Summary:  Twelve-year-old Joe and Mitch are out exploring a cave when they meet Maybelle and Jean Williams.  They soon come to know that Mrs. Williams is not at all what they thought, but the figure it out right At the Cliff’s Edge…

Written for the 2018 Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament.  The card “suits” were:

Anatomy (body parts)
Fears
What Women Want
Things Found in a Saddlebag

Rated:   K+  8,890 words

 

 At the Cliff’s Edge . . . 

I’m falling. I do not dare open my eyes to see how much farther I’ll descend into this seemingly endless fall. I’m screaming. Yet no sound comes out of my mouth. Wait. I feel hands on me. I hear someone calling my name. It’s Mitch! I’m crying. I know he’s crying because his tears fall on my face. I open my eyes and…

*****

“Mitch!” I wake up with a start. I see Pa next to me on the bed. I know he’s been trying to hold me down because his lip is bleeding and my knuckles hurt. Oops… it was probably me…

“Pa what happened to your face?”

“You were flailing your arms in your sleep and I didn’t grab hold of you fast enough!” He’s joking, but he can’t hide the concern from his voice.

“Pa, I’ll be fine. You need to clean that lip up before it starts to swell,” I get out of bed. When I get to the door I freeze in my tracks and the color drains from my face.

“Joseph, are you okay?” asks Pa.

I go back over to my bed and lay down, “I’m fine, just need some sleep,” I murmur.

“There is no reason why a thirteen-year-old boy should go as pale as you just did and be ‘fine’,” Pa responds.

My pa can read me like an open book. My whole family can. Heck… everyone can.

“Pa, I’m fine. Please just let me go back to sleep,” I whisper.

“Okay son. But when you’re ready to tell me about it I’m right down the hall,” my father sighs.

It’s about what happened last year. And I’m still not ready to talk about it.

*****

It all started before I had turned thirteen, while Mitch— my best friend— and I were looking for bats in a hidden cave by Lake Tahoe. To be clear, I’m not supposed to be in any of the caves. Therefore, I couldn’t tell anyone about this cave because then they would know I was there.

“Hey Joe! I found a hidden opening!” yells Mitch from behind me.

“Does it look like it would have any bats? ‘Cause if it looks like there aren’t any in there we best not try, ‘cause we’ll run out of daylight searching in places without any bats.”

“Yeah, it sure does Joe! It even stinks! Probably their poop!” Mitch runs up to me and basically  drags me over to the crack in the stone wall. This is easy for him considering how small I am.

“Mitch! You’re gonna kill me before we find any of the dang little creatures!” I snarl through clenched teeth.

“Oh, sorry Joe.”

“It’s fine just next time wait for me to get there myself. Okay?”

“Okay,” Mitch replies, “Let’s find us some bats now!”

*****

The opening Mitch noticed was really small.

“Ouch!”

“Joe! What happened? Are you okay? How bad is it? Do I need to go for help?”

“Well…There must have been a sharp rock and I, um, kinda cut my arm. It’s pretty bad. AND YOUR AREN’T GOING TO GET NOBODY!!!! YOU DO REALIZE WE’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE?!” I yell this because when it came to thinking on the spot, Mitch really didn’t have much sense.

“Sorry Joe. I guess I just wasn’t thinking at the moment. I have an extra shirt in my saddle bags; I can go get ‘em off Trigger instead of going for a bandage,” he said as he got up and walked to the cave’s opening.

*****

The cave is dark, but not so dark that I can’t see. Across from me against the wall is a pile of bones, but from here I can’t tell what kind and I definitely don’t want to go see without the torch that Mitch took with him.

The ground is really smooth. Though I can’t see the ceiling, I know there had to be at least one bat hanging from it.

Sitting there in the dark I realize that there is a faint light coming from the back. ‘Huh. Must lead outside eventually,’ I think, but it never crosses my mind that the light is flickering.

*****

“Hey Joe I’m back,” Mitch doesn’t have to announce his arrival because he walks louder than a herd of stampeding beeves.

“Hey Mitch, be careful when you climb through. Don’t need the both of us injured.”

*****

“Dang! That hurts!” I groan.

“You don’t think we should just tell your pa that you just cut it on a rock ‘cause you fell down a hill or something? It’s at least halfway true. I mean, it’s pretty bad ya know.”

“No. I’m fine.”

“Your bleeding pretty bad, plus it’s really deep,” Mitch says pointing out the obvious.

“Don’t you think I know that!” I say with so much vehemence that it makes Mitch take a step back. “Sorry. I just need ta think for a little while.” I link my arms around my legs and put my head on my knees.

*****

“Hey Joe? I heard something over there around the curve. And there’s a fire, too!” Mitch whispers.

“What? You mean we’re not alone?”

“Yeah! You wanna see who it is?”

“Go back and get our squirrel guns first. They might be armed. It could be an escaped convict. We would be heroes if we brought ‘em in! They’d probably give us medals and everything! They would probably even name something after us! Think about it: The Joe and Mitch Livery, The Joe and Mitch Mercantile, The Joe and Mitch Saloon, or The Joe and Mitch Sawmill! They could even rename Virginia City to Cartwright and Devlinville!” I say.

“Okay Joe. Settle down. You’ll loose more blood.”

We laughed for a while then Mitch said he should probably get going.

“Hurry. And be quieter this time. I coulda heard from a mile away earlier.”

*****

We’re crawling on our hands and knees over to where the light is. We slowly peek our heads around the corner and find two people sitting with their backs to us. One I can tell is a man because he has his shirt off. The other is dressed in a large poofy dress that looks like it doesn’t belong in a cave. That one is obviously a woman.

Mitch and I exchange a look, then I whisper, “One, two, three!” And we step out of the shadows with our guns pointing at the people’s backs.

“Hold your hands above your heads, but don’t try nothing we have our guns on you!” I yell.

“Yeah don’t try nothing!” Mitch says.

“Why hello there! We were waiting for you to come over for a visit!” The woman exclaims.

I can tell by the way her words were drawn out that she’s from the Deep South. Her voice is so sweet that it wouldn’t surprise me if she sweetened her coffee with her own words; her skin looks like caramel candy. Her hair is brown and it’s in one of those twisty things all the women put their hair in. Her dress is a deep burgundy color with white lace up her neck and down her arms that makes her skin look gorgeous. Around the bodice there is white trimming.

We stand there awestruck until Mitch breaks the silence:

“Why are you two here?” Mitch asks.

“We were on our way to visit my husband’s poor sick mother up in Oregon City when we ran plum outta money! Isn’t that just the silliest thing? We didn’t bring enough for our trip! How forgetful are we?” She says.

“Yes. Mother got cholera and sent word to us that she wanted us to go over her will,” agrees the man.

“Where are our manners? My name’s Maybelle Williams and this is my husband, Jean. Now that you know our names, what are yours?”

“Well howdy ma’am! My name’s Joe Cartwright and this is my buddy Mitch Devlin.”

“Yeah, howdy!” Mitch says, tipping his hat.

“I can’t lie to y’all! It’s not in my nature.”

She starts telling us about being a slave and how she escaped with her husband. Why didn’t we think it was odd that she would trust twelve-year-old boys?

*****

We talk for a while until Mrs. Williams catches a glimpse of my arm.

“Darling child, what happened to you? Your whole sleeve is soaked in blood! And your looking a might pale for a twelve-year-old boy!” She gasps.

“I’m fine. Did it when I came through the opening. It’s not that bad.”

“We can bring you some food until you think you should go. We have enough at my house and Joe does too. Don’t ya? But we have to leave now. See ya!”

Mitch pulls me to my feet. I make a mental note to thank Mitch later. But right now, I need to focus on staying upright.

“Hey Joe are ya feelin’ okay?” Mitch asks once we were out of earshot of the people.

“No.”

That was all I managed to say before I go unconscious.

*****

The next thing I see is the mane of Mitch’s horse, Trigger.

“Where’s Cooch?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

“Dang it Joe! That’s just like you. Pretendin’ there ain’t nothin’ wrong with you, then askin’ about your dang horse. And why would I leave him? Sick or not, you would’ve killed me!”

“How far?”

“We’re just about two miles away.”

“Thanks Mitch.”

“No problem, Joe. That’s what friends are for.”

*****

When we ride in about two hours after dark we see Adam and Hoss saddling up their horses. “Adam! Hoss! Joe’s been hurt!”

“Help Mr. and Mrs. Williams, but don’t tell anyone about them,” I whisper.

“Pa! Come quick! Joe’s been hurt!” Yells Adam as he came running over. As soon as Hoss gets to me he pulls me of the horse and rushes me inside. “Mitch go get the doc. I’ll go tell your family where you are once we have Joe settled in,” Adam then runs inside after Hoss

“Joe!” Pa gasps as Hoss brings me inside.

“Hey Little Buddy. What happened to you?” Asks Adam once he closes the door.

“Hill…”

“Sounds like he fell down a hill, Pa. Looks like it too,” says Hoss.

*****

A couple days later Doc Martin lets me play again. I wish I could play, but I need to make some plans and sneak food out of the house somehow.

*****

“Now Joe, we can’t have you getting hurt again or we’ll run out of excuses!” Mitch says when I pick him up.

“Aww give it a rest will ya? Did ya git them food like ya said ya was?”

“You bet I did!”

“You know what I been thinkin’ Mitch?”

“Now I ain’t no psychic Joe…”

“If you would just wait a second I would tell you!”

“OK then tell me!”

“Well here’s the plan….”

*****

“…….and the stage leaves tomorrow at noon.” I tell them.

“But how will we get there?” Mrs. Williams asks.

“We’re gonna escort you.” Mitch says proudly.

“How are we supposed to know y’all won’t rat us out?” asks Jean.

“Well Mister. We think slavery just ain’t right.” I explained.

We can tell this pleases Mrs. Williams, as she pulls us into a long hug. “Y’all are so noble!”

“We’ll get goin’ at daylight.” I tell them after she lets us go.

“Why so early?” asks Jean.

“It takes a while to get from here to Virginia City,” says Mitch.

*****

After we give them the food we head back home. I make plans of things I have to do to get ready to leave.There is no conversation until Mitch starts to get curious about a couple of things.

“Joe?”

“Mhmm?”

“How far is it to Oregon?”

“Pretty far.”

“School starts back next week and ya know we gotta be back for that big test they have at the beginning of every year. It’s kinda annual.”

“So… who cares? We can just make it up.”

“Our pa’s will be pretty mad that we left.”

“We’ll leave a note.”

“Will we have enough money for all of the stops? And for food or hotels? What if we get hurt? What happens if we’re robbed? Or kidnapped? Or worse. Our pa’s would kill us. Well.. if we weren’t already dead.”

“I’ve taken care of it. Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll handle all that stuff.”

“How Joe?”

“It’s nothing you have to worry about.”

“Okay.”

When we get to the Virginia City cross roads, Mitch and I split up; I go towards Virginia City, he goes home. I have some things to do.

*****

“Adam can I ask you a question?” asks Ben Cartwright.

“Yeah, Pa?”

“Have you seen the gold nuggets that came from the gold vein that we struck the other day at the mines?”

“Well, the last time I saw them was when they were on your desk. Why?”

“They have seemed to have gone missing. Did you see anyone near them?” Ben wonders while  looking on the ground near the desk.

“Well Little Joe was looking at them, but I didn’t see him take anything. He is pretty sneaky though.”

“Lets just ask your brother. Joseph?” He yells up the stairs.

“Pa. Remember? He’s not here. He took his dinner out with him.”

“Oh yeah. Well… we’ll just ask when he gets back.”

*****

“So, Mr. Gans, are they real or not?” I ask impatiently.

“Well, yes Joe, but where did you get these nuggets?”

“Well, can I trust you with a secret?” I whisper in his ear even though I’m the only one here.

“Yes, I can young man. Unless it’s a danger to you or any other person.”

“Oh, no sir! It’s not. I just don’t want anyone to find out!” I gasp, trying to look a little miffed. “Well, me an’ Mitch just struck gold is all. I promise!”

“Well, son. You are too young to file a claim, but I can sign this slip of paper and you can refund it at the bank for that exact amount except for it in cash.”

“Well, thank you sir!”

“Here you go young man. Have a great day, And be careful because all the girls will want you now that you have all that money and wealth!”

As soon as he has the slip signed and puts it in my hand I’m out the door and heading for the bank. On the walk there, I go over my mental list of things we’ll need for the road:

• Go to the survey office
• Get the money
• Get a traveling dress for Mrs. Williams
• Go to the mercantile and get the needed provisions
• Buy the stage tickets

By the time I go over it a couple of times I’m at the bank. I walk in and see that there’s nobody there except the clerks and the bank president, Mr. Miller.

“Howdy Mr. Miller!” I greet him as I walk in. “I’m here ta get some money!”

“Out of your checking account I suppose?” He asks as he pats me on the back.

“No sir. It’s kinda like a deposit that I’m getting out again.” I say as I put the bag of nuggets on his desk.

Mr. Miller reads the note I hand him, “Ah! I understand. I can give some to you now, but I would have to give you the rest in a bank draft. How much do you want to keep now? One, two dollars?”

“No sir. I would need about $150. And instead of giving me the draft could you just put the rest in my account?”

Mr. Miller looks puzzled. “Why sure, but why would you need so much money at once?”

“A present for Pa.” I answer a little quickly. Too quickly, but he doesn’t seem to notice. He probably thinks I’m just excited.

“Okay, son. Here you go.” He says after he finishes putting the money into my saddlebags.

“Thank you, Mr. Miller!”

With the banking taken care of, I run out the door.

*****

“Well, Mrs. Spiro she’s about the same size as Miss Clementine, the saloon girl.” I’m having a hard time explain this to the old Italian woman. “Do you have any riding outfits here that size?”

“Sì. It is not yours.”

“Yes ma’am. I know that, but I’ll give you fifty dollars to take the one you have.”

“Bene, bene. It is yours.”

“Thank you ma’am! Here’s your money. Give my regards to whose dress this is!”

I head out the door before she can say anything else.

*****

On the way to the mercantile, I am happy that it is only around one in the afternoon. I might even have time for a pie at Widow Whittaker’s house before I leave. She’s the nicest woman. Plus she’s the best cook this side of the Mississippi. Well excluding Hop Sing of course. I’ll need to get Hoss one or he’ll get jealous and I don’t want that.

“Well, Joe Cartwright! What are you doing here? Where are your pa and brothers?”

“I’m here alone. I came to get a veil, two bed rolls, beef jerky, two canteens, beans, coffee, bacon, eggs, and two saddle bags. Umm… oh yeah!  Lemon drops! I need lemon drops for Hoss! That’s all, Mr. Garcia.”

“A veil?”

“Yessir. I’m gonna give it to someone when I want to.”

“I’m guessing for a luck lady? Ha! You just grab you a bag for the lemon drops and fill it up with candy. I’ll grab the rest.”

After I fill the bag with lemon drops, I eat a couple, then right after I swallow the last one Mr. Garcia comes back with a load of stuff.

“Do you want me to help you load it all up Joe?”

“No sir, but I was wondering, could I leave that stuff and pick it up around noon tomorrow?”

“Why sure Joe, but you know you will need to pay in advance.” He replies as he sets the goods behind the counter. “That will be $10.50 in total.”

“Here you go. And thank you.”

Now, I head to go get the pie then stage tickets.

*****

“What do you mean there are no more tickets?”

“I mean what I said, ‘No more tickets.’ and that’s final,” says the ticket master/

“Ugh!”

I stomp off towards the livery to pick up Cochise. Ah! That’s what we’ll do! I’ll rent a buggy!

*****

“Hey Barney, how much will it be to rent a draft horse and a buggy?” I ask as I saddle my horse.

“Twenty dollars.”

“Can I put one, kinda like on hold?”

“Sure Joe.”

“Thanks!”

Now, I’m off towards the cave to give Mrs. Williams her new dress and veil, carrying the pie. Why didn’t I think the pie thing through? Hoss better be very appreciative!

*****

“Joseph! You are late!” Pa bellows as soon as I open the front door.

I grimace, knowing I might not be able to sit a horse tomorrow. Yeesh! Mrs. Williams could talk the utters off a milk cow!

“Sorry Pa.”

I come around the corner with the pie, which Hoss immediately notices.

“Hey! Shortshanks, is that one of the Widder Whittaker’s pies? Mmm, hmm they’re good!”

Hoss rushes over and grabs the pie from me.

“Joseph. Will you please explain yourself?”

Pa uses that calm sounding voice that sounds worse than his loud voice. I don’t look him in the eyes, but I know they could burn a hole right through me. How could eyes be as cold as ice and hotter than the sun at the same time?

“Hoss. I also got you some lemon drops.” I tell Hoss and I see his face light up even more.

“Son don’t you dare procrastinate with me!”

“I had to wait at the Widow Whittaker’s place for the pie.”

Technically, I had to wait for two pies, but I couldn’t tell him that.

“You should’ve kept better track of time son. Go to your room I will have Hop Sing bring your food up.”

Pa’s voice is getting more calm now that he know’s I’m not hurt or anything. It was hard on Pa when I got hurt last month. He doesn’t like me home after dark. Well, he never has, but now more than ever. I know he just worries about me.

“Sorry Pa.”

“It’s fine son.”

“G’night Pa. G’night Hoss. G’night Adam.”

“G’night Punkin’.”

“Good night Little Buddy.”

“Good night son.”

*****

Since Mitch and I had decided to meet each other at the crossroads at midnight so we could make sure we had all the needed provisions, I didn’t go to sleep that night. When Hop Sing came in with my food I told him I wasn’t hungry. then he left me with a string of Cantonese profanity words instead of food.

*****

“Hey, Joe! Where were you at? You’re late.” Asks Mitch when I come riding up.

“I had to sneak Cooch out of the barn. Then I had to get my saddle out because Pa had decided that he would stay up and work on the books. Geez! Why did he have to pic tonight to?”

“Oh, OK. Sorry.”

“Ah. It’s fine. And by the way, we ain’t taking the stage. They didn’t have enough tickets. I rented a buggy. That’s what we are taking now. I’ll ride Cochise beside and lead Trigger and you’ll drive, then we’ll switch. Got it? Good.”

I never gave him time to actually answer because I was still pretty mad that we weren’t taking the stage.

“Okay Joe, whatever you say.”

Then nothing else is said until we reach the cave.

“Wait, Joe. How will we get them into Virginia City?”

“They’ll ride double on Trigger and we’ll ride on Cooch.”

“How will we know which way to go?”

“I brought the compass that Pa gave me for my birthday.”

By then we had made it to the entrance to the little cavern. This was where the Williams’ were camped.

“Why, hello there!” Greets Mrs. Williams.

“Howdy Mrs.Williams. Howdy Mr. Williams!” Mitch says as we sit down on two rocks by the fire. I wish we would’ve sat in the ground because this rock hurts my butt.

“Well… there has been a slight change in plans….”

I then go into to detail about what happen and what we’ll have to do.

“Oh that’s terrible, but I’m glad you were able to rent a buggy though!” says Mrs. Williams.

“We need to leave as soon as you two are ready,” says Mitch. “We’ll be waiting outside. Oh and Mrs. Williams, you will need to change into that dress Joe got for you.”

“I will be out soon!” She replies as we walk out.

*****

When we finally reach town, it’s almost noon. I go into the livery stable and Barney, Mitch, and I hook up the draft horse and then I go over to the mercantile and pick up the supplies.

“Hey, uhh, Mr. Garcia. Can you give this apple to Adam?”

“Sure Joe. That will be seventy-five cents. I’ll have the boys bring the goods to the wagon. Where is it parked? Out front?”

“No, sir. It’s over at the livery. Thanks!”

His sons run out with the stuff I bought and Mr. Garcia puts the apple under the counter. Then I leave to go to the Livery Stable.

As I walk across town I plot out my course to Oregon City. First, we will have to go through Reno. Then, through Sparks. After that, all the way to Lovelock. There we will rest awhile because of how far it was from the nearest town. Then, by following the river, we will travel to Winnemucca. From there, to Paradise Valley. And so on to Oregon City by the directions from the local townsfolk.

I’m about to check over my mental list of supplies when I get to where Barney had parked the buggy. I see that Mr. Garcia’s sons have already loaded the stuff up. I must’ve walked really slow!

“Hey Joe. Everything is set and ready to go!” says Mitch.

“Well hop up in the driver’s seat and let’s go!”

*****

“Joe? How much longer until we’re in Reno?” asks Jean Williams from the back of the surrey.

“Two, maybe three days. Why?” I ask.

“Well, it just seems like we’ve been on the road forever,” adds Maybelle.

“It could even be four. It depends on the weather.” Mitch pipes in.

“Yep.”

*****

That night we make camp next to a large drop off in the mountain we had to cross over. There was a long wending road that we left the surrey on. Mitch and I thought it was best to sleep closer to the cliffside.

“Joe, don’t ya think we should sleep closer to the buggy? What is slave hunters catch us?” asks Mrs. Williams.

“Mitch is off making a false trail and covering ours up on the way back. I think we’re gonna be fine,” I reply as I whittle a stick into a flute.

I say this even though I know he’s not. No one in their right mind would think we came this way. They would probably think we took the stage. Mitch is really fishing.

“Oh, well that’s good,” says Mr. Williams. “Joe? Why do we have to make this fire? Isn’t it hot enough?”

“It’ll get colder after awhile. Plus, we’ll have to cook the fish Mitch’ll bring. Trust me you’ll want it,” I say.

*****

I wake up in the middle of the night to a noise. At first, I pass it off as the wind, but then I hear it again except it’s closer this time. I reach for my squirrel rifle, but it’s not there.

“I guess you’re awake now. Don’t try anything. I have a gun pointed straight at you,”

I realize the voice I am hearing is Mrs. William’s.

“Where’s the money?”

“What money?”

“Don’t be daft. I found ten dollars, but I know there’s more. How else would you’ve gotten this stuff?” he explains.

“I didn’t bring the rest.”

“Liar!” She yells.

It isn’t that loud, but it’s loud enough to wake up Mitch who is sleeping next to me. He groans a little as he awakens.

“Hold still now or else your friend gets a bullet to the brain.”

My initial reaction is to figure out where Mr. Williams is.I look around and see his outline in the dark. I can see something protruding from his chest and he is not breathing.

She killed him.

“Why did you kill him?”

“Because darlin’ I’m gonna get your older brother, Adam, to marry me. Then I’ll have even more money. If he doesn’t fall for me your other brother, Hoss, will!” She cackles.

Geez. I guess she doesn’t have the most lady-like laugh.

“They’ll never fall for you while I’m around!!”

“Oh I’ll handle that.”

She takes my lariat off of my saddle then ties me up and does the same with Mitch.

“Adam knows where I am!”

“Well you definitely won’t be here!”

I don’t say anything else after that. I just let her do whatever she wants with no reactions from me.

*****

In the morning I’m just as awake as I was last night.

“Now to get rid of you two! Just let me put on my gloves and we can get this over with.”

She walks over to her saddlebags. She puts her gloves on then starts to walk over to us. They are lace, but they are, also, bloodstained.

Great. Just great. Blood stained gloves. It’s probably Mr. Williams’ blood. It will probably have our blood on it soon.

“Wh-Wha-What uh-are yuh-you guh-gonna duh-do ta uh-uh-us?” stutters Mitch.

“Why I’m gonna push you off that there cliff.”

Blood drains from my face. I’m sure Mitch is just as pale as I am because Mrs. Williams goes hysterical with laughter.

“This isn’t funny!” I scream, “You’re about to murder two kids!”

“Well of course it isn’t gonna be funny to y’all!”

*****

“Where could your brother be? We’ve combed the whole countryside for and we haven’t come close to finding him!” Exclaims Ben Cartwright as he and his sons walk into the mercantile.

“Howdy Ben! Glad to see your here for a change. The last couple of times it’s just been Joe,” says Mr. Garcia, oblivious to the previous conversation.

“When has Joe been here?” asks Adam.

“Just yesterday. And the day before, too.”

“What did he get?” asks Ben.

“Well… let me think a second. Two bedrolls, beef jerky, two canteens, beens, coffee, bacon, eggs, two saddle bags, and a veil. I thought the veil was pretty peculiar though. Wait… lemon drops! He got lemon drops for Hoss.”

“Seems like he was going somewhere Pa.”

“Oh, and Adam. He told me to give you this apple. It had a slit cut in it, so I switched it out but I noticed this note inside it. Don’t worry. I didn’t read it,”

He pulls out the note and hands it to Adam. He takes it and the note reads:

Sorry I had to leave to fast. Tell Pa not to worry. I’ll be

back in a couple of weeks I marked my route on the map

in my room. Follow me if you want to, just don’t get mad.

We went in a surrey if it helps any.

                                                             I’ll miss you,

                                                           Little Joe

 

“Pa we have to get back to the Ponderosa,”

He pushes the note into Ben’s hands and rushes out the door. Ben reads the note, then quickly rushes out the door right behind Adam.

*****

“No! No you can’t!” I scream as Mrs. Williams pushes Mitch and I towards the cliff.

“Please! Oh Dear Lord help me!” cries Mitch.

“Oh be quiet you miserable wretches!”

She has untied our hands so we ‘can have the pleasure of flailing our arms when we fall’. 

Suddenly I feel my feet start to slip on loose dirt. ‘Oh no. This is the end, and I couldn’t even tell my family goodbye! She wins. How could I let a girl beat a Cartwright?’ 

Mrs. Williams gives us one more shove and we fall, but just before she did I noticed my compass hanging around her neck.

*****

I’m falling. I do not dare open my eyes to see how much farther I’ll descend into this seemingly endless fall. I’m screaming. Yet no sound comes out of my mouth. Wait. I feel hands on me. I hear someone calling my name. It’s Mitch! I’m crying. I know he’s crying because his tears fall on my face, but I don’t mind. I open my eyes and he’s right there above me.

I smile. Then I pass out.

*****

“Joe knows what he’s doin’ Pa. See how he’s taken the road in the mountains? It has more shade, so it’s cooler. That way they use less water,” says Hoss as they ride.

“Good thinking son.”

Ben and his two older sons had hightailed it to the mountainside hoping to catch up with the wayward twelve-year-old boy. They had slowed down here hoping not to startle Joe when the rode up.

*****

Maybelle Williams casually pulls the surrey to a stop in front of the ticket office in Reno.

“Well how do ya do ma’am? Where to?” says the ticket-master.

“I’m doing very well and I’m going to Oregon City.”

“Great. Here’s your ticket. The stage leaves at 2:30. Have a nice day.”

“Thank you. You too.”

Mrs. Williams ,then, walks towards the café for a cup of tea.

*****

“Wait,” Adam whispers as he pulls his mount to a halt. “I hear something.”

They all stop and listen for a few seconds. To their right they hear a faint cry for help.

“That sounds like Mitch, Pa!” Hoss yells as he jumps off his horse and runs to the voice.

Soon, they come up on the encampment. They look around and see Jean Williams’ dead body. On the other side of the camp, they see two horses that can be quickly identified as Mitch’s horse and Joe’s horse. They slowly look over the cliff towards Mitch’s cry for help, and there they see him standing over Joe’s body, telling him something.

*****

“Joe! Joe, wake up! They found us! Adam did know where we were!”

I open my eyes to see their heads over the top of the drop off. I smile a faint smile, then lift my arm to wave at them, so they know I’m okay.

“Joe? Are you alright” Yells Pa.

“I think he’s broken a couple of ribs. His ankle’s in pretty bad shape, too. And I broke my wrist,” Mitch does the explaining for both of us. It hurts for me to breath, much less talk.

“Don’t worry son we’ll have you up here in no time.”

*****

“Son go get our lariats off the horses. We might need all of them, it’s a pretty far drop off,” Ben instructs Hoss.

“Yessir.”

“Adam you’ll be the one to go down there since you’re the lightest. I want you to get Mitch first, so we can take our time with Joseph.”

*****

“Mitch? What are they doing?”

“They’re fixin’ to send Adam down to get us.”

As soon as he says that I see Adam’s form above us. When he gets to us, he comes straight to me.

“How do you feel Little Buddy?”

“Broken.”

“Well, you’ll feel better soon, just let me get Mitch up first. Now Mitch, I want you to hold on as tight as you can without choking me, alright.”

Mitch climbs onto his back.

“Well, why wouldn’t I?”

“This is neither the time nor the place to be cheeky boy,” snaps my older brother.

*****

“Easy son. Easy,” says Pa once I’m laying down.

“Pa,” I’m crying again. So is Mitch.

Getting me up the mountain was an ordeal. Mitch and I had been on that ledge for almost a day and a half. I was sunburnt since there was no shade. I’m dehydrated, too. Plus, I had a couple of broken ribs and a broken ankle. Adam couldn’t go one inch without me howling in pain. I think it hurt Pa’s heart more than it hurt me. It must’ve been hard having to watch that.

Hoss is with Mitch and Adam is settling the horses down for the night. Mitch and I had been on that ledge for almost a day and a half. I know they want to be with me right now, but they are the only ones here to do the chores.

“Joe let me tell ya somethin’,” says Hoss.

“Sure.”

“We would’ve never found you iffin’ it weren’t for Adam’s apple. Ya know that one you put the note in?” That was a smart think for ya ta do, ya know?” I nod my head in acknowledgment. I guess I did something kinda right.

*****

Mitch tells them everything that happened for the past month and a half. He tells them everything down to what he ate for breakfast, dinner and supper.

Everything goes fine until I remember what Mrs. Williams said she was going to do. That can’t happen now. I’m still alive. She isn’t going to win! I don’t bother telling them because what’s the point? She won’t marry them while I’m alive.

*****

“Why Maybelle. What on Earth are you doing here? Don’t you have a plantation to run?”

“Well, Mrs. Williams, I regret to inform you that your son Jean was murdered recently. I would’ve come sooner, but it took awhile to sell the house and the slaves. I think I’m gonna live somewhere in Nevada. I really like the people there. Too bad I can’t have at least one slave though. I’ll just hire a maid,” replies the younger Mrs. Williams.

“Why don’t you just live here with me? I have plenty of room,” the older woman asks.

“I’ve already bought a house. You can come visit me if you like. But, I will be changing my name. I think Margaret Blake will suit me just fine. Don’t you? I don’t want anyone to know I used to own the largest plantation in the United States is all!”

“Well I hate to see you go.”

“I do need to get moving along here soon. Goodbye Mrs. Williams.”

***** 

~Two months later~ 

“It isn’t any of your business you Yankee Granitehead!”

I shoot up from the table and storm outside. I’m saddling Cochise when Mitch rides into the yard. He looks like he’s seen a ghost.

“What’s wrong, Mitch?”

“I saw her.”

“Saw who?”

“Mrs. Williams.”

I pull Mitch to the side.

“Say that again.”

“It’s Mrs. Williams. She was asking about Adam in the mercantile!”

All the blood drains from my face.

“Come with me.”

I grab his wrist and pull him inside. Once inside I tell Mitch to go up to my room and stay there.

“Well, son I’m glad to see that you didn’t leave, but what is Mitch doing here?” asks Pa.

“Um, well… I need to talk to you and Adam alone in my room… with Mitch.”

“That isn’t alone though,” says Adam.

“This is serious!”

“Okay. Okay, I’m coming. Hold your horses.”

“Thank you!” I say, then run up the stairs.

When I get upstairs to my room, Mitch is pacing. I fall in step with him until Pa and Adam come into the room.

Pa comes over and stops our pacing.

“Son? What’s this all about?”

“Well, here’s the thing Mr. Cartwright. There’s something we didn’t tell you about Mrs. Williams,” Mitch begins.

“The one who pushed you two over the cliff?”

“Yessir,” I answer.

“What about her?” asks Adam.

“Well, she’s kinda-sorta come back,” says Mitch.

“And she gonna marry you.” I blurt.

After I add that little nugget, Adam’s face goes blank. I can see the wheels turning in his head, “Just start from the beginning.”

Mitch and I tell them how she killed Mr. Williams, so she could marry Adam or Hoss for the money. Then, Mitch tells them all that he heard at the store: “

I was going in to get some liquorish when I saw her. She was standing at the counter talking Mrs. Garcia about a dress pattern. I walked over to Mr. Garcia and asked about her. He said her name was Margaret Blake and that she had bought the Old Richardson Place. Her husband had been murdered and she didn’t want to live near the place he died. She had been asking about the Cartwrights a lot, mainly Adam.”

“Oh my gosh.” I hadn’t heard this part of the story, “Pa! We need to get Sheriff Coffee!”

“Yes, son, I guess we do.”

“Okay. I’ll ride ahead with Mitch to make sure it’s her.”

“I’m pretty sure I know what she looks like! She tried to murder me!”

“Me too. Now let’s go!” I say as I pull him out the door.

*****

“Mitch. I’m sorry. I couldn’t tell you this in front of Pa and Adam.”

“Tell me what?”

“I want to play a little trick on Mrs. Williams. Or should I say ‘Mrs. Blake’?”

We both hush a little at this.

“What do you wanna do?”

“Well this was what I was thinking…….”

*****

“It’s not her Pa.”

“What do you mean ‘it’s not her?’” demands Adam.

“Exactly what I said. It’s not her!”

“Yeah, Mr. Cartwright. I guess I just jumped to conclusions when I heard her Southern accent.”

“I guess we can go home now son.”

“Can I stay in town with Mitch?”

I use that look that gets me anything I want.

“Sure, son. Be careful.”

“Pa… I’m thirteen. But I will. Don’t worry!”

I run down the street with Mitch right behind me.

We go to Widow Whittaker’s house to get a pie. Then, we head straight toward the Old Richardson Place. Straight toward our would-be murderer’s home.

*****

When we get there, we walk up to the door and knock. A young girl about our age comes to the door. We tell her that we’ve come to see Mrs. Blake. The girl lets us in and sits us down in the parlor. There are a bunch of people moving around and cleaning things. This plump woman comes by us with a tray of cookies and pastries.

Finally, after a long time Mrs. Williams comes downstairs. At first she looks like she has seen two ghosts – ha, see the irony? – but only for a second. She quickly pulls herself together then sits down in front of us.

“Now what brings you two here?” she asks politely.

“Well, Mrs. Blake, we came to welcome you to Virginia City.”

“Yeah, we would’ve come sooner, but we were in this accident that made us lose our memories. We were hurt pretty bad. But thank God that there was a hidden ledge that couldn’t be seen because it blends into the ground below. Anyway… My name’s Joe Cartwright and this is my buddy, Mitch Devlin. Well… at least that’s what the people here say. We’re glad you could live here! Here’s some welcome to the community pies for you!”

I have to hold back my laughter because I saw how her eyes lit up right after I said we lost our memories.

Mitch and I stand up to give her the pies. But instead of putting them in her outstretched hands we smash them in her face!

“This is for pushing us off the cliff!” I yell.

“Wh-what? Yuh-you said…”

“Well we lied!” says Mitch.

“Now Mrs. Blake. Were gonna have ta bring you to the sheriff’s office so you can file a complaint against us,” says Mitch.

“Here. We’ll escort you.”

*****

“So she’s the one, huh boys?” asks Sheriff Coffee.

“Yessir!” Mitch and I  say simultaneously.

“Is this true ma’am? Don’t lie to me now.”

“It’s true!” says Mrs. Williams.

“I’mma gonna have ta lock you up, ya know?”

“Yessir,”

*****

“Now, do you, Joseph Cartwright, swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”

“I do.”

“Tell the court what happened the night of June 15, 1860.”

“Me and my buddy Mitch were helping Mrs. Williams and her husband get to Oregon. We had stopped for the night just off the mountain road that leads to Reno. We didn’t sleep near the surrey we rented because we thought it was safer closer to the cliff. Well… we went to sleep. Then, I woke up to a noise in the night. At first, I thought it was just the wind, but I heard it again, so I reached for my squirrel gun, but it wasn’t there. That’s when Mrs. Williams told me not to try anything and asked for the rest of the money. She called me a liar real loud and that’s what woke Mitch up. Then she told him if he did anything she would put a bullet in my brain. That’s when I noticed the knife sticking out of Mr. Williams’ chest. I asked her why she killed him. She said so that she could marry Hoss or Adam for the money. I told her they would never marry her while I’m around. But she said she would take care of that. Then she tied us up.

“I didn’t go to sleep that night, but she sure could sleep! In the morning she said, ‘now to get rid oh you two!’ Then she put on some lace gloves, but they weren’t just lace gloves. They were also bloodstained. I bet she still has them. Mitch and I were really scared. Mitch asked her what she was doing and she said she was going to push us over the cliff! She starts laughing because we went pale. Then I said that it wasn’t funny and that she was about to murder two kids. She said it wouldn’t be funny for us. Then she unties us. We couldn’t get away because of the gun she had. She started shoving us toward the edge. I was screaming at her that she couldn’t do this and Mitch was praying to the good Lord. And just as we fell…”

Then I stand up and point to Mrs. Williams’ necklace. “I noticed that she had taken my compass. It was around her neck. Just as it is now.”

“How do you know that it is your compass?” asks the judge.

“It has my name engraved in it. Pa gave it to me for my birthday last year. It has the day and year I was born on it.”

“Mr. Cartwright, is that true?”

“Yes, your Honor. It is,” answers Pa.

*****

“Now, Mitch. What happened after you fell?”

“Well… Joe must’ve passed out or been in this crazy dream because he was still screaming like he was falling after we had hit the overhang. I was shaking him and calling his name. He finally stop screaming and he opened his eyes. Then he passed out.

“We stayed there for a day and a half. Me and Joe were really sunburnt by the time Mr. Cartwright an’ Adam an’ Hoss found us,” recalls Mitch.

“Tell the court about your injuries, please,” says the judge.

“Okay. I had broken my wrist. Joe was in worse shape though,” says Mitch.

“What condition was Joseph in?”

“Well… it looked like it hurt him to breathe. So I guessed that he had broken a couple of ribs. His ankle was twisted at a funny angle, too,” replies Mitch.

“Is this true doctor? I assume you were the one to treat the injuries?”

“Yes, Your Honor. Mitch’s assumption is correct. Joseph had broken four ribs and fractured his ankle,” says Doc Martin.

The people in the court start mumbling a lot. Pa has his arm around my shoulders, he was behind the rail, so it was kinda hard. Mitch looks like he’s on the verge on tears. I know I am, too. I think the judge notices because he puts the court on recess until the afternoon.

*****

Once, Mitch is done talking to his family I pull him to the side.

“Did you see her face while we were talking?”

“Yeah. She looked happy pure and simple!”

“But she got scared when I mentioned the gloves and the compass she got scared, right?”

“Yeah!”

“We need to go find those gloves now.”

“Joe I’m gettin’ sick of these adventures of yours.”

“There’s no way anything goes wrong this time!” I ask.

“I hope so.”

“No need for hopin’ it won’t!”

*****

We snuck in through the window. How did we get lucky and pick the right one? I don’t know but we did.

“Mitch we gotta hurry!”

“I think I’m getttin’ close! I’m in a box of frilly stuff! Look Joe!” He says as he grabs something and holds it in the air. It’s the gloves!

We found them just in time because right after I tucked them in my shirt, the plump old maid that we saw carrying the cookies and pastries last week came in. I thought she looked nice a week ago, but now she’s meaner than a hornet that’s been shook up in a Mason Jar. She pushed through that window so fast a bystander would’ve thought the house was on fire!

“Mitch!”

I scream just as I fall over the awning. I’m falling forwards, so I can brace myself with my hands. That wasn’t a good idea…

“Joe! Joe, are you okay?” asks Mitch.

“Uhh… I think I broke my wrist.”

“Well lets go see the doc before the trial resumes,” sighs Mitch.

*****

“How did this happen?” asks Doc Martin.

“I fell outta window,”

“Where did this happen, Joe?”

“Well… we were gettin’ the blood stained gloves from Mrs. Williams’ house and the maid pushed us out the window,” says Mitch.

“Boys, that’s trespassing!”

“Yeah we know, but now we have my compass and the blood stained gloves. So now, she can be convicted for murder!”

“That’s forty-eight hours in jail for you two.”

“What?!”

*****

“Boys. What am I gonna do with ya?” says Roy Coffee, “I understand you two had good intentions, but trespassing?”

“We got the gloves though!” says Mitch.

“Good for you, but I still have ta lock ya up.”

“Yessir.”

*****

“Joseph Francis Cartwright!”

Oh no.

“Yes Pa?” I yelp.

“Mitch Devlin!”

Mitch gets the same feeling I get.

“Yes Pa?” He shrieks.

Our pa’s storm in. I haven’t seen them this mad together since we were caught sneaking into Mary Kate Winter’s room last year. They’re faces are so red and so many veins are pumping I think their heads might fly off. Well… I am only thirteen. It might be a little exaggerated. Actually, probably a lot.

“Why would you two do such a thing? Sneaking into a WOMAN’S ROOM!!!” yells my pa.

“AGAIN?!” barked Mr. Devlin, “You better give me a good answer now boy!”

Mitch hangs his head and holds the gloves up.

“We were getting the bloodstained gloves that she had on when she killed her husband!”

From the cell next to us, we hear a giggle that increases into a full out guffaw.

“What’s so funny!” I snarl.

“HA! You’re getting in trouble for getting me sent to the prison!”

*****

“Mrs. Williams will you kindly let the sheriff see your necklace?” asks the judge.

“Why certainly.”

“Sheriff Coffee, will you please examine the necklace and describe what you see to the jury?”

“Well it’s a compass attached to a gold chain,” observes Roy Coffee.

“Is there anything engraved on it?”

“Yes, Your Honor. There is.”

“And what does it say?”

I think everyone in the courtroom is now leaning in real close, so they can hear exactly what he says Well… at least I know Mitch and I are.

“It says, ‘Joseph Francis Cartwright: October 31,1848’. That’s Little Joe’s alright. I remember Ben coming and asking if I thought it was a good present. That’s his birthday: October 13, 1848.”

The crowd starts yelling angry words at Mrs. Williams. I want to but Mitch has a firm hold on my shoulder.

“Joe! Look,” says Mitch.

“She laughing!” I sputter.

“ORDER!! ORDER IN THE COURT!!”

Once everyone is settled, the judge continues.

“Now. This comes to show that the defendant is guilty, so far, of thievery.”

Our attorney stands up. “Your honor, if I may.”

“Proceed.”

“I have here in this bag the gloves that my clients had described to the court as bloodstained. These were also said to be the ones the defendant was wearing when she pushed them over the cliff.”

There are many gasps from the crowd. I notice now that it has grown remarkably larger since this morning.

“Will you please show them to the court?”

“He slowly opens the paper bag and holds them up for the jury to see. There is even more gasps as Mrs. Williams starts to laugh. Again, I will say that it is not the most lady-like…

“Order! Order I say! Is that all counselor?”

“Yes, your Honor. That is all.”

“Now I will dismiss the jury to consider all that they’ve heard.”

After he says this a man that I can tell is the jury foreman stands up.

“Um… Your Honor?”

“Yes?”

“The jury has already come to a decision.”

“Well, tell us for the love the the Lord!”

“We find the defendant guilty of murder, attempted murder, insanity and thievery,” says the foreman.

The whole crowd yells and curses the laughing Mrs. Williams.

“ORDER!! ORDER IN THE COURT!!” The judge bangs his gavel, “Does the defendant have any last words?”

“I would just like to say I wish they had died.”

That sends the crowd into a frenzy. That’s what I like about the people here. They stick up for each other. At times maybe a little too much. Like now, for instance.

It takes Sheriff Coffee, Deputy Clem, Pa, Adam, Hoss, Mr. Devlin, the judge, and both attorneys to settle the crowd.

“Now if you please. I shall read the sentencing! Maybelle Williams, I sentence you to the rest of your natural life in the Mendota Mental Asylum in Madison, Wisconsin!”

Again, she collapses into an uncontrollable fit of laughter and has to be carried out by the sheriff and his deputy. Mitch and I follow in hot pursuit. We’re supposed to spend the night there!

“Sheriff Coffee! You need to lock us up!”

“Yeah I guess I do,” he says after they have Mrs. Williams locked up. Mitch and I walk straight to the cell.

When we’re alone… well except for the still hysterical Mrs. Williams… Mitch and I take turns looking through the window and napping.

After a couple of hours I break the silence, “Hey Mitch I just realized: we don’t have ta watch our backs from now on. For the rest of our days, we will live in peace! Even if the next two are spent in jail!”

“Yeah you’re right!”

We both laugh until we run out of breath.

~The End~

 

The cards (words/phrases) dealt to me were:

Adam’s apple
Money/wealth
Compass
A Cartwright
A blood-stained glove