Summary: The Carwright brothers stopped in Ragtown for a bath, food, and a trip to the saloon.  They picked the wrong saloon. Of course, Opal did not think so.

Rating: T/PG13
Word count: 12,217

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We decided to spend the night in Ragtown even though it would keep us in the saddle for an extra ten miles and–with stopping early and all–add better than half a day to our getting home.  We all agreed though. Of course, our reasons were different as we are.  Adam was wanting a hot bath and clean clothes really bad.  I was wanting a decent meal of something besides jerky, bacon, beans, or stewed rabbit.  Little Joe was wanting a visit to a saloon.  He figured Adam would never leave him alone in even a small place like Ragtown and that Adam and me would want to wash the trail dust down with a cold beer bad enough to bring him along.  After all, since little brother turned sixteen a few months ago, Pa’s been letting him be in some of the respectable saloons as long as Adam or me is with him.  Little Joe enjoys a saloon more than most.  No, not for the drinking- he ain’t developed a real taste for beer yet and ain’t allowed hard liquor- Joe loves the being with folks, what Adam would call socializing.  The gossiping, boasting, playing cards, the singing or dancing to the music even when the piano is out of tune; those are the things that Joe hankers after and doesn’t think he gets enough of.  Fact is he’s only been a handful of times and never on his own.  He probably would have tried, but he knows there ain’t a bartender in town who wouldn’t toss him out on his ear for fear of what Pa, Adam, or me would do to ‘em if any of us got word of their letting him stay.  Most don’t cross the Cartwrights without a good reason, and word is out about the baby Cartwright and saloons.

Now, when we got to Ragtown, Adam got one room for the three of us in the only hotel.  He got one room ‘cause he thought Little Joe needed all night supervision.  Truth to tell, he probably felt like it was best if he kept eyes on me too; Ragtown being full of miners, drifters, and other rough sorts.  Elder brother takes being responsible for Pa’s boys too much to heart; he always has.  Though, when I think on it, I wouldn’t wanna be the one to come home to Pa with an injured little brother or tell him about a missing one no matter how old that brother was.  So, one room it was, and though Adam is the oldest, I’m the biggest, which is why Adam allowed that I’d get the second bed to myself and didn’t even grumble about sharing with Joe.  Joe wanted that trip to the saloon enough that he swallowed down the whining and complaining he normally would have put us through just to keep Adam in a good mood.  I figured we’d hear it all on our way back to the hotel.

“Clerk at the desk said hot baths can be had next door.”  Adam set his saddlebags on the bed and started taking out his clean clothes.  “We have time to clean up before we eat.”  Adam was using his it-sounds-like-he’s-just-saying-but-he’s-really-giving-orders voice which Little Joe should recognize, but the young’un tried anyways.

“You go on and enjoy your bath.  Hoss and I can…”

“Enjoy yours too.”

“We could…”

“But you will not.”

“It would save money, and I really don’t need…”

“Joseph.”  Adam’s voice was rumbling by then.

I decided I better say something.  “Now, Short Shanks, them girls working in the saloons deserve a clean smelling fellow from time to time.”  See, the other thing that Joe likes about saloons is the working girls who show more of their womanly treasures than any of the females ya see on the streets or at the socials.  Not that he has had even one chance at doing more than gazing at what they show for advertising purposes, and you can be durn certain he won’t for quite a spell.  Still, Joe enjoys that gazing and the attention he gets from the ladies.  Joe and Adam attract the gals in and out of saloons like sweets do flies.  Adam knows how to politely shoo them away if that’s not what he’s looking for; Little Joe always soaks it all in until Adam does his shooing for him.

Seeing Joe’s reaction, Adam cleared his throat and sent me a glare.  He says that Joe is as wild as a mustang when it comes to females and just as undiscriminating.  He keeps reminding me that we need to pour cold water on them smoldering embers not coal oil.  Still, the thought of pleasing the ladies stopped Joe from fussing about taking a bath and got him gathering up his clean clothes.  We headed over to the bathhouse, and pretty quick we were soaking away the trail in tubs of actual hot water.  Well, Adam and me were soaking; Joe was giving himself a swipe and a promise.

“Scrub, Joseph, and wash your hair.  There’s no hurry since you won’t be setting a toe out that door until Hoss and I do.”

“You take forever; Hoss is faster.  He and I…”

“I ain’t in no hurry either, young’un.  Older you are the better soaking feels.”  Being only twenty-two I don’t take old as an insult.

Little Joe huffed but gave up and started to scrub down.  Adam and I both have dunked that boy and scrubbed him up when he was a stubborn little shaver, so he knows what could happen if he pushes too hard.  Soon enough, the water got cold, and we all finished up.  The bath house was attached to the barber shop, so Adam and I got a shave while Little Joe fidgeted and asked the barber about a hundred questions which meant we left there knowing just about everything there was to know about Ragtown.

*****

I had already sniffed out two places that served dinner and weren’t saloons.  I wanted a full meal of good food- even if there weren’t a ghost of a chance that it would be as good as the one Hop Sing would have for our homecoming- and I wasn’t gonna settle for no saloon’s bar food.

“The smells coming from that cafe across the road are mighty appealing.”  This time it was me giving out with an order dressed up as a suggestion.

“We could just eat at…”

“No way, boy, I want a steak or roast chicken with all the trimmings not boiled eggs or sandwiches.”

“You’re always thinking of your stomach.”  Little Joe was starting to whine.  Adam hates whining but over-looked Joe’s.

“My stomach is voting with Hoss’s.  The cafe it is.”

Now that cafe was a nice place with these pretty checkered tablecloths.  It was clean, and the gal taking orders had a warm voice and a sweet smile.  The food was tasty, and even Little Joe cleaned his plate.  He didn’t start fidgeting until Adam asked for a second cup of coffee, and I ordered a third piece of pie.  Joe didn’t say nothing but watched every forkful I put in my mouth sighing at every other one.  I gazed over at Adam who just shook his head gently, so I knew he was in a mellow mood.  I figured he’d hold back on pulling rank and telling us which saloon we’d be going to so as not to ruffle Joe’s feathers over much.  He would let the choice go to a vote, so little brother would feel he had some say even if his say didn’t amount to much.  Adam knew I’d vote with him.  I’m Joe’s big brother too, after all.

Now, according to the barber, there were three saloons in Ragtown.  Adam and I had both been listening to the answers to Joe’s questions about them saloons.  Little Joe should have given that some thought if he wanted to see the inside of the wildest of the three. According to the barber, The Red Bull was dirtier than the others, had cheaper but watered liquor, the roughest customers, and the most real fights.  We would not be going to The Red Bull. Queenie’s had better liquor, music, and the prettiest girls.  Queenie’s would be Joe’s vote; it wouldn’t be Adam’s.  Based on past experience, Adam figures that over half the brawls in decent saloons start over some pretty working girl, one way or another.  No way was he going where the chances of a brawl were high with baby brother in tow.  Not that he thought Joe can’t hold his own in a fair fight.  Me and him have seen to it that Joe can.  By the time Little Joe was four, we knew he’d always be slight of build and hot of temper, so we started in teaching him how to come out on top in a one-on-one fight.  After Adam came back from college, we started tutoring him on how to survive a brawl.  Little Joe’s a smart learner when the teaching is about something that interests him, and even at just sixteen, the boy can handle himself, but ya can’t count on a saloon brawl staying fair, and Little Joe don’t back off things once they get started.  Fact is when it comes to fighting, he’s braver than a dog that ain’t met a porcupine yet and just as foolish.   Adam ain’t no way ready for him to meet that particular porcupine, so we would be going to The Silver Horseshoe, Ragtown’s least rowdy saloon.  It was the best choice at the time, but none of the rest would have happened if we’d taken Joe to Queenie’s.

*****

 Little Joe almost lost his chance at going to any saloon at all when he gave Adam some sass over the voting and our going to The Silver Horseshoe instead of Queenie’s, but I gave Adam a look and a throat-clearing to remind him that little brother had really been a good boy on this trip.  Adam had only had to throw out a couple of references to the fact Joe was still of tanning age over the whole two and a half weeks, and Joe had actually been of real help when it came to choosing the breeding stock we bought at the auction.  Adam and Pa plan to turn over the horse operations to Joe when the boy has some business experience and comes of age, so Adam wants to ease him into knowing what he needs to that ain’t based on his natural sense about horses.  Joe’s all over that idea and figures I’ll take over the cattle operations while Adam sees to the mining business and timbering.  He figures Pa will still take the lead and oversee the running of everything while getting a little more well-deserved rest.  Actually, we’re all on board with that plan.

Adam caught my message and stayed calm; Joe remembered Adam’s head is made of granite and that he wanted to visit any saloon more than he wanted to spend the evening in a hotel room with disgruntled brothers, so we all walked over to The Silver Horseshoe.

By the time we walked there, Little Joe was really chomping at the bit.  Adam stepped in front of him at the door though and blocked him from entering.

“You know the rules, Joe.”

“I know them.”

“They’re the same here as at home.”

“I know.”

Adam studied the boy for a few seconds.  There hadn’t been no whining in Joe’s voice nor any challenge, so Adam smiled and stepped to the side.  Joe darted in, but Adam gave the place a quick look over and steered the boy where he wanted him to go.

The Silver Horseshoe was a pretty run of the mill saloon.  Adam settled Little Joe at a table in the back corner.  Joe didn’t fuss because he thinks back-corner tables are just to Adam’s liking.  It ain’t yet come to him that Adam likes them because nothing but wall is behind Joe and the table is between him and trouble.  It was early, and there were only about ten other customers, and none of them had the look of troublemakers.  Four of them were playing poker, and one of those was a full-time gambler who was running the game.  There were four working gals; one of them sitting on the lap of the most prosperous looking poker player.  No one was playing the piano yet, and the murmur of voices was a low buzz.

“The Ponderosa’s paying for the first round then you’re on your own.”  Little Joe didn’t even give Adam a frown.   When Little Joe is with us, the Ponderosa never pays for more than one drink mainly because Little Joe is allowed only one beer.  It’s of no concern to me; I always have the price of a few beers in my pocket, and I ain’t never been a heavy drinker.

“Adam, do I have any pay left to draw?”

Adam tugged his left ear.  “As I figure it, you’ve still got two dollars, and there’s five days until the next pay day.”  Since Little Joe left school and is working full time, he draws working wages instead of Pa giving him pocket money once a week.  Of course, he uses them wages for the same kinda things he did his pocket money: things he just wants; the Ponderosa’s accounts still cover everything he actually needs. It’s the same for Adam and me, though me and elder brother get a higher wage what with having more experience and responsibilities.  Adam and I both get a profit share too what with us being official and legal partners since we came of age. Joe will start getting his share when he’s twenty-one.  It’s the way Pa wants things, and it’s always been fine by us.

“I was thinking I might play some poker.  Do you think that would get me in the game?”

“Depends on the stakes.”  Adam didn’t ask Joe if he had any money in his pockets.  Little Joe is a spender, and the boy’s pockets are still mostly full of gullyfluff; his money never spends much time there.

“I could take an advance, maybe?  I’m a good player, Adam.”

Adam tugged his right ear this time.  Truth is Little Joe is a good poker player, and the other players pert near always underestimate him.  “We’ll see in a bit.”  That meant that Adam would checkout the stakes, the dealing, and the players before deciding.  I figured if it was a fair game, the stakes were low, and the players not the excitable sort; Joe would probably get to play a few hands, and that there was a reasonable chance the boy might leave The Silver Horseshoe with a little money in his pocket since Adam would be deciding how many hands he played.

Sometimes, Little Joe understands when not to buck Adam’s brothering.  I was glad to see that Joe just nodded and turned his attention to gazing at the redhead in the purple spangled dress. Adam motioned to the bartender, and that’s when the bartender made his mistake; none of us knew it then though.

Ya see, we didn’t know it for sure yet, but that bartender, well, he was so slick he could hardly keep his clothes on.  He’d been eyeing us since we came in the door.  Now, none of us Cartwrights go flashing the fact that we have money.  None of us buy nothing just to say, “I can afford it!” but we do pay for quality.  Our clothes, boots, and other trappings are all made of the kind of materials that most ranch hands or drifters can’t afford.  Any man with an eye for such things can figure fast that we ain’t living on a dollar-a-day pay.  That bartender saw it quick.  He was also shrewd enough to see Adam was probably controlling the purse and that he was definitely in charge of Joe.  He must’ve sensed that Adam wouldn’t stand for a real experienced gal trying her wiles on any of us, so he made the decision that would change the course of our stay in Ragtown.   He waved off the raven-haired older gal with the womanly curves and sent over the little blonde.

We all got a good look at her then. Little Joe’s attention immediately returned to the redhead.  The girl asked what we were drinking, and Adam ordered three beers.  Adam and I watched as she walked back to fetch them.

I shook my head. “Adam, she’s thin as a rail fence.”  Thing was, she wasn’t just skinny; she was thin like someone who ain’t been eating three meals a day, and for a gal working in a saloon she didn’t have much in the way of womanly curves.  She did have shiny yellow curls and a pretty face, though that was covered in fard.

“She is, and that dress is barely hanging on.”  Adam had a pondering look on his face.

Little Joe turned back toward us and snorted.  “That’s ‘cause she don’t have nothing on top to keep it from slipping down.”

“Joseph!”

“Well, she doesn’t!”

“You need not comment on that fact.  We can see for ourselves that she is, well, underdeveloped.”

“Underdeveloped.”  Joe snorted again.  “She ain’t developed at all.”

“That may be…”  Adam dropped what he was going to say, but his pondering look deepened.

The little gal arrived with the beers and set one down in front of each of us.  Then she made a move toward Little Joe’s lap.  I wouldn’t have been surprised if Adam had just shooed her off the boy, but my mouth and Joe’s both dropped open when Adam went and slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her onto his own lap.  I closed mine when I saw that Adam’s hands had moved to the table, and his eyes were studying the gal’s face.   Then he asked her name.

“B… Opal.  you can call me Opal.”  It weren’t no surprise that she had a working name.

Adam leaned back a little.  “Opal it is then.”  He took a sip of his beer.

Opal cleared her throat.  “Are you gonna buy me a drink, mister?”

“Sure, go get whatever you would enjoy.”

The gal went off toward the bar, and Adam locked eyes with me.  “She’s younger than Little Joe.”

I didn’t say, “Are ya sure?” because the minute he said it, I agreed, and if she was younger than Joe, she was still a kid and had no business being in a saloon let alone sitting on any laps not part of her family.  I knew then that Joe wouldn’t be playing poker and a nice night at the saloon wasn’t in the cards.

Opal came back to the table with a glass in her hand.  It was meant to be whiskey, and that’s what would be charged to our tab, but Adam and I both knew the only real liquor most working gals drank was beer.  What passed for hard liquor only had a splash of alcohol mostly for the smell.  That was one way most saloons made a good profit.

“Sit right down there, Opal.”  Adam used his soft-but-ordering voice and motioned to the empty chair across from him.  The girl started chewing her lower lip as she did what she was told.  “How much are you getting for selling that drink?”

Opal’s eyes widened at the question, but she answered.  “Four cents.”

Adam shook his head and took another sip of beer.  “How long have you been working here?”

“About a month.”

Little Joe’s attention had returned to our table, so he heard Adam’s next question and Opal’s answer.

“How old are you?”

When she said eighteen, he didn’t believe it any more than Adam and I did.  He swallowed and didn’t say the words, but I saw the Uh-oh! in his eyes.  Little Joe knows better than anyone that Adam don’t put up with nobody lying to him.

Adam leaned forward, Little Joe squirmed, and Opal did too.  “Come again.”

Opal’s eyes dropped to her hands.  “Sixteen.”

Adam’s tone was one he’d learned from Pa.  “Third time better be the charm, little girl.”

Opal’s hands dropped into her lap, and she sighed.  “I turned fifteen two weeks ago.”

Joe gasped, I couldn’t keep my Lord Almighty from leaving my mouth, and Adam’s jaw went so hard he could have bit nails in two.

“I see.”  Adam drew in a deep breath.

“I need the job, mister.  Jasper thinks I’m seventeen.”  Opal’s voice was flustered and pleading.

“He does?”  Adam’s right eyebrow rose.

“That’s what I told him.”

Adam shook his head.  There weren’t no way the slicky behind the bar believed the child sitting at our table was seventeen.

“Do you have folks, any family, in Ragtown?”  Adam managed to soften his voice if not his jaw.

“No.  Don’t have any anywhere.”

Adam leaned back, sighed, and his fingers drummed the table.  Little Joe opened his mouth, but I caught his eye and shook my head, so he closed it without speaking.  Opal took a gulp of her drink and then made to rise.

“Stay right there.”  The gal had the sense to do as she was told and just sat and sipped. Joe kept glancing at Adam, then me, then the girl, and back at Adam. Nobody said nothing. I was studying Adam’s face.  He had that look he gets when he’s figuring through chess moves before he makes one.  A man came in and started playing the piano.  Little Joe got fidgety.  I gave him a look that told him to settle.  He did; even Little Joe thinks twice before interrupting Adam when he is deep into pondering.  Besides, Joe knew as well as I did that Adam wasn’t gonna just leave a barely fifteen-year-old girl working in a saloon.  Opal would be leaving The Silver Horseshoe for the last time when we did. It didn’t matter whether that bartender – the barber had told us that The Silver Horseshoe was owned by the man who tended bar- let her leave simple like or had to be shown the error of his ways.  Part of me kinda wanted a chance to show him those errors, but considering the young’uns and the fact we weren’t around home, the smarter share didn’t want no fuss.  The tough part of deciding what to do was we didn’t know the players.  Chess pieces only have one set of moves; folks can behave in lots of ways, and lots of times they surprise ya.  We couldn’t even trust that Opal would go along willingly with any plan we made. I sighed.  It wouldn’t be the first time a Cartwright had to save a body from themself.

When everybody’s glass but Adam’s was empty, I cleared my throat and decided to put my feet in the water.

“Opal, do ya like working here?”  Her finger went to her mouth, and she started chewing on her nail.  “Do ya girl?”

“Liking don’t have much to do with it.  Gotta have money to eat.”  She shrugged.  “Diamond says there’s lots worse places than the Horseshoe.”  Her eyes glanced over at the dark-haired gal who looked to be the oldest of the working girls.  I figured she went by the name Diamond.  “Anyways, I don’t have no choice.”

“If you did, would ya be ready to take it?”

“I…”  A nervous flickering appeared in her eyes.  She looked into my eyes and said softer than the sound of a butterfly’s wings, “At least, Jasper ain’t made me go upstairs.  He said I don’t have to ‘til I’m ready.”

“You’ll never have to at all!”  Adam’s hand slapped the table.  Opal and Little Joe both jumped.

Then Joe spoke for the first time since Opal told us how old she is.  “We ain’t even told her who we are, Adam.  Don’t you think we should?”

“Short Shanks is right. Pa taught us better manners.”

“He taught us better about many things.”  Adam leaned forward and spoke in the voice he uses when he’s dealing with scared folks.  It’s calm, and firm, and reassuring; and he’s had lots of practice using it.  “I am Adam Cartwright, and these are my brothers, Hoss and Little Joe.  We own a ranch called the Ponderosa with our father, Ben Cartwright.”

Adam mentioned Pa’s name ‘cause his name and good reputation are known across the territory, and there was a slight chance the gal might have heard it.  She didn’t react, so I figured she hadn’t.

“You don’t have to worry about…”  Adam hesitated.

“Us being gentlemen.  We, well, we wouldn’t…  you ain’t nothing but a kid.”  Little Joe’s voice sounded too young to be calling anybody a kid.

Adam continued. “We just…  you don’t belong working in a saloon, and we want to see that you never again feel the need.  Do you think you can trust us to help you?”

Opal drew in a deep breath and looked at each of us steady for a few seconds.  Then she pointed to me but spoke to Adam.  “He’s got kind eyes.”

Adam smiled. “He’s got his mother’s eyes, and she was the kindest woman I’ve ever known.”

“I… I want to trust you.  Where would ya take me?”

“To the hotel tonight and then home until we can find a safe place for you to finish your growing.”

“The orphanages won’t take me.  I’m too old.”

“We shall find an appropriate place.  I have an idea, but that can wait.  First things first.”  Adam glanced around.  Before he could start giving orders, Opal sank back and into herself.

“Jasper owns my contract.”  She sounded plum defeated.

Adam gave a wave of his hand like that problem was no more than a pesky fly.  “That is of no consequence.”  Adam straightened, caught my eyes with his, but spoke to Little Joe.

“Joe, take Opal and show her that Pa taught you how to dance like a proper gentleman.”

Joe looked confused.

“Now, Joe.  You know you enjoy dancing.”

Joe shrugged, realized Adam was sending them off, so he could talk private with me, bristled for a moment, then shrugged again and took Opal by the hand twirling her off across the room.

“Hoss, you shall take Joe and Opal to the hotel and wait for me there.  I don’t want them on their own on the streets at night.”  He also didn’t want them in the saloon if a ruckus started.

It weren’t far to the hotel, but I didn’t want Joe and the little gal walking even that far alone either, but I didn’t want Adam starting nothing here without me at his back. That left me kinda at sea for a minute.  Adam cleared his throat and sent me an I’m-in-charge-little-brother look.  Of course, he had to tilt his head up to look me in the eye.

“I…”

“Eric.”  Now Adam ain’t called me Eric more than a handful of times in our lives.  Before he went off to college, I’d give in to it, but then I figured out it was his last-ditch effort at getting me to obey him ‘cause he was feared that I’d get hurt.  If he was thinking there’d probably be a real ruckus, there weren’t a snowball’s chance in Hades that I wouldn’t be right there with him.  That Eric was the last nail in the coffin of any idea that I’d just go off and leave him alone.

“Ya can just forget the notion of me not being at your back when the fuss starts.”

“There may be no fuss.  I am willing to pay a reasonable amount.”

“But you’re thinking he’s not gonna settle for a reasonable amount.”  I knew Adam wouldn’t put up with being fleeced but not because he’d begrudge the money.  No, it’s just that Cartwrights don’t put up with or reward that kinda disrespect.  “I can take the young’uns to the hotel, see they’re locked in safe, and be back in less than ten minutes.  You’ll wait for me to get back before you start striking matches.”

Adam’s eyebrow rose.  “I will, will I, little brother?”

“My mind’s settled on it, so get your mind settled too.”

“If he notices she’s left, it may not be our choice when the confrontation starts.”

The music had stopped.  Joe and Opal had come back to the table all ears as to what Adam and I were saying.

“I was thinking that you would leave first. Then Joe could waltz Opal out the door.  It might be a few minutes before he realizes…”

“Jasper keeps a tight eye.  Diamond would tell him quick.  Ruby too.”  Opal glanced around nervously.  It was clear she thought chances were slim to none that she could depart unnoticed.  “I should tell ya…”  She swallowed and stopped speaking.

“Tells us what?”

“Those two at the end of the bar are friends of Jasper’s.  He pays the marshal something too… for protection.”

“Is that so?”  Adam started studying the men at the end of the bar.

The barber had said that the marshal didn’t do much more than break up bawls, swat kids stealing apples, or lock up real rowdy drunks; but if that Jasper was paying for the marshal to sleep in his pocket, the man might decide to throw a few cents worth of attention toward Jasper’s side of a fracas.  At the very least, he wouldn’t be worth spit to us.

“We could stay, so Hoss…”

“NO!”  Since the growl had come out of both mine and Adam’s mouth, Joe gave up without a fight.

“I just…”

“You will return to the hotel, lock yourself and Opal in, and open the door to no one; I said no one, except Hoss or me.  Is that understood?”

“Yes, Adam.  My pistol’s in the room.”

“You may wear it in the room.  Be responsible.”

“I will.”

“Then…” Adam rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“Mr. Cartwright?”

“What child?”

“I was thinking, well, if I told Jasper I was, um, going to the necessary. He might, well, it might give you some time. If I said I needed to tend to woman things, he wouldn’t remark on my taking a little longer.”

Adam smiled, partly because though she was young, scared, and generally cowed; Opal had just shown she had a little gumption and more than a little brains.

“Good idea.”  Opal got to see Adam’s dimples for the first time.  They helped her get over being intimidated by my big brother.

The music was playing again.  “You and Opal have another dance, and then we’ll set things in motion.”  The young’uns did as told while I studied the folks in the room and Adam thought over our plan.  When Joe and Opal came back to the table, he spoke even softer, and with the music we weren’t worried about being overheard.

“Opal, you’ll go get another round and drop mention that I plan to send the boy back to the hotel.  In fact, bring a bottle of whiskey with two beers.  After Joe and Hoss leave, tell Jasper you need to use the necessary, go out, come around, and meet Hoss and Joe at the corner of the building.  Hoss will see you to the hotel.”

“There’s a back way that’s shorter.”  Opal’s face had gained some liveliness.

Adam looked at me as if reminding himself I ain’t a kid no more.  “Good, you can show Hoss.”

“I’ll be back soon as they’re snugged up safe.  You just wait for me.”

“I’ll wait until Jasper realizes Opal’s not returning.”  That being the best I could hope for, I nodded.  Then I looked at Joe.  The boy was having thoughts.  “Joseph, Adam’s trusting you to look after Opal.  We’re counting on you, Short Shanks.”

Joe bit his lip.  “I’ll stay and take care of her.”  Adam didn’t even ask for a promise.  He just nodded and sent Opal to the bar.

“Joe, I’m giving you permission to throw some sass my way when I tell you to go back to the hotel, and you don’t need to hold back on the volume.”

Joe gave a grin.  “Can I cuss?”

“Mildly, where upon Hoss will escort you out of my clutches.  Opal should meet you at the necessary quite quickly.”  Adam looked at me.  “I’ll sit and sip my whiskey.”

Our little scene played out natural ‘cause it could have been real.  Joe and me met Opal at the outhouse.  I held her hand as she led us through the alleyways to the hotel.  We were up the stairs and into our room right quick.  Joe went right for his pistol.

“You be careful with that.”

“I always am; Pa will take it away if I’m not.  Adam too.”

“Remember that.  Joe, don’t you leave this room before morning.”  I was telling him what to do if Adam nor I came back that night.

“Should I try the marshal?”

“Yeah, best choice of a poor lot.”  I forced a smile. “Pretty soon we’ll be as big a worrywarts as Adam and Pa.”  Joe chuckled. I closed the door behind me, waited to hear the lock click, and then hightailed it back to the Horseshoe.

*****

Not hearing any ruckus, I stopped at the door and looked over the saloon.  There were a few new customers, and the prosperous poker player and his lap-sitting gal were nowhere to be seen.  I figured they’d gone to one of the upstairs rooms.  Slick Jasper’s friends were still at the far end of the bar.  Adam was on his feet at the near end talking to the bartender.  I walked to stand at his back but half-turned, so I had a view of more of the room, and my back wasn’t open to a sneak attack.  I caught big brother’s voice and started listening.

“Tell me how much.”

“Well, I’ve got a good bit invested in that little lady.”

“Little girl; she’s a child.”

“She’s seventeen.”  Slicky smiled; Adam sneered.

“Really.”

“Far as I know.  That’s what she told me.”

“Even at seventeen, no contract she signed would be legally binding.”

“Is that so?”

“Absolutely.”

The slicky shrugged.  “She’s old enough to be in debt, and she is in deep to me.  Nobody’s gonna say it’s unreasonable to expect her to repay me.”

“How much?”

“Well, there’s the money I gave her uncle, room rent, food the first week, her dress, shoes, trappings…”

“How much?”  This time it was more of a growl than a question.  Adam hadn’t even blinked when Jasper had mentioned an uncle.  Of course, if there was really an uncle, he’d sold a little girl to a saloon and only deserved to get scrapped off the bottoms of our boots.

“She ain’t made much.  Ain’t paid back a cent.”

“A number or…”

“Five hundred dollars.”

The weren’t no way that Slicky had spent a fifth of that on getting Opal working at The Silver Horseshoe even if he’d had to pay off an actual uncle; it was just the highest amount that he thought Adam might pay.

“Come again.”  Adam’s voice made it clear that he didn’t believe what Slicky was saying.

“Five hundred dollars.  Is that a problem?”

“Only for you.”  Adam can drip distain better than anyone else I ever heard. It was clear that he would not be turning over five hundred dollars to anyone who would put a little girl to work in a saloon and work it so she would never be out of debt to him.

Slick Jasper recognized that fact too.  “Boys!”  His call was loud enough to be heard over the music, and he motioned to Adam as well.  His friends at the end of the bar started moving toward us which drew both Adam’s attention and mine.  Adam had his pistol drawn before those two finished reaching for theirs.  I caught movement out of the side of my eye.  A fellow had stepped into the saloon and was about to hammer Adam’s head with the butt of his gun.  I caught his wrist.  I might have broken it if Jasper hadn’t sang out, “Marshal!”

Adam turned to face the marshal, and we both saw the star on his chest.  Adam holstered his gun, and I let loose of the wrist in my hand.

“Just in time, Jackson.  These two, well, a little jail time wouldn’t go amiss.” Slicky had taken to grinning.  He tossed a silver dollar to the missing working girl who had followed the marshal through the door.  Evidently, she had gone for the marshal and not up the stairs.

“You’ll be pressing charges?”  The marshal had a smirk on his face.

“I’ll be over after I close up to sign the complaint.”

“We…”  Adam only got the one word out before the marshal’s gun clicked.

“You plan on resisting arrest?”  The marshal was nearly licking his lips at the thought that we might.

“No.”  Adam said it mostly to make sure that I knew that wasn’t the hand he intended for us to play.

The marshal didn’t say anymore, and neither did we on the way over to the town jail.

*****

The jail was a stone building on the edge of town.  The marshal kept his gun on us as we set our gun belts on his desk.  He ordered us to empty our pockets.  Together we didn’t have but about ten dollars in them which I figured we’d never see again, but then he never did no decent searching, so the money hidden in our boots stayed ours.

There was a stone wall and a metal door between the office and the two cells, and he ordered us through the door and into one cell.  Guess he wanted to keep the other one free for real criminals.

After he locked the cell door, he holstered his gun and gave us a smirk.  “What names should I put on the complaint?”

Adam smirked right back.  “Adam Cartwright and Eric Cartwright of the Ponderosa.” The smirk slipped off the marshal’s face.  Evidently, he had heard of the Cartwrights.  “And as soon as the telegraph office opens in the morning, I’ll be exercising my legal right to send a few telegrams.  The money currently on your desk will more then cover the costs.”

“Cartwright, you say?”

“Ben Cartwright is our father.  You may have heard of him or read his name in the Territorial Enterprise one time or another.  Perhaps in the article about the governor’s friends and supporters.”  The marshal’s face lost most of its color, but he tried to bluff a lack of concern.

“Can’t say I have.”  The nervousness was there in his voice.

Adam heard it and decided on one more comment.  “Pa might let pass a misunderstanding in a saloon causing us to spend a night in jail, but he’d never let one involving his baby son go without, um, shall we say proper retribution.  You might want to keep that in mind if anyone mentions that there was a boy with us.”

The marshal swallowed.  “If he don’t cause no problem…”

“He won’t.  We’ve paid for the hotel room, and sleeping is not a crime. I do hope that his sleep remains undisturbed.”  Adam said it like a warning, and the marshal took it as such, stomping out and locking the door between the cells and the office.

We turned and gave our cell a looksee.  There weren’t a cot.  What passed for a bed was a stone jut-out with a thin slab of mattress on it.  That mattress was the dirtiest I’d ever seen.  The only other things in there were two pails.  One was empty, and the other held water that sure enough didn’t look fresh.  Adam took a couple of steps, reached out, and jerked off that mattress tossing it against the bars.

“I have no intention of suffering death by a thousand bites.”  He sat down on that stone bed and motioned for me to do the same.  “Make yourself to home, Brother.”

I sat down beside him leaning back against the outer wall.  “Could be worse.”

“Could be.  Little Joe could be here with us.”

“I told him to stay in the hotel until morning.”

“Good.”  Adam didn’t sound sure Joe would follow orders, but there was hope.

“Yeah, but I also told him to go to the marshal if we weren’t there by morning.”

“That might present a problem.”

“The marshal took note of what you said, and he didn’t seem too pleased to find himself in that kinda swamp.”

“It will depend on what he decides is the best way to cut his losses.”

“Slick Jasper might have something to say about that.”

“Slick Jasper…”  Adam gave me a ghost of a smile.  “Well, Jasper Epps may be many things, but he’s not stupid.  Though I’m not sure how many cards short of a full deck the marshal’s intelligence is.”

“I don’t think his greed is open to question.”

“They’re both greedy men.”  Adam rubbed the bridge of his nose.  I sighed.

“I should’ve told Joe to go to the telegraph office.”

“I should have….”  Adam tugged his right ear.  He was blaming himself for not thinking of everything.

“Joe might think of it himself.  He always wants Pa when there’s trouble.”

“He might. Do you think those two kids could come up with enough cash to send even a one-word telegram?”

“One word?”

“Help.  Pa could trace where the telegram originated.”  Adam gave me a wry smile.

“You don’t think the marshal will let us send one?”

“I figure the chances as slim or none.  We won’t know until the morning.”

Adam stopped talking then and went to pondering possibilities.  I did too.  After a time, we could hear voices.  We didn’t know how long it had been because the last we’d seen of our watches they were sitting on the marshal’s desk.  I was glad that they weren’t the ones Pa had given both of us on our twenty-first birthdays; those never traveled far from home.

Well, we tried listening because we figured Slick Jasper had showed up to sign his complaint and give the marshal his instructions. We never could make out what was being said, but the volume of the voices kept rising, and the conversation didn’t sound too friendly.

“I don’t think Marshal Jackson is quite as willing to back Slick Jasper’s play as Jasper thought he would be.  We’ll have to thank Pa for being an influential man in this territory.”  Adam pretended to tip his hat to Pa.

“Maybe we can buy him off.”  I tried to sound hopeful.

“Maybe.”  Adam huffed.  “I hate the thought.”

“Yeah, me too.  Still.”

“We’ll do what’s needed.  It’s unlikely we’ll be doing anything before morning, so try to get some rest.”

We stopped talking and leaned back against the wall knowing neither of us was gonna be sleeping; we wouldn’t have slept even if we’d had a feather bed.  Time passed slowly.  Dawn was lighting things up when some dirt and pebbles fell on us from between the bars of the glassless window.

“What the…”  Adam jumped up as a second avalanche fell onto the bed.  We took advantage of the bed being stone instead of a cot.   Standing on it and looking out, we saw a head rise into view.   It wore Little Joe’s hat, but the eyes were blue, and the hair underneath was yellow.  It took a few seconds, but then we realized the face was Opal’s scrubbed clean of fard.

“I’m standing on Joe.”  Before we could answer, a pistol was pushed between the bars.  Adam caught it before it fell.  Then a hand pushed through.  “Here’s the bullets.  Joe wouldn’t let me hold a loaded gun.”  I caught the bullets in my hand.

“Joe?”  Adam spoke just loudly enough to send the name out the window.

“Yes, Adam.”

“We shall not be shooting our way out of this jail.”  Everyone was keeping their voices soft, and the big stone jail was doing the rest.  We didn’t figure anybody in the office would be hearing any commotion.

“Okay.”

“Opal, hop down and the two of you back away a bit.”  Adam wanted a good look at them two kids.

In a few seconds, Opal was standing next to Joe looking like a young boy as she was wearing the dirty clothes Joe had taken off before his bath.  Joe was without his hat and thankfully without his gun belt.  His left-handed holster being of no use to Adam or me.

“We figured it would be better if Bessie Mae was in pants instead of that shiny dress.”

“Good figuring.  Too bad you didn’t have a spare set of boots.”

“I’ve gone barefoot lots.”  That gal’s voice actually held a cheerful note.

“Well, we’ll worry about that in good time.  First, we need to …  um, you both sit down against this wall.  I need to think a spell.”

After a bit, I knew Joe would be getting fidgety, so I interrupted Adam’s pondering.  “What are we going to do first?”

“Have Joe send a telegram.”

I nodded and started pulling off my boot so as to get Little Joe some money.  “Then?”

“Three possibilities, and they all have their problems.”

“Number one?”

“Buy our way out.  Only I doubt Jasper Epps will settle for five hundred anymore.  He would see it as weakness and start moaning about needing more to give Marshall Jackson his cut.  Most likely, we’d have to wire for money and wait for it to arrive.  I’d rather spend less time not more in Ragtown.  Plus, money is not what I think Epps deserves.”

“So, number two?”

“We have the kids get our trappings and horses. Then they can hold up somewhere safe and out of town until Pa can get here.  Opal…”

“Bessie Mae, Little Joe called her Bessie Mae.”

“Bessie Mae it is then.  She can probably help Joe with finding a good spot.”

“Might be best at least for the young’uns, but your mind ain’t settled on it, so number three?”

“It pulls Little Joe in deeper, but…”  Adam was back to tugging his ear.

“What would Joe have to do?”

“Come to the marshal and run a bluff.”

“Little brother’s done pulled off more than one bluff and not all of them at the poker table.”

“Yeah, but the stakes haven’t been anywhere near as high.  If he pulled it off without a hitch, it would have us all out of Ragtown the quickest.”

“He’d have to fool the marshal?”  I figured Joe could do that nine times out of ten.

“Yes, and I don’t think that is where the danger lies.  He might have to fool Slick Jasper, and that’s the bigger worry, and then there could always be a mischance that nobody would expect.”

“I wouldn’t put nothing past that Jasper, but I don’t think the marshal would do nothing to really hurt Joe.”

“I think Jasper is slick enough to realize that the three of us disappearing could led to real problems for both him and the marshal.  The telegram to Pa won’t be a bluff.”

“What will be?”

“His telegram to us.”

I softened my voice.  “The longer Joe is on his own the greater the chance he gets some wild idea and hares off after it.  He brought us that pistol.”

“That’s why I’m even considering the bluff.”

“If the bluff don’t work, Pa’s still gonna be on his way here, and we do have the pistol.”

“I wouldn’t want Bessie Mae to disappear while the Cartwright brothers are all in jail.  Anyone who would buy a girl would sell one.”

“Still, the marshal’s worried about the Cartwrights, and I don’t think Slick Jasper’s one to hoe a row alone.”

“You agree then; it’s number three?”

I nodded.  “Number three.”

Adam hopped up on the bed and softly called Joe’s name.  “Is there something around you could stand on?”

“There’s a barrel not too far.”

“Roll it over and hop up.”  Little Joe and Bessie Mae managed to roll the barrel over with hardly any noise.  Joe’s face appeared on the other side of the bars, and on it was a grin.

He looked at me.  “So, you finally nudged old Adam into a plan?”

Before I could open my mouth, Adam gave him a glare and said, “We’re not playing a game, Joseph.”

“I know, Adam.”  The grin had fallen off, but there was still a twinkle in his eyes.

“It’s just…  well, yes, we have a plan, and most of it rests on your shoulders.”

Joe’s eyes grew wide.  “Really?  I…  I can do it, Adam; I can.  I’ll be real responsible.”

“Good.  Now listen.”  Adam started in giving directions, clear and simple.  Little Joe just kept nodding his head and throwing in a question or idea now and then.  We gave Joe the money I’d had hidden, and he put half in his pocket and half in his boot.  Then he smiled, grabbed Bessie Mae’s hand, and the two of them darted off.  Adam and I turned around, dropped down, and took a seat on the stones of the bed to wait for the telegraph office to open.

I was the one who started fidgeting before Little Joe’s voice came through the window again.  “Adam?”

Adam was up on the bed facing the window in one second.  “Joe, did…”

“Got it sent just like you said and got these.  Well, Bessie Mae picked them up while I had the telegrapher’s attention.”  Joe handed some blank telegram papers through the window.  “We brought one of his pencils too, so that it would look like what the marshal’s used to seeing.”  The pencil came through the window.  “Everything is ready at the livery, and Bessie Mae showed me a place we can hide out and wait for Pa if things don’t go like we plan.  They will though; I can do it, Adam.”

Adam gave Joe a real deep smile.  “I know; I wouldn’t have even suggested it if I didn’t believe you could.” Joe swelled up about two feet.  “You paid for another night at the hotel?”

“Yeah, and nobody saw us slip out the back.  Bessie Mae’s as good at sneaking as I am.”

“Did the two of you eat?”

“Had something sent up while we were waiting for the telegraph office to open.  We did everything just like you said, Adam.”

“Okay, then.  Now, you take Bessie Mae and hide her in the livery while I get these telegrams written. Tell her to stay hidden no matter what until we come.  We shall come one way or another. Tell her not to get antsy.”

“Okay.”  The young’uns darted off, and Adam sat down.

“Turn your back to me.”

I did, and Adam used my back as his writing table.

“Done.”

I turned to face him and held out my hand.   He put two official looking telegrams into it.

To Adam Cartwright  Ragtown Stop

Received Joseph’s telegram Stop Have sent my own to the governor Stop Will arrive in Ragtown as quickly as possible with a Pinkerton agent and Hiram Caruthers Stop   Retribution shall be ours. Stop

Your Father   Ben Cartwright Stop Full Stop

 

I read that one, smiled, and gave Adam a back-handed slap on the arm.

 

To Marshal Jackson Ragtown Stop

Resolve matter of Adam and Eric Carwright’s incarceration with all legal precision and release post haste upon order of the territorial governor. Stop

Denton Maxwell Assistant to Governor Stop Full Stop

 

I raised my eyebrow.  Adam tugged his ear.  “Too much?”

“Tell Joe to keep this ace up his sleeve.  If Pa’s telegram doesn’t get the job done, we can pull it out then.”

A bit later Joe appeared at the window.  Adam went over the plan one more time and gave him the telegrams.  Adam rubbed his chin.  “If Slick Jasper just stays away…”

“Bessie Mae says he’s never up or about until near noon.”  Joe smiled.  “We’ll be out of town before then.”

“From your mouth to God’s ear.”  Adam said it so faint, I don’t think Joe heard.  We watched Joe head off down the alley, sat down, and started sending some of our own words to God’s ear.

 *****

Adam had moved the pistol from its hiding place underneath the mattress to the small of his back under his pulled-out shirt.  Adam had the pistol because he’s faster with a gun.  I ain’t slow, but I hesitate still at straight-out shooting a man, and I always figure I can just break ‘em in two if need be.  We were ready, so we just had to sit there waiting and getting antsy. Our ears were straining, and suddenly we could tell there was talking in the office.  The marshal hadn’t even poked his head in for a looksee since he’d locked us in the cell, but a bang or thud from time to time had let us know he’d spent the night in that office.  We stood up figuring Joe had arrived with the telegram.  I sure do wish we could have seen or at least heard Joe’s bluffing firsthand, but then if ya could have heard easy between the cells and the office, we would never have been able to make our plans with the young’uns, so there is that.  Besides, I’ve done listened to Joe tell it blow by blow about a dozen times.  Of course, it changes some with each telling.  It’s enough to say that he came in waving the telegram and demanding to see Adam and me.  Finally, we heard the key in the metal door.  I looked at Adam, and he looked at me.  We didn’t have to say nothing to the other.  Me and Adam can say most of what’s needed with a look.

The door opened.  The marshal stood there, and Little Joe stood behind him just slightly to the side.  Marshal Jackson hadn’t even had the sense to keep Joe from his back.  Joe didn’t have a gun, but, by gosh, even a ten-year-old can stab a man.

“Adam, Pa sent a telegram.  The marshal took it.  He read it too!”  Joe’s voice was loud, clear, and offended.

“Quiet, boy.  I got the right to look over anything that comes into my jail.”  There was more than a trace of nervousness in the marshal’s voice.

“Hiram Caruthers will let us know if that was illegal.  He’s an eminent lawyer and well aware of privacy rights in this country.”  Adam gave the marshal a look that would have frozen water and held out his hand through the bars.  “May I have my telegram?”

The marshal hesitated, Adam glared, and Marshal Jackson folded.  He handed the telegram to Adam, who read it as if he had never seen it before.  Jackson started in trying to pull himself out of the quicksand.

“Now, like you said a misunderstanding in a saloon can be overlooked.  I’ve been thinking over that complaint Jasper Epps signed…”

“I’d like to see that complaint, so I can prepare instructions for our lawyer and orders for the Pinkerton man.”

“No need, no need.  I’ve decided that if you are ready to leave town immediately that complaint can be torn up and no more said about it.”

“Epps might have something to say about it.”

“I’ll settle things with Jasper Epps.  I’m the marshal here.”  Jackson tried to sound like he had some authority; he didn’t quite pull it off.

“Adam, Pa might want us to learn this town a lesson.” I thought a little nudging was called for.

“He would, Adam.”  Joe was nearly bouncing in his boots.

The marshal started unlocking the cell door.  “Now, Mr. Cartwright, I’m sure your father would prefer you head out now, so you can meet him on the road and save him a longer ride.”

Adam turned to look at me.  “Perhaps we should think of Pa.  He is a very busy man, he and Hiram both.”  Then he turned his eyes to Joe.  “Have you had any problems, Little Joe?  Did anybody put hands on you?”

“No, I can’t say they did.  But Adam…”

“We do not want to be vengeful, Joseph.  You know Pa expects us to have Christian forgiveness in our hearts when possible.”

The marshal had unlocked the cell, opened it wide, and stepped back.  Adam walked out, and I followed.  The marshal didn’t move until Adam, Joe, and me were standing in front of his desk.

Marshall Jackson crossed the room looking like he was headed toward a lynch mob.  He started taking our things out of a drawer and setting them in front of us.  About half the money we turned over came back.  I don’t know if it was stupidity or greed or if Jackson really thought we wouldn’t know how much we had had in our pockets.  Adam’s arm brushed mine, and I knew we were gonna let it pass.  Adam didn’t say nothing until he and me both had our pistols strapped on.

“We couldn’t possibly leave with a signed complaint against us still in existence.  It would need to be destroyed.”  Adam crossed his arms over his chest.

“Of course, of course.  We can tear…”

“Burn.”  I think Adam just wanted to see how cowed the Marshal was feeling.

“Yes, we’ll burn it right now.”  The Marshal located both the paperwork and the matches, and we watched that complaint turn to ashes.

“Now, you can feel free to carry on with your travels.”

“Epps?”  Adam’s voice rumbled with distaste.

“Knows when to fold his hand.”  Jackson was near pleading.

“The little girl’s contract?  It’s unenforceable, but I’ll not have her worried that it might someday reappear.”  The rumble had deepened.

“It will burn just as easily.”  We didn’t want Jackson sending for Slick Jasper, so we didn’t demand to see that burning done.

“If we were to leave only to be, um, shall we say interfered with upon the road.  Well, we Cartwrights have never been much taken with the idea of allowing harassment to go without retribution.  For all involved.”

“I’m sure you’ll have a pleasant trip home.”  The marshal’s voice had a down-right begging sound.

“We had better!”  You could almost hear bells tolling a death knell as Adam spoke.  Then he turned.  “Boys!”  He made a dismissive gesture toward Jackson and strode out the door.  Joe and I followed.  Minutes later we were at the livery.

Bessie Mae stayed hidden until we checked the place over.  Then came out quietlike with a big smile on her face. We had discussed buying a horse for the gal, but she had told Joe she didn’t know nothing about riding, so it was decided she would ride with me.  I told Adam that Chubby wouldn’t hardly notice; not with the girl being lighter than a newborn calf and him having carried hundreds of those.  The young’uns had collected all our traps.  Bessie Mae had told Joe there weren’t nothing in the town she needed or had feelings for, so they hadn’t risked going back to her room.  Adam told her we’d see she had what she needed when we got to home. So, lickity split, we were out of Ragtown and head down the road.  Joe had had the good sense to order some extra biscuits and ham with their breakfast, so Adam and I ate as we rode.

*****

We made good time and then stopped early to make camp for the night since we had some extra things to see to, and the place we stopped suited our purposes.  See, none of us thought Slick Jasper would fold as easy as the marshal had, especially if he spoke to the telegrapher.  So, while Bessie Mae fried bacon, made camp biscuits, and reheated some beans, we Cartwrights scouted the area and made a plan.  It was a good thing we did.

Shortly after dark we heard ‘em coming.  Bessie Mae slipped off and hid where we had told her to, Joe and me slid into the darkness away from the fire, and Adam stood in the best possible place to face down unwanted visitors while holding his rifle and wearing his pistol.  Elder brother can be downright intimidating when he chooses, and he definitely was that night.

Jasper Epps stepped into the firelight with his hands held away from him.  “I’m not wearing a gun.”  There weren’t no holster on his hips, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have a gun stashed on him.

“Which doesn’t mean that your friends aren’t.  Tell them to step into the light.”  Adam could sound calm in a hurricane, and he’s used to giving orders to all kinds.  He always sounds like he expects to be obeyed.

“Boys.”  Slick Jasper was used to giving orders too.  The two friends from the saloon stepped forward guns drawn.

“Holster the iron.”  Adam’s rifle was pointed direct at Jasper’s chest.

Jasper gave a nod, and the friends followed orders.  “We were negotiating the last time we met.  I just want to finish that negotiation.”

“And if I think it is finished?”

“You’ll find that, unlike our fool of a marshal, I was not born a bootlicker.” Slick Jasper sneered.  “I’d lay bets you’re not one to shoot an unarmed man.”

Adam’s sneer matched Jasper’s.  “You would?”

“Would you?”

“Only if absolutely necessary.  For example, if your third friend makes one more move toward either of my brothers instead of joining us.”

“Jasper?”  The voice came from the darkness nearer to Joe than to me.

“Come out.”  A new player stepped into the light.

Adam shook his head.  “Guns on the ground.  Toss them slow and easy.”

Jasper nodded again, and their guns hit the ground.  “I just want what is owed me.”

“Owed you?”  Adam’s chuckle had no humor in it.  “I believe you said five hundred dollars.”

“Dickering had just begun.  I’m willing to consider three hundred.”

“I’m not.”  Adam’s voice was solid and sure.

“Make an offer then.”

“I’ve an offer to make to your friends first.  Since I don’t like children seeing violence, I’m willing to double what Epps told you he’d pay.  In my case, you risk nothing and simply ride back to Ragtown immediately.” Slick Jasper didn’t seem one to be free with his money, and we figured he wouldn’t be paying more than twenty.  Adam’s free hand slipped into his pocket, and he tossed a twenty-dollar gold piece at the feet of the friend nearest him.

The man looked at the money.  “You said double.”  Adam tossed another coin at his feet.  The man picked up the forty dollars, tipped his hat, and walked back toward the road.

“Any other takers?”  Adam was smiling as he asked.

Two minutes later, Jasper Epps was standing alone.

“That is all we are willing to pay.”

“I still have this.”  Jasper held up a paper which we all figured was Bessie Mae’s contract.

“Unenforceable.”

“Evidence of debt.”

Adam tossed five dollars at Jasper’s feet.  “Toss it in the fire and go.”

Jasper picked the money out of the dirt and made one more attempt.  “Collect now; collect later.”  Jasper shrugged to show which did not matter.

“If that girl ever has one reason to worry about you or yours, I shall consider it my civic duty to shoot you in defense of decency and innocent girls everywhere.”

Slick Jasper studied Adam’s face, believed him, and folded which was smart as elder brother meant every word he said.

We took turns keeping an eye and an ear out, but there was no sign of any more trouble, and none of us have seen a sign of Jasper Epps since.  Yeah, it seems we was right when we pegged Jasper as slick, not stupid, but not a worthy man, let alone a worthy opponent.

Come morning, Bessie Mae made us a good breakfast, and then we set out for home.

*****

We had stopped for the second night when we heard horses approaching along the road.  All of us went to check, and sure enough it was Pa along with two of our hands well known as being good with a gun.

“Boys!”

“Hey, Pa!  Coming to save us, are you?  Well, we’ve already saved ourselves!”  Little Joe was about bursting and ran up to Buck before Pa could even dismount.  Pa swung down and grabbed his baby into a bear hug while looking at Adam and me over Joe’s shoulder.  His eyes were demanding answers seeing as how Joe’s telegram hadn’t given any details.  It just said Adam and me were unjustly in jail in Ragtown and needed him to come.  Then he saw Bessie Mae.

“I might have known. Eric!”

“It weren’t me this time, Pa.  Least ways it wasn’t just me.”

Pa rolled his eyes just like he’s always told us not to.  Adam spoke up then.  “Good to see you, Pa. When you hear the whole story, I am sure you will approve.   Everything has been resolved successfully, and we’re just sorry to have caused you upset and a long ride.”

“No one was hurt?”

“Not at all. Not a gun fired or even a punch thrown. It’s a long story which I’m sure Joe will be glad to tell you, but perhaps you and the boys would like to join our camp first.”

Pa nodded, but his look told us that he would be having every last detail before anyone bedded down for the night.  Jake and Al swung down and headed for our fire.  Pa started walking with Joe following like a faithful pup but stopped when he reached Bessie Mae.  “Introductions are in order.”

“Pa, that’s Bessie Mae.  Bessie Mae, this is our pa.”  Little Joe made short work of the introductions.  “We saved her.”

“They did, Mr. Carwright.  They’re wonderful!”

Pa raised his eyebrow and then chuckled.  “At times perhaps.  Still, if you needed saving, I’m glad my sons were able to help.  I’m sure the why and how will make an interesting after dinner tale.”

“Joe shot some rabbits, and I’ve got a stew going and biscuits.  If ya have some more flour, I’ll make another pan.”

“There’s provisions in our saddle bags.”

“She’s a good cook, Pa.  I’ll get ya some more fixings, Bessie Mae.”

We did what was needed, settling the horses and laying in firewood and such while Bessie Mae finished cooking dinner.  Then we all laid into that food like it was a meal at some grand hotel.  Joe finished his last bite and then launched into telling the story of our little sojourn in Ragtown.  Adam and I gave him his head and only threw in a comment or two and a few details.  Pa didn’t need to ask him no questions to get the whole story, but when Joe wound down, Pa looked at Adam and asked one.

“Why has the child no shoes?”

Adam just blinked and swallowed a little.   We’d gotten used to seeing Bessie Mae wearing only a double pair of socks and hadn’t been giving her shoeless state much thought.  “Um, we haven’t passed a store since we left  Ragtown.”

Bessie Mae must’ve taken note of the added color on Adam’s cheeks.  “My feet are fine, Mr. Carwright.  They’ve taken real, real good care of me.  They’re like princes in a fairy tale.”

“Well, the king has arrived, and I assure you; you shall have a pair at the first opportunity.”  Pa sounded stern, but then he smiled, and Bessie Mae saw he was mostly teasing ‘cause his eyes were smiling proud.   I’d never really worried that Pa would fault us any about the whole thing; we’d only done what was needed and right, but it felt good to see that pride shining in his eyes.

*****

Things went real well from then on.  It took the better part of two days to reach home. We stopped in town first, and while Pa and Adam sent some telegrams and saw to some business, Joe and I took Bessie Mae to the mercantile.  She got not just shoes but a dress proper for a girl of fifteen and some other bits and bobs Mrs. Hanson thought she needed right off.  We told Miz Hanson we’d be bringing Bessie Mae back in a few days on a proper shopping trip which we did.

The first sight of home is always a comfort, but it was a triple pleasure when we rode into the yard that evening.  Hop Sing came out exclaiming half in English and half in Chinese and hustled us, including Al and Jake, into the house to clean up and then have dinner.  It was everything I’d thought it would be.  Ain’t nobody puts out a welcome home dinner like Hop Sing.

Bessie Mae didn’t know what to make of Hop Sing at first, but after about a day she settled in with him. In less time she had Pa wrapped around her little finger.  Well, she is a sweet gal and biddable, and she thought of him as a real king.  I guess he is King of the Ponderosa.

Now, one of Adam’s wires had been sent to Ester Perkins.   She was the idea he had had about a proper place for Bessie Mae.  There’s a story to Adam’s knowing her, but that’s for another time.  Enough said.  Miss Perkings owns a restaurant in a nice little town about thirty miles north, and she’s a real fine lady.  She came when Adam asked if she might have a place for a young girl, and she saw what we did in Bessie Mae.  It was decided that Bessie Mae would live with Miss Ester, help in the restaurant, and learn the business.  She would have a fitting and respectable life until some clerk or cowhand talked her into marriage.  It’s Adam’s belief that there’ll be plenty trying when she reaches a proper age, but Miss Ester is a formidable woman and a good judge of character, so Adam ain’t fretting about that yet.

The morning she left, Bessie Mae came out of the house dressed in what Miss Ester called a plaid frock with a pink bow holding back them yellow curls.  She looked bright as a button and seemed to shine from inside.  There weren’t no sign of Opal left in her, and her face was twice as pretty without the fard.  Miss Ester was going to drive the hired rig back to town herself, so we all knew we’d be saying our goodbyes in the yard.

Pa was giving Bessie Mae little admonishments and telling her to mind Miss Ester and that he’d be getting reports regular about how she was doing.  Bessie Mae just smiled and then threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.  Then she kissed mine and Adam’s; Little Joe she kissed smack on the mouth and then laughed when he blushed.

Adam plucked her up and planted her in the buggy then.  “No more of that until your twenty-one!  You best keep an eye on her, Ester, and let me know if I need to come and take her in hand.”  Adam said it stern, but his dimples were showing, and Bessie Mae laughed soft after she told him she’d be good.

Miss Ester promised to keep us apprised before setting the horses moving. When she did Bessie Mae turned around and waved until they were out of sight.

Little Joe made his mistake then, not having taken note that he was in reach of Pa’s long arm.  He made a cheeky crack about us going to The Red Bull instead of The Silver Horseshoe next time we stopped in Ragtown.  The crack made by Pa’s hand swatting Joe’s rear echoed around the yard.  Adam chuckled, smirked at Joe, and told Pa not to worry; he’d see to it that Joe only went to Queenie’s and save The Red Bull for when he was there alone.  Pa didn’t find that as funny as Adam, and the glare Pa sent elder brother pert near set the air to crackling.  I held back my chuckling, and Pa didn’t even send me a look.  Of course, he knows that I’m the one son who’s never sassy and doesn’t go courting trouble.

***The End***

 

A/N:  Written for the 2025 Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament. The game was 7-Card Stud and we had to use at least five of the seven cards dealt, each of which represented a word or phrase.  My words/phrases were:

She’s as thin as a rail fence.

He’s braver than a dog that ain’t me a porcupine yet.

He was so slick he could hardly keep his clothes on.

As wild as a mustang

Gullyfluff (that which accumulates in the pockets of schoolboys like crumbs, hair, string, pebbles, and other detritus)

Uh-oh!