Summary:  Just what was Adam supposed to do when he returned to Virginia City only to hear malicious talk concerning Hoss?

Rating:  K+  (1,400 words)

The Jury… A Missing Scene

The day was approaching evening when Adam Cartwright road into Virginia City. He and his younger brother Joe had just delivered a small herd of cattle to Carson City. When the buyer notified them that he would be delayed until Monday, the brothers flipped a coin and Adam won the right to return and spend a couple of days at home.

As he rode down the main street he decided that, although he preferred the food at The International Hotel , he would stop at the Sazerac and have something to eat. He didn’t think the hotel would welcome him in his dirty work clothes. By eating in town, Hop Sing would have not need to be upset when he arrived home long after dark.

He pulled Sport to a stop and swung down from the saddle. ‘Oh,’ he thought,’ it feels good to walk around’. He tied his mount to the rail, stretched to relieve his aching back and after a quick scratch behind Sport’s ears, crossed the boardwalk and made his way through the doors of the saloon. The bar was crowded with the usual early evening patrons; miners and cowboys, lumberjacks and, of course, the saloon girls.

Adam quickly looked around and spotted an empty table along the back wall. He stopped at the bar and asked Charlie, the barkeep, to draw him a beer and to put on a steak for him. Charlie nodded, drew the beer and yelled Adam’s order to the cook.

Taking his beer with him, he made his way to the empty table, greeting several men as he passed by. He was puzzled by some of the looks that were sent his way. After he passed some of the tables, he noticed the men bending their heads together and speaking in hushed tones, while sending glances in his direction.

‘Well,” he thought, ‘I wonder what’s happened in the few days that I’ve been out of town? The people are certainly acting strangely.’

As he seated himself, he took off his hat and, after placing it on the table, took a long drink of his cool beer. He leaned back in his chair and just let himself relax.

After several minutes, his meal was delivered and, as he started to cut his steak, he was sure he heard some one say ‘Hoss’. He tried to concentrate on the voices around him without being too obvious about it. Yes, there is was again. Something about Hoss taking a bribe. Well, Adam knew that couldn’t be true. His big brother would the the last person in the world to take a bribe. He laid his fork down and stared at the man he thought had made that outrageous statement. The man’s voice was slowly getting louder and louder. And, Adam was right, he was repeating his statement again. Adam couldn’t allow this to go on any longer. He slowly got to his feet and walked over to a nearby table. The man didn’t even glance at him, just kept repeating how the only reason Jamie Wren had not been convicted and hanged already was because Hoss Cartwright had taken a bribe.

Adam took a deep breath and confronted the speaker. ” I think you’d better take that statement back, sir. Hoss Cartwright would never take a bribe.”

The man look up at Adam with a smile. “I don’t know who you are, mister, but Hoss Cartwright was found with money that was taken from old man Olsen’s place. Olsen even identified it. He marks all his money and that there mark was on the bill that was in Cartwright’s pocket. So, you tell me, mister, how did he get it if he didn’t take a bribe from that Jamie Wren. He’s been tying up the jury by not voting guilty. He’s the one that’s keeping that murdering no-account from hanging.”

“The money could have been planted on him, to make him look guilty,” Adam fired back through clenched teeth. ” I know, no matter how it looks, Hoss wouldn’t take a bribe.”

The accuser laughed out loud this time. “Well, mister, we all know that the Wren fella is as guilty as sin. He’s always in trouble. Really didn’t need a trial. Shoulda just hung him and got it over with. Poor old Elmer lost his only brother and I don’t want to hear ya defending that Cartwright fella, either. He oughta be in jail right along with Wren.” The men around him muttered their agreement.

Adam tired hard to hold onto his temper. Losing it wouldn’t help matters. “Look, I know Hoss and I know that you are wrong.”

“Look, mister…by the way, what is your name anyways? You’re defending this Cartwright fella. You some kinda relative or something?”

Several people around the loud mouth laughed. He look puzzled and said to the nearest man, “What’s so funny? You fellas know this guy?”

“Yeah, we know him. Everyone in Virginia City knows him. That’s Adam Cartwright. He’s Hoss’ older brother.”

“His brother!! Well, no wonder he’s defendin’ him. Probably got some of the bribe money hisself.”

That did it. Adam closed his eyes for a moment, trying to calm himself and not take any foolish action. No, it wasn’t going to work this time. They had dirtied his brother’s name and he just couldn’t let that stand.

He reached out, grabbed the spokesman for the group by the shirtfront and planted his right fist on the man’s chin. That brought two of the other men from their seats. When it was over, all three were arrayed in various positions on the floor. Adam stood shaking his hand. He wasn’t sure it wasn’t broken, but, if it was, the satisfaction was worth it.

Glancing up, he saw the sheriff walking through the door. Roy didn’t look too happy. “Alright, what’s going on here? Adam, didn’t expect you back for several days. Care to explain what happened?”

“Well, Roy, I came in to have a quiet beer and a meal and these creeps started slandering Hoss. I tried to talk to them but they just kept pushing and pushing. Sorry that you had to be called but I just couldn’t let them keep talking about Hoss that way.”

“Well, suppose you go on over to the office. I’ll talk to some of these fine people and get the story. I’ll be over with these three and we’ll get this all straightened out.”

Adam nodded, retrieved his hat, and with a longing look at his unfinished beer and meal, left the saloon. Untying Sport, he walked the two blocks to the sheriff’s office.

After pacing around the office for what seemed like hours, Adam had just settled in a chair when he heard steps outside the door. The sheriff pushed the three men from the saloon in front of him and made his way into his office.

“Just keep right on moving, boys. There’s a jail cell waiting for the three of you.”

The talker from the saloon shot a hateful glance at Adam and turning to the sheriff asked, “What about him? He’s the one that started the fight. We was just sayin’ what the whole town has been talkin’ about. He had no call to light into us like that. Just because his name’s Cartwright, he can get away with anythin’. Just like that no account brother of his.”

Adam was on his feet and halfway across the room before Roy could stop him. “Now hold on, Adam, I got things under control. You just set yourself down and take it easy. I got the whole story from Charlie and some of the other patrons, so I got plenty to keep them in jail for a couple of days.”

Adam was still steaming, but as Roy requested he returned to his seat. The sheriff pushed the threesome into a cell and locked the door. He closed the doors between the cell block and his office and seated himself at his desk.

“Alright, Roy, I’m listening. Just exactly what has been going on since Joe and I left? I know Hoss was on a jury trying to decide on Jamie Wren’s fate. What in the world happened to have the town saying these crazy things about Hoss and a bribe?”

“Well, Adam, I’ll tell ya all about it. Ya want some coffee? It’s kinda a long tale.”