Many years ago i read a western book. I dont remember the author or name of said book. What I remember is this. main character is a younger boy at beginning of book. Wagon/wagontrain is attacked by and destroyed. Boy survives. Goes into mountains/hills to live. Carves out a cave using fathers hammer and chisel. Adopts a baby bear which he play fights every day when he is older. Boy now man is very strong and very wiry. Wants a horse and ends up breaking a horse named sidewinder. So named cause horse jumps sideways.
Looking for the name of book and author. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you all very much.