Summary: Adam gets involved in two cases for the government, but his new career leads to his father having some very bad luck.  The whole family has to come together to resolve the issues.
Rating – T  Word count – 15,685

Not Guilty series
Not Guilty: Part One, Justice Denied (by BettyHT)
Not Guilty: Part Two, Justice Delayed (by BettyHT)
Not Guilty: Part Three, Moving Forward (by BettyHT)
Not Guilty: Part Four, The Dogs (by BettyHT)

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Not Guilty: Part Three, Moving Forward

Chapter 1

Joe’s words still echoed in the room, but Hoss had enough and grabbed Joe pulling him up from the chair where he sat.

“Adam ain’t guilty of nothing. He’s got a job and he does it. We’re all men, and we all make our own decisions. Pa ain’t here, but ifn he was, he’d be damn disappointed in you. Joe, it’s time for you to be a man and stop acting like a damn boy whenever there’s trouble. Get control of yourself and use your head. I’m getting mighty tired of the excuse that you think with your heart first and then your head. It’s time to think with your head, control your damn temper, and help us figure out what to do. I know you’re upset about all the changes been taking place lately, but that had nothing to do with our brother. Besides he is our brother and you act like he ain’t worth us worrying about. Now Adam already sent James to start checking things out. You should be thinking about what we can do to help.”

Angry but chastised and looking at all three of his brothers, knowing he wasn’t going to get any support, Joe had to do as Hoss demanded. Although Adam said nothing to Joe, his manner and his posture both said he was hurt and angry. Jamie glanced from one to the other and realized Joe needed to worry because Adam looked like he was on a short fuse. Hoss must have seen it too. He put a hand on his older brother’s shoulder to calm him as much as he calmed himself. It worked or at least enough.

“We got serious business to attend to here, and I ain’t gonna put up with none of them brother problems right now. You all hear me on that?”

It was addressed to all, but mostly it was meant to get one to focus on the main issue. With Hoss taking charge of keeping things calm, Adam began to issue orders and ask questions to focus them on the problem ignoring Joe’s outburst.

“Send Candy to see what he can find out too. Like James, they won’t recognize him at first, and they’re likely watching us.”

Pausing briefly, Adam looked to Hoss and Jamie, but they both knew he was waiting to see if there would be another angry reaction from Joe. There wasn’t so he continued.

“Do you have any new hires?”

“Damn, Adam, we always got new hires.”

They had more questions than there were answers. When Beryl arrived with Aaron announcing that the marshal with them had put them in protective custody, things got even more complicated.

Everything pointed to more turmoil. It was in direct contrast to only weeks earlier when everything seemed to be working out well and relations in the family were harmonious. They could look back fondly on the day Adam and Hoss went to buy a dog and bought three to remember that there were days when trouble didn’t stalk the Cartwrights.

Only a short time after Adam and Beryl had moved to their new house in Carson City, Hoss had a request. He missed the staghound that had been on the Ponderosa while Adam and Beryl were building their house. Even when the couple were in Carson City at a rented house, they left the dog on the ranch. However, when they moved, the dog went with them, and Hoss felt the loss. He asked if Adam could help him get his own dog, and on a Monday, the two headed out to do that. While on the trip, the two got into a conversation that showed how far they had come in bridging the divide between them.

“Adam, I got a serious question to ask ya, and I need you to give me the most honest answer you can. I don’t need no answer that’s gonna make me feel good about things. What I need is the truth with no sugar on it to make it go down easy. All right?”

“I can do that.” Although Adam agreed readily enough, he was nervous about this because sometimes the truth could be hurtful. The way Hoss brought up the conversation made him worried about what Hoss was going to ask.

“There’s something I been pondering, and I can’t rightly say I know the answer. How do you know you’re in love? I mean, I went ahead and asked Linda to marry up with me, and now I’m not sure it was the right thing to do. I’m not sure I love her.”

It was a relief to Adam that it was something he could discuss with his brother. He started with the basics.

“Hoss, do you like her?”

“Sure, I like her a lot, but that ain’t the same as love.”

“No, it isn’t. Do you trust her?”

“How do you mean?”

That made Adam pause so he could use an example that would make sense to his brother and drive the point home too.

“If you were in a hotel with her, and you had fifty thousand dollars there in bonds, and then you had to leave for a couple of days, would you trust her to hold those until you got back?”

“Of course, I would. She would never steal anything.”

“Do you like to do a lot of the same things?”

As Adam got the hint of a smile developing, Hoss became more agitated. Adam reached over to take the reins from his hands.

“Sure we do. We can spend hours just riding around.”

“Ever have any problem finding things to talk about?”

“Nope. We talk a lot. Adam, I wanted to know about love. Would you please get to the question I asked you and stop with all these questions you’re asking me instead on answering the one I asked you.”

“Think about what I asked you.”

Scrunching up his face as he thought, Hoss ticked off the ideas and counted on his fingers. Then he looked at Adam who was driving the wagon but now had a bit of a smirk.

“That’s love?”

The smile was back as Adam answered.

“I don’t know if that’s it or if that’s what leads to it. I do know that when I met Beryl, I trusted her, and she trusted me. I believed her, and I knew that what was important to me was important to her. We talked easily right from the start, and I didn’t talk easily to anyone at that point. We had a lot in common, and we fit together well. After we had been together for about six months, I looked at her one day and realized I loved her and couldn’t imagine my life without her.”

“So you’re saying you don’t just fall in love with somebody. It happens over time.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“But what if it doesn’t?”

“I think you love someone, and the love grows. From the first time I was close to Beryl and talked with her, I knew that there was something about her I really liked and I wanted her close. I think when you’re young, you get all giddy about a woman, and you think it’s love. But really, it’s all excitement and wanting her which is all good too. But actually loving a woman is a lot more than that.” Adam paused as he saw Hoss frowning. “You do want her though, don’t you?”

“Damn, of course I do. Just talking about it gives me a way down shiver. And that’s the other thing. I almost feel like I have to marry up with her now.”

Then Adam understood the rest of Hoss’ concern. “So you already acted on your desire, and you’re feeling a bit guilty about that. Hoss, it’s natural and you’re getting married. Don’t worry about that. There’s still a lot for the two of you to learn about each other.”

“You’re sure about that?”

“As sure as I can be without knowing more, and be assured, I do not want to know more. But when you’re married and more relaxed with each other and can take more time, it will be even better.”

“Is that how it was with you? I mean you was with Beryl for over five years before you was married.”

“No, it’s not the same, but in some ways it was. Well, no, oh, hell, I guess, in my mind, it was like we were married when I knew I loved her and wanted her in my life forever. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t official. In my heart and in my mind, I was hers. From that point on, I guess I was more relaxed, and it was better between us. It wasn’t so rushed. We always knew there would be more and more time too.”

“This helped. I know you find it difficult to talk about personal stuff, so thank you for doing that for me. Being honest like this helped settle it all in my mind. I tried talking to Pa about it, but you know there are things you can’t say to Pa.”

“Yes, I can guess some of that.”

“Sometimes he can still get kind of preachy even if I told him not to try to tell me what to do. He finds ways yet to try to do it.”

“He’s never been one to give up easily.”

“Yeah, he does keep trying to get things to go the way he wants them to go. I know he said he’s tried to change, but a body can only change so much. I don’t think Linda is gonna want to stay in the house. She’s got some pretty strong ideas herself. She ain’t so good at being smooth about it like Beryl neither. Your wife has got a way of making you do something, and you don’t even realize she done it until after. Even then, you’re not sure if it was her idea or your own.”

Adam smirked at that. “She is good, isn’t she? She has that effect on me sometimes, and I know her better than anyone.”

“Does it bother you some that she can control you at times?”

“No, it doesn’t because it isn’t control. I still make up my own mind, but she plants the right ideas there for me when I get going in a way that could be trouble. She only does it when she knows I’m doing something I’m likely to regret later. I do have a tendency to act first and think later if I’m mad or worried. She knows that about me. I think it’s a Cartwright trait. I can get stubborn beyond reason, and she has a way of prodding me out of that too. She never pushes, but she the ideas she plants are usually the kind that you can’t ignore.”

“I saw that with your birthday party. By the time she was done, we thought it was all our ideas, but she planted all of them.”

“Even the fireworks?”

“No, but she said something like it should be exciting or something like that, and I swear she was looking straight at Joe when she said it like she knew what he would think of doing.”

“She probably did. People think I plan well, but in her way, she plans well with people. She’s going to be a great mother.”

“I think she will too. She’s quite a woman.”

“Our child isn’t going to stand a chance at getting away with anything.”

“Not like you, huh?”

“We won’t talk about those things I did. No need for Pa to know all these years later, and no need for my offspring to get any ideas or to have less than a stellar view of their father.”

“It’s a good thing Joe doesn’t know those stories then. He’s pretty good at blackmail.”

“Yeah, he is. I wonder how much he does know.”

“Uh, I may have slipped and told a few stories while you was gone. Now, Adam, don’t look like that. I didn’t know you was coming back with a wife who was gonna have a baby, and it would matter.”

“Hoss, you have to learn. Never, ever tell Joe something he doesn’t need to know. It always seems to lead to trouble.”

“I did tell him to get serious about finding a gal to marry, and that maybe he would like a staghound too. The three of us could go hunting together with them.”

“The gals or the dogs?”

Hoss had to laugh then. It took a while before he could talk wiping tears from his eyes.

“Could you imagine one of Joe’s gals with a gun? Adam, we done pulled his behind out of a lot of fires, but ain’t nothing would save him in that situation.”

“No, a woman with a loaded weapon around our little brother could be much too dangerous.”

The two were still chuckling when they pulled into the ranch yard where they were going to buy another staghound. They ended up with three dogs. They had a pet for Beryl, a small dog for Joe, and a big dog for Hoss. The details about all that is another story. It took long enough that it was late when they returned and time for Adam to take his wife home.

Ben sighed as the two new dogs on the ranch headed into the house with their new owners and turned to Adam.

“There’s just no end to changes around here now. Oh, well, are you staying for dinner?”

“No, we need to get home and get this dog settled and let Beryl get some rest. With only a couple of weeks to go, she has to take it easy. I have a meeting tomorrow too.”

“If you don’t mind a house guest, I think I should ride along with you. It won’t take long to pack a few things and have Buck saddled up.”

Frowning, Adam looked from his father to Beryl wondering what he had missed.

“I’ve been uncomfortable this afternoon. My back has been aching. Your father is concerned that I’m getting close. I don’t think he wants us on the road without anyone along to help if it’s necessary.”

“Do you want to stay here then?”

“No, I don’t think I’m that close, and I would rather be in my own bed. I should think we have at least the couple of hours it will take to get home.”

Looking back at his father for reassurance, Adam got a shrug.

“I’m not a doctor. I only want to help. Yes, it usually takes more than a couple of hours, but it could get uncomfortable for her on the ride.”

“Maybe a mattress and some blankets then would be a good idea?”

“Yes, good precautions. I’ll ask Hop Sing to get together what he thinks we may need. I’ll be back soon. Why don’t you ask one of the hands to saddle Buck.”

As his father went into the house, Adam quietly asked Beryl if it was all right if his father went along.

“This time, he’s not interfering. I welcome his help. We may need it. You may miss your meeting tomorrow.”

Worried when he got that last part of her response, Adam went to ask for Buck to be saddled. When he returned, he saw Beryl put a hand to her abdomen.

“Is the baby on the way?”

“Maybe. I’ve never done this before. Maybe you need to make sure Hop Sing includes some towels.”

There was no need to ask. Hop Sing anticipated that probability and included them. Hoss decided he ought to ride along too.

“We can’t wait for you. Beryl is already feeling pains.”

“Don’t you worry none. I’ll catch up. I’m guessing you won’t be driving that rig too fast anyhow.”

Adam didn’t, and they had to stop when Beryl’s water broke. After getting her from the seat back into the bed of the wagon and resting comfortably as much as possible on the mattress, Hoss took over the driving while Ben took charge of the horses. When they pulled up to Adam’s new house on the outskirts of Carson City, they were late returning, and the housekeeper came out because she had been worried. Adam addressed her from the back of the wagon where he was holding Beryl’s hand.

“Marjorie, would you please go get the midwife or at least tell her that it’s time?”

Ben could see the lady was a bit nervous about the late hour and being out alone so he offered to take her in the wagon if she would give directions. More than happy with the offer, Marjorie climbed into the wagon as Hoss and Adam got Beryl into the house with their new dog trotting happily behind them. Inside, their dog, Captain, was at the door to greet them and stood at attention with the new dog entering.

“Hoss, could you introduce the two dogs to each other while I get Beryl into the bedroom?”

Within the hour, the midwife arrived and took charge. Hoss and Ben sat with Adam and had a late dinner Marjorie had prepared for the couple and left in the warming oven. As much as they could, the men tried to relax as the two dogs enjoyed their meal resting in front of the fireplace. Even though Adam did his best to try to stay calm, and despite the distraction of the two dogs and his father and brother there, he couldn’t help worrying. More than once, he wanted to go check on Beryl, but his father assured him he would not likely be welcome.

Marjorie had gone to help Beryl after she serving dinner to the men telling them there was coffee as well as a tin of cookies if they got hungry. They drank the coffee and ate those before Hoss and Ben couldn’t help themselves and nodded off. Adam stared into the fire unable to relax enough to close his eyes.

Just after midnight, Adam shot up out of his chair, and Hoss and Ben were startled awake by Beryl’s scream and then her yells. That continued for a time even as they had to smile. Her silence had been maddening for Adam who worried about what was happening. However the list of profanities that peppered her complaints about what was going on reassured him that she must be doing fine. Adam had turned to his shocked father and brother when they first heard some of the expletives.

“Oh, yes, she knows those and quite a few others which I think you might hear. She can do that in Spanish too. In our work, it was sometimes necessary to know the right words to use. That she’s using them and at such a volume tells me she is sending me a message.”

“A message, son?”

“You’re right. I shouldn’t go see her. Right about now, she would have a few words or maybe a lot of words to say to me about the predicament I have put her in. I’m sure she would like to change places.”

Ben nodded in agreement even as Hoss looked at him.

“Pa, really? Women do that?”

“Hoss, even your sweet mother was like that briefly. The pain does things to a woman, and she has to let it out somehow. They don’t really mean it, and they feel bad about what they say, but only later. I’m sure the two ladies with her have heard things like it before but perhaps not in quite so colorful language. She certainly has probably given poor Marjorie a lesson in swearing tonight.”

Both Hoss and Adam noted then how Ben referred rather wistfully about Marjorie. Hoss decided a little more was in order.

“Kinda like the housekeeper here, Pa?”

Stammering at being caught out so easily, Ben had a difficult time with his answer.

“Well, of course, she’s a very nice lady. I mean, not that I’m overly interested, it’s just that she’s nice, and yes, I like her which I assume both of you do too.”

Hoss and Adam simply sat back with smirks then letting their father stew in his own embarrassment. It was more entertaining than saying anything. It helped to pass the time which thankfully for Adam wasn’t much longer. The screams and yelling had been for the last stages of the delivery. They heard the baby’s cry soon after, and then Marjorie came to tell them all was well, and Adam could go in as soon as things were cleaned up. The scene later was best described by Hoss a few days after that when he saw Linda.

“Darling, I got to tell ya, I was feeling nervous about being married and such. I guess not being married for so long made me a bit skittish. Well Adam straightened me out on that. Then I was there when he first walked out with his baby in his arms. Linda, I got to say, that was the best thing I ever saw my brother do. He was so happy. I ain’t never seen him smile so wide and so free. He didn’t hold nothing back. Proud and near busting with love for that little boy, he wouldn’t let us hold him at first. Let us look and then said he had to get back to Beryl. The two of them stayed holed up in that room for hours. You know, that’s what love is. Being together and making a family and wanting only to be with the one you love and have that love grow. You’re that one for me now, and I hope you feel the same.”

“I do, Hoss. I was only waiting and hoping you would love me the way I love you.”

The two kissed then in a way they never had. This kiss held nothing back and promised there would be much more. Wedding planning began in earnest then with Hoss no longer holding any reservations about his decision to wed.

 

Chapter 2

“All right, from now on, what Linda says is what happens. It’s her wedding, and she gets to say what happens and what don’t happen. Is that clear?”

Although everyone heard the words, they were mostly meant for one person. There had been a couple of hectic weeks after the birth of Adam’s son. Following the conversation between Hoss and Linda, preparations for the wedding intensified, and that took a lot of attention and time. There were too many people with ideas of how the wedding should look and what should happen that is was nearly impossible to plan. Both Ben and Linda had been waiting a long time for this day and had ideas of how it should proceed. The logjam lasted until Hoss got upset and forcefully told everyone in the family that only ideas approved by Linda were going to be part of that day. His father got the message as to where Hoss would side in any dispute and realized he had to work with Linda and accept her ideas. His second son was no longer loyal to his father first. It was a necessary process but one to which Ben was finding adjustment wasn’t easy no matter how hard he tried and how much he told himself he had to do it.

During the same time frame, Adam was assigned an important case by his firm. He was working with the federal government to track down the many groups counterfeiting in Nevada and threatening the work of the mint in Carson City. With his knowledge of some of the criminal organizations that were operating there and the federal agents with their information about counterfeiters, it didn’t take long for them to begin making progress in tracking the ones in charge of the largest operation.

Success didn’t come without a cost though. It took long hours of work. At home, there was already quite a bit of turmoil until more of a routine could be established, and Adam’s lack of assistance only made it that much more difficult. Beryl had a new baby, two dogs, a new house, and a housekeeper to manage as she did her best to help Adam get through all the paperwork involved in the case. Of course, because problems always seemed to multiply, it was inevitable that Aaron Cartwright was a bit of a fussy baby at first. Then Marjorie suggested a solution which worked even better than she had thought it would. It resolved the fussy baby issue as well as the need for more time for Beryl as well as Adam to work.

“I found, in other families, that a fussy baby often wants to sleep on a mother’s shoulder. I don’t know why, but it seems a fussy baby likes the left shoulder best too. Let him snuggle there and don’t try to put him in his cradle. It’s when you lay him down in that cradle that he fusses.”

“I’m willing to try. It’s so frustrating to have him cry so much.”

Sitting then in a soft leather chair, Beryl was pleased that Aaron didn’t cry after nursing but dropped into a deep slumber. He didn’t even move as he snuggled into her shoulder to begin his nap. There were some papers on the table next to the chair where they were resting. As the baby slept soundly and without moving, Beryl took the opportunity to read and reflect on what she had read. Then she signaled to Marjorie when she had a chance that she wanted a pencil and paper. She made a few notes with the paper resting on a book in her lap. The writing wasn’t as good as her usual, but it was legible. When Adam arrived home, she gave him the notes she had written. After reading them, he looked at her and nodded in appreciation.

“These are very good ideas. We could certainly have one of our investigators check these people and see what they can tell us. But why are these notes so jagged? Have you been drinking?”

Only by dancing nimbly sideways did Adam narrowly miss having a book hit his head then. He knew his wife fairly well and had anticipated her response. Laughing, he got up from behind the table where he had ducked for cover and addressed her more politely.

“Now, Beryl, you have to admit that handwriting does look like something unusual happened here today.”

“Something unusual did happen here today. In addition to caring for your son, and managing the house, and trying to get this place organized, I discovered a way to work while Aaron naps, and he doesn’t fuss at all while I do it.”

“Caring for my son?”

“Yes, when he’s fussing and demanding, he’s your son. When he’s smiling and cooing, then I know he’s my son.”

Picking up the book, Adam feigned the motion of throwing it, but both had to chuckle when they heard Marjorie’s laughter from the kitchen. Shaking his head, Adam pulled a card from his pocket.

“It’s an invitation to Pa’s birthday party. It says only family but Marjorie is invited.”

Adam made sure to talk loud enough so that Marjorie could hear what he said.

“The card says no gifts as this year, he will be giving gifts and not accepting any. He wants every family member in attendance but no one else. What do you suppose he’s planning?”

“Seems like your father is ready to make a big change in his life.”

“Yes, it does, but I wonder what it will be.”

That was the subject of discussion too when the brothers gathered together for their father’s birthday celebration. Joe was unusually quiet which made Adam wonder if he already knew. Ben confirmed that when he had them assemble by the fireplace for his announcements after his birthday dinner. The announcements he had made that evening had shaken the whole family dynamic because it was all so unexpected.

“I knew Joe would be unduly upset if I gave him this news with no time to prepare himself for it, so he already knows most of what I am about to tell the rest of you. I asked him to keep it in the strictest confidence, and he has. I’m planning to take a trip. During that time, we get to take a maiden voyage seeing how the four of you manage without me. I know you are capable, but the question is how well you will work together.”

Pausing, Ben looked from one son to the next and then had waited a few minutes before he continued.

“I know Adam has a job that keeps him occupied full-time outside of the ranch, but that doesn’t change the fact that he knows a great deal about the operation of every aspect of this ranch and should be consulted on a regular schedule as I do now. He is still an owner of this ranch even if he is not actively working it.”

Waiting again, Ben looked around to be sure his other three sons had let that sink in.

“Hoss has such an affinity for the cattle, and that makes him a natural to oversee that part of our operation. Joe has the same talent with the horses, and the same is true about our horse operations both for our use and for selling. Now Adam is quite good too with both so if either needed help, it would be good to call on him, or you could call Jamie in to help with either one. Jamie is good with doing the ledgers and Joe has a lot of good experience with them too. Between the two of them, they ought to keep them accurate and up-to-date. If you disagree with how I think this should be organized, now would be a good time to get that ironed out. I don’t want to treat this as an order. I’m suggesting it as the most logical way for me to turn over the ranch to my sons.”

There was almost no reaction to Ben’s plan for running the ranch. His sons were confident in that regard. It was concern over what he was going to do, where he was going, and when that was going to happen that occupied their thoughts.

“I’m heading to Salt Lake City first, but I won’t leave until after Hoss’ wedding. Now if either Joe or Jamie decide on marriage or some other momentous change, please go ahead with it while I’m gone. I think my plans will keep me away for two years or more so the delay would be too long if you thought to wait. I want to see all the changes in places I traveled through on the way here. Then I’m meeting two old shipmates, and we’re going to travel to ports of call we visited while we worked as sailors to see how they look now.”

Adam was the practical one. “So, we won’t be able to contact you anyway even if we wanted to do that.”

“No, I’m afraid once I get to traveling by sea, that will be the case.”

“And you’re leaving after Hoss’ wedding?”

“I have tickets to travel on the Monday after his wedding, yes.”

“And your plans are all set.”

“Yes, my plans are all set. I didn’t want to have to have a long discussion about my future. I wanted to make my own decisions. I think all of you understand that. It’s been a long time since I’ve been away from this ranch. I wanted to build a dream for you boys, and I don’t think there’s any building left to do at least for me. Now it’s up to you what you will do next.”

Normally, the brothers would have expected an emotional reaction from Joe, but it was clear that Ben had handled that well already. Joe’s face and posture showed how he felt about all of it, but he had been forced to accept that it was going to happen. He was holding all the emotional turmoil inside, and his brothers had to worry about how that was going to manifest itself.

The gifts from Ben were all the legal documents they needed to carry out ranch business as a partnership of the four of them with the right for them to designate any one or more to have authority in situations such as contract negotiations as needed. When it was over, the family was unusually quiet. All of them expected that Joe would spend as much time with his father as he could before Hoss’ wedding, and that happened.

The day of the wedding was bittersweet for the brothers. Thrilled to welcome Linda into the family, they knew it meant too that their father would soon be absent. For Hoss, it meant he and Linda would be staying in the main house so there wouldn’t be much disruption in his life. Linda was agreeable to that now that Ben was going to be gone and she could make some changes in the house without his veto power.

Before Ben left, Adam handed him a list of names. Ben frowned as he read the names because all of them were unfamiliar to him.

“They’re people we worked with in investigations. If you’re in any of those ports of call where they’re listed and happen to have any difficulty, use my name and ask for their assistance. It doesn’t hurt to have a little insurance.”

“Thank you, son, but I don’t expect we’ll have any trouble.”

“No one ever expects trouble.”

With a shrug, Ben accepted that statement even though he didn’t think his trip was the type that would likely fall into the category that might bring any trouble.

“I’ll send telegrams from each city as I travel until, as I said, I reach the sea.”

“We’re going to worry.”

“Well, for you, it’s payback for all those years I worried about you, but for your brothers, please assure them I will be fine.”

“I don’t think I can tell them something when I’m not sure it will be true.”

When Ben arched an eyebrow, Adam did add an amendment.

“But I won’t tell them anything to make them worry more.”

“Thank you at least for that. I’ll be in Salt Lake City for probably a week. I’m meeting friends there who have tickets for some musical performances. When they lived here in the Carson Valley, I got to know some of those families, and I want the chance to get caught up on what’s happened with them. Then I’ll head to Denver for another week-long stay, and then the next leg will be to Ohio.”

“You’ve got it all planned out then.”

“Yes, I’m meeting my traveling companions in a month so the stay in Ohio will be short.” Ben paused not sure how his next comments would be taken. “As for being safe, it seems you have more to worry about than I do. I’ve heard there have been threats against you because of this investigation you’re doing?”

A dark look passed over Adam’s face before the impassive mask could fall into place. “Yes, James and Todd are working for us again. I’m worried most about Beryl and Aaron. If they can’t get to me, I worry about what they might do.”

“They wouldn’t hurt your wife and son, would they?”

“I have security men from the Treasury Department who watch over me because of my work, so who else could they target. It’s why I hired James and Todd. No one wants to take me seriously that they might be in danger. I’ve got two dogs but one can’t see well and both are friendly. The best we could hope is that they would bark when running up to greet someone who approached the house.”

“Any other precautions?”

“Just the usual.”

“Which are?”

“There are guns in every room. Beryl can shoot as well as anyone. Lanterns are lit at night away from the house so anyone approaching has to come into the light.” Adam paused briefly not sure if he wanted to broach the next subject but decided to try anyway. “I’m beginning to think this may not be the best choice of career for me. I don’t want my family in jeopardy like this. Another problem is that we’re assuming it’s the counterfeiting case, but the counterfeiters have not acted like this before.”

“What else are you working on?”

“We have a fraud case from the state where some land grants that were in Spanish were altered. Because I can read Spanish, I’ve been assigned to that case too. It’s a pretty easy one for me. It’s clear that whoever altered the documents didn’t know Spanish very well and the language is not accurate in grammar and spelling. It should be easy to prove the fraud.”

“So, there might be a reason there for someone to want you out of that case too.”

“It could be, but we don’t see a motive that could justify something this serious.”

“Surely not every investigation or prosecution would be like this?”

“Apparently too many are. It’s why the job was open. Men keep quitting the firm because they work so many government contracts and threats are part of what happens.”

“I could understand that, but with each one who quits, the criminals get bolder.”

“You’re telling me to stick it out?”

“You remember what you did with Farmer Perkins when Sam Bryant wanted him released. If you had traded Perkins for me, Bryant would have been bolder and would have stopped at nothing if that worked for him. Unfortunately, you’ve gotten into another situation like that. If you back away, they will be bolder and do more than they have already done.”

“And I will be responsible. Pa, I have to say I don’t know what to do next. I’ve suggested to Beryl that perhaps she and Aaron should stay here on the ranch for a while, but she won’t even consider it.”

“She’s doing exactly what you did with Bryant. She’s not giving an inch.”

“You’re right about that. It’s not an easy burden to carry.”

“Son, I don’t think you ever take the easy way, do you?”

It was time for Adam to respond with an arched eyebrow, but the couldn’t disagree with his father on that one.

“Well, time for the toasts to Hoss and his bride before everyone leaves.”

Each brother gave a toast. Joe’s was funny as he claimed he had only been seeing one gal after another waiting for his two older brothers to marry claiming he couldn’t marry until that happened. Of course, there was a lot of laughter at that bold-faced lie, but it was Joe so they knew it was a tall tale. Seeing Ben, Adam, and Hoss roll their eyes was additional entertainment. Jamie’s toast showed how much he adored his older brother as it was mostly a litany of all of Hoss’ good qualities of which there were many. Then it was Adam’s turn.

“My brother has been an inspiration to me my whole life. Emerson reminded us of it, but Hoss has lived it. Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year. He is rich who owns the day. Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities crept in, but forget them as soon as you can for tomorrow is a new day. Begin each day well and serenely and with too high a spirit to waste a moment on yesterday. The new day is too dear with its hopes and its invitations. Go into your marriage with that same spirit, and your future is indeed the brightest it can be bursting with possibilities. I promised Inger I would take care of you, but with her blessing, I have to pass that responsibility to Linda now. I know Mama would approve.”

Raising his glass then, Adam had a tear slip down his cheek as he caught Hoss’ eye and saw the same emotions reflected there. Beryl slipped an arm through Adam’s as Linda slipped one through Hoss’ arm. Next the two ladies moved the two men to stand side-by-side. Hoss grabbed Adam’s hand.

“Thank you. I didn’t catch all them words, but I knew exactly what you meant. Thank you, brother.”

Joe joined his two older brothers then. “When you said ‘Mama’, you meant my mother, didn’t you?”

“Yes, Joe, I did. She would be happy today too.”

“Well, I’m happy. Pa said I could have some of the punch the men drink if my brothers will supervise.”

Jamie had joined them and added just the right amount of lightness to take away any heavy emotional tone to the conversation. The older brothers laughed, and when Joe volunteered to be the one supervising, Adam stepped in to argue he should be the one. While they discussed the pluses and minuses of their respective abilities to supervise, Hoss took Jamie to the refreshment table and got him a half-glass of the spiked punch.

“You drink that and eat something too. You come see me in an hour, and I’ll see about whether you get any more. Deal?”

“Deal.”

Of course, Jamie got one glass from Joe, and another half-glass from Adam never telling that he had gotten any from the others. When he saw Hoss an hour later, his big brother had to escort him to his room and help him to lay down on the bed. It was well into the next day before Jamie confessed his transgressions although his pale face and refusal to eat solid food had already told everyone everything they needed to know. Ben didn’t need to do anything. It was one of those self-punishing violations of rules and a reminder that he wasn’t yet a man.

That night and Sunday, Adam and Beryl stayed on the Ponderosa. That meant there were two Treasury agents as well as James and Todd there too. The protective detail went to church services with the family and then rode as outriders when the family went to bid goodbye to Ben on Monday morning. A telegram was sent that morning to Reno indicating that the second plan was going to have to implemented. The first plan was not feasible with four gunmen guarding Adam and his family and with both Adam and Beryl well-armed as they were known to be. They were also careful, alert, and suspicious. It simply made any effort that had been discussed too difficult to carry out. The second plan was launched as soon as the telegram was received.

After following the suggestion from James that they take two more men along as a precaution, Adam and Beryl returned to Carson City without a mishap. Hoss and the rest of the family went back to the Ponderosa. Everything seemed fine. It was three days later that they got their first indication that something was terribly wrong and then a succession of things hit them hard.

Coming back to the ranch after picking up supplies, Candy gave Hoss a telegram that had come in while he was in town. Tearing it open, Hoss expected it would be confirmation that Ben had arrived in Salt Lake City. It wasn’t. His smile turned to a frown at the news. Greeting the stage, Ben’s friends had found not only was he not on it, he did not arrive on any of the succeeding stages. Hoss alerted Joe and Adam. Checking into it, they found that the stage line had no record of Ben being on that stage since before the stage arrived in Reno. Soon after leaving Virginia City, Ben Cartwright had disappeared.

 

Chapter 3

The sons met at the ranch to talk over the situation and decide what to do. Adam had sent James to look into what happened as soon as he found out. Todd was left to guard Beryl and Aaron only after Adam hired another man from the security detail that had accompanied him when he traveled west. The man was more than happy to be employed again by Adam and Beryl. The Treasury agents escorted Adam to the Ponderosa but with a warning delivered by their supervisor.

“Adam, this is more likely a plan to get at you because you have been so closely guarded. This will pull you out into a more vulnerable position. Mark my word. If you get a ransom note, my money is on it being you they demand deliver it. If that’s the case, you’ll know why this is being done. And if that doesn’t work, your wife and son may be targets too to draw you away from your protection.”

“I know. I’ve alerted the authorities here to watch my house and hired another man.”

“It might not be enough. It might be time to move your family as you earlier indicated you wanted to do. Until this whole matter is settled, that might be the safest way to go.”

“It might be, but you have met my wife, and she doesn’t want to go.”

That had settled that argument or at least ended it for the moment as the supervisor had met Beryl and wasn’t ready to challenge her. On the Ponderosa, when Adam repeated what he had been told, Joe exploded in anger.

“So, this is all about you. You’re the one who’s guilty of putting my father in danger again.”

Hoss had enough and grabbed Joe pulling him up from the chair where he sat.

“Adam ain’t guilty of nothing. He’s got a job and he does it. We’re all men, and we all make our own decisions. Pa ain’t here, but ifn he was, he’d be damn disappointed in you. Joe, it’s time for you to be a man and stop acting like a damn boy whenever there’s trouble. Get control of yourself and use your head. I’m getting mighty tired of the excuse that you think with your heart first and then your head. It’s time to think with your head, control your damn temper, and help us figure out what to do. I know you’re upset about all the changes been taking place lately, but that had nothing to do with our brother. Besides he is our brother and you act like he ain’t worth us worrying about. Now Adam already sent James to start checking things out. You should be thinking about what we can do to help.”

Angry but chastised and looking at all three of his brothers, knowing he wasn’t going to get any support, Joe had to do as Hoss demanded. Although Adam said nothing to Joe, his manner and his posture both said he was hurt and angry. Jamie glanced from one to the other and realized Joe needed to worry because Adam looked like he was on a short fuse. Hoss must have seen it too. He put a hand on his older brother’s shoulder to calm him. It worked or at least enough.

“We got serious business to attend to here, and I ain’t gonna put up with none of them brother problems right now. You all hear me on that?”

It was addressed to all, but mostly it was meant to get one to focus on the main issue. With Hoss taking charge of keeping things calm, Adam began to issue orders and ask questions to focus them on the problem ignoring Joe’s outburst. It gave Joe time to cool down and realize what he had done.

“Send Candy to see what he can find out too. Like James, they won’t recognize him at first, and they’re likely watching us.”

Pausing briefly, Adam looked to Hoss and Jamie, but they both knew he was waiting to see if there would be another angry reaction from Joe. There wasn’t so he continued.

“Do you have any new hires?”

“Damn, Adam, we always got new hires, but I know what you’re thinking. We’ll get them all into one crew so we can keep an eye on them. Dusty will know what to do. Say, why ain’t Beryl here with Aaron?”

All Adam could do was shrug, and his brothers wanted to smile, but it was too serious a matter for that. It was the first reaction from Joe that showed he had control of himself and was thinking clearly again. He apologized for letting his fear explode into resentment.

“I was upset about Pa leaving and I took it out on you. That was unfair and uncalled for.”

Candy came to the door then with an announcement.

“Adam, your wife is here, and it seems she’s brought reinforcements too.”

Heading outside, it wasn’t difficult for Adam to see that his wife was angry. She stared at Adam daring him to say something. He didn’t.

“I’m in protective custody. So is Aaron. We were brought here by order of Marshal Rivers from Carson City. Apparently, he got a ransom note for Ben, and there were threats in there. When he talked to Todd and Carl to hear the rest of the story, he decided to get involved. So here we are.”

Going to help Beryl get her things into the house, Adam noticed a long case in the carriage. Looking at his wife, he assumed he knew what it was but had to ask.

“The Whitworth?”

“Yes, based on what was in that ransom note, I thought I might need it.”

“Oh, no, you’re not coming along on any of this.”

“We’ll see.”

It wasn’t the right time to discuss it with Beryl who was quite angry already so Adam let it drop for the moment. The others weren’t sure what a Whitworth was, but the shape of the case and Adam’s response led them to the conclusion that it was a rifle. They were right. It was explained later. Inside, first the details of the ransom note were divulged.

“Why would they send it to the marshal’s office instead of here?”

Even as he asked it, Hoss knew the answer as did all the others. There would be almost no chance of being apprehended by hiring a boy to run a letter to the marshal’s office for a dollar. In fact, the boy was so excited by the dollar, he couldn’t even remember what the man looked like who had paid him. Of course, the man was in a disguise so it wouldn’t have helped much if at all anyway.

“They said they want ten thousand dollars by the end of the day tomorrow brought to the abandoned cabin on the dead-end road to Horseshoe Creek. Adam is supposed to deliver it, and he is to ride in unarmed.”

“Why Adam?” Joe wondered why they had specified his oldest brother.

“Why only ten thousand dollars?” Jamie knew the kind of wealth the family had and wondered why they didn’t ask for more.

Hoss put a hand on Jamie’s shoulder to try to soothe the young man who was visibly shaken by the events.

“Yeah, it’s a pretty risky thing they done. Jamie’s right. Why not ask for more. I mean I think they’re low-down dirty varmints, but I’m surprised too.”

The brothers though were curious why Adam was silent and Beryl wrapped an arm around him and buried her head in his shoulder. Marshal Rivers explained.

“It’s what we worried would be the case with this. It appears they’re targeting Adam with this. Neither your father nor Adam are likely to come out of this alive if we do what they’re asking.”

Joe was the first to respond especially because of the threat to his father but also concern for his brother. “Why would you say that?”

“Your father is a witness. By now, he could help identify the men who have done this, and everything points to Adam being the one they want to kill. The money is only enough to get him there.”

Joe framed the issue for all of them.

“So, what do we do, Marshal, to rescue Pa and save my brother, Adam?”

To Jamie, it was time to start a plan to rescue the men.

“Yeah, what are we going to do and who’s going to do it?”

The Marshal outlined the issues.

“We only have enough time to put together a plan that relies on force. We don’t have time to be clever. The risk is that Adam and Ben at best could be hostages by the time we’re done.”

“Or worse, right. Your plan on using force means they could be killed. Marshal, we have to do better.”

“Joe, you’re right, but what else can we do?”

Beryl turned to Adam. “Remember Vera Cruz?”

“Hard to forget that. I was sweating so much. I thought they might slip down my leg.”

“Dadburnit, what are you two talking about? It’s time to spit it out.”

“Hoss, Beryl was reminding me of a similar situation that appeared like we had no way out, but she came up with a way for me to have weapons when it looked like I was unarmed. We were on a mission, and I had to meet a man with the condition that I be unarmed. They made me take off my boots and socks as well as my hat and coat to be sure there were no weapons hidden. Then I was allowed in to see him. He was too dangerous to meet unarmed.”

“So, what did you do?”

“Beryl slit my pants legs on the inside seams and we wrapped a bandage around my leg to secure small guns to my upper thighs. They were where a man wouldn’t think to hide weapons and therefore to search another man.”

“Did you need them?”

“Yes, as he talked to me, he got more and more agitated. It was his pattern especially when he didn’t get the answers he wanted. He began to threaten me. I kept my hands out of sight at the table where I was sitting acting as if I was being humble and obedient, but I was really working those guns out of the bandages. When he finally pointed a gun at me and asked if I knew who was investigating him, I said yes, I was the one. Even as I said it, I moved sideways, and shot him as he fired. He blasted a hole in the chair where a moment before my head had been.”

“It was that close?”

“Yes, and I think Beryl is suggesting we do something similar, but it can’t be the same plan because I’m riding a horse.”

“Adam, we can cut your clothing and put them anywhere you want.”

Hoss was skeptical. “Beryl, it will likely be Adam against two, three, or even four or five men. Surprise ain’t gonna be enough.”

“No, that’s why Candy is going to crawl in there disguised as a bush.”

“What?”

Holding up his hands, Adam stopped any further complaints from his brothers.

“Listen, hear her out. Beryl is excellent at planning deception.”

Grudgingly, the men accepted Adam’s advice at least temporarily, but Joe decided it was time to bring Candy into the planning and went to get him telling his friend what Beryl had suggested. Unlike Joe, Candy was intrigued by her description of what she wanted. When the two men rejoined the group, she described what she wanted Candy to do.

“It takes patience, but if you put a bush on your shoulders, back, and behind, and crawl a few yards at a time and stop for a minute or less, no one will see you. You said there’s about a mile of open ground there. That’s about seventeen hundred yards. Anybody watching for someone approaching isn’t going to notice that slight movement every minute or so. You’ve got almost twenty-four hours to do it. That’s fourteen hundred and forty minutes. You can bring food and water with you, take breaks as needed, and you could still be there in time.” Looking at Candy, she was straightforward. “Can you do it?”

“When I scouted for the Army, I remember the Apache doing something like this. I’ll do it.”

Joe wasn’t so sure. “He’s my brother. Maybe I should go.”

Candy put a hand on Joe’s shoulder.

“And that’s exactly why I should go. You care too much. Get ready to come in to help when we need it most though. You and Hoss can shoot those fancy rifles of yours and save us at the end.”

Adam stopped them before the argument could escalate. “All right, let’s not waste time arguing. Candy needs to go now. He’s right, and besides, they may be watching us. Joe, if you leave, they may follow you. Candy, be careful. They may watch anyone who leaves now.”

“Ah, I’ve got an idea about that. Maybe some of us could sort of sneak off to town, and then I could leave that group when we’re far enough away from the ranch that nobody would be watching?”

Beryl and Adam agreed that it was a good plan, and Candy left. Then Beryl addressed the role of Hoss and Joe.

“Despite what Candy said, you two are not riding in with your rifles blazing. If anything, that would jeopardize your father and Adam even more. You are going to have to hold back.”

“Listen, Beryl, Hoss is a great shot. His rifle could be helpful.”

“I’ll be the one with the rifle. Hoss can pick out the targets for me.”

The three younger brothers and the Marshal were all aghast at that idea. Adam told them to let her explain even though he didn’t like the idea either. She saw his look but knew he would give her time to lay out a plan before he said anything.

“I am an expert shot with the Whitworth rifle. I’m as good with it as Adam is. It has a Davidson scope and a barrel mounted tripod support. If I have someone picking out the target, I don’t even have to lift my head from sighting in, and that means I have a better chance of hitting within inches of where I aim even at the mile from where we will be.”

“Aw, c’mon, within inches?”

“Yes, Joe, the rifle is that accurate in the hands of a skilled marksman.”

“Adam, you expect us to believe someone can hit a target at a mile away.”

“Yes.”

Marshal Rivers intervened. “In the Civil War, there was a Union officer who stood in the open a mile from Confederate lines at Spotsylvania Courthouse because he said they couldn’t hit an elephant from that far away. He died right there. A sharpshooter got him.”

“Beryl, I don’t like you being in jeopardy like that.”

“Adam, I don’t particularly like it either, but you need protection more than I do. Now your Treasury agents will be there and so will Hoss and James. I will be as protected as I can be. We have to do what we can to protect you. You already said I was the best at planning this kind of thing.”

Having to concede that, Adam acquiesced. Then Joe asked what he could do because he had been left out of the plans to that point.

“You, Jamie, Carl, and Todd need to stay here with Marshal Rivers to protect Aaron, Jamie, and Linda. So far, our opponents have shown an ability to adapt their plans. We don’t want to give them another opportunity to do that by taking another family member especially one of the most vulnerable ones. Hoss and I will have help. You and the others here need to be protected too.”

Jamie wanted to protest, but his recent experience told him that he wasn’t ready to be on an equal footing with the adults in the room who had been through these kinds of crises before. Not wanting to argue, he changed the subject. “Where do you think James is?”

He got his answer from Adam. “He’ll be here when he has something to tell us.”

“All right. Beryl, here’s my pistol. It will fit better under Adam’s clothing than that cannon he likes to carry.”

With a smile for Joe, Beryl accepted.

“Thank you. I’ll give him mine too. If he’s close enough, they should be all he needs.”

They all knew that if the purpose was ambush, and they decided to shoot before Adam got close enough for effective pistol fire or if the kidnappers didn’t show themselves for Beryl and Candy to add their help, then Adam would die. That would likely mean Ben’s death too unless they kept him as a hostage for safe passage away. They had to accept that reality, but it was sobering. Even Adam had no gallows humor in this situation.

“How much cash do we have in the safe?”

“Enough for the ransom so we don’t have to go to town. Unless you would like one of us to go to town.”

“Joe, it might be good to alert the sheriff to this. He could start checking around without being too obvious. Don’t tell him directly, but we could write out what needs to be told and Marshal Rivers could put in what he needs to add.”

As they were writing that up, James rode in and had a report. “I guess by now you know Ben was kidnapped.”

“Yes, we got a ransom note.”

The rest of the story and the plan were explained to James who agreed with what had been set up that far. He had one surprise for them.

“It’s the fraud case. It has to be because I didn’t see one person from the counterfeiting group. It has to be the ones in the land grab case. There seem to be five of them there but they look like hired help. Whoever is behind this is somewhere else. I still don’t see why that is so important so clearly we are all missing something there.”

“Hopefully, we can get at least one of these men alive in custody and make him talk.”

“I just hope we get all these men, and you and your father come out safe.”

“I hope that too. I want you with Beryl and Hoss. You’ve seen the men involved. You can help with the targeting.”

A deputy marshal rode in then with additional instructions that had been delivered. Adam was to ride in with no hat, no coat, and no shirt and wearing moccasins. Hoss shook his head.

“Dang, Adam, your reputation for being sneaky has gotten round to these men. Now what are we gonna do?”

Looking at Beryl, Adam saw her shrug and give a half-hearted smile. He groaned.

“I’m afraid my husband is going to have a very uncomfortable ride. I’m going to have to put those pistols in the same place as they were in Vera Cruz except this time he’ll be sitting on them in a saddle and riding.”

“Beryl, I thought you wanted more children.”

“Well, Adam, the first step in that is keeping you alive. So, the pistols have to go where they have to go.”

Adam’s groans in protest were met by light chuckles from the other men. It was the first and only almost light moment in a deadly serious twenty-four hours.

 

Chapter 4

Miles away, Ben’s groans were met with indifference as they had been since he had been kidnapped. He had been surprised when he was told at a small stage station that he had reached his destination.

‘No, I planned on going to Salt Lake City.”

The driver had been adamant.

“Your ticket was only paid to here. It says so on the manifest. I got a full coach now with the men who got on here. You can maybe buy your way onto the next coach that comes by.”

“This is ridiculous. I paid my fare. I can’t be stranded here.”

But there was nothing Ben could do about it then. He asked the station manager about the next coach.

“There will be another passenger coach going toward Reno day after tomorrow. Say, the men eating inside are from that freight wagon. Maybe you could ride with them. I’m pretty sure they said they were heading to Reno.”

Ben had gone inside and made a deal to ride with the freighters never suspecting that the freight they were hauling was going to be him. It was all an elaborate set-up. The freighters were a rough looking bunch but that was to be expected. What he never expected was what happened when they left the stage relay station. As soon as they were a short distance from the station, he had a gun shoved up against his throat. When he was subdued, bound, and gagged, the wagon was turned to go around the station and back toward Virginia City. At dusk, the men who had gotten on the stage and made sure there was no seat for him came back making it clear they had been part of the plot too. They all laughed when they saw his look of surprise as they walked into the cabin where he was tied and gagged.

What Ben overheard during his captivity made it obvious to him what had happened and what was going to happen, but he was powerless to affect the outcome. He knew too that this was no ordinary kidnapping when they spent so much time talking about having his oldest son bringing in the money. They made no effort to hide their identities from him either so he knew he was likely going to be killed at the end of it all. In all the time he was held hostage, he was given no food and no water which was additional evidence of their indifference to his survival. Although he tried to think of something he could do, there was nothing. His only hope was that his sons could work together and rescue him and that Adam would not be murdered in the attempt. Eventually as they talked about their plans, he tried to think of what he could do to make their plans to kill Adam not work and had only one idea. It wasn’t much but it might help disrupt their plot.

Joe’s trip to town supposedly to get money from the bank stretched out the time for preparations and for Candy to get in position. When Joe slid the note across the desk to the bank manager, the man’s eyes got wide seeing that all it said was to deliver the note to the sheriff.

“Not to worry about that. All you need to do is make sure the sheriff gets it, but don’t go running to his office as soon as I leave. I’m probably being watched.”

Although nervous, the manager was an intelligent man and had some courage.

“I could wait and go to the telegraph office as if I had business there. The runner from that office could deliver this to the sheriff. That wouldn’t look suspicious, would it?”

“That should work fine. Thank you.”

Then Joe walked from the bank with the money, and rode back with some hands who had come to escort him as was the practice now if anyone was carrying large sums of money to the ranch. When Joe got back to the ranch with the money, it was time for Adam to get ready to go. He rode out with the Treasury agents and James as one might expect he would do. Behind him, Hoss and Beryl followed in a wagon. There was nothing unusual about that either. They believed they were being watched so Joe and the others made a show of being armed and of having the house and other areas guarded like a fortress.

As the group traveled, they were aware of a rider paralleling their course until they were within a few miles of their destination. Then the rider was gone.

“He’s gone to report that we don’t have a posse riding in with us.”

“Yes, so they will likely come out to greet you.”

“I can only hope they greet me with words first.”

“Sometimes men like this like to taunt the victim a bit so the odds are in your favor on that score.”

“Gosh, thanks for that, James.”

“Just trying to help, boss.”

The banter, though deadly serious, did help to keep them focused. The talk at the abandoned Horseshoe Creek farmstead was equally as serious when the rider returned there. The watcher from town was already back. Several men with rifles stepped out when the last man rode in.

“He’s coming?”

“He is. They were about three miles out when I left them. No reinforcements are following them.”

“How many?”

“Just five. He’s got his two government security men, his wife, another private security man, and his big brother, you know, the really big one.”

“So, we’ve got the same number and one of theirs is a woman. Plus, we have a hostage. There’s no posse following them, and nothing unusual happening in town either. Shouldn’t be a problem.”

“We going to go ahead and shoot the old man now?”

“Not yet. In fact, I gave him some water and a bit of food this morning. He was getting too weak. If we need him to walk out there to make sure his son gets close enough, we don’t want him to collapse.”

“Oh, I get it. So, we shoot him when we shoot his son.”

“Yeah, but make sure you get Adam first. Then we get the old man. Otherwise, we might still need the old man as a hostage.”

“That’s good thinking. No wonder you’re second in command.”

The man bristled at that but could hardly object. He was taking orders to do this, but soon he hoped to be the one in charge. After getting his shooters in position, he went back to get Ben Cartwright leading him out of the old cabin with a rope tied to his neck like one would lead a dog or other animal. He was rather enjoying this moment especially doing this in front of his men and soon in front of Adam Cartwright, and even his group who could see it from a distance. They would be angry but impotent. It made him feel much more important and powerful at that moment. Even in his weakened state, Ben noticed.

“You won’t be feeling that way for long. You have no idea what you got yourself into by challenging my son.”

Squinting into the distance, the man could make out Adam riding toward them.

“I’m not worried. He’s riding in here with money, no weapons, and no help.”

“That’s your second mistake. You should be worried, very worried.”

A hundred yards away, Candy saw the man leading Ben Cartwright like a dog, and it made him furious. With their attention focused on Ben and Adam, Candy guessed he could make a lot of yards in a short time. He could see all the men in position so he looked for the best spot to take aim at them and headed there to get in position quickly.

The man leading Ben was irritated by the things Ben said and jerked the rope making Ben stumble and drop to his knees. With his hands tied behind his back, Ben almost fell face first into the dirt.

“You talk pretty big for a man who can’t even keep his feet.”

Struggling to stand, Ben wasn’t ready to give up.

“You talk pretty big for a man who is about to die.”

The man had to restrain himself then. All he wanted to do was smash a fist into Ben Cartwright’s mouth and make him shut up. He couldn’t lose control in front of his men like that though so he forced a laugh instead as he pulled a pistol and aimed it at Ben’s head.

“Let’s walk out to meet this son you think of so highly, and you can watch him die before I put a bullet in your head.”

Ben’s plan to get the man upset and perhaps goad him into a rash action was working, but he had to be careful. The man was dangerous.

As Adam approached, he saw a man begin to walk toward him forcing his father to stumble forward too and then the man raised a pistol to his father’s head. He guessed the melee was about to start and was about to reach for a pistol when everyone there was shocked. The man who had forced Ben to walk crumpled to the ground as his chest erupted in a red patch and fountain of blood blew out of his back. His four men were immobile. The noise of a rifle shot echoed there only seconds later.

Taking advantage of the few seconds that the villains were in shock, Adam kicked his horse into a gallop toward his father who didn’t have the strength to go toward his son. As Adam reached Ben, he dropped from the saddle, grabbed his father, and pulled him into a shallow depression. It was meager cover, but it was all they had. After freeing his father’s hands, Adam ripped his pants to get quick access to the pistols bandaged to his legs. He gave a small pistol to Ben and took Joe’s pistol for himself.

“There’s no more ammunition so make every shot count.”

Suddenly nearby, there was rifle fire toward the men shooting at them even as the shooters yelled out asking who was shooting at them. They scrambled for cover as the rifle shooter winged one and then another because he had an angle on them.

“I don’t know who he is.”

“Me neither.”

“Can’t see where he is even.”

Then because by evading Candy’s rifle fire, the men moved into position for the long-distance shooter who hit one more even as Candy continued to fire too. If the men moved to avoid his attack and the long distance shooter, they would be in the line of fire for Adam and Ben. Candy had chosen his spot well. With two dead and two wounded, the last one decided to try to make a run for it. Shooting at Adam and Ben, the only targets he could locate at all, he made a run for his horse. Adam and Ben sent a fusillade of bullets toward him. He didn’t make it to his horse.

When there was no more shooting, Adam stood and pulled his father to his feet turning to greet a very dusty and tired Candy as he approached. Ben was amazed to see his foreman with bushes attached to his clothing and a full day’s beard growth on him. Candy was dirty but grinning broadly.

“What have you been doing? Crawling through the desert?”

“Mister Cartwright, that’s exactly what I’ve been doing for you.”

“Pa, we couldn’t have done it without him.”

“Candy, whatever bonus you want, I will do my best to get it for you.” Then Ben looked back to the group riding toward them. “Where did you get a sharpshooter like that at such short notice.”

“Oh, I didn’t have to look far.”

Candy had left before Beryl’s role had been explained, and Ben had no idea she could shoot so well. But they knew that despite Hoss’ skill, he wasn’t a sharpshooter and they didn’t know of one in the area. So, when the wagon pulled up and that case was in the back of it, they knew. Candy looked at Adam.

“Remind me never to make your wife angry with me.”

“After today, Candy, you never have to worry.”

On arrival, Beryl ran to Adam, and she made sure he knew how happy she was that he was alive. Hoss greeted his father similarly. Then it was time to find out why this had all happened. Ben shed the first light on all of it but first he had to remark on Adam’s state of nearly being undressed.

“Son, I am grateful beyond measure for what you did for me today, but I must say, it would be easier to talk to you if you were wearing more clothing especially in the presence of a lady here. Even if she is your wife, she deserves a husband more modestly dressed. We are in a public setting.”

After tearing his pants to get the pistols out in a hurry, Adam left little to modesty. He couldn’t wear much of anything under his pants and still be able to have the pistols secured to his thighs. The kidnappers had demanded he not wear a shirt or hat, so he was bare chested and the wind was making his pants flap around quite a bit especially under the circumstances.

“I brought Adam’s shirt and hat, but I didn’t think he would have his pants ripped quite so much. However, we did have blankets for you, Papa Ben, so we can cover him decently if you’ll allow us a moment.”

Never one to worry too much about such things, Adam shrugged and walked to the wagon to don his shirt and let Beryl wrap a part of a blanket around him so that he was decent.

“You keep fussing over me like that, and no blanket is going to make me look decent.”

“Adam, behave yourself.”

“I’m trying.”

The smirks some of the men had when they walked back indicated they had overheard at least some of the couple’s conversation. Beryl smacked Adam on the arm before Ben began to talk to him. Ignoring all the distractions, Ben explained what he knew.

“Adam, they talked a lot about you as a threat to them getting the land they needed. They said the other investigators weren’t a problem, but you were a threat to them in court.”

“I wish I knew why they wanted that land so badly.”

“Adam, let’s ask the survivors who hired them.”

One of the wounded men was mortally injured. The other man was wounded only lightly, but initially he wasn’t willing to tell them anything.

“If I tell you, they’ll kill me.”

Grabbing the man where he was wounded, Adam asked him again even as the man groaned in his agony.

“You were going to murder my father. You tried to murder me. Who hired you? Tell me or I’ll finish the job the others started.”

“That would be murder.”

“Do you think anyone here would testify against me? All of your friends are dead.”

“Adam, at this point, we know who hired him.”

“Pa, we think we do. There’s more here than what we think we know, and besides knowing isn’t the same as being able to prove it. We need all the names too.”

“He’ll kill me if I tell.”

“Maybe, or do you want to take your chances with me right now or that I’ll keep you alive because I need you as a witness?”

“Michael Donald.”

That was a name they didn’t know.

“Who else?”

“I don’t know any other names, but I can describe the men to you.”

“That will do. You’re going to live.”

Adam talked with the wounded man for a few minutes before he told James to bandage him up. Then he went back to the main group to say he had what he needed to arrest the ones behind the conspiracy.

“But did he tell you why they want all this land they’re trying to get?”

“He didn’t have to tell me all the details. I’ve run into these land speculators before, and I figured it out when I talked to him and got the descriptions of the other men. It’s for the railroad. If they get it all, they can charge a lot more and the railroad will have to pay.”

“What railroad?” Ben was confused.

Adam had known what the man meant. “The Virginia and Truckee. I own shares in it. I should have known. They’re expanding up to Reno probably within the year. They’ll use eminent domain to get the land, but if there’s one owner for all the parcels and they take them to court for each one, it will be far more expensive because they will have to settle the cases rather than have it drag out in litigation. Paying more for the land will be cheaper in the long run.”

“But you challenging their land claims in court threatens that whole scheme.”

“It’s stupid too. Most of the land on that route could have been acquired rather cheaply. It would have been about as expensive as filing all these legal cases and hiring these men, and they could have done it without risking criminal prosecution.”

“Do you have enough to go after them?”

“A conspiracy, a motive, a witness, and an overt act in support of the criminal enterprise. Yes, we have enough, but I want more.”

Then Adam looked at James.

“Do you know of any men who might go in and look for a job with this group now that they don’t have any men left to do their dirty work?”

“Oh, I know a couple.”

“I thought you might. I doubt Mister Donald will give up without a fight, so let’s give him one.”

James was curious. “What are you going to do?”

“Hit them from as many directions as I can. I’m going to have you get men on the inside who can testify against them. I’m going to start buying up land that they want, but I’ll pay a fair price for it and tell the people what’s going on. I was hoping you could take charge of that. And I’ll file charges against them for fraud, conspiracy, kidnapping, and attempted murder.”

Climbing into the wagon to sit next to Beryl, Candy leaned toward her just a little.

“Remind me never to make him mad at me either.”

“After today, you have nothing to worry about. My husband is fiercely loyal to those who trust him and help him. And he never forgets. If you ever decide to move on and want another job, you know who to ask.”

“Thank you. It’s good to know a man is appreciated.”

Adam climbed up on the other side careful to hold the blanket in place even as Beryl and Candy grinned. Ben got in the back where he snuggled into a blanket to get some rest telling Candy to drive carefully. Hoss rode the horse Adam had brought in, and the whole group headed back to the Ponderosa. James and Hoss brought the wounded man and the extra horses.

When Adam was able to speak to Marshal Rivers, he had a request.

“Marshal, we need this man in protective custody now. Can we keep him on the Ponderosa until he’s needed in court?”

“That’s satisfactory to me. I’ll get the appropriate paperwork and bring it to you.”

 

Chapter 5

The next few weeks were busy. The men arrested were wealthy and with those resources, they were able to hire very good attorneys. When they got to court, they thought they were going to have an easy time taking on a prosecution case brought by a firm hired by the government with an employee who had no experience bringing such a case to court. To their surprise, one of the men had survived the shootout at Horseshoe Creek and was there to testify against them. Two of the men they had hired to replace those lost in that bloodbath turned out to be government undercover agents who also testified against them. Then there were the landowners who testified about threats made, the documents that were shown to be fraudulent, and Ben Cartwright’s testimony about his treatment and what he had overheard. The men who had kidnapped Ben had been so sure they would kill him that they had talked much too freely around him. Some of Ben’s testimony was very effective.

“They didn’t give me any food or water until the morning they said they were going to murder my son. I expected them to kill me too as they had never hid their identities from me and told me of the crimes they intended to commit in addition to kidnapping me. They talked about the ransom money as a bonus they would get for doing their boss’ dirty work as they called it. I was led from the cabin with my hands tied behind me and a rope around my neck like you would tie a leash to a dog.”

By the time it was over, the jury only took two hours to decide the verdicts and that was because there was so much evidence they had to discuss and so many charges on which they had to vote for each defendant. It was guilty on all charges for all four men. The sentences were going to be lengthy prison terms. When it was over, Ben asked his son what was next.

“I have a lot of land to sell to the V and T railroad. I had James out buying up land and now I have to sell it. Then I have to clear out my office and get settled in my home office.”

“Clear out your office?”

“Yes, those verdicts were the end of my last official duties for the firm. I got fired.”

“Fired?”

“Well, it was a mutual decision.”

“How does a man mutually decide to get fired?”

“They set some conditions on my staying employed by their firm. I chose not to accept those conditions. Apparently, they find my methods unorthodox and too violent. Someone, probably the man I had arrested, talked about how I got Michael Donald’s name. It didn’t set well with the more civilized members of the system. Apparently nearly being murdered was not seen as sufficient provocation for my action. Honestly, I think they were looking for an excuse to get rid of me. The tentacles of corruption reach nearly everywhere. There were people worried I might see something they didn’t want me to see. With all the state contracts the firm does, I think they bowed to pressure from those in positions of power worried about what I might discover during the course of investigations.”

“What will you do?”

“You mean besides find out the names of those who wanted me fired and investigate them?”

With a grin then that was matched by a chuckle from his father who expected something like that, Adam continued with his other plans.

“I already have a deal with the V and T Railroad to provide security and soon will have one with the Central Pacific. From there, we’ll see. I have five men working for me, and I will hire more as needed. I’m building a place for them to stay on my property. That’s where the headquarters will be and where they will stay when they’re not on assignment. I bought the private rail car from the firm and will be using that when I have to travel so Beryl and Aaron can go with me.”

Adam saw the look of disappointment his father had.

“No, I won’t be coming back to the Ponderosa. Pa, I told you that when I moved here and nothing will change that. On the other hand, it means the family can visit often. You can too when you return from your trip. There will be room, and Aaron will welcome a brother or sister in the new year too if Beryl has her way.”

That certainly brightened the day for Ben.

“Hoss gave me the same news only it is definite. Another bright note is that Joe is finally seeing a lady who might be the one.”

“Pa, Joe always says that.”

“Yes, but this time, I like her too. She would be a great addition to the family.”

“I like her too. She’s the sister of the lady James is seeing.”

“You introduced them, didn’t you? Well, it worked out well. He seems to like her a lot.”

“Good, let’s see what happens next for him. Now, what about you? When are you leaving?”

“When Marjorie consents to traveling with me as my wife.”

Ben Cartwright had never enjoyed telling Adam anything as much as he did with that announcement catching his son so completely by surprise. Adam’s mouth dropped open before he was able to control his reaction. By then, Ben had a wide grin.

“I can see why she might be reluctant to say yes. What made you take the big step of asking her? You haven’t known her long, and you’re usually cautious in these things.”

“Now don’t get smart with me. Hoss had a little talk with me. He told me that love grows. If you like someone, and you enjoy spending time together as well as finding all sorts of things to talk about, you might be in love. Now if you trust that person too with say fifty thousand dollars in bonds, then it must surely be love. So, he thought I ought to go ahead and act on my feelings. Any idea where he might have gotten such ideas?”

“Hoss is a wise man, Pa.”

“Yes, he is. But when he started talking about young love being giddy and really being in love being something that grows over the years you are with a woman, I had an idea that perhaps he had been talking with another wise man.”

Adam chose to ignore that line of conversation.

“Why is it that Marjorie hasn’t accepted your offer then?”

“Mostly I think it’s because she thinks Aaron and to some extent Beryl need her so much especially with a father and husband who is less than attentive than necessary as she sees it.”

When Adam arched an eyebrow at that comment, Ben had to explain more.

“It wasn’t a criticism. She said that’s how men are, but as busy as your wife is, she does need some help.”

“Perhaps I can assist you then in your romantic endeavor.”

Adam had a smug look that made his father frown. He knew he was going to have to ask his son how he could help, and he didn’t like having to do that. No, he didn’t like that at all but had to ask.

“And how could you help?”

“That lady I mentioned that James is seeing is someone he wants to court and marry. If successful, he would need a place to live. If Beryl is agreeable, James could have his new wife work with Beryl, and the couple could stay in the small cottage that Marjorie now has. Two issues resolved.”

Adam paused then not sure he should ask the next question he wanted to ask. Ben guessed though and answered it before his son could struggle to phrase the sensitive issue in diplomatic terms.

“You’re wondering about all these changes I’m making in my life. I won’t bore you with too many details, but your experiences of the last six years made me examine my life and what could happen. The unexpected could alter everything. I had gotten so used to things being one way and assuming that would always be so. Then I watched you face unbelievable hardship due to unexpected and wholly unpredictable events, and how you had to adjust to find new goals and happiness. I began to think about things I hadn’t done rather than what I had already done. It was past time to make changes while there’s still time. I think you would agree the changes I made for the ranch certainly fit that. Now I’m doing the same for myself.”

Although Marjorie wasn’t as enthusiastic as Adam, she agreed his idea was a reasonable solution. She agreed to Ben’s proposal. Six weeks later, James moved into the cottage with his new wife. And soon after that, Ben Cartwright began his trip with his new wife. It was a vastly altered trip with longer stays planned in safer places. He still planned to be gone for two years and to visit his old shipmates, but he had more concern for security and arranged for that as they traveled.

At home, Jamie did work on the ledgers and helped his brothers run the ranch, but he also began to study law with Adam’s help. As he worked on some reading one evening, he looked up at Hoss and Joe to ask a question.

“Is Adam the head of the family now?”

“Why would you ask that?”

“He’s got me studying law. He helped Hoss out with advice when he was going to get married. He took charge when we needed to rescue Pa. And now he introduced Joe to a really nice lady. He even made sure Marjorie would say yes to Pa so they could travel together. Seems like he’s running things even if he’s not here.”

Hoss and Joe looked at each other and shook their heads,

“Dadburnit, he is sneaky.”

 

Note:

By the 1870s, the perfection of breech loading magazine rifles had led to sniper rifles having effective accuracy of up to a mile away from their targets. The English-made Whitworth was the most accurate and was used with deadly precision in the Civil War by Confederate sharpshooters who hit targets within two inches of where they were aiming when they were as much as 1,500 yards away. Shooters had to use a scope and a barrel mounted tripod support, but those were the only concessions. The story of the Union general shot at Spotsylvania Courthouse is a true story. General John Sedgwick’s last words are some of the best known of the Civil War.

 

Tags:  Adam Cartwright, Ben Cartwright, Hoss Cartwright, Joe / Little Joe Cartwright