Summary:  Joe’s encounter with a beautiful stranger turns out to be far more than he bargained for.
Rating:  Teens
Words:  14,540

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The Brandsters have included this story by this author in our project: Preserving Their Legacy. To preserve the legacy of the author, we have decided to give their work a home in the Bonanza Brand Fanfiction Library.  The author will always be the owner of this work of fanfiction, and should they wish us to remove their story, we will.

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Eyes of a Stranger

**********
As Joe exited the bank, he was whistling a happy tune. They’d finished the branding ahead of schedule and he had three entire days in which to do nothing but whatever occurred to him on the spur of the moment. He might even sleep late one day, though he doubted that he’d want to waste even an hour of the free time. It was a commodity on the Ponderosa and he planned to enjoy it to its fullest, living every moment, every second as though it were his last. Working a ranch the size of theirs, he had learned at a young age that leisure time was not something to be offered trivially. It wasn’t something he was guaranteed, or even had a right to. Rather, it was a coveted prize, something one had to earn, had to work hard for and when it came, it was both deserved and appreciated.

He stood looking out at the clear, crisp day and wondered briefly what he should do first. With a slight smile, his gaze settled on the Bucket of Blood. Maybe just a couple of beers, one to signal the end of a job well done and another to mark the beginning of three days of rest and relaxation. After that, perhaps he’d go back to the Ponderosa and watch his brothers work for a while. The only thing sweeter than free time was knowing you were the only one to have it. Sure, it would be nice to have someone to enjoy it with, but at the same time, there was an intrinsic pleasure in gloating over his good fortune. After all, both Hoss and Adam had been quick to offer him the branding task, certain that it was going to take longer than the fencing job they’d chosen for themselves.

As he made his way across the street, he had to stop to allow the stage to pass. Out of sheer curiosity, his gaze followed the coach as it stopped in front of the station to relinquish its human cargo. There were often newcomers to town, strangers who were seeking to start a new life or merely passing through en route to other, more exciting destinations. Just as often, the stage transported those who called Virginia City home, returning them safely from business trips or visits to far-off relatives. Though he wasn’t expecting anyone in particular, there was a good chance that Joe would know at least one of the disembarking passengers, and he continued to watch casually as he resumed his trip to the saloon. Pausing briefly in front of the swinging doors, he watched as an unfamiliar man stepped down from the stage and turned to assist a young, attractive woman in doing the same. Aside from the couple, there were no other passengers so Joe turned his attention back to the task of enjoying his newly acquired free time.

It was almost an hour later when he exited the saloon, heading back across the street to where Cochise waited patiently. As he was about to unhitch the horse and begin the journey home, he heard a small exclamation of dismay and turned to see a woman struggling to pick up the packages she had dropped. Hurrying to help, he bent down on one knee, retrieving two of the neatly tied boxes before getting to his feet to hand them to one of the town’s newest arrivals.

“Thank you,” she murmured, laughing lightly. “That was very clumsy of me.”

Joe was silent for a moment as he got his first real look at her. When he’d seen her step from the stagecoach, he’d noticed that she was an attractive woman, but now, standing as close as they were, he realized the word didn’t even begin to describe her. Her face was the very essence of true beauty with a flawless complexion and only the hint of a natural blush to her cheeks. Every feature was perfect, from the graceful curve of her jaw to the delicate nose and the well-shaped lips that still wore a sweet, expectant smile. But what caught his attention most, what mesmerized him to the point of speechlessness were the eyes. They were the most incredible shade of blue he’d ever seen, soft, like the sky on the verge of sunrise, but rimmed with a deeper, more intense, cobalt hue.

He had to force himself to concentrate as he heard the melodic voice speaking to him once again. “I’m sure I can manage from here.”

“Of course,” he smiled, slightly embarrassed that he’d been caught staring. “Welcome to Virginia City, ma’am.” he offered, tipping his hat politely. “I’m Joe Cartwright.”

“Alynn Bennet,” she reciprocated. “I just came in on the stage from San Francisco.”

He noticed her choice of pronoun and didn’t hesitate to follow up on it. “Yes, I know, I saw you arrive. Can I assume the gentleman accompanying you is Mr. Bennet?”

“There is no Mr. Bennet,” she explained, blushing slightly. “And he wasn’t actually accompanying me. He just happened to be traveling in the same direction at the same time.”

“I see,” Joe nodded, the trace of a smile tugging at his lips. “In that case, can I assume you’re free for dinner? It wouldn’t be neighbourly of me to let you eat alone on your first day in our fine town. The hotel serves good food, but it’s even better when you add good company.”

She blushed again, this time lowering her gaze for a moment. “That’s very kind of you,” she replied as she raised her eyes to his once again. “But I’m afraid I wouldn’t be very good company this evening. It’s been a long trip and I’m very tired.”

“I understand,” he nodded, smiling graciously. “Perhaps once you’re settled and have some time to rest.”

“That sounds lovely,” she responded, her smile genuine as she looked into his green eyes. “I’m staying at the rooming house down the street.”

“Then I’ll call on you tomorrow morning and show you around the area before lunch,” he nodded.

“Fine,” she smiled. “And again, thanks for your help. Good day.”

He tipped his hat again and watched her as she walked toward the rooming house. Letting out a low whistle once she’d disappeared inside, he shook his head slightly and turned in the direction of his horse. The next three days might just prove to be even better than he’d expected.

********
Though there was much animated discussion at dinner, most of it was one-sided with Joe enthusiastically recounting his meeting with the beautiful woman.

“I tell you,” he murmured, shaking his head as he scooped mashed potatoes onto his fork. “You’ve never seen eyes like these.” Looking up at his father and brothers, he continued, oblivious to the smiles of amusement his family wore. “And that smile. I swear, God created that smile for the sole purpose of brightening the whole world.”

“Really?” Adam frowned with exaggerated interest. “The whole world?” Turning to Hoss, he added, “That must be some smile, wouldn’t you say, brother?”

“Sure ‘nuff, would, Adam,” Hoss nodded, frowning in mock concentration as he leaned forward toward his younger brother on the other side of the table. “You sure it was the whole world, Joe? Not just Virginia City or Nevada Territory?”

“Very funny,” Joe smirked. “But just wait ‘til you meet her.”

“I just may have to take a little trip into Virginia City tomorrow,” Adam mused thoughtfully. “How about you, Hoss?”

“How about you both finish that fence job like you’re supposed to,” Ben intervened, trying to sound stern while hiding a small smile of amusement.

It was Joe’s turn to grin at his brothers as they realized they’d be far too busy for any such trip in the next couple of days. “In that case, I trust you won’t do anything to run her screaming from town until we have the pleasure of meeting her,” Adam teased.

“As long as she don’t get to know him, she’ll prob’ly stay around a while,” Hoss grinned.

“Don’t you worry none about that,” Joe retorted with a smile. “I’ve got three days coming to me and she doesn’t know a soul in town. It should give us a chance to get better acquainted before she meets the two of you.”

“What do you know about this girl?” Ben asked wisely.

“Only that she came in on the afternoon stage from San Francisco,” Joe shrugged. “We didn’t get a lot of time to chat.”

Ben thought for a moment while he poked around at the food on his plate. “You do have those three days, just as I promised,” he stated. “But might I suggest you tread carefully during that time? Women such as the one you’re describing rarely travel alone in this part of the country. There may be more to her than what you see in those big blue eyes and the smile that brightens the whole world.”

Hoss and Adam tried to contain a snicker at the words and Joe shot them a withering glance before turning his attention back to his father. “Don’t worry, Pa,” he smiled in reassurance. “When it comes to women, I know what I’m doing.”

Both of his brothers lost their fight for control at the statement and broke into a hearty laugh. Though the incessant teasing normally would have irritated Joe, his mood was too good to be spoiled by harmless fun, even at his expense.

“Mark my words,” he grinned. “Come next Saturday night, I’ll be at the dance with a lovely young lady on my arm and the two of you will be guarding the punch bowl as usual.”

********

The next morning, Joe set off for Virginia City with the intention of seeking out the beautiful stranger and making good on his promise to get to know her better. The nearer he got to town, the more he anticipated their next meeting.

When he reached the rooming house, he tied Cochise in the shade of a small tree and made his way inside. The foyer was empty, but a tiny bell above the door signalled his entrance and in an instant, Mrs. Brandon was there to greet him.

“Why, Little Joe!” she exclaimed, a pleased smile on her round face. “What brings you here?”

“Morning, Ma’am,” Joe smiled, removing his hat respectfully. “I’ve come to call on Miss Bennet. Is she in?”

The portly woman frowned slightly and made her way to a small desk. “I don’t have a Miss Bennet,” she mused. “Are you sure she isn’t staying at the hotel?”

It took a moment for Joe to comprehend her words. “She came in on the stage yesterday,” he explained, his smile meant to assure the woman that he would overlook the mistake. “Miss Alynn Bennet.”

“I was out most of the afternoon yesterday,” she explained. “But Sarah said a young woman was here for a while.” She frowned slightly as she talked. “Seemed a little odd to me, though.”

“Odd?” Joe repeated, his eyebrows shooting up at the word. “I certainly hadn’t noticed anything odd about her.”

“No, not her,” Mrs. Brandon dismissed the notion with a wave of her hand. “The situation. According to Sarah, a young gentleman came in by the name of …” She took a moment to refer to the paper on her desk. “Charles Logan. He arranged for a room, then just left without even bothering to look at it. About an hour after that, a young woman came in asking for the Logan room. Sarah obviously assumed she was Mrs. Logan. She wasn’t here long before the gentleman came back and they talked for a few minutes. Sarah said the man looked angry. They gathered up their things, paid for the room and left.”

Joe listened intently to the story. “Did the woman have dark hair and blue eyes?” he asked.

“Couldn’t say,” Mrs. Brandon shrugged. “Like I told you, I wasn’t here at the time. Sarah will be in this afternoon, though, if you’d care to ask her.”

“Maybe I’ll do that,” he replied in distraction. “Thank you.”

“Maybe the accommodations didn’t suit them and they decided to stay at the hotel instead,” Mrs. Brandon suggested.

“Maybe,” Joe replied, offering a small smile. “Good day, ma’am.”

While descending the porch steps, he looked casually around as though hoping he might see her on the street. When he didn’t, he untied Cochise and mounted in one fluid motion before heading for the other end of the street and the hotel.

The hotel owner knew nothing about Alynn Bennet, but he did have a room rented to a Mr. Charles Logan.

“Did he check in alone?” Joe asked.

“Far as I could tell,” Jack Perkins nodded. “Came in just after the stage got in. Only had one bag and didn’t mention a companion of any sort. As a matter of fact, he asked a few questions about your Pa.”

“Pa?” Joe asked, frowning. “What kind of questions?”

“Well, first, he wanted to know if I knew of him. I told him everyone in this town knows the Cartwrights.” He paused for a moment. “Seems to me he didn’t take too well to that information.”

“What do you mean?” Joe asked.

“He got sorta agitated, started asking how many of you there were. When I told him, he just hurried out. Didn’t come back for hours after that and when he did, he went straight to his room without so much as a word to me or anyone else.”

Joe mulled the information over in his mind. The more he heard, the stranger it was beginning to sound. “Thanks, Jack,” he murmured, heading for the door.

“Any message in case he comes back?” Jack asked.

Joe contemplated the question for a moment. “Thanks, but after what you’ve told me, I’m anxious to deliver a message to Mr. Charles Logan in person.” With that, he left the hotel, his frustration mounting.

While trying to decide his next move, he heard his name being called and turned to see his brothers walking toward him.

“Don’t tell me you finished that fencing job already,” he half-joked.

“Well yes, and no,” Hoss grinned. “It ain’t finished ‘xactly, but the ground in the north pasture is too wet to drive posts inta. So, in actual fact, we’re done for the time bein’.”

“Thought we’d take the opportunity to meet the lovely young lady who seems to have captured our brother’s heart, or at least his imagination,” Adam drawled with a crooked smile. “So? Where is she?”

“I wish I knew,” Joe sighed, hooking his thumbs into his gun belt.

Hoss and Adam exchanged slightly amused glances. “Don’t tell me you actually did scare her out of town already,” Adam grinned.

“And after only talkin’ to her a few minutes,” Hoss chuckled. “That’s gotta be a new record for you, little brother.”

“Aw, cut it out,” Joe muttered, his slight smile telling them that he was taking the ribbing in the spirit in which it had been intended. “It’s like she just disappeared.” After relaying what he’d learned to his brothers, he waited for any suggestions they might offer.

“Why was this guy askin’ questions about us?” Hoss frowned thoughtfully.

“I don’t know,” Joe admitted. “But he got two rooms, one at the hotel and one at the rooming house. One of them must have been for Alynn.”

“Joe,” Adam ventured cautiously. “If she is actually travelling with him, maybe you’d best leave things as they are. You don’t need that kind of trouble.”

“Yeah, I know,” Joe sighed. “I just can’t figure out why she’d lie to me. I think she might be in some sort of trouble. Maybe she needs our help.”

“Now, hold on right there, little brother,” Hoss warned. “Just ‘cuz she didn’t tell you the whole truth don’t mean she’s in trouble.”

“Hoss is right,” Adam added. “No sense jumping to conclusions until you know for sure what’s going on.”

“And how am I supposed to find out what’s going on if I can’t even find her?” Joe asked, his frustration evident in his voice.

Adam leaned against the side of the hotel and crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, let’s look at it logically, shall we? They both came in on the stage, so if they were going to leave town, they’d need transportation, right? The stage isn’t due in for another 3 hours, so that leaves only one possibility.”

“The livery!” Joe exclaimed, a smile lighting his face once again. “Thanks, Adam.”

Hoss and Adam watched as he hurried toward the livery stable. “You thinking what I’m thinking?” Adam asked, still watching his youngest brother hurry down the street.

“Yep,” Hoss replied, also looking in the direction Joe had run. “No matter what’s actually goin’ on with that Miss Bennet, our little brother is gonna find a way to turn it into some sorta trouble.”

“Maybe we’d better stick around a while,” Adam mused casually, still looking in the direction of the livery.

“Beer?” Hoss suggested.

“Why not,” Adam agreed. Turning back in the direction from which they’d come, they headed for the Bucket of Blood.

********

When Joe joined them at the saloon, the smile was once again gone from his face. “Gimme a beer, Bernie,” he sighed, leaning dejectedly on the bar next to his brothers.

“No luck?” Hoss asked.

Joe merely shook his head while he took a sip of his beer.

“Trouble, Little Joe?” Bernie asked from his place behind the bar.

“He’s looking for a girl,” Adam explained.

“Ain’t he always?” Bernie teased, eliciting amused grins from the two older Cartwrights.

“Very funny,” Joe smirked. “This is different, Bernie. I talked to her yesterday and today I can’t even find anyone who seems to remember her being here. I just don’t understand it.”

“Who ever understands anything where women are concerned?” Bernie shrugged. “You want my advice? Forget her. If she’s that hard to keep track of already, what’s the point in pursuing it?”

“Ol’ Charlie couldn’t tell ya nothin’?” Hoss asked, referring to Joe’s trip to the livery stable.

“Charles Logan rented a buggy this morning, but didn’t say where he was going or when he’d be back and Charlie didn’t ask.” Joe took another swallow of his beer. “You know what’s wrong with this town? Nobody asks enough questions.”

“And some ask too durned many questions,” Hoss chuckled. “That Mrs. Callwood knows everythin’ that happens to everyone almost ‘fore they do.”

“Mrs. Callwood!” Joe exclaimed. “The packages Alynn was carrying yesterday!”

Adam raised his glass in a salute to his younger brother as he raced through the swinging doors. “By the time he finds her,” he murmured to Hoss, “He’ll be too tired to even talk to her.”

********
As he hurried into the dress shop, Joe sought out the proprietor.

“Morning, Ma’am,” he smiled.

“Little Joe Cartwright,” the woman smiled. “What brings you in here of all places? Don’t tell me you have another wild one out there on the Ponderosa who needs a woman’s touch.”

“No, Ma’am,” Joe chuckled, remembering the spitfire he’d once brought home. “What I’d like is some information. I’m looking for a young woman. I saw her carrying some packages yesterday, but this morning, no one seems to know anything about her.”

“Pretty little thing?” Mrs. Callwood asked. “Dark hair and lovely blue eyes?”

“That’s her!!” Joe exclaimed, causing the startled woman to take a step backward.

“Well sure she was in here,” Mrs. Callwood confirmed. “She bought a hat and a few … well, ladies garments.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Joe replied, swallowing hard. “I mean, I don’t know what she bought, but I saw the packages. Did you happen to talk to her at all? Did she say where she was staying?”

“Well, of course I talked to her,” the woman replied almost indignantly. “Women rarely shop without gossiping. She’s staying at Mrs. Brandon’s.”

Joe’s heart sank. “Yeah, that’s what she told me, too,” he replied. “But when I went there this morning, Mrs. Brandon told me she’d left yesterday with a man who came into town at the same time. Did she happen to mention him at all?”

“No, she didn’t mention a gentleman friend,” Mrs. Callwood replied, trying to hide the trace of a smile. “You figure he’s cutting in on your time, Little Joe?” she asked knowingly.

“Nothing like that,” Joe assured her. The last thing he needed was for word to get around town that he was caught in the middle of some love triangle. “I just wanted to ask her a couple of questions.” Without waiting for further interrogation, he bade her a good day and left the shop.

As he was about to return to the saloon, he noticed a buggy driving up to the livery. Squinting against the afternoon sun, he recognized the man he’d seen getting off the stage the day before. Without hesitation, he made his way toward the hotel to wait. Finally, he was going to get some answers.

He took a seat in the lobby, twirling his hat on his knee while he waited. As soon as the man entered the foyer, Jack nodded a silent signal at Joe. Getting to his feet, he was able to intercept the stranger before he reached the stairs.

“Mr. Logan?” he began.

The man turned to him and frowned slightly. “Do I know you?”

“I hear you know of me,” Joe replied. “Or at least my Pa. I’m Joe Cartwright.”

The man shot an uneasy glance across the room to where Jack was trying hard to look busy behind the desk. “I’m afraid I don’t understand,” he stated casually. “I don’t know you, nor do I know your father. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve something to tend to.”

As he tried to turn away, Joe grabbed his arm. “You have something to tend to right here,” Joe replied flatly. “I know you were asking questions about the Cartwrights. What I want to know is why. And while you’re at it, you can tell me about Alynn. What is she to you and why hasn’t anyone seen her since you took her from the rooming house yesterday?”

“Alynn?” the man frowned in confusion. “Really, Mr. Cartwright, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He glanced at the clerk once again before continuing. “I may have inquired casually about the Cartwright name. I’ve heard it’s big in these parts.”

“And just how does that concern you?” Joe asked in an even tone. “Business? Casual curiosity? What?”

“I don’t have time for this,” the man retorted, turning away once again.

“You’re going to have to make time,” Joe replied, grabbing the man’s arm again, anger evident in his voice. “Now what about Alynn? I talked to her yesterday and I saw her go into the rooming house. She said she didn’t know you, but I know you were the one who took her from Mrs. Brandon’s. If you’ve harmed her…”

“Harmed her?” the man repeated with a mirthless chuckle. “I don’t even know her.”

His patience wearing thin, Joe grabbed the man by the front of his shirt and pulled him close so that their eyes were mere inches apart. “Now I’m done asking nicely,” he warned. “It’s been a frustrating day and you’re not making matters any better. So if you know what’s good for you, you’ll tell me where Alynn is and you’ll tell me now.”

Charles Logan held his gaze, the hint of a wry smile playing around his lips. “Or what?” he challenged. “What are you going to do? Hit me?”

“Don’t tempt me, mister,” Joe growled. “Now, for the last time, where is Alynn?”

Hoss and Adam entered the hotel at that moment and took stock of the situation quickly. Jack was still behind the desk, but his eyes were big and round as he watched the display unfold at the bottom of the stairs.

“Joe!” Adam called, hurrying to pull his youngest brother from the other man. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“He knows where she is and he’s going to tell me,” Joe replied angrily, trying to shake off his brother’s strong hold. “One way or another.”

“That’s enough,” Adam warned, giving Joe a slight push in Hoss’ direction. “Now there’s got to be a better way to solve this.” Turning to the man who was smoothing his shirtfront, he took over the questioning. “Now, my brother here seems to think that you have something to do with the disappearance of a certain young lady. What do you have to say to that?”

“Just what I told your brother,” the man snapped angrily. “I don’t even know what he’s talking about.”

“Liar!” Joe yelled, lunging at the man only to have Hoss stop him easily with a strong arm.

Adam looked thoughtfully from the man to Joe and back again before taking a deliberate step closer to the stranger. “Now, the way I see it,” he began in a low voice, “you have two choices. You can stand here and deny you know anything about her, or you can tell us the truth.” He glanced briefly over at where Joe and Hoss stood. “My brother may have a short fuse,” he continued, more for Joe’s benefit, “but he doesn’t imagine things. If he says he saw her, he saw her. If Mrs. Brandon says you left the rooming house with her, you left the rooming house with her. You see the pattern developing here?”

The man looked at Adam’s hard expression for a moment. Then, swallowing hard, he glanced over at where Joe, Hoss and Jack were watching the exchange. He knew he didn’t have to tell them anything, but he also suspected that they could watch his every movement until he led them right to the girl. “All right,” he finally acquiesced. “I did take her from the rooming house, but it’s not what you think. She went with me willingly. No harm has come to her, I assure you.”

“Where is she?” Joe demanded.

“None of your business,” the man retorted angrily.

“Why all the lies?” Adam asked, his tone still indicating that he expected a straight answer.

He looked as though he wasn’t going to answer at first, but after looking at the three brothers and their no-nonsense expressions, he thought better. “No one was supposed to know we were together,” he replied in a defeated voice.

“Why not?” Adam demanded. “Are the two of you running from the law?”

“Of course not,” Logan replied indignantly. He paused for a moment. “She’s my sister.”

Adam looked over at his brothers only to see that they were as shocked by the revelation as he was.

“Why not just say that straight out?” Hoss asked, frowning. “What’s with all the runnin’ around and lyin’?”

“I told you,” he answered. “No one is supposed to know we’re together until…”

“Until what?” Joe demanded.

Logan shot him a hateful glance. “Until we’ve accomplished what we came here to do,” he replied evasively.

“Which is?” Adam prompted patiently.

Logan flashed him an angry glare. “Our mother died a couple of years back,” he explained. “I’ve been responsible for Alynn since then. The business I’m in, I tend to make a few enemies here and there. I’m not about to take the chance that someone could use her to get to me before we get out of town, so we make sure no one knows we’re travelling together.”

“Just what kind of business are you in?” Adam asked calmly.

“Investments, you might say,” he replied, raising his chin slightly.

“Shady investments, I’ll bet,” Joe grated.

“All perfectly legal,” Logan growled.

“And you just drag you sister from town to town?” Joe demanded. “What kind of a life is that?”

“It’s our life, not yours,” Logan replied in a cold voice. “You’d do best to stay away from her, you hear me, boy?”

At the condescending tone, Joe made another attempt to lunge at the newcomer, only to be stopped once again by his bigger, much stronger brother.

“Take it easy, Joe,” Hoss warned sternly. Turning his attention back to Logan while keeping a firm grip on his brother’s arm, he posed the question uppermost on his mind. “Where’s your sister now?”

“I rented a place just out of town,” he answered, knowing there was no use in lying anymore at that point. “Once I found out she’d been talking to him, I wanted her out of Virginia City.”

Adam listened intently to the exchange, ready to pick up on any small snippet of information he might find handy. “Why all the questions about the Cartwrights?” he asked, looking for clarification.

“I deal in investments,” Logan replied coldly. “Ben Cartwright has a lot of money. Figure it out.”

Adam raised an eyebrow at the tone then offered a small smile, though his eyes were still hard. “In that case, I think you’re wasting your time.”

“We’ll see about that,” the man grumbled. “Now, if there are no more questions, I’d like to retire to my room.”

“Not so fast,” Joe interrupted, shrugging off Hoss’ arm to take a few steps toward the stranger. “Just because you said Alynn left willingly doesn’t make it so. I want to talk to her and see that she’s all right.”

“Stay away from her,” the man warned, his obvious dislike for Joe evident in his voice. “If it weren’t for you asking so many questions in the first place, she’d still be here in town.”

“Now that we know the truth,” Hoss interjected, eyes narrowed. “I don’t see no harm in lettin’ Joe talk to her.”

“Unless, of course,” Adam added in a casual tone, “we’ve yet to learn the real truth.”

Logan knew he could offer no logical explanation for wanting to keep Joe from talking to Alynn. “I guess I can’t stop you,” he finally stated defiantly. “She has the right to talk to anyone she chooses.”

“Where is she?” Joe asked flatly.

Logan looked at Adam and Hoss, noting their serious expressions. “A little house about an hours ride south of town,” he finally replied. “I’ll take you there.”

Joe stepped aside to allow the newcomer to lead the way. After only a moment’s hesitation, he did just that.

********

When they arrived at the small house, Logan dismounted and addressed his companions. “I’ll tell her she has visitors,” he stated simply. With that, he let his way into the house, closing the door.

“What do you make of him?” Hoss asked, scrunching up his face in a gesture of obvious distaste. “Don’t seem like the right sorta way to treat his sister.”

They looked around at the rundown house and thought it looked more like a hideout than a proper residence for a young lady.

“He’s living at the hotel in the lap of luxury,” Joe breathed, shaking his head slightly. “And he sticks her out here by herself. It just doesn’t make any sense.”

“Why don’t you wait until you hear her side before you jump to any conclusions,” Adam suggested wisely. “For all we know, he could be telling the truth.”

Joe was about to voice his doubt when Charles Logan exited from the small house. “You can come in,” he stated, addressing the three of them before turning to go back inside.

The brothers exchanged glances before following him into the small residence. Once inside, they found themselves face to face with the woman Joe had been searching the better part of the day for.

“Alynn,” Joe smiled. “I’d like you to meet my brothers, Adam and Hoss.”

“Ma’am,” Hoss smiled, instantly taken in by her beauty. She was exactly the way Joe had described her and her smile seemed to light at least their little corner of the world.

“It’s nice to meet you, Miss Bennet,” Adam smiled cautiously. He hadn’t missed the look that passed between brother and sister and made a mental note to watch for further signs that something might be amiss.

“How do you do?” she smiled uneasily. “Please, sit down. I have a fresh pot of coffee.”

Again, the three Cartwright brothers exchanged glances before taking a seat at the table.

“We had a nice little chat with your brother in town,” Adam broke the uneasy silence.

“He told us why you left the rooming house,” Joe added. “We just wanted to make sure everything was all right out here.”

She seemed to blush slightly at the words. “I’m sorry, Joe,” she offered. “I hadn’t intended on lying to you.” She met her brother’s gaze for a moment then quickly looked down at the floor, avoiding eye contact with the three visitors.

Joe looked at his brothers before turning his attention back to Alynn. “So what he said is true,” he surmised in a quiet voice. “All the deception is to hide the fact that you’re brother and sister. Frowning slightly, he added, “In that case, why did you risk talking to me in the first place?”

She glanced quickly at her brother with something akin to panic in her eyes.

“She didn’t know it was your father I was planning on doing business with,” Logan informed him flatly. “She didn’t want to jeopardize my chance at making a few extra dollars.”

Alynn looked at Joe as though trying to decide whether or not he was accepting the explanation. “Yes,” she concurred. “That’s right.”

“Look,” Joe persisted, ignoring Logan in favour of watching her expression closely. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but if you’re afraid, you don’t have to be. Just say the word and we’ll take you out of here.”

“I’m fine,” she managed, trying to offer a smile of reassurance though her complexion paled noticeably. “Really. Everything is all right.”

Joe looked at his brothers, trying to determine whether or not they had the same uneasy feeling he did. They knew each other well enough to read the signs without having to say anything. “Well then,” he stated. “I guess now that we know you’re safe and sound, we should be getting back to the Ponderosa.”

“I appreciate the concern,” she offered as they got to their feet.” She paused a moment to look at her brother once again. “But I assure you, Charles always has my best interests at heart.”

Adam raised an eyebrow but said nothing as the three said their farewells and walked to their horses.

Once Charles Logan had seen them on their way, he returned to the house. “That wasn’t exactly part of my plan,” he admitted to his sister. “But they left me no choice. They would have made a whole lot of trouble if I hadn’t brought them out here to prove that I hadn’t abducted you at gunpoint.”

“What’s going on, Charles?” Alynn demanded angrily. “What sort of trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?”

“There’s not going to be any trouble,” her brother murmured distractedly, looking out the window. “Just as long as you stay away from Joe Cartwright, you understand me?”

“No,” she seethed. “I don’t understand. Why don’t you explain it to me?”

He turned from the window to offer her a taunting smile. “In time, my dear,” he replied. “In time.”

**********

Ben couldn’t help but notice the way Joe picked at his food over dinner. “Something wrong, son?” he asked casually.

“I’m sure of it,” Joe uttered in reply. “I just can’t figure out exactly what.”

Ben raised an eyebrow and looked to his other sons for an explanation. Once he’d heard about Alynn and her brother, he turned his attention back to Joe.

“If she says she’s all right, there’s not much you can do. He’s her brother, after all. She’s his responsibility, not yours.”

“I know that, Pa,” Joe sighed, putting down his fork. “I just can’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right.”

“I sorta had the same feelin’, Pa,” Hoss admitted. “I think we all did.”

“Oh?” Ben replied, frowning. “Did she act as though she was afraid of him?”

“No,” Adam answered. “Not exactly. I just got the impression that they were hiding something.”

Ben shrugged slightly. “From what you’ve said, they are trying to hide something, the fact that they’re brother and sister.”

“That’s just it, Pa,” Joe frowned in concentration. “Once we knew the truth, why did they still act so suspiciously?”

“I’m sure I don’t know,” Ben stated firmly. “But I do know it’s none of our business.”

“Besides, if it were really her safety he was concerned with, wouldn’t you think he’d want to keep her closer?” Adam added, seemingly oblivious to his father’s comments. “Putting her out in the old Marshal place by herself isn’t exactly keeping an eye on her.”

“So you don’t believe their story,” Ben surmised.

“No, Pa, I guess we don’t,” Hoss answered for the three of them.

“If I could just talk to her alone,” Joe murmured in distraction. “She’s not going to say anything with him standing over her.”

“You talked to her alone yesterday,” Ben reminded him. “She didn’t say anything then either.”

“But we’d just met at the time,” Joe explained. “Maybe if I were to invite her out here to dinner I’d get a chance to find out what’s really going on.”

“You think she’d come?” Ben asked patiently. “Without her brother?”

“Why not invite them both?” Adam suggested. “I think there’s something going on with Charles Logan and I still think it has something to do with you, Pa. He asked too many questions for a man who was merely trying to set up an easy mark.”

Ben raised an eyebrow disapprovingly in the direction of his eldest son.

“You know what I mean,” Adam smiled in slight amusement.

“Yes, I guess I do,” Ben admitted gruffly. “All right. If the three of you think it will ease your minds at all where this girl is concerned, you can invite them out to dinner.”

“I’ll ride out and ask her tomorrow,” Joe beamed.

“Fine,” Ben grumbled, unsure as to whether he’d made the right decision in agreeing to get involved with the strangers. Turning to Joe with a stern look, he added, “Just remind me of this the next time I foolishly agree to give you three days off, will you?”

**********

Joe’s original plan was to ride straight out to the Marshal place, but as he neared Virginia City, he realized the proper thing to do would be to invite Charles first. It was no secret the man didn’t like him, and he had to admit the feeling was mutual, but he didn’t want to give him any further reason by calling on his sister behind his back.

After tying Cochise in front of the hotel, he went in search of Charles Logan. He found him in the dining room, finishing off a late breakfast.

“What do you want?” the man demanded in a cold voice.

“You might say I want to call a truce,” Joe offered evenly. “I get the impression you don’t much trust me where Alynn is concerned.”

“Alynn’s a beautiful girl,” Logan replied. “We’ve yet to stop in a town where young men aren’t tripping over each other like pathetic puppy dogs to get to her.”

“And putting her out at the old Marshal place, cutting her off from everyone is your way of protecting her from that?” Joe demanded, a tinge of anger to his voice. “Is that what Alynn wants? To be locked away like some treasure that no one has the opportunity to appreciate?”

“She’s my sister, Cartwright,” Logan reminded him coldly. “It’s none of your business how I choose to look after her.”

Joe was silent for a moment. “No, I guess it’s not,” he finally agreed. “Look, I didn’t come here to fight with you. My family wants to invite you to dinner at the Ponderosa tonight. I am going to ride out and ask Alynn, but I thought out of courtesy I should ask you first.”

“Why?” Logan asked suspiciously. “Why would your family want to invite us to dinner?”

Joe shrugged. “You’re new in town,” he replied. “And truthfully, I’d like to get to know Alynn better. I think she might prefer an evening of good company to one alone out at that house.”

Charles seemed to ponder the explanation for a moment. “Don’t you agree with your brother that I’d be wasting my time with your father at this point? I’m sure you’ve voiced your suspicions to him where I’m concerned.” He paused a moment, allowing a smirk to cross his face. “Though I can assure you that he’d find my proposal most interesting.”

“My father’s a fair man,” Joe stated. “And he makes his own decisions.”

“Then let’s give him a chance to do that, shall we? Tell your father that I have important business to discuss with him and that I’ll be paying him a visit later this morning.”

“I came here to invite you and Alynn to dinner,” Joe pointed out flatly. “You want to make a business appointment with my father, you do it yourself.”

“I’ll do just that,” Logan smiled wryly. “But I think the socializing would be best saved until after he hears what I have to say.”

“Suit yourself,” Joe grated, turning away from the table.

“And Cartwright,” Logan called, causing Joe to pause in his exit. “I don’t want you talking to Alynn, do I make myself clear?”

Joe turned to face the smirking man. “I don’t see as that’s any of your business,” he stated evenly before turning once again and leaving the room.

As Charles Logan watched him leave, a satisfied grin spread across his face. “We’ll see about that,” he murmured quietly.

**********

Though dismayed, Joe wasn’t entirely surprised to find the Marshal house empty when he got there. The fact that Logan seemed to be going to so much trouble to keep him from talking to Alynn only strengthened his suspicion that the man was up to no good. Having decided on his next course of action, he mounted Cochise and headed back to town.

When he reached the sheriff’s office, Roy greeted him with a warm welcome. “Little Joe,” he smiled. “What brings you to town so early? No trouble I hope.”

“I hope not, Roy,” Joe replied. “I wanted to find out if you knew anything about a man named Charles Logan. He came into town day before yesterday with a woman, his sister.”

“Logan?” Roy repeated, frowning thoughtfully. “Nope, can’t say as I’ve heard of him. Why d’ya ask?”

Joe recounted his encounters with the man and the situation with Alynn.

“She’s his sister,” Roy shrugged. “He’s got every right to protect her, if that’s what he’s doin’. As for your Pa, he’s about as careful as they come. He ain’t gonna fall for no shady investment deals, you know that.”

“I know,” Joe sighed. “It’s not bad investments I’m worried about. I just don’t know why he’s so bent on making sure Alynn doesn’t have contact with anyone in town.”

“Anyone?” Roy frowned. “Or you? From what you’ve told me, she had contact with at least two other people here in town, Mrs. Callwood and Sarah down at the roomin’ house. Didn’t he even admit that it was you Cartwrights he wanted to keep her from?”

Joe considered the words for a moment. “That’s right,” he murmured thoughtfully. As an idea suddenly came to him, he thanked Roy and hurried from the office.

Mrs. Brandon was her usual, cheerful self when she greeted him at the rooming house. “Little Joe!” she exclaimed. “Two visits in one week? To what do I owe such an honour?”

Joe smiled in greeting, then asked about the reason for his visit. “Is Sarah in this morning?”

She shook her head. “Not ‘til this afternoon,” she replied. “But I do have good news of sorts. That woman you were asking about the other day? She came in last night.”

“Alynn Bennet?” he asked in surprise. “Where is she now?”

“She’s up in her room,” Mrs. Brandon answered. “And she likely will be until her gentleman friend returns. He told her in no uncertain terms that she wasn’t to talk to anyone until he got back.”

“Which room?” Joe asked, seemingly oblivious to the words.

“Little Joe Cartwright,” she exclaimed, a small smile of disapproval clouding her features. “Didn’t you hear a word I just said?”

“Look, Mrs. Brandon,” he explained. “It’s important that I talk to her.”

“She in some sort of trouble?” Mrs. Brandon frowned in concern.

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “But I have to find out.”

“But she won’t see you,” she reminded him. “I told you what he said. He looked like he meant business.”

“You could get her to open the door,” he suggested. “Once she does, I’ll be able to talk to her alone and if she really isn’t in any danger, I’ll leave without any trouble, you have my word.”

She considered the words for a moment. She’d known Joe Cartwright all his life and had watched him grow into the trustworthy man who now stood before her. “All right,” she finally agreed. “But if you’re wrong and she wants you to leave…”

“I will,” he promised. “Just as soon as I know she’s all right.”

She paused another moment before leading the way up the stairs.

“Yes?” called a woman’s voice in response to Mrs. Brandon’s knock.

“I have some fresh towels here, dear,” the woman replied, glancing briefly at Joe.

When the door opened, Alynn was surprised to see Joe standing there. “You shouldn’t be here,” she exclaimed, her eyes wide with alarm.

“When I couldn’t find you at the Marshal place, I got worried,” Joe explained. “Please, I just want to talk to you for a minute.”

“I’m not supposed to talk to you,” Alynn whispered intently, glancing into the corridor as though afraid her brother would appear at any moment. “Charles said…”

“What did he say?” Joe asked as she failed to finish the statement. “What did he say that has you so frightened?”

Alynn glanced furtively at Mrs. Brandon who was shifting uncomfortably in the hallway. “I’m sorry, Miss,” she apologized. “But he said it was important. The Cartwrights are good men. If you’re in trouble, you can tell them.”

“Are you in trouble, Alynn?” Joe asked.

“I’ll be in the lobby,” Mrs. Brandon excused herself before hurrying toward the stairway.

“It’s not what you think, Joe,” Alynn insisted once the older woman was out of earshot.

“Then tell me what I’m supposed to think,” he replied. “The day you got here, you were a different person. When I saw you out at the house, you could barely look at me. What’s going on?”

“Please,” she whispered fervently. “My brother could be back at any moment.” She grasped the edge of the door, trying to close it. “I can’t talk to you. Not now.”

He stopped the door, holding it firmly despite her attempts to close it. “Then you are afraid of him,” he concluded grimly.

She shot him a startled look before replying. “Charles would never hurt me,” she stated, her voice devoid of the conviction she’d intended for the words.

“Wouldn’t he?” Joe challenged tersely. “Then why are you so afraid that he’ll find you talking to me?”

“Why don’t you just let it go?” she pleaded.

“Not until I know what kind of business he has with my father,” Joe persisted.

“I don’t know,” she answered truthfully. “He wouldn’t tell me. When I met you on the street, I didn’t even know he knew of your father.”

Joe considered the words for a moment. “You had no idea why he was coming to Virginia City?” he asked, doubt evident in his tone.

“Charles travels a lot,” she smiled wanly. “This is the first time he ever asked me to accompany him. I thought it would be a good opportunity to spend some time together.”

“That’s it?” Joe frowned.

“That’s a lot when you consider he’s all I have in this world,” she pointed out sadly. “I always had the impression he resented me. He’s had to help our mother look after me practically my whole life. Now that I’m grown and mama’s gone, I thought this might be a chance for us to share the kind of closeness I’d always wished we’d had.”

Her words caused Joe to think about his own brothers. They’d had to help raise him after the death of his mother, but he’d never been made to feel like he was a burden to them. On the contrary, he’d always felt the bond between them had been made even stronger. He couldn’t even imagine being so desperate for the sibling affection he’d been shown his whole life. The slightly wistful look in her blue eyes softened his demeanour slightly and he offered a small smile. “I guess I can understand that,” he allowed quietly.

“But you can’t relate, can you Joe?” she asked, seemingly forgetting her fear of being caught talking to him. “I saw the way you were with your brothers. Even in the few moments at the house, just the way you seemed to communicate without the need of words, I could tell you share an unbreakable bond, the kind of bond I’d hoped to one day develop with Charles.”

“Maybe you still can,” he offered kindly.

“Or maybe it’s time I stopped kidding myself,” she sighed. “That story he told you about protecting me when we travel? It’s not true, any of it. It was only when we were coming into Virginia City that he told me we had to pretend we weren’t together. Whatever reason he had for asking me to come along on this trip, it obviously had nothing to do with wanting to spend time with me.”

“But his reasons for being here do concern my father,” Joe stated. “And I’m going to find out what they are.”

The last thing he remembered was turning away from the door.

**********

When he came to, he was inside the room with the door closed. Charles Logan stood over him with a gun, his expression angry.

“You just couldn’t do what you were told, could you, Cartwright?” he hissed.

“I don’t take orders from you, Logan,” Joe muttered, looking around the room. “Where’s Alynn?”

“She doesn’t take orders too well either,” Logan smirked. “All she had to do was stay away from you.”

“And why is that so important?” Joe demanded, getting to his feet while noticing the gun pointed at him was his own.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” he spat. “Now, we’re going to walk out of here and take a little ride. If you try anything, I’ll kill you.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” Joe grated, his expression hard.

“You are unless you want me to kill Mrs. Brandon and her daughter,” Logan informed him.

Joe thought about the kindly woman he’d known most of his life and her daughter, Sarah, who’d practically grown up with him. “Leave them out of this,” he warned.

“I’d like nothing better,” Logan shrugged nonchalantly. “But they’re down in the lobby and they just may be suspicious of us leaving together. So, unless you convince them that all is well, Virginia City is going to find itself short two residents.”

Joe considered the threat for a moment, wondering if the man before him would actually kill two innocent women. Deciding he couldn’t risk finding out, he allowed Logan to usher him into the hallway.

As expected, Mrs. Brandon looked up questioningly when she heard them coming down the stairs. Joe looked her in the eye and smiled slightly.

“Everything all right, Little Joe?” she asked reluctantly.

Logan prodded Joe slightly with the gun concealed under his jacket. “Fine, Mrs. Brandon,” Joe answered. “Mr. Logan and I are heading out to the Ponderosa to talk to Pa.”

“Say hello for me, will you?” she smiled slightly.

Joe tipped his hat politely and led the way out of the rooming house, Charles Logan close behind.

“Just where are we supposed to be going?” he demanded flatly.

“You’ll see,” Logan replied, motioning for Joe to get on his horse. Still keeping the gun trained on him, he mounted his own and nodded toward the outskirts of town.

Joe’s hopes faded as he realized they were not headed for the Marshal place. Having been there only the day before, he was confident that his brothers would look there for him if he failed to return home in a reasonable amount of time. Now, however, as they headed in the other direction, he knew he was on his own.

Out of the corner of his eye, he tried to keep Logan in view, waiting for the right opportunity. Though he knew his rifle was within easy reach, he also knew he wouldn’t have time to aim and fire before his captor pulled the trigger. Deciding to wait for a better opportunity, he allowed the man to guide him away from town where there was less chance of someone else being hurt.

When they came to a rundown shack, Logan informed him that they’d reached their destination. “Sorry I didn’t have time to prepare accommodations more fitting for a Cartwright,” he sneered. “But seeing as you gave me little choice, this will have to do.”

Joe glanced around and noticed there was no other horse in the area. “Where’s Alynn?” he asked flatly.

“She’s still in town,” Logan replied, dismounting and motioning for Joe to do the same. “You don’t think I’d leave her out here with you, do you?”

Joe made a motion to dismount and knew he wasn’t likely to get a better chance. In a desperate attempt at freedom, he launched himself from the saddle, landing squarely on his surprised captor.

As the rolled in the dirt, Joe grappled with the larger man for the gun. Even as his fingers closed around the barrel, a shot rang out, muffled slightly by the close proximity at which it had been fired.

Logan got to his feet, his mind reeling with what had happened in only a few short seconds. “What did you go and do that for?” he demanded, his voice indicating his panic at the new situation. “I didn’t want to kill you, Cartwright, just keep you out of the way for a while.”

“I’m not dead yet,” Joe gasped, his hands clutching the whole in his side. “You’ve got to get me to a doctor.”

Logan licked his lips, nervously glancing in the direction of town. “I can’t do that,” he murmured, shaking his head slightly. “No sir, they’ll hang me for this.”

“So you just leave me out here to die?” Joe rasped in exasperation. “What would Alynn think of you then?”

Without another word, Logan hurried to his horse and swung himself into the saddle.

“Logan!” Joe shouted with as much strength as he could muster. As he watched the other man ride away, he fell back in the dirt, his energy seeping from him in correlation with the red stain growing on his shirt. “Logan,” he whispered hoarsely. As the sky seemed to spin above him, he thought of his father and brothers. He knew they’d come looking, but would they be in time? As he tried to reassure himself that they would, he lost the battle against unconsciousness.

**********
When he awoke, it took him a moment to realize where he was. No longer was the bright sun pounding directly on him, but he could still see it shining through the cracks in the walls. As he turned his head to orient himself, he saw Alynn’s face above him.

“Where?” he asked weakly.

“The same shack where you were shot,” she explained. “I’m so sorry about this, Joe,” she tried to convince him. “I didn’t know his plans would come to this.”

“What are his plans?” he asked.

“He’s gone to see your father,” she explained. “When he gets back, he intends to take me and leave town. He said he’ll leave a note at the hotel telling someone where you are.”

Joe closed his eyes as she spoke. “And that’s it,” he breathed, his tone one of disappointment. “You just follow along, doing whatever he tells you to do.”

He didn’t see the hurt expression in her eyes. “I said those were his intentions,” she reminded him. “He came to the hotel for me and brought me out here on his horse. If there was a way for me to get you back to town, I’d have done it the moment he left.”

He opened his eyes and turned his head slightly to meet her gaze.

“He’s my brother,” she stated quietly. “I owe him a lot and that’s why I turn a blind eye to some of his schemes, but no one has ever been hurt by them before, not really. He’s out of control, Joe. I don’t know what he’s planning with your father, but I’m sure it has to do with money. That’s what usually drives him to do the things he does.”

He tried to sit up, only to have her put a steadying hand on his shoulder. “It’s best if you take it easy,” she advised gently. “The bleeding seems to have slowed for now, but if you move around too much…”

“Cochise,” he breathed, still struggling to sit up.

“What?” she frowned, worried that he was delirious.

“My horse,” he explained, leaning against the wall to regain his strength. “He must have run off at the shot, but he won’t go far, not without me.”

She hadn’t even thought of the possibility that Joe’s horse could still be nearby. “Stay here,” she instructed firmly as she hurried for the door.

She was back in a few moments, her expression one of triumph. “I got him,” she stated. “I’m going for a doctor.”

“No,” Joe shook his head, pushing himself to a standing position. “We have to get to the Ponderosa.”

“You’ll never make it,” she exclaimed, hurrying to his side to help him.

“I don’t have a choice,” he pointed out, his voice as firm as he could manage. “He wasn’t afraid to shoot me, Alynn. Who knows what he’ll do if he doesn’t get what he wants from my father? Help me to my horse and I’ll make it.”

She did as instructed, taking some of his weight as they walked slowly outside to where Cochise waited. Though it took him a few moments, he managed to swing himself slowly into the saddle and motioned for her to climb up. She did so easily, slipping her arms around him and taking the reins. “Which way?” she asked.

While he indicated the direction, she prodded the horse to a slow gait, worried that the motion would cause his wound to bleed again. Despite her efforts, he coaxed Cochise to a faster pace, knowing that his equine friend would respond more readily to him than to the woman.

When they finally reached the Ponderosa, she jumped down and called toward the house. “Mr. Cartwright?!”

The door opened momentarily and Adam and Hoss hurried out, followed by Charles Logan. As soon as he saw his sister, Logan drew his gun. “That’s far enough, Cartwright!” he called to the two older brothers.

“What’s going on here?” Adam demanded, his gaze flitting from Logan to where Joe was getting down slowly from his horse.

“Joe! What happened?” Hoss asked as he hurried toward his younger brother, oblivious to the threat the stranger posed.

“He shot me,” Joe breathed, taking the arm Alynn offered for support. “Whatever his business is with Pa, I guess it was worth killing for.”

“No one was supposed to get hurt,” Logan barked. “It was your own fault for not minding your own business!”

“Let’s get him into the house,” Adam muttered as he quickly inspected the wound in Joe’s side. As they helped their younger brother toward the front door, Alynn hurried to where Charles stood watching, his gun trained on the three Cartwrights.

“Charles,” she exclaimed in disbelief. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“In the house,” he growled, waving his gun toward the front door.

She stood for a moment, looking into his cold, hard eyes before lowering her gaze to the gun he held. Without further comment, she pushed her way past him and hurried through the door.

Hoss and Adam were just approaching the staircase when Logan entered. “Not up there,” he instructed firmly. Motioning to the settee, he added, “Put him over here. I want all three of you where I can see you.”

Once they’d lowered Joe to the sofa, Adam turned his attention on their captor while Hoss tended to the injury.

“Why don’t you tell us exactly what it is you want here,” he demanded, his voice strong and defiant.

“I want what’s coming to me,” Logan replied, taking Alynn by the arm and shoving her toward one of the chairs. “And as soon as Ben Cartwright gets back, I’m going to get it.”

“Where’s Pa?” Joe asked grimacing against the pain as Hoss tried to remove his jacket and shirt.

“He went into Carson City with Hop Sing, Little Joe,” Hoss replied grimly. “He should be back shortly.”

“In the meantime, you can answer my question,” Adam stated evenly, his gaze fixed squarely on the man with the gun. “What do you want with him?”

“I’ve got something that belongs to him,” Logan sneered. “Thought he might like it back.”

Alynn had left her chair to help Hoss with Joe. “We need some water,” she informed her brother sternly. “And some bandages.”

“See what you can find in the kitchen,” Charles snapped, his gun still aimed at where Adam stood facing him. “And be quick about it.”

Alynn flashed him an angry glare, but followed his instructions, hurrying into the kitchen.

“If my brother dies,” Adam began, his lips set in a grim line of determination. “I’ll kill you myself.”

“He ain’t gonna die,” Logan replied, glancing quickly at where Joe lay. “If he’d minded his own business, he wouldn’t have even been hurt.”

Alynn hurried back into the room carrying a basin of water and some cloth she’d managed to find. As she gingerly tended to Joe’s wound, Hoss straightened and came to join his older brother.

“Listen here, mister,” he stated, his eyes narrowed. “I don’t know what it is you want with Pa, but I can tell you right off he’s not gonna do any dealin’ with you after what you done. If I was you, I’d get out of here while I could still sit a saddle.”

“I told you,” Logan replied, matching Hoss’ steady tone. “I’m not going anywhere until I get what’s coming to me.”

“I reckon I can promise you’ll get what’s comin’ to ya,” Hoss replied, his fists clenching at his sides.

“What exactly is it you think our father owes you?” Adam interjected, putting a steadying hand on Hoss’ arm.

Logan smiled wryly. “Like I said, I got something that belongs to him.” Motioning toward the settee, he indicated Alynn. “Boys, meet your sister.”

Alynn’s eyes darted up quickly to meet those of her brother, her expression one of shock and disbelief.

“Our what?” Adam demanded, glancing swiftly at Alynn before turning his attention back to the man before him.

“Oh yes,” he sneered. “My father died before we moved to San Francisco. Our mother never married after that. When Alynn came along, she would only say she’d loved her father but she wouldn’t disclose his identity to anyone, not even Alynn. She said he was a wealthy, important man, but she knew he had a wife. She didn’t want to destroy his life so she kept his secret. She struggled to raise his child while he went on with his perfect life as though nothing had happened.”

“Charles,” Alynn breathed, the colour draining from her face.

“You’d best try to explain this accusation of yours,” Adam stated firmly.

“Her name was Adrianne,” Charles explained, his chin lifting slightly. “Adrianne Bennet. She owned a small café on the waterfront. She said your father often went there when he was in San Francisco.”

“So?” Adam prodded.

“She told me how kind he was to her,” Charles continued, his voice taking on a hard edge. “How he helped her when she was having problems with the landlord.”

Alynn was still reeling with the shock of what she’d heard. “She would never tell you,” she breathed, shaking her head slightly as she got to her feet. “She wouldn’t even tell me.”

“She didn’t have to tell me!” Charles shouted, his anger addressed at her in particular. “Who else could it be?” He whirled to face Adam once again. “Whenever she mentioned your father and his kindness, there was something in her eyes, something that I could never really understand until I put all the pieces together.”

“Why are you doing this?” she pleaded, unable to look at anyone except her brother.

“He’s denied you all these years, but no more,” Charles smiled maniacally. “He owes you, Alynn.”

“So that’s it,” Hoss breathed in distaste. “It all comes down to money.”

“Everything comes down to money,” Charles laughed mirthlessly. “You Cartwrights should know that better than anyone.”

“You’re wrong,” Adam disagreed firmly. “There are more important things, like family. Regardless of the fact you had different fathers, Alynn is still your sister. Can’t you see what this is doing to her?”

“My sister,” he scoffed. “Look after your sister, Charles. Always protect your sister, Charles. Do you know how sick I am of hearing about my sister? Does the fact that my father was a dirt farmer make her more important than me? Does her birthright give her the right to ruin my life? Now, I’ve looked after her all these years, I think it’s time I was paid for my trouble.”

“Your trouble?” Alynn breathed, the pain in her eyes turning to anger. “I never asked anything from you, Charles,” she stated angrily. “All I wanted was for you to be a brother to me, but you were always so wrapped up in yourself and your schemes that you couldn’t even see that.”

“Alynn,” Joe moaned weakly.

Tearing her eyes from her brother, her expression softened as she knelt beside the settee. “I’m so sorry for this, Joe,” she murmured as she felt his forehead for fever. “I had no idea what he was up to, you have to believe me.”

“Cochise,” he whispered quietly.

She frowned at him for a moment, then nodded once as realization dawned. Getting to her feet, she strode purposefully toward where Charles stood in the middle of the room.

“I can’t believe you would do this,” she lamented, her eyes brimming with tears. “What would Mama think? What do you think it would do to her if she knew what you’d become?”

“Shut up!” he snapped, obviously not wanting to hear what she was saying.

“It’s not too late, Charles,” she suggested hopefully, offering a small smile. “We could leave right now, both of us. We could go back to San Francisco, or somewhere else if you want. We could still be a family, Charles. You and me.”

“I said shut up!” he yelled, backhanding her across the side of the face. She stumbled against the back of the settee, her hand to her cheek, her eyes wide with fear and shock. Hoss made a move toward her, his expression one of outrage, but Adam stopped him, shaking his head almost imperceptibly.

“You’re not my problem anymore,” Charles seethed at his sister. “Don’t you get that? I looked after you for Mama’s sake, but that’s over now. You’ve already taken twenty years of my life, I’m not giving you one day more.”

His words stung like a physical blow and Alynn could no longer stem the tears threatening behind her lids. With a sob, she headed for the front door, hurrying outside even as he yelled for her to stop.

“Why didn’t you just shoot her?” Adam demanded angrily.

“I reckon you’re about the poorest excuse for a man I’ve ever seen,” Hoss added grimly.

“Alynn, you get back here!” Logan called, unwilling to take his eyes or his gun off the men standing before him. “So help me, I’ll finish the job I started on your little friend here.”

Adam and Hoss both hoped that she’d ignore his demand and go for help, but their hopes were dashed as they saw her shadow in the doorway.

Logan glanced at the door briefly before turning a wickedly triumphant grin in the direction of Adam and Hoss. “One thing about her,” he drawled cynically. “She usually does what she’s told. You should find her a might handy around the Ponderosa.”

“Put down the gun, Charles,” Alynn stated flatly.

Though he kept his weapon trained on the two men, he allowed his surprised gaze to turn to where his sister stood. It took a few seconds for his mind to register the fact that she was holding a rifle with the barrel aimed at him.

“Alynn!” he whispered fiercely. “What are you doing? You’re going to ruin everything.”

“I’ve already ruined your life, remember?” she stated coldly. “I’m not going to let you hurt anyone else. Put down the gun.”

“It’s over Logan,” Adam added, still eyeing the gun warily.

Charles whipped his head around to face the man in black. “No,” he breathed, shaking his head slightly as though in disbelief. “I’ve planned this for too long.”

His eyes took on a maniacal desperation even as he swung his arm around in her direction, his gun now pointed at the only relative he had left in the world. Only one shot rang out, but it was obvious who had fired it as Logan slowly crumbled to the floor.

Adam immediately crouched beside the still figure, looking for any signs of life. “He’s dead,” he announced quietly as he rose once again to his feet.

Alynn lowered Joe’s rifle to her side and stared in horror at the body of her brother. “I killed him,” she whispered in disbelief.

“The way I see it,” Hoss mused, coming toward her to take the rifle from her hands. “You shot him in self-defense, ma’am. You didn’t have a choice.”

All conversation ceased as Ben rushed through the open door, Hop Sing and two ranch hands close behind.

“What’s going on here?” he demanded, his gun drawn.

“It’s all right, Pa,” Adam assured him. “But Joe’s going to need a doctor.” He glanced at the dead man on the floor. “I’m afraid this one won’t.”

Ben frowned in slight confusion before hurrying to where Joe lay on the sofa. After instructing the hands to take the body to town and bring out the doctor, he demanded to know what had happened in his absence.

Adam and Hoss glanced at Alynn, unsure as to whether or not they should be the ones to tell him what Charles had accused him of.

“I believe you knew my mother,” she explained. “She talked about you and your kindness many times throughout the years.”

“Your mother?” Ben repeated, frowning.

“Adrienne Bennet,” Alynn continued in a strong but gentle voice. “She owned a small café in San Francisco.”

“Yes,” Ben nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, of course. I visited your mother’s café many times.

Alynn smiled sadly. “She said she owed you a great debt, that you did her a favour once.”

Ben was silent for a moment as he recalled the details. “A man by the name of Dorchester owned the saloon adjacent to the cafe. He wanted to expand his own business, so he tried to force your mother out of hers.”

“You exposed him for what he was,” Alynn continued. “A cheat and a thief. If it hadn’t been for you, she might have lost everything.”

“That was twenty years ago,” Ben mused in slight bewilderment. “What does any of that have to do with what’s been going on here?”

Alynn glanced briefly at Adam and Hoss before lowering her gaze to the floor.

“Uh, maybe we should take Joe upstairs,” Adam suggested.

“Yeah,” Hoss agreed quickly. “The doc will likely want to tend to him up there.”

Ben moved to assist as Hoss and Adam helped Joe to his feet and toward the stairs.

“We’ve got him, Pa,” Adam assured him. Glancing in Alynn’s direction, he added, “I think Alynn might have something she’d like to talk to you about.”

The small smile Alynn offered to the eldest brother was one of relief and gratitude.

Ben frowned uncertainly as he looked from his sons to the young woman. “I’ll bring up Doc Martin as soon as he gets here,” he stated.

Once the three had disappeared up the stairs, Ben motioned for Alynn to take a seat on the settee and waited until she was comfortable before taking the chair opposite her.

“What is it you’d like to talk to me about, Alynn?” Ben asked kindly.

She took a deep breath before raising her eyes to meet his. “My brother and I had different fathers,” she began. “Charles’ died when he was still a small boy. After that, he and my mother moved to San Francisco.” She paused for a moment, allowing her gaze to drop to where her hands fidgeted restlessly in her lap. “She never married again.”

Ben nodded briefly as he digested the information. “I remember your mother had a son,” he acknowledged. “He was often in the café when he was small.”

“We both spent a lot of time in the café when we were little,” she smiled sadly. “Mama said it was the only way she could keep an eye on us while she worked.”

Ben smiled kindly, but said nothing.

“Charles was ten when I was born,” she continued. “Still a child, but old enough to realize the way things were supposed to work. There was no husband, no father, therefore there should be no baby.” She allowed a wry smile. “Looking back, I have to wonder if there was ever a time when he didn’t resent my presence. He used to get so angry with our mother because she refused to reveal my father’s identity.” She paused a moment, lost in the throes of memory. “I remember one night when I was about twelve. Charles was at work delivering ice and mother and I had just finished clearing the supper dishes. She would always sit by the fire and read to me after dinner, but this particular night, she told me it was time I knew more about my father. She described how she’d fallen in love with his kind, gentle nature, how he’d made her feel special for the first time since she’d lost her husband. We talked for hours.”

Her voice trailed off and she was silent for a moment before shaking her head slightly as though to bring herself back to the present. “She could never tell us his name, Mr. Cartwright, because she had never told him about me. He was a married man and she didn’t want to ruin his life and his reputation. She knew that others would view it as wrong, but she never regretted one moment of the time they spent together. She was alone and he was trapped in an unhappy marriage.”

He noted the slightly defensive tone of voice and smiled in reassurance. “I knew your mother to be a good, honest woman,” he stated kindly

She smiled gratefully at his words. “Yes, she was,” she nodded slowly. “But when I came along, she was afraid the rumours would hurt the man she loved. She kept his identity a secret my whole life and took it to the grave with her, Mr. Cartwright.”

“I’m sorry about that,” he frowned slightly. “Everyone has the right to know their father.”

“I feel like I did know him in some ways,” she pointed out quietly. “Just from the things my mother told me about him. I’m sure he was a kind, loving man.” She paused for a moment, steeling herself for what she still had to say. “Charles felt as though he knew him too,” she stated. Looking directly into Ben’s eyes, she continued. “He came to the conclusion that you were that man.”

Ben looked at her for a moment, his mind unable to comprehend what she was saying. “Me?” he finally asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

She looked briefly down at her hands. “I didn’t know when we came out here that his intention was to confront you with the possibility,” she explained. “If I had, I never would have played a part in it. He wanted money, money he figured you owed him for…” She paused briefly, the colour rising in her cheeks. “For looking after me all these years.”

“Alynn, I …” Ben began gently.

She quickly put a hand on his, her eyes shining with tears in contrast to her forced smile. “Please, Mr. Cartwright. You don’t have to explain anything to me. Charles was wrong in his thinking. You’re not my father. I know that.”

“Your mother and I were no more than friends,” he confirmed softly.

She nodded at the statement taking a moment to compose herself before replying. “Even if I’d allowed myself to believe it before, I would have known the truth once I’d had a chance to talk to you. Somehow I just can’t see you locked into a loveless marriage.”

“I loved each of my wives very much,” he agreed with a sad smile.

She took a deep breath as though relieved to have the truth out in the open. “I realize what my brother did was wrong, Mr. Cartwright,” she said quietly. “And I know Joe wouldn’t be hurt right now if it wasn’t for me, but…” She paused a moment, closing her eyes against the tragedy of all that had happened. “But if you’d allow it, I’d like to stay just until the doctor comes and I know he’s going to be all right. I couldn’t bear going back to San Francisco without knowing…”

“Joe will be fine,” he assured her with a small smile as he laid a hand gently on her arm. “And you needn’t feel responsible for what’s happened. You’re a kind, caring, young woman, Alynn. We’d be happy to have you stay just as long as you’d like.”

She blinked back tears at his words. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“If you’d like, you can go up and wait with Joe until the doctor arrives.”

She glanced at the stairway and then back down at her hands. “I don’t think I could face them right now,” she admitted. “But please, don’t let me keep you from him any longer. I’ll just wait here if that’s all right.”

“Certainly,” he replied, squeezing her hand gently. “If you’ll excuse me.” He got to his feet and headed for the stairs, anxious to check on his youngest son.

Alynn, too, rose from the spot where she’d been sitting and began to pace, her mind going over all that had happened and trying to reconcile itself with the fact that she’d shot her own brother.

Once the doctor was upstairs with Joe, Adam and Hoss went down to talk to their guest.

“You can’t blame yourself for any of this,” Adam assured her quietly. “I believed you when you said you didn’t know what your brother was up to.”

“I appreciate that,” she replied, briefly meeting his gaze. “Is Little Joe going to be all right?”

“He’s gonna be just fine, ma’am,” Hoss answered with a reassuring smile. “Once the doc gets that bullet out, he’ll be good as new.”

“Good,” she nodded. “I guess I should be going, then. Tell Joe I’m sorry for everything,” she added.

“Why don’t you wait and tell him yourself?” Adam suggested. “We’ve got plenty of room here.”

“I’ve already caused your family enough trouble,” she smiled wanly. “I couldn’t.”

“If you don’t mind me sayin’ so,” Hoss pointed out quietly. “That’s your brother talkin’. You ain’t causin’ nobody any trouble by stayin’ on here.”

“He’s right,” Adam agreed. “No one blames you for what your brother tried to do. You’re more a victim of his actions than any of us.” He paused a moment. “You don’t have to believe what Charles said about you, you know.”

She smiled thinly. “Sometimes it’s hard not to, especially when you’ve heard it for so long. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t feel like a burden where he was concerned.”

“You saved our little brother’s life,” Hoss stated. “That sure don’t make you a burden around here. In fact, we’re a might grateful for what you did. I sure wish you’d stay a while and let us thank you proper.”

“There’s no need,” she smiled, warmed by his words. “I was merely trying to undo a situation I felt partially responsible for.”

“Trust me,” Adam offered a teasing smile. “That brother of ours doesn’t need any help getting into trouble, especially when there’s a pretty girl involved. You have nothing to feel responsible for.”

“Thank you,” she laughed lightly, the melodic tones brightening the room. “That makes me feel a little better.”

“Then you’ll stay a while?” Hoss asked hopefully. “The next stage for San Francisco don’t leave ‘til Friday.”

She considered it for a moment, unable to keep a small smile from her lips. “If you’re sure it’s no trouble, I’ll stay until Friday,” she finally agreed.

**********

Ben arranged for Hop Sing to prepare a special dinner on Thursday to mark the end of Alynn’s stay. In the few days she’d been at the Ponderosa, she’d managed to come to terms with most of what had happened, though she still felt saddened by her brother’s actions. When Joe suggested a walk in the moonlight after dinner, she gratefully accepted the offer, glad for the opportunity to enjoy one more pleasant evening in the fresh, country air.

“It’s just so beautiful here,” she mused, taking a deep breath. “I almost hate to leave.”

“You don’t have to, you know,” Joe pointed out quietly. “You could start over right here.”

Her smile was slightly sad as she turned to him. “It’s tempting,” she admitted. “In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve realized what I missed growing up without a father. Mr. Cartwright has been so kind, you all have.”

“Well, we never had a sister,” Joe teased with a smile. “Even for a short time.”

“And now I know that I never really had a brother,” she sighed, “at least not in the real sense of the word.”

He took her hand gently and stared into her eyes. “I’m serious, Alynn,” he spoke quietly. “I wish you’d stay. I’ve never met anyone like you, and I’m not talking as a brother, but as a man.”

She touched his face gently. “I know,” she whispered. “But I can’t, Joe. My life is in San Francisco. I’m going to reopen my mother’s café. I think that’s what she would have wanted. I need to prove to myself that I can do it on my own. All my life, my mother looked after me, protected me. After she died, as much as I hate to admit it, I relied on Charles a great deal. But now I’m no one’s little sister anymore. I’m just me and I have still to learn what that really means.” She paused for a moment, searching his eyes. “I don’t suppose that makes any sense to you.”

He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it gently. “It makes more sense than you know,” he smiled, swallowing the lump in his throat.

“I’ll miss you, Joe Cartwright,” she murmured, her gaze flitting from his eyes to his lips and back again.

In response, he took her in his arms, looking down into the liquid pool of blue that were her eyes. “I’ll miss you too,” he whispered. Bending his head slowly, he sought out her lips with his own. As they locked in a tender kiss of farewell, he was sure he felt his heart breaking. Once they’d reluctantly pulled away from one another, they stood looking into each other’s eyes. He could see his own pain mirrored in her face and forced a smile of encouragement. “You’ll always have a family here, Alynn. Don’t ever forget that.”

“I won’t,” she smiled, tears shining in her eyes. “I guess I’d better call it a night. That stage leaves early.” Pausing briefly, she scanned his features as though trying to commit them to memory. “Good night, Joe,” she whispered. Reaching up, she brushed her lips lightly against his before hurrying past him toward the house. Unwilling to go inside, he turned and leaned his arms on the top rail of the fence, the touch of her kiss still fresh on his lips.

He didn’t know how long he’d been standing there when he felt a hand on his shoulder and one on his back. Looking up, he noticed his brothers, one on either side.

“You all right?” Adam asked quietly as the three of them stared out at the corral.

“I don’t know,” Joe sighed honestly. “I just know I don’t want her to leave.”

“Did you tell her that?” Hoss asked.

“Yeah,” Joe mumbled, lowering his gaze to stare at his hands. “I told her. She says she has to try it on her own. She wants to reopen her mother’s café in San Francisco.”

Hoss and Adam exchanged a glance over their brother’s head. “I guess there’s nothing else you can do,” Adam finally surmised in a soft voice. “If you love her, you have to let her go.”

Joe took a deep breath before offering his brothers a fragile smile. “Yeah, I know,” he sighed sadly. “She’s gonna make it, too; you wait and see.”

“You bet she will,” Hoss grinned, slapping his little brother on the back. “She’s a strong gal.”

They stood in silence for a moment, each contemplating their own thoughts. “Well, I don’t know about you two, but I’m going to hit the sack,” Adam suggested.

“You go on ahead,” Joe offered to his brothers. “I’ll be in in a minute.”

Adam nodded and squeezed Joe’s arm slightly before turning toward the house. Hoss bade his younger brother good night and followed.

Joe lingered a moment longer in an effort to delay the coming morning when he’d have to say goodbye. Turning toward the house, he glanced up at her lighted window just in time to see it go dark. “Good night, Alynn,” he said softly. With the memory if her kiss forever etched on his heart, he slowly made his way toward the house

The End.