Summary: Candy discovers some miners are not who they are supposed to be.

Rating: G, Word Count: 1241

Candy and the Outlaws

 

Candy knocked on the door to the mining office.

“Come in,” a female voice called out.

Candy smiled as he opened the door seeing Siobhan O’Leary behind the desk. She looked up and returned the smile when she saw Candy. They had been courting for a few months. He had started working for the mines after Ben Cartwright mentioned that some of the men had walked off the job. Candy offered to take time off from the Ponderosa to work there. He spoke to Ben about it and Ben gave his consent.

“How are you Candy?” Siobhan asked standing to stretch.

“I’m fine. How are you?”

“I’ll be better when Pa gets home. I didn’t realize how hard the mine business was.”

Candy chuckled.

“You’re doing a wonderful job.”

“Thank you. I’m just trying my best to keep the business working.”

“How long until he comes home?”

“He and my stepmother will be home by the end of the month. Listen, I need to go into town to get a few groceries. Care to come with me?” Siobhan asked.

“I’d love to,” Candy replied smiling.

He helped her clean up and they headed out.

They arrived in town and parked the wagon. Candy jumped down then helped Siobhan down. They walked by the sheriff’s office and saw Roy walking toward them carrying papers and looking through them.

“Hello, Sheriff,” Candy said.

Roy looked up surprised.

“Hello, you two. How are you?” Roy asked.

“Just fine. New wanted posters?” Siobhan asked.

“Sure are. This one looks like he could be close to Virginia City. He was in Carson City before.” Roy said.

“Surely he wouldn’t come here,” Candy replied.

Siobhan glanced at the poster that was slightly wrinkled in Roy’s hands.

“Let me see that, Sheriff. Please?” She asked trying not to panic.

“Sure.” Roy handed her the poster.

She gasped.

“What’s wrong?” Candy asked.

“Him. Patrick Moore is Ryan Benson who works at Father’s mine.”

“Are you sure?” Roy asked.

“As sure as ever. I hired him and a few others a couple of days ago.”

“You two be careful out there till I can get out there and take a look.” Roy warned as he entered his office.

“We will, Roy.”

The two continued on. As they walked by the restaurant, Siobhan’s stomach rumbled, and she laughed.

“I heard that. I take it you must be hungry,” Candy chuckled.

“I am. Let’s go eat then pick up the groceries.”

Candy nodded and led her inside the cafe.

After returning to the mine, Siobhan kept an eye on Patrick. Candy worked in the mine and kept an eye out for him too. He seemed to be keeping out of trouble but Candy stayed close to him anyway.

Near the end of the shift, Candy was working in one of the tunnels and overheard Patrick talking to another outlaw about robbing the O’Leary’s that night. Candy had to get to Siobhan but couldn’t leave when he heard other outlaws would be around the mines to make sure nobody came to the office.

Later that evening Siobhan was finishing some paperwork in the mining office. Candy was going to meet her after his shift and take her home. Without knocking, Patrick and a few other outlaws walked in the office.

“Can I help you?” Siobhan glanced at the men nervously, recognizing Patrick.

Patrick said nothing but grabbed Siobhan and waved a gun at her. She tried to fight them but was knocked out when Patrick shoved her aside.

Patrick broke into the safe and grabbed the money that was there. As they ran out of the office Patrick called to two of his men standing outside.

“Take the girl to the mines and get rid of her,”

The men did as they were told. They snuck her into one of the mine shafts. They started to hit the walls as rocks and debris fell. Siobhan woke up as she saw everything falling around her. She screamed in terror and curled into a ball as debris and dust filled the shaft. A large rock fell on her ankle, breaking it. She cried out in pain and passed out.

Candy never got away from the mine to warn Siobhan. Too many of the outlaws were around. He paced near the entrance to the mine with the other miners when he felt the earth shake and heard a scream from one of the tunnels. The men ran that direction and found a wall of rocks near a shaft.

Candy started to pull rocks off to make an opening. The other miners gathered around Candy to help open the shaft. They finally had an opening which seemed like it had taken hours though it was about five to ten minutes with all of them working together. A hole was made wide enough for Candy to get through. He climbed through and was handed a candle. He found Siobhan and checked her out. He dared not call out to the men that she was alive for fear of another cave in. He picked her up and handed her to one of the men.

Siobhan woke up several hours later. She couldn’t figure out where she was. It was a medium sized bedroom but she was unfamiliar with it. It wasn’t her house. She looked over and saw Candy asleep in the chair next to her. She saw him holding her hand. She squeezed his hand and he jerked awake.

“Shiv, how are you feeling?” he asked.

“I hurt. Where am I?”

“You’re at the Cartwrights. They were closer and we brought you here. Hold on, let me get the doctor,” he said and left.

Paul came in and checked on her.

“You seem to be doing well. You broke your ankle so you are to take it easy. When is your father due back?” Paul asked.

“Not for a while yet.”

“He’ll be here tomorrow. I wired them. He sent a wire back telling us they’d get the first stage here,” Ben replied as he followed the doctor into the room. “Candy said he’ll watch the mine while you recover.”

Siobhan relaxed at that news.

Paul smiled. “I’ll let you get some rest and I’ll be back in a couple of days to check on you.” He and Ben left the couple alone.

“Here’s something to help you sleep,” Candy said giving her sleeping powder and a glass of water.
Siobhan took it.

“Thank you, Candy. Will you stay with me?” she asked feeling like a small child.

“Of course,” He replied taking her hand.

They continued talking until she fell asleep.

Siobhan’s father returned and took over running the mine from Candy. Siobhan continued to recuperate at the Ponderosa. Candy spent every chance he could with her, which was easier now that he wasn’t working at the mine anymore. Patrick Moore and his outlaw friends were sent to the penitentiary near Carson City. There had been a reward for each of them from the bank in Carson City and it was given to Siobhan. She was surprised by the amount and almost refused it, but then she and Candy decided to put it in the bank for use after their wedding, which would take place after Siobhan had fully recovered. For now the couple enjoyed their visits on the Ponderosa.

 

From the Brandsters.  The story was originally written and published on the Bonanza Trail Riders site.  Brand is happy to offer this story a new home.