The Vortex

By Wanda Hargrove

Firefighter and Paramedic, John Gage, was finally leaving the state of California behind him. Heading out on his vacation, he'd heard there was some good fishing around Carson City Nevada.

Johnny was humming along to a tune on the radio as the highway began to weave its spell when it happened. Something black began swirling in the distance. Johnny sat up straighter, thinking it might be a tornado. What he didn't expect was the looming black vortex that formed in the road ahead of him. It was so unnatural.

He slammed on his brakes but it was a little too late. He entered the vortex. Being bounced around in his Rover was not something that he had looked forward to on his vacation. The darkness surrounded him as he slipped into unconsciousness.

Johnny awoke to find himself lying on the ground. Hey, where's my Rover? He slowly rose. Looking around his vehicle was nowhere in sight. Glancing down at his wrist he checked his watch-- it had stopped. What in the hell happened? he asked himself as looked around his surroundings.

The scenery was different from where he had been. Too many trees. He glanced around. His next thought was of exposure. I've got to find someplace to for the night. Being a paramedic he knew what risks he would be taking from being caught out in the open.

He now noticed the pounding in his head, as it joined with his other aches. Johnny groaned as he began to walk, to where he didn't know.

How long he'd walked was anyone's guess. He walked past a tree when he heard a metallic click, "Hold it right there, mister!" came a voice.

Johnny looked up to see a man dressed in black, mounted on a horse. There was a woman mounted on another horse next to the man in black. Johnny tried to speak but nothing would come out.

The pounding in his head grew worse, as his eyes rolled back and he fell to the ground. He lost consciousness again.

Adam and Sarah had been riding around the Ponderosa. Adam thought Sarah needed a little change of scenery, especially with all the things that had been going on. First there was the cattle drive where Sarah had disguised herself as a man so she could earn some money in an honest profession. Then came the day she had been shot and Adam found out that Sam wasn't really a man but a woman.

Her thoughts unknowingly echoing her husband's, Sarah smiled to herself. How things have changed so much. Her thoughts drifted back to the day that Adam had asked her to marry him.

Her thoughts moved forward to their wedding day. The wedding itself was beautiful, but once they got home, she'd seen one of Tulsa Weems pups hanging in the tree with the note from Bart. That had been frightening. Especially when Bart got his signals crossed and came after Adam when it was really Little Joe and herself the outlaw wanted to kill.

Then when she found Adam sprawled on the kitchen floor, and Bart had grabbed her it was like she was being forced to relive the attack when Bart's older brother, Hank, had forced himself upon her. She involuntarily shuddered at the thought of Bart's hands on her again.

But Bart was dead now. He had tried to take another shot at Adam. Adam had found Bart's hiding place, but Bart had forced the lead issue and Adam had no other recourse but to shoot the outlaw.

Adam pulled up Sport, and Sarah followed suit with Widowmaker, as a figure stepped out from between the trees. Adam wasn't taking any chances, not knowing if this was another friend or family of the outlaws who had made Adam, Sarah, and Little Joe's lives a living hell. Adam pulled his gun, clicking back the hammer he called, "Hold it right there, mister!"

The other man in question looked younger than Adam, but he also looked disoriented. Like maybe he didn't know where he was. Adam watched as his mouth tried to move, but no sound came out. The man in question just dropped to ground like a sack of potatoes and didn't move.

Adam reholstered his gun as he climbed down off of Sport. Checking the man out as best he could, he noticed a large bump on the side of the man's head, not to mention the bruising on the side of his face.

"We can't leave him here, he looks like he's been beaten pretty good." Adam hefted the man up and drug him over to Widowmakers side. "I'm gonna lift him up to you, I don't think Widowmaker will mind carrying double."

Sarah slid back and made some room as Adam hefted him up on the saddle. Once that task was accomplished, Adam mounted Sport and they turned their horses heading back to the house.

The wave motion was what attracted Johnny's attention, as he felt himself swaying as if on an ocean. He groaned as his eyes opened, taking in the head of the horse that was plodding along. That was when he felt the warmth of another body behind him.

Johnny reached out, desperate to stop the animal's movements. Grabbing the reins he stopped the animal, then leaned over and lost the contents of his stomach. He felt one hand holding his head, and another support him as he continued to heave. Finally exhausted, he leaned back again, grateful for the person sitting behind him. Closing his eyes he succumbed to the blackness again.

Adam and Sarah rode their horses up to the Cartwright house. Adam dismounted and took Johnny's weight as Sarah helped to slip the other man down off her mount. Ranch Foreman Candy Canady had run over as he noticed the injured man on Sarah's horse.

Giving Adam a hand, they manhandled the injured man into the house. Laying him down on the couch, Candy took one look at the bruising and whistled between his teeth.

"Where's Pa?" Adam asked as he turned to Candy.

"He's out supervising the branding of those new steers. Hoss and Joe was arguing over who was gonna do it."

Adam chuckled as Sarah walked into the house and stuck her head into the kitchen. "Hop Sing, could you bring me some a bowl of water and a few cloths?"

The Chinese man nodded, "Right away, Missy Cartwright."

Sarah gave both men her gaze that told them they'd better get out of her way, then she softened for a moment. "Candy, would you get Ben, and then ride to town and fetch back Doctor Crane?"

"Yes Ma'am," Candy called as he rushed out of the house.

"I'd better get Sport and Widowmaker cooled down," Adam called over his shoulder as he followed in Candy's wake.

Sarah knelt down beside the man on the couch. He was a little older than she was but yet younger than Adam. She frowned as she noticed his definite heritage, there was no mistaking that. I know Adam wouldn't understand, but he doesn't know that my mother didn't die of just an illness. She died by a Sioux arrow!

Hop Sing hurried in with the requested bowl of water and cloths. Setting it on the coffee table behind Sarah he scooted the table over so she would be able to reach the bowl easier. Taking the cloths she soaked one in the water and then wringing it out she began to wipe some of the dirt and sweat away from the man's face.

She winced at the bruising along the side of his face. Looks like he's taken a real bad blow. Slowly she opened his shirt noticing the odd bruising to his chest. This doesn't make sense, if he'd been thrown from a horse or even kicked the bruising would be different. Her brows knitted together in confusion.

At that moment Adam returned with his father in tow. "Do either of you know who he is, or where he came from?" Ben Cartwright asked.

"No, I've never seen him before in my life until today." Adam crossed his arms across his chest.

"Well, we can't just turn him out," Ben thought for a moment. Ben turned towards the kitchen, "Hop Sing, you want to come in here and give us a hand?"

Hop Sing came running in at a quick thing. "What you need, Mr. Cartwright?"

"Help me and Adam take him upstairs to the guest bedroom," Ben replied as he took the man's shoulders. Adam took his middle and Hop Sing his feet as they carried him upstairs to a guest bedroom that was next door to Adam and Sarah's room.

Johnny moaned as Adam and Ben laid him down, then eased his shirt off, taking in the bruising on the man's chest. Before either could comment, Johnny's eyes opened.

"How'd I get to the Wild West Show?" Johnny asked in a slurred voice as he lost consciousness again.

*~*~*

There was no telling how long it would take for Doctor Crane to arrive, and this man looked like he was getting worse. His complexion had paled quite considerably, and he stirred and moaned while calling for someone named 'Roy.'

Ben thought he might mean Sheriff Roy Coffee of Silver City. I wonder if he might be one of Roy's deputies? Although, he looks a little young.

Ben watched as the young man's eyes flew open again, as he writhed on the bed in pain. Looking straight in Ben's face, he gasped, "Stop the pain!"

"Where do you hurt?" Ben asked as he held him down on the bed.

Johnny heard Ben's question, but instead of the patriarch of the Cartwright family he saw the kindly face of Dr. Early. "Doc... my belly..." he moaned again as he grit his teeth against the pain. Suddenly he began to cough, a harsh ragged cough.

Ben watched as the coughing brought up some blood. Ben hastened out the door as Doctor Crane entered the house, with Candy following closely on the Doctor's heels. "Doctor Crane, you'd better hurry. Your patient is up here, and he just coughed up some blood." Ben turned to his eldest son. "Adam, get some hot water up here!"

The flurry of activity that ensued was almost hectic. Sarah sat in a corner of the guest room watching intently as Doctor Crane began to set out his instruments. No one noticed the brooding look on her face as she watched the helpless man on the bed.

Doctor Crane began his examination, he clucked his tongue at his findings. Glancing over at Ben, "I'm gonna have to open him up. He's definitely bleeding internally and his coughing sounds like he might have a punctured lung."

Ben nodded at the doctor's assessment. "Is there anything I can do?"

"Yes you can give him a little bit of this," Crane replied as he handed him a small bottle. "Don't open it until I tell you and don't breath any of it. It's ether."

Doctor Crane tied an apron to himself and then rolled his sleeves up. Placing his instruments into a basin he poured whiskey over them to sterilize them. Finally he was ready. "All right Ben, now drop the ether one drop at a time on this cloth so he can breath the fumes."

Ben complied with Crane's orders as the doctor picked up his scalpel and began his incision. Blood oozed as he cut deeper. He stuck his hands into the incision and began to feel around, moving organs out of his way to find the bleeder. Removing his hands from the incision he retrieved his needle and thread, ignoring the blood that was all the way up to his elbows.

"I was right, he did have a punctured lung." Doctor Crane repaired the punctured area and set the ribs. Moving around again he found the bleeder in the abdomen and repaired it. Rethreading his needle again, he began to sew the incision closed and bandaged the area.

Rinsing his instruments off he set about washing his hands and arms off. Ben took that as his cue to stop with the ether. Capping the bottle he handed it back to Crane as the doctor finished drying off his hands.

"Will he make it?" Ben asked, concerned.

"It's now up to him. I've done everything that's humanly possible for him. Although, I'm still confused as to the bruising on his chest here. What do you suppose caused that?"

Ben shrugged his shoulders in response to the doctor’s question.

Doctor Crane handed Ben a bottle of medicine. "Here, make sure he takes this. Mix a spoonful in a small glass of water and make him drink it down. Too much and it might kill him in his weakened condition.

Ben took the bottle, "Thanks Doc, I'll either make sure he takes it or Sarah will."

"Well, I see he's in good hands so I'll be leaving. Just remember to keep him warm, he's lost a lot of blood," the doctor replied as he turned to leave the room. "Oh and if there's a problem send someone for me."

Ben mixed the first dose and lifted the unconscious man and gently pried his mouth open. Slowly he poured it in making certain that his house guest swallowed and didn't choke. Easing the man back down in the bed he covered him up.

Johnny floated in the darkness of his mind. Not knowing where he was, but it sure wasn't Rampart. The bed was too soft to be Rampart. But where was Roy? He'd been calling for Roy and he hadn't appeared.

Did I do something to make him mad at me? Why can't I remember what happened to me?

He remembered seeing a man dressed in black and a woman in what looked like a gingham dress. But that can't be. Gingham hasn't been used as dress material in about a hundred years.

He grimaced at the taste of something foul being poured into his mouth, but normal reactions to swallow took over and he drank every drop of the potion. He would have liked to have spit it out, but he was too deeply drugged from the ether.

He called again through the darkness, Roy? Roy, where are you!?

Ben tried to quiet the man in the bed, he kept calling for someone named Roy. Looking up at Sarah he called her over. "See if you can keep him quiet so he can rest. I'm sending someone into town to get Sheriff Coffee."

Sarah nodded as she came over and tucked the blanket in around the man. He kept moaning and calling for Roy. She rested a hand to his forehead, feeling a fever beginning. "Ben," she called to her retreating father-in-law's back, "you might want to get Doc Crane out here again. He's running a fever."

Ben nodded, as he walked out the door. Closing the door behind him he never noticed the expression on Sarah's face as she fingered the medicine bottle.

A battle of wills raged inside the young woman. She thought about her mother, and how easy it would be to add a little more of the required dosage to snuff out his life. But what would Adam think? Would he still love her if she carried this out. Her love for Adam won over her will to take the life of a man she didn't know.

Besides, she thought, he might be a good man.

Setting the bottle down she wet a cloth, and began to wipe Johnny down, trying to cool the fever that was beginning to rage within his body. Johnny opened up his eyes and looked at the face of the woman standing over him. She reminded him of one of the nurses he'd dated at Rampart.

Reaching out he gently stroked her face, "Sharon?" he asked quietly.

"No, it's Sarah," she replied as she took his hand and placed it back under the blanket again.

Johnny looked around, confusion clearly written across his face as he tried to find out where he was. "Roy?" he asked.

"Ben sent someone to get Sheriff Coffee, and Doc Crane back as soon as possible."

Johnny's eyes closed again as she wiped the perspiration from his brow as his fever increased. I hope they get back here soon.

Ben left the room leaving Sarah behind to take care of the injured man. He didn't like the way things were going. Heading down the stairs he noticed that Adam and Dr. Crane were sharing a few words. Breathing a sigh of relief he called down to the doctor, "Tom, he's running a fever."

Doctor Crane looked up at Ben, "I was afraid of that. I'm kinda glad that Adam detained me." Crane retrieved his medical bag and headed up the stairs passing Ben.

Ben continued to descend. "Where's Candy?"

Adam smirked, "He said he'd better go out to see how the branding was going before Hoss and Joe used the branding irons on each other."

Ben smiled slightly at Adam's comment. "I need someone to head to Virginia City and bring back Sheriff Coffee. I don't know if the man is asking for him or not, but he keeps asking for a man named Roy."

"Sounds like it." Adams face showed his concern for the stranger upstairs. "How's he doing, really?"

"Not good at all. He's developed a fever, and it sounded to me like his breathing was getting ragged like pneumonia," Ben frowned.

Adam decided to change the subject for a moment, "I'll ride into Virginia City and bring back Roy."

Ben nodded at his son's suggestion, "Thanks Adam." Ben turned to stare at the map of the Ponderosa along the wall behind his desk. He never heard the door close as he thought about the stranger up in the guest room. He's all alone with a bunch of strangers helping him. I don't even know what his name is...

Sarah moved aside to make room for Doctor Crane. Deciding to make herself scarce, she went to pick up the man's clothes that had been removed. Picking the bundle up, something fell out of his back pocket. She picked the object up and placed it in a pocket on her dress. She'd check it out later.

Taking the bundle of clothes down the stairs she headed out back and got wash tub ready to scrub his clothes clean. Washing clothes was a chore she didn't really enjoy, but she knew it had to be done. Grabbing the washboard she started scrubbing the clothes, the harder she scrubbed the redder her hands became.

Wringing out the shirt she hung it on the clothesline. Closely followed by his jeans. Drying her hands she pulled the out the object in her pocket. Opening it up she saw a badge, like none other that she'd ever seen. Then she saw his identification card and read the name. John Gage.

She placed the wallet back into her pocket deciding to wait until Sheriff Coffee got there. He might know what kind of badge it was.

Adam rode Sport hard at a fast gallop. He didn't have time to waste. For all he knew the stranger could be dying. Rounding the a bend in the road he rode down the main street and hopped off Sport before coming to a complete stop.

Sheriff Roy Coffee was, at that moment, leaving his office when a stir of dust caused him to look in Adam's direction. "Adam? What brings you here in such a rush?"

"We've got a man out at the Ponderosa. He's been hurt real bad and Pa sent me out here to fetch you back. The man keeps calling for someone named Roy."

Coffee thought for a moment mentally going over his list of deputies. "None of them are missing, but if it helps I'll ride back to the Ponderosa with you."

"Thanks Roy, we'd better hurry. Pa said he was in really bad shape. May even die before we get back."

"Then what are we waitin' round here for!" Roy replied urgently.

As the sun was beginning to set behind the trees, Sarah heard the sound of two horses rapidly approaching at the gallop. She sighed in relief as she watched the man she loved jump off of his horse. "Pa's waiting inside."

Sarah ran to Adam's arms and stopped Roy before he could enter the house. "I don't know if this will help, but it fell out of his pocket when I went to wash his clothes." She didn't remark on how strangely the clothes were made.

Sheriff Coffee took the wallet and entered the house leaving Sarah and Adam to watch as the sun began to sink down below the horizon, coloring the clouds a brilliant reddish gold hue. With the sky adding purples and blues, it was picture perfect scenery.

She turned to Adam and commented quietly, "You need to take a bath."

Adam grinned toward her lecherously, "I do, don't I. "How about you joining me?"

She rose to her full 5 foot 6 inch height and slapped him playfully. "Not on your life, mister." Then she frowned as the moment was broken and glanced up towards the open window of the guest room. The man up there continued to moan and call out for Roy.

Once he'd scared her as he sat up in bed and stared straight at her, and yelled at the top of his lungs "ROY! LOOK OUT!"

She looked up at Adam, "He's gonna die, ain't he?"

Adam shushed her by placing a finger across her lips. "Shh. Let's not speak of it until it happens." Then he bent down taking her mouth with his.

Sheriff Coffee entered the house and opened the wallet, he checked out the badge, reading County of Los Angeles Fire Department. His brows furrowed in confusion, then he pulled out the laminated license. Turning it over in his hand as he felt the material. I've never felt anything like this before.

Turning it back over he looked at the smiling face on the card and read the name. John R. Gage. He looked at the date on the card where it read expiration date. September 1977.

He taped the card into his palm then placed it back into the wallet. He slipped it into his pocket for safe keeping, as Ben hurried down the stairs. "Roy I'm so glad you got here..."

Roy stopped him from saying more. "Ben I've solved one part of the mystery about the man upstairs. His name is John Gage, but that's about all I know."

"At least now we know what his name is." Ben replied leading the way to guest room. Ushering the Sheriff in he asked. "Do you know who he is? Maybe a lawman you might know?"

"I don't have a clue as to who he is, just know his name."

Johnny's breathing became more ragged as the night progressed. Tom exited the room for a minute as he found the Cartwrights all gathered in the hallway. Tom shook his head sadly, "I really don't think he's going to make it till dawn."

Sarah knew what was needed and went into the room taking John Gage's measurements. Finding some heavy material and thread she sat on a stool in the hallway sewing.

The others realized she was probably right sewing a funeral shroud but it certainly made them all feel uneasy. Around midnight she shooed the others to bed. "You all aren't going to be up to doing anything tomorrow if you don't get some sleep."

Reluctantly, the others went to bed. Sarah looked up as a presence made its way into the hallway. It was Hop Sing bringing her a cup of his coffee. Wordlessly he handed it to her as he took the sewing she was working on and went to finish it himself.

Silently, they both sat together as the hours ticked on.

Johnny continued to float in his mind as he felt a presence, one he had not felt in years. Opening his eyes he saw his mother standing at the foot of the bed. She looked at him and smiled. "It's not your time to leave this world."

He felt her touch him, and for the first time since he had found himself in this odd place he slept peacefully, as he felt his mother's strength flowing through his body.

A rooster crowed in the distance woke Tom up. He yawned, stretched and went to check on his patient. Surprisingly his breathing sounding better, and his fever was going down. Tom opened the door and looked out into the hallway finding Sarah still sitting at her post with the finished shroud in her lap.

Tom smiled down on her as she looked up at him. "We won't be needing that. I don't know how but he managed to make it through the night."

Days passed as Johnny mended. Finally he was allowed to get out of bed. His legs were wobbly as Joe supported Johnny's weight and helped him down the stairs to the breakfast table where everyone else was already seated. Johnny's six foot one frame towered over Little Joe's a bit.

Johnny took in his surroundings, including the huge wall map of the Ponderosa behind the desk as they passed the area that Ben used as his office. Little Joe steered Johnny over to a chair.

Although, Johnny ate a little, his appetite still hadn't returned to normal yet. Ben leaned back, sipping his coffee. "It's good to see you up and around, John."

Johnny smiled, "It's good to be among the land of the living. Could you please call me Johnny? I never could quite get used to being called John."

"Johnny it is then," Ben replied. "These are my sons." Ben began pointing each one out. "Adam, my oldest. Eric, who we call Hoss, and Joseph. This is Sarah, Adam's wife."

Johnny nodded to each one. "Uh... If you don't mind my asking, where is this place?"

"Not at all Johnny," Ben smiled as he put his coffee cup down on the table. "This is the Ponderosa and we're located in between Carson City and Virginia City." Ben arched an eyebrow as he asked, "Where are you from, Johnny?"

"I'm from Los Angeles, California. But I was born and raised in Montana."

"Small world," Ben commented, "Sarah was also raised in Montana territory."

The days turned into weeks as Johnny was pronounced fit. He helped around the Ponderosa as much as he could, but still didn't understand. Where's all the cars? There should be cars.
Today found Johnny and the Cartwrights on the road to Virginia City. Sarah had loaned Johnny Widowmaker. The black took some time getting used to, but Widowmaker proved to be a spirited, but obedient, animal.

Johnny rode in between Ben and Little Joe, while Adam and Sarah rode in the buckboard. Hoss brought up the rear on Chub. Johnny smiled to himself when he found out that the animal had earned his name honestly, his appetite matched that of his rider.

They rode into Virginia City when Johnny smelled a vary familiar smell-- one he instantly recognized. Smoke! He urged Widowmaker forward as he called over a shoulder, "Something's on fire!"

Heading out to the outskirts of town, he spotted a barn burning. Sheriff Coffee was holding back a hysterical mother who kept fighting to get away from him. "Jesse! Jesse, my son is trapped inside!" The townspeople had created a bucket brigade but it was too little. Johnny wished he had Engine 51 backing him up.

Johnny jumped off Widowmaker and ran into the barn. He yelled for Jesse as he quickly searched the first floor of the barn. Finding no sign of the boy, he climbed up the ladder to the hay loft. Searching through the hay he found the boy, unconscious.

Picking the boy up, Johnny heard the beams of the roof creak as the fire raged closer. He didn't have time to climb down the ladder. Grabbing the rope used to lift bales of hay into the loft Johnny swung down outside the barn with the boy lashed to his middle as the roof collapsed.

Quickly untying the rope Johnny laid the boy down. Not finding any sign of breathing he tilted Jesse's head back making sure his airway was clear. Then he began mouth to mouth.

Doctor Crane arrived on the scene, he would have probably given the boy up for dead until he noticed Jesse's eyes open. Johnny sat back on his knees as the mother thanked him profusely for saving her son life's.

Doctor Crane looked at Johnny for an explanation. Johnny simply responded with, "He breathed in too much smoke and needed someone to breath for him."

Sheriff Coffee clapped Johnny on the shoulder as he stood. "That was a mighty fine thing you did." Coffee remembered the wallet and handed it over to Johnny.

Johnny examined it to be certain all the contents were still there. Placing it in his back pocket he replied, "Thanks Sheriff, I don't think the department would like understand if I lost my badge."

Sheriff Coffee's confusion was clearly written on his face, "Well, I don't quite understand what you said but it sure sounds like you don't want to lose that."

Johnny grinned as he joined the Cartwrights.

"Before we go anywhere you might want to wash up," Ben smiled.

Johnny glanced down at his reflection and grinned at his soot covered face. The Cartwrights laughed with the exception of Sarah. He seems to be a caring man, a lot better than the group who attacked the wagon train and killed Momma.

One week later Johnny, Adam, Little Joe and Hoss were working on rounding up some of the horses for a sale to the Army. One of the animals was acting skittish and Adam moved Sport in a little too close. The animal reared, screaming shrilly as it announced its fear. Its front hooves kicked out catching Adam in the shoulder and knocking him off Sport. Adam looked up seeing the hooves flailing out at him.

Adam rolled away as Johnny leapt from Widowmaker, landing on the other animal. Grabbing two handfuls of mane he pushed with his forearms across the skittish animal’s neck forcing it down to the ground. Leaping off, he quickly assessed Adam's injury. "Well, it looks like you might have a broken shoulder." Johnny placed Adam's hand inside his shirt to stabilize the injured shoulder.

He helped Adam up onto Sport’s back and leaned over, grabbing the reins. He led Sport at a slow rate, not wanting to jar the shoulder anymore than it was already. Johnny grinned as he heard Adam mutter, "Stupid jar head. Just my luck that horse was skittish."

Johnny glanced over at Adam taking in his pain filled face. Silently he wished for just five milligrams of MS to ease his pain. "Remind me to tell you what happened when this one guy I work with broke his shoulder and my partner had to have his tonsils removed. He couldn't speak and Kelly wouldn't shut up. I sure felt sorry for Roy."

Seeing Adam's confused look Johnny made a comment, "Roy DeSoto, my partner and best friend."

"In Los Angeles?" Adam asked.

"Yeah," Johnny returned wishing again he had the squad and his partner Roy on hand. Silently they continued riding until they stopped by the barn.

Johnny helped Adam off Sport, and helped him into the house. Sarah was the first to meet them as they came into the house. "What happened?!" She demanded.

Adam smiled painfully at his young wife. "I got too close to a skittish horse and he got me with his shoulder. I would have probably been a dead man if Johnny hadn't acted so quickly."

Johnny just grinned at Adam and replied cryptically, "It's all part of the job of being a rescue man." Not to mention the paramedic training, he thought silently. Johnny helped Sarah guide Adam up the stairs to their bedroom.

Sarah took over the care of her husband as Johnny left the room quietly. Damn him! He let Adam get hurt! He's just as bad as those animals who killed my Momma! I didn't think he was, but he is. Her eyes narrowed to slits as she looked out her bedroom window, watching Johnny take care of Sport for Adam. I'll get even with you for this! she silently vowed.

Johnny finally got his first glimpse of a newspaper. He noticed the date on it, April 7th, 1870. Johnny sank down into a chair, his expression stunned. It can't be, it just can't! How in the hell am I gonna get back home to my time?

Sarah ran down the steps after settling Adam in the bed. "You've got to go and get Doctor Crane, quickly!" she made her tone urgent as she hid her sly smile. I've got just the thing here that'll make you pay,she thought as she fingered the object in the pocket of her dress.

A crack of thunder clapped in the distance, heralding the coming storm. Johnny rose and followed Sarah outside as she went to Widowmaker. Johnny never really paid attention that she had gone to the side of the animal first, before going up the animal’s head and grabbing the headstall of the bridle.

"You take good care of Johnny!" she whispered and then silently chuckled to herself evilly as he mounted Widowmaker.

Johnny turned Widowmaker as Sarah released the headstall and headed the animal out onto the rode to Virginia City. They hadn't made it too far away from the Ponderosa when Widowmaker began to side step and scream as if something were hurting him.

Another clap of thunder, closer this time and followed by a flash of lightning, only intensified the animal's suffering.

Widowmaker, thinking Johnny was hurting him, screamed again. He reared violently throwing Johnny off. Johnny got up and tried to calm the animal. The horse threw his front hooves out menacingly, screaming his anger and pain.

More thunder and then the heavens let loose with a heavy rain, as Widowmaker turned and headed for the Ponderosa. Johnny was going to head back when he was confronted by the same swirling, black mass he'd seen that fateful day he found himself on the Ponderosa.

With a sucking sound, he was grabbed and yanked into the Vortex.

Johnny awoke to find himself on the side of the road. He heard an engine running, and got up to find his Rover sitting there. He glanced down at his watch, and saw that the day was the same day he'd left LA for his vacation.

Was it all a dream? Did it all really happen?

He patted his shirt pocket finding something there that hadn't been there before. It was a folded up piece of newspaper with the date still intact. April 7th, 1870. He climbed into his Rover and turned it around heading back to LA. There's some things I'd like to know about, but this isn't one of them!

The End?

Catch a ride back to the Flight Deck...