouldn't allow either brother to get near it, shying and running away anytime they would get within ten feet. All the boys had managed to do was to get the saddle blanket off of his back. That was another thing that puzzled Adam, there was no saddle to be seen, no bridle either. Just a beautiful black stallion with a saddle blanket on its back.

All three practically leapt to their feet as they heard a door open and rushed to the study doorway. All three sighed disappointedly as they saw that it was just Joe, the youngest of the three boys.

"Well gee, don't look so happy to see me now" he muttered, following up with, "What's got you all so tense? And what's with the wild stallion in front of the house?"

Ben quickly explained all that had transpired that day while Little Joe was in town picking up fencing supplies. When he finished, Joe joined his brothers and father in their waiting. Five minutes later, Doc Martin came in.

"Well she's in mighty rough shape, Ben. At least four broken ribs that are mercifully already a couple weeks healed, bullet hole in her shoulder that was poorly bandaged, and she's running a pretty nasty fever. I wrapped her ribs and took the bullet out. Now the only thing I'm truly worried about is her fever. If that doesn't clear up within a few days, it could leave lasting damage."

Ben rubbed his face, worry etched into his features. "What can we do Doc?"

"Stay with her, change out the cold compresses, and wait. Come and get me immediately if her condition worsens. I'll stop by again tomorrow morning to check on her otherwise."

Ben clasped Doc's hand and walked him out thanking him as Adam went to the girl's room. He sat by the bed and took her in more fully. She was tall, and looked to be in her early twenties. Her short hair was mussed up but somehow suited her face shape. Her long black eyelashes drew attention to her eyes. She was pretty, not in the showgirl or fancy lady sort of way, but in a natural almost wild way.

Adam was pulled from his thoughts as Ben entered the room and took the chair next to him. Ben sat for a few moments, taking in the girl with a thoughtful look on his face. When he spoke, it was almost too soft for Adam to hear.

"What life must she have led to end up like this. Is there no one looking for her?" He reached out and brushed an unruly lock of hair off her forehead. He spoke again, loud enough for Adam to hear clearly this time.

"Stay with her Adam, I'm going to ride into town and speak with the sheriff. Maybe someone's been looking for her. Her family must be worried sick. I'll get Hoss to bring you a basin of cold water."

Hoss walked in minutes after Ben exited with the promised basin of water and a few washcloths.

"How's she doing Adam? You think she'll be ok?" The large man's brow was furled with concern. Hoss had always had a soft spot for injured creatures.

"No change yet, Hoss. She's real warm. She hasn't so much as twitched a muscle." Adam placed the basin on the side table and soaked a cloth in the cool water. After wringing it out, he placed it gently on the sleeping girl's forehead. When it got warm, he switched it with a fresh one.