Summary: A prisoner who escapes from the Nevada State Prison in Carson City has not only freedom but also vengeance on his mind. Little does he know that someone from his past is shadowing him, bringing full circle some unfinished business between them.

Rated: T

Word Count: 10,050

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A raven’s caw carried through the warm morning skies as another one answered back.  Lazy clouds drifted in front of a rising sun, casting brief shade over a broken fence that once was attached to a rock wall. Two horses quietly nickered while a young man kneeled by the fence.

“Will you hurry it up? Somebody’s bound to find me here.”

Finally, two hands appeared through the hole followed by a sandy-blonde head. “Push the boards further apart.”

The young man did as he was told, making it possible for the other man to clear the fence and clamor to his feet. He dusted off his dingy prison clothes then eyed his partner suspiciously.

“What’s that for?”

The younger man held up the large rock. “I thought you were gonna have chains.”

“You idiot! If you used that here, every guard would be on us in no time. Besides, one of the guards was rather helpful.” The prisoner held up a rusty key before flipping it back over the fence without so much as a backward glance. He shoved his accomplice toward the horses. Once mounted he prepared to kick the horse into action.

“Let’s go.”

“Are we heading to California now?”

“No! I’ve got some things to finish now that I’m out of that stinking prison. I need you to sniff out some information for me in Virginia City. And if you’re worried about getting paid you just need to do everything I say.”

“But Virginia City?! You’re loco! It may be five years since the trial but I know for a fact nobody’s forgotten.”

“Are you deaf too? I said you are going there, not me. Now no more questions until we get there.”

The prisoner turned his horse northward and raced away leaving his frustrated accomplice to catch up. The pair kept close to the rock formations and shadows until the prison was far behind them. From there they headed across the open land.

*****
As the morning sun hit its zenith over the Nevada State Prison, a lone horseman approached the northern gate. A brief word to the guard allowed him to enter the courtyard. In a matter of minutes a stone hallway echoed the methodic rhythm of the man’s boot heels. The warden’s aide stiffened before pushing the office door open.

“He’s here, sir.”

Maxwell Peterson bolted out of his seat as the tall stranger squeezed around the aide to arrive in front of the warden’s desk in two long strides. His brown stetson shaded his eyes while his duster settled about his legs.

“What happened!”

Peterson swallowed his first words as a cold glare emanated from the bearded face of the man standing in front of him. The second time he coughed up a bit more confidence. “Welcome to Nevada State–”

The man leaned on his gloved fists across the old desk, deepening his glare and lowering his voice. “I don’t need your platitudes. Tell me what happened this morning.”

“Um, I did as you asked my predecessor to do, to keep you informed of the prisoner’s status.”

“Not well enough it seems, considering that I learned of his escape from other sources. What are you doing to find him?”

Peterson gestured to a chair, anything to get the man out of his face. “Well, why don’t we both sit down, and I’ll fill you in, um Mr….”

“It’s Marshal, territorial, and I prefer to stand.” He returned to his full height of six feet. “You still have not answered my first question.”

Peterson swallowed again. His thoughts were like a tangled fishing net and he sorely wished the marshal would take a few steps back. Sucking in a deep breath he tried to sound more authoritative than he felt. “It happened at the beginning of the work detail in the quarry. Head count showed a prisoner was missing. A guard found abandoned chains near a broken part of the fence. The hole was large enough for a man to slip through. I suspect one or more guards were involved, looking away and such. They’re in custody if you’d care to question them. Oh, and the prisoner had someone on the outside waiting for him. I sent for Sheriff Rodgers in Carson City immediately to help find them. I could only spare two men to ride in the posse, and I gave them orders to capture the prisoner if they encountered him.”

“Alive, I trust. He’s no good to me dead.”

Peterson’s face went white but remained silent.

“Who was the outside help?”

“We don’t know. No one saw him. Two sets of bootprints and horse tracks were at the site. A guard who followed them out a short way said they headed west.”

Peterson held his breath as the marshal’s expression darkened ever so slightly, then it was gone.

“L-Look, if you have information about the prisoner that could help us, I need to know what it is.”

Silence was his only answer, which grated on Peterson’s nerves. He’d never come across a man he couldn’t read or who had such a chilling stare. This man rattled him more than the prisoners.

“How long have you been here, Warden?”

“A few months. Why?”

“I can assure you it won’t be for much longer.”

Pivoting on his heel, the marshal left the room, taking most of the air with him. The warden collapsed into his chair, took a shaky breath and expelled it. He hoped that would be his last encounter with that marshal. And he especially did not wish to be the prisoner when he caught up to him.

*****

“Sheriff! Rider comin’.”

Sheriff Matt Rodgers traded his coffee cup for his pistol and walked to the edge of camp to see who it was. With squinted eyes he tried to identify the man in a gray duster as he dismounted and led his horse toward the camp.

“Who are you?”

“Sheriff Rodgers, I presume?”

“Who wants to know?” Rodgers raised his pistol as the man pulled his coat aside to display his badge.

“Marshal Adam Stoddard. I’ve been told you’re chasing an escaped prisoner and his accomplice.”

“Whit, see to the marshal’s horse,” Rodgers hollered as he returned to the fire and waited for the marshal to join him.

He indicated to the marshal the coffee pot by the fire and some empty cups as he picked up his own cup. “Yeah, we’re a short way behind them and catching up. Looks like they’re headed for those hills. One of the guards with me thinks there are caves up there they could hide in.”

Adam sipped the strong brew as he listened to Rodgers’ explanation. His eyes flicked toward the aforementioned hills and around the camp which was small and simple, to be expected with only three men.

“How do you know they haven’t turned north or south while you sit here resting?”

Rodgers bristled at the silent accusation. “We’ve run our horses hard in this heat to get this close. This place offered shade and water. We were getting ready to head out again when you arrived. If you’d like to join us, Marshal…”

“I will be joining you as well as leading the posse.”

Rodgers knew this part was coming after his conversation with the warden but that didn’t mean he had to like it. “Look, let’s get one thing straight. I’ve dealt with plenty of US Marshals in my job and I’ll go on record an’ tell you I don’t like it when they take over in my territory.”

Adam emptied his cup into the fire while locking eyes with the Sheriff. “You listen to me, Sheriff. I’m a territorial Marshal and your territory is inside my territory. This man is as dangerous as a wounded cougar and as crooked as a sidewinder. I want to make sure he gets caught. Now tell me, how much do you know about the terrain up ahead?”

Rodgers blew out his breath; he knew when he was overruled. “Not much. Just some hills and such. I’ve never chased anyone this far. We usually catch the escapees close to the prison.”

“That’s why I’ll be in charge from here on out. I know the area and the escapee quite well. For him to have gotten this far, he had to have had it all planned. Wouldn’t you agree?”

The Sheriff scratched his neck. “Yeah. It is pretty unusual. So what’s the story behind this prisoner? All I know is his name – Bill Enders.”

“He’s a murderer and a thief, and as slick as they come. He plans and plans well but in the end he misses some small detail that leads to his downfall.”

With that, the marshal headed for his horse. “We need to head out before we lose the trail into the hills. It gets rocky up there.”

*****
As the posse approached the hills, Adam drew his horse abreast with the sheriff’s.

“Tell me about the two guards.”

“Whitsen, he goes by Whit, is our sharpshooter. Not much good at anything else so I have him looking after the horses when he’s not on guard duty. We’ll make use of his skill when we find Enders, if he doesn’t get trigger happy before then. Daniels is our tracker. He served a couple of years in the Army up in Montana. And before you say anything, I can track too but I’m playing the role of an extra gun on this trip.” He noticed Stoddard studying the young man leading the group. “I  know what you’re thinkin’. He looks like he’s somewheres between hay and grass but he’s well into his twenties.”

Adam accepted the information with a nod and moved on with his plan. “Within the hour we need to ride single file. If Enders is watching us it will make us look like just one rider as we draw closer. Inform the others.”

Rodgers nudged his horse ahead to tell the guards while Adam studied their reactions. He had a lot to ponder concerning this unusual posse.

Once the line was formed, Adam brought up the rear. He’d seen the trail they were following – two sets of horse tracks – but it didn’t follow Enders’ habits. From experience he knew the man was not that sloppy. He also had his suspicions who the second man was. However, in dangerous situations like this he hated these unknown factors.

Once they entered the rocky terrain, Adam scanned the area and saw no discernable reason for the escapees to be there. He drew his horse to a stop and pulled out his field glasses. The other riders shared glances and waited to see what he was up to. After scanning the area, Adam nudged his horse up to the ridge. What he saw from there made his blood boil. He returned to the waiting group with his pistol drawn.

“Daniels, explain your reasoning for taking this route.”

“It’s the way the prisoner came. I was following the tracks.”

“If you’re really that good of a tracker, you should have known you can’t track in rocks, except to look for disturbed vegetation or droppings. I’ve seen neither since we entered this area. Neither are there any caves in this area, as you suggested to Sheriff Rodgers. However, from the ridge I could make out two horsemen riding northeast toward Virginia City.”

“Sir, I’m sure we would’ve picked up their trail that way if we had continued on.”

Adam snorted and holstered his pistol. “I doubt that, considering they changed direction before reaching this area. I’ll be tracking from here on out, Mr. Daniels.”

Daniels glared back at the marshal for a few seconds before turning his horse around. “If that’s the case then I’m returning to the prison. You with me Whit?”

“Yeah, guess I am. Sorry Sheriff.”

The sheriff eyed the marshal for a moment before addressing the guards. “You two stay around that prison. I’m gonna have some questions for you when I get back.”

“Yeah, we’ll see about that. Come on, Whit. Let’s leave these two to get their heads blown off by that crazy prisoner.”

After the guards were out of earshot, Rodgers spoke up. “To tell you the truth, I never trusted either one of them. Personally, I think a bunch of them guards and the warden had different connections to Enders’ escape.” He paused to scratch his left ear. “This ear itches when somethin’ ain’t right and it’s been buggin’ the tar outta me since we left Carson City.”

Adam continued watching the receding riders as he spoke to Rodgers. “Looks like you got part of your reason just then. We better get started, Sheriff. I want to find out where Enders is heading before we lose him completely.”

The lawmen turned their horses around and gave them their heads after leaving the rocky trail.

Reaching a stream, the two men stopped to let their horses rest. Adam took a moment to scan the valley for their quarry. He lowered his field glasses and mused to himself. “Why would they head for Virginia City?”

“What’s that, Marshal?” Rodgers paused by Adam after bringing the horses up from the creek.

“They’re heading to Virginia City. That’s were Enders’ trial was.”

“He’s gotta be plum loco to go there. Look, if that’s the case, my journey stops here. Virginia City’s out of my jurisdiction.”

Adam eyed him. “Yes, it is.” He held out his hand to the Sheriff. “Thanks for sticking with me this far, Sheriff.”

“Just doin’ my job. I have to say it’s been an adventure that I don’t care to repeat anytime soon.” Rogers gave Adam a crooked smile as he mounted and turned his horse southward.

“Sheriff, before you go. Do you know of anyone who’s good at tracking and not getting discovered doing it?”

“I thought that was you.”

A smirk crossed Adam’s face. “Well, I need a partner if I’m going to catch Enders.”

Rodgers turned his horse back toward Adam. “Why not try the Sheriff in Virginia City. I understand he’s got a good reputation for catching such culprits.”

“He does but I need someone that Enders doesn’t know.”

“Well, in that case, I may. There’s a man that just joined on at the Ponderosa. I crossed paths with him a few years back in Arizona. He told me he’d been around the army most of his life and picked up many of their skills but he is not army if you get my drift. Also, he gained other skills, like sneaking around, especially at night, from some cast-off Indians that hung around a fort where he lived.”

Adam found himself intrigued by this man but schooled his reactions to all the information.

“I tried to keep track of him through the years but he can be like a ghost in the wind when he wants to be. However, when I heard he had come into the area, working on the Ponderosa, I contacted Ben Cartwright. Seems the rancher met him on a mission to deliver some special Indian to Fort Churchill.* Mr. Cartwright said he was inside their camp before anyone realized it and he proved invaluable to getting their prisoner to the fort. To me, that description sounded just like Candy.”

“Candy?”

“Yeah, funny name, ain’t it. But that’s his name, Candy Canaday.”

“This Ben Cartwright, does he know about Enders’ escape?”

“Can’t say, but I doubt it. I talked to him a few weeks ago when I found out Candy was up here.”

Adam gave a quick nod. “Thanks.”

“I’ll be heading out now. Good luck on your hunt.” Without another word Rodgers kicked his horse into a run back toward Carson City, planning a detour to the prison.

Adam watched him go then mounted up and turned his horse toward Virginia City. He needed to locate Enders then create a plan to find this Candy fellow without being detected on the Ponderosa.

*****

Foamy sweat flew back from his horse into Sammy Yates’ face. He swiped it away and yelled out to the man up ahead. “Hey, Bill. We gotta rest these horses or we’re gonna kill ‘em.”

Enders looked back to find Sammy lagging behind him. He reined his horse to a hard stop to give time for him to catch up. “We’ve got no time to waste!”

“Look, there’s a waterhole up ahead. We can take a short break there.”

“Alright!”

While Sammy watered his horse, he pondered for the umpteenth time why he was still sticking with Bill Enders. After Bill had set him up as the killer of Toby Barker, and even let their friend Arch get killed by one of the Cartwrights, he owed Bill no loyalty at all. But by helping him escape the prison he’d hoped to get his hands on some of that gold to make up for all Bill had put him through, but he could see that plan was out the window. He was nothing more than a fart catcher to Bill, just a weakling doing his master’s bidding, nowhere near a partner like he’d hoped to be. He glanced around at the rolling hills and rising mountains figuring this might be a good time to break off.

While the horses sought some fresh grass, Sammy cautiously approached Bill. “I still think it’s suicide to go to Virginia City. Word’s gotta get there by the time we do that you broke outta prison. They’ll catch you for sure and it’ll be the noose for you this time. ‘Sides there’s no one left there for you anyway.”

Bill grabbed his collar and shook him. “What do you mean by that?”

“Only that, well, Mary left after the trial and Adam Cartwright left a coupla years ago.”

“No! That’s not true!” Bill shoved Sammy away and began pacing. His angry mumbling scared Sammy enough to get his horse and mount up. He watched as Bill mounted his own horse and rode to the top of a knoll to check behind them.

With panic setting in, Bill hurriedly scanned the area for riders or dust trails. The guards had done a good job of misleading the posse but he wouldn’t let his guard down. Sammy’s revelation about his wife and Adam Cartwright ignited a new fire inside him. When he returned Sammy saw a changed man, one with a deadly anger in him that spurred the young man to make his break with Enders.

Sammy fingered his reins and looked off into the distance. “Uh, Bill. I think it’s time we parted ways. I did what you wanted, brought the horse and grub, and well, I’d just as soon head to California and put all this mess behind me.”

The chilling stare Sammy got from Enders gave him the willies. He noted his voice had gone hard too, in much the same way it had that day in the saloon when Bill accused Adam Cartwright of going after his wife. “Sure, go ahead and quit. You lose out on the gold and it’ll be up to you to keep out of the law’s hands once they figure out you’re the one who brought the horse to me. I don’t need you anymore anyway. You’re just slowin’ me down at this point with that nag you’re ridin’.”

He turned his horse away from Sammy. “Go on, git out of my sight, you good for nothin’ coward,” he yelled as he kicked his horse into motion.

Sammy didn’t think twice. He turned his horse toward the mountains, nudging it into a run. Surprise followed by dismay eventually registered in his brain when something slammed into his back, knocking him from his horse. After his head hit the ground and blackness swept over him, his last thought was that he’d never see the light of day again.

As Bill’s horse raced north, he slipped his rifle back into its sheath. A satisfied smile crept across his face. He was truly on his own now and able to carry out his ultimate plans. He might have to make a few adjustments in those plans, but he would not quit until Adam Cartwright was dead, and Mary was back in his arms.

*****

Despite the wind rushing past his ears, Adam didn’t miss the report of a gunshot ahead of him. Instinct had him drawing his pistol and racing ahead in hopes of catching the shooter. Cresting a small knoll, Adam spied a lone horse wandering aimlessly in a field. Gun drawn, he rode in, all senses on high alert. Spying no one around he guided his horse through the tall grass hoping to locate the fallen rider. Pounding hoofbeats behind him made him spin his horse around. He aimed his pistol dead center of the rider until he recognized the form. He lowered his gun as Sheriff Rodgers approached.

“I heard the shot and thought you might have found Enders.”

“No, and the shot came from another direction. Check the horse then help me find the rider.”

Rodgers had just grabbed the horse’s reins when Adam called out. “Over here!”

The sheriff approached and knelt beside Adam in the grass.

“Who is he?”

Adam closed his eyes for a moment against the awful truth. “Sammy Yates. He hung around with Enders and Enders tried to frame him for Toby’s murder.”

The man groaned, causing the stunned lawmen to roll him over. While Adam retrieved his canteen from his saddle the sheriff gently held the struggling man down. “Easy son. I’m Sheriff Rodgers of Carson City and this is –”

Adam shook his head.

Puzzled, Rodgers continued, “Here’s some water for you. Can you tell me what happened?”

Adam handed the canteen to Rodgers then backed out of Sammy’s view.

“He shot me. The bas–”

“Who shot you?” The sheriff asked as he held the canteen to Sammy’s lips.

Sammy grimaced, squeezing his eyes shut against the pain of swallowing.  “Enders. After… all I did… for him. No good killer… Should have known I…couldn’t trust him.”

“Where’s Enders now, son?”

“Don’t… know.” Sammy grimaced with pain. “Said he was gonna…get the gold then kill…Adam Cartwright.”

Rodgers’ head snapped up in time to see a trace of surprise cross Adam’s face before it disappeared. New suspicions crossed his own mind as he turned his attention back to the dying cowboy.

“I… tried to tell him… they were gone… He’s crazy like…the devil…” Sammy gasped as his eyes rolled back into his head. It was his last breath.

Rodgers rolled back on his haunches and pushed his hat back. “Well, that’s a fine kettle of fish.”

He stood up with his hands on his hips. “What do you know about this gold and Adam Cartwright, Marshal?”

Adam schooled his features at Sammy’s last words ‘they were gone’. Did he mean Mary and himself? Did that news throw Bill over the edge? He breathed out and replied coolly. “I was told the gold Enders stole from Goat Springs and murdered Toby Barker for, was never recovered.”

The sheriff noticed for a second time an anger in the marshal’s voice when he mentioned the station manager. “And this Adam Cartwright? Is he one of the Ponderosa Cartwrights?”

“He is but he left sometime after Enders was sentenced to prison. When I agreed to take this case I was told he was the one that pushed for Enders’ arrest and conviction. Apparently he was an eyewitness.” He glanced down at Sammy’s body. “I’m guessing Enders’ is cleaning up loose ends.”

Adam picked up the canteen and headed to his horse. “I’ll help you get Yates on his horse. Take him to Carson then notify the Sheriff in Virginia City and the warden. I’ve got to find Enders.”

“Understood. What about the Cartwright fellow?”

“I don’t see a problem if he’s not living here, do you?”

“Reckon not.” Rodgers scratched his ear before bending down to lift Yates’ body.

“You goin’ after Candy, too?”

“Yeah.”

After the lawmen secured Sammy’s body to his horse, Adam rode in the general direction of Virginia City, leaving behind a puzzled sheriff. Rodgers turned his horse to the south, pondering the whole situation with Enders, the marshal, Yates, and the warden. He shook his head when he realized what a tangled mess this prison break had become.

*****

Adam lost himself in the rhythm of hoofbeats as he made his way to Virginia City. He had a fairly good idea where Bill Enders was heading and what his plans were. Opposite of what he led Rodgers to believe, Adam knew Bill would come gunning for him after the gold was retrieved and secured in a new location. Bill hated loose ends, especially if they had to do with this particular Cartwright. But now Sammy’s final words changed things quite a bit. Would Bill believe what Sammy had told him – that Adam and Mary were gone? Would Bill think the pair had run off together? Adam was sure that kind of news could very well send Bill Enders over the edge and make him deadlier than a wounded cougar.

In a matter of minutes, Adam’s priorities had changed. He reined his horse around and headed toward the Ponderosa. Along the way he planned out how to stay hidden until the time was right to confront Enders. He also needed a way to make contact with this Candy fellow. If the man had the skills the sheriff mentioned then he would make a perfect partner to get close to Enders so Adam could make the arrest. As the trail turned steeper he slowed his horse and let her pick her way through the trees. Adam couldn’t help but smile as he entered familiar grounds. He had been away too long but a proper homecoming would have to wait until all of his own loose ends with Enders were tied up. As he guided his horse closer to his destination, he allowed himself a bit of time to relax and enjoy the beauty of the mountains and pine scented air. All too soon he would have to tuck it away and become Marshal Stoddard once more.

*****

The hot, suffocating air made it hard to breathe.  Sweat poured off the cowboy’s skin soaking his clothes.  For a desperate moment he glared at the wild black eyes on the other side of the gate, determined to win this battle.  Candy Canaday climbed the rails, settled himself in the saddle, gripped the reins.  Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly and gave a firm nod.  The gate swung open and his world spun around.  In the back of his head he heard the familiar shouts and cheers, but his focus was on the undulating beast beneath him.

Every spine numbing pounding made him more determined to win the war and show this animal who’s boss.  If he did, he’d own the horse; that was the bet he’d made with Joe Cartwright. In the few weeks he’d been on the ranch, Candy was still figuring out his way around the Cartwrights and he needed a good working horse besides. Joe said no one else would go near that hammerhead so he agreed that if Candy could break him, he could keep him.

The horse landed hard on all four hooves sending spikes of pain up Candy’s spine and down into his legs. Just hang on, he’s tiring. The cowboy tugged hard at the reins to pull the horse’s head up.  Out of nowhere, the ground slapped him in the face.  With his mouth and nose full of dirt he laid still for a few seconds trying to figure out how to get air to his lungs. Opening his eyes he saw several pairs of boots running toward him. Candy pushed up on his hands and spit the grit out of his mouth.

Several arms pulled him up, someone handed his hat to him while laughter broke out.

“Hey Chip, looks like Candy’s all hat and no cattle.”

“Yeah, lots of hot air. Any woman could ride that hammerhead to a standstill.”

Infuriated at being bested again and by the ribald jokes about his ride, he shrugged everyone off and marched back to the pen. Dang fool horse! I’ll break him this time!

“Set him up again Stan. One more time oughta do it.”  When no one responded he scanned the corral and saw his nemesis being led to another corral, continuing to buck the non-existent rider off.

“What the…? Hey!”

“Hold on there, Candy. You an’ that horse are done fer today.”

Candy turned and found himself face to face with Hoss Cartwright, well more like nose to chin considering the four inches or so the big man had on him. His stern look backed up his words.

“One more round, that’s all I need. I could feel him changin’.”

“Not today Candy.  He’s tired, an’ you’re tired. That’s a dangerous mix. Go on ta th’ bunkhouse an’ clean up.”

Candy started to argue but instead slapped his hat on his head and stomped away.  He knew Hoss was right but it didn’t mean he had to like it.

As he approached the gate, movement in the trees near the barn caught his eye and he saw a dark figure leaning against a tall pine.  He’d seen him earlier, when he started working the horse. The man never came near, but Candy knew he was watching him while he worked. It made him nervous, especially since no one else seemed to pay any attention to him. After brushing the sweat from his eyes he looked again at the trees and the man was gone. With a frown, he rubbed at a dull ache in his back. It was time to call it a day. After he closed the gate, a large hand slapped him on his back, nearly knocking him off his still shaky legs. Hoss quickly grabbed Candy’s arm to steady him.

“You alright there?”

Candy glanced up at the big guy. He still couldn’t get used to his size.  “Yeah, I guess so.  Say Hoss, did you see that fella leaning against the tree behind the barn?”

“Tree? Oh, over yonder? Nah, ain’t seen no one. Why? What’d he look like?”

“Uh, I couldn’t really tell ya. He was in the shadows.”

Hoss shook his head then chuckled. “I’m thinkin’ you ain’t got your wits back from that last fall.” The big man winked at him and muttered something about smelling dinner. Candy watched Hoss enter the main house, then he headed to the bunkhouse hoping to wash some of the dirt out of his throat and get some good grub for his own dinner.

*****
Late that evening Candy stood at the rail watching the stallion, a cool breeze ruffled his wavy hair. The other hands had gotten up a poker game but he was too restless to stay inside. In the darkness the horse looked black, which reflected Candy’s mood. In truth the stallion was a rich brown with a darker mane and tail.  He ran at the fence then stopped, bobbed his head and ran another direction. Catching the human’s scent on the wind made him skittish but he gave into some curiosity, edging his way over to the rail where Candy stood.

Candy kept his voice soft. “Yeah, I feel it too, boy.  It’s just a restlessness for freedom but hey we both got it good here. These are good people, and you and me‘ll make a good team, if you’d just give up the fight.”

The large stallion snorted and backed away as Candy reached out to touch his nose. He kept his hand there hoping he’d move closer. Nope, the horse was too nervous. Candy let his hand sag over the rail.

“Guess I kinda felt the same way when I first got here, fella.  I’d been on my own for a long time too and, well, I was afraid to settle down, to let someone else tell me what to do. After going through all that me and the Cartwrights went through to get that Indian to Fort Churchill, I wasn’t too sure when Mr. Cartwright offered me a job here.  Thought I’d never want to settle in one place but it sure beat hiding my hide from Indians or having my horse shot out from under me which is what happened before I came across the Cartwrights’ camp.”

As Candy’s gentle voice droned on, the horse began sniffing his fingers.

“But you know what? I like it here now. It’s only been a few weeks but I like the steady pay. The food’s pretty good, and the guys in the bunkhouse are alright. It’s not a bad life, ya know?”

Candy inched his hand upward to rub the narrow blaze. Suddenly a thought occurred to him. The bridle and saddle were nearby.  Slowly bringing his arm down he slipped between the rails to enter the corral. He crept over to the tack and the dang if the horse didn’t follow him. Getting the bridle on him was pretty easy, but he refused to stand still for the saddle.  So Candy put it back and decided to lead him around the corral.  It was a nice evening, refreshingly cool after such a hot day.  “Reckon both of us like being outside.”

After a few minutes Candy stood still and the horse nudged him in the back, knocking him off balance. Candy wrapped the reins over the rail and reached for the saddle.  He had the horse saddled in no time and mounted up. Horse and rider circled around the corral and the stallion never bucked once.

“You know, maybe Hoss was right.  You and I both needed to cool off a bit and just get to know each other.”

During their wanderings around the corral Candy paused once at the trough to let the stallion have a drink. In the stillness of the night owls hooted and the barn cat mewed. Distant laughter drifted out of the bunkhouse.  Relaxing in the peaceful evening, Candy jumped when a deep voice spoke quietly from the shadows beyond the barn.

He twisted in the saddle trying to see who spoke, barely catching the words. Oddly enough the horse didn’t seem to notice so maybe he imagined it.

“Who’s there?  Hoss, is that you?”

“Yeah, right here.”

The ranch hand turned back around and saw Hoss and Joe stroll up to the other end of the corral.  He walked the horse over to them.

Joe was grinning, “Well, what’s this Candy?  What’d you do to get him to let you ride him?”

“He just wandered over and I guess we needed some time to get to know each other.” He patted the horse’s neck then looked back at the brothers.  “Say, did one of you say something when you walked up?”

Joe shook his head. “Uh no, Candy.  We didn’t want to spook the horse. Why?”

Candy glanced back toward the barn wondering if he should say anything.  “Oh it’s probably nothing, one of the other hands talking I guess.  I was thinking about how easy it had been this evening to get the horse used to me when I let him come to me on his terms.  Then from behind the barn I heard a voice and what it said made some sense to me.”

Hoss and Joe waited for Candy to continue. When he didn’t, Joe finally asked, “Well, what’d he say?”

“‘Fools think they’re so dang smart, but a wise man is smart enough to know he’s still got a lot to learn.’  Kinda crazy huh? But it made sense. I guess I do have some things to learn and it’s not so bad to admit that. I mean you were right this afternoon Hoss about not riding Scout again today.” Catching Joe’s rising eyebrows I explained further,  “Oh yeah, I named him Scout after my days of scouting for the Army.”

Candy was waiting for Joe at least to laugh and tell him that fall he took earlier must have scrambled his brain. Instead, what Candy saw was surprise or maybe shock across both their faces.

“What did I say?  What’s wrong?” Oh boy, I just got myself in a heap of trouble with the boss’ sons.

Hoss straightened up and fidgeted with some split wood on the rail.  “Candy, you sure you heard someone say that?”

He nodded.

Joe and Hoss exchanged unreadable looks before Hoss spoke again.  “Well, that’s somethin’ I said to our older brother, Adam, a long time ago when he returned from college.  He was gettin’ used ta ranch life again an’ was angry about bein’ called a greenhorn by some of th’ hands.  I said them very words to him one night to get him to think on ‘em an’ let his anger cool down.”

While Hoss spoke Joe jumped the fence and ran through the corral, scouting all around the barn but came back looking disappointed.  “Nothin’ there. No tracks, no prints, nothin’!”

Candy realized he was royally missing something as he scratched his head.  Something was going on but he had no clue what it was. “Look fellas, if I said somethin’ wrong…”

“No Candy, you ain’t done nothin’ wrong.  You see, Adam left home a few years ago to travel an’ do some diff’rent things.  It’s been hard not havin’ him here.”  Hoss rubbed the rail.  “I jest can’t figure how you’d know them words.”

Joe looked edgy and nervous but finally he punched Hoss in the arm.  “Hey, seems like ole Adam maybe didn’t leave completely, you know Hoss?  Maybe part of him is still here, looking after things. You know how he always liked to do things himself so it’d be done right?”

Hoss chuckled at Joe’s comments.  “Reckon you could be right little brother.”  Hoss reached across the rail and rubbed the horse’s nose.  “Scout huh?  Guess that’s a fittin’ name fer him.”

“Yeah, Candy, guess you got yourself a horse now.” Joe released a big grin.

Candy had no idea what had just happened, how the conversation had changed so quickly but he decided it was for the best.  He grinned back at the two brothers who were quickly becoming his friends.

As the brothers walked back to the house Candy watched Hoss drape his arm across Joe’s shoulder and laugh at a shared joke.  “Yep, I’m gonna like it here. Come on, Scout. I’ll ride you around for a bit longer then give you a good rub down.”  Staring off into the distance Candy couldn’t help but wonder if he’d hear any more from Hoss or Joe about their older brother. Somehow he figured this was only the beginning.

*****

Small critters skittered through the dirt and brush near the barn when an owl hooted nearby. Candy finished grooming Scout and tossed the brush into the bucket. He patted his horse on the neck as a big yawn escaped. “Guess it’s bedtime for both of us boy. Rest up tonight. Tomorrow we start the real training.”  Candy rubbed his neck to release some kinks and yawned again as he reached for the corral gate.

“You best get some good sleep, too. Tomorrow’s going to be an even longer day than you think.”

Candy spun around and drew his gun in one smooth motion, putting his exhausted body on high alert. “Who’s there? Quit lurking in the shadows and come out and face me.”

“This is as far as I come. You’ll have to accept that, Candy. I’ve got a job for you, and you’ll need to leave early in the morning.”

“I’ve got a job right here and how do you know my name? Also, you haven’t answered my first question.”

“The name’s Stoddard. I got your name from someone who knew you in Arizona. I understand you are quite skilled at sneaking around, and I have need of those skills.”

“What are you talking about? You’re not making any sense.”

“Not here but everything will be made clear to you when we next meet. However, this is what I need you to do tomorrow. You will tell your boss that you need some time off. Contrive any story you want to make that happen, but say nothing about speaking with me or mentioning my name.”

“That’s it? Quit a job I like, burn a bridge with my boss? No deal! You haven’t even told me why you’re here.”

“Okay, fair enough. Yesterday, there was a prison break at the Nevada State prison. The escaped prisoner is dangerous and cunning. I need a partner to help me get close enough to arrest him. I chose you for the unique skills the other person told me you had, and those I’ve observed so far.”

“Which are?”

“Self control. You have a hot temper, but you know that and can control it. You adapt to changing situations quickly. You’ve got tracking skills as good as any soldier or Indian. You can be charming when it suits you. And you have gained the trust of the men you work for and with.”

Candy was stunned by how thorough this man’s information was, but he had more pressing issues. “If you can sneak around here and find me on this large ranch, surely you can sneak up to the guy and arrest him.”

“I can’t do it alone because there’s a catch. I’m the one responsible for his incarceration which means he knows me and he’ll most likely want to kill me. I need someone who can blend in and be just as cunning as he is. You will need to make contact and keep him off guard so I can slip in and arrest him.”

“Are you some kind of bounty hunter?”

“No. I’m a law man. A territorial marshal. And because of that you will be duly compensated for your work.”

Candy leaned against the barn wall feeling suddenly exhausted. He rubbed his face and his neck as his thoughts raced to fill in all possible scenarios of what could go wrong.

From his shadowed hiding place Adam studied Candy’s changing expressions as he considered his options. He knew this man would be a great asset in catching Enders. He gentled his voice. “I regret that I can’t give you more time to think this through. In these few minutes I’ve learned you’re a man of integrity. A man I need by my side, Candy. Trust me when I say we’ll work well together and that should keep both of us safe. Will you do it?”

“Alright, I guess I’ll do it. I just don’t know how I’m going to convince Mr. Cartwright without making him or his sons suspicious.”

“Say anything, even if it’s a lie. Don’t be afraid to burn that bridge. Trust me when I say I can fix it once the mission is complete and the prisoner is either back behind bars or dead. I’m planning on the former.”

Candy relented with a huff. “Okay. I gotta be crazy for agreeing to help you. Do I need any travel supplies?”

“Yes, enough for about three days. And only what you can carry. Meet me by the river near the south pasture. Do you know the spot?”

“I do.”

“Be there tomorrow just after sunrise.”

Candy started to walk away but turned back. “Wait a minute. How do you know that spot? It’s deep into the Ponderosa.” His only answer was silence broken by another hoot of an owl. He searched around the barn wall and found nothing, not even footprints. Shaking his head he headed to the bunkhouse. This marshal makes me real nervous. I hope I’m not signing my death warrant.

*****

As the sun cleared the Sierras Candy rode along the river, keeping an eye out for Stoddard’s campsite. Despite the distance from the ranch house he still felt Ben Cartwright’s black glare after he informed his boss that he was collecting on their agreement that he could leave at a moment’s notice and without any explanation.* The impression he left Ben with was that he got his horse and was ready to move on. All during the trip to the southern pasture he kept looking back to see if Joe or Hoss were following but he never saw them. He admitted to himself it was a relief and a disappointment, kind of hoping someone would come and talk some sense into him. It really pained him to leave like that and he hoped this Stoddard fellow would be able to clear things with the Cartwrights once all this mess was over.

Candy paused at a quiet spot in the river to let Scout drink. He stretched his back and felt it pop back into place. It had been a rough ride since the poor horse was not truly saddlebroke, but the more they rode together the more attentive and compliant Scout became to his master’s commands. By the time they reached the river it was like horse and master had been together for years.

Mid drink the horse shied when a stranger appeared from the woods’ edge on the other side of the river.

“Whoa boy!” Candy went for his gun.

“You won’t need that. Come on across. My campsite is in a clearing through those trees.”

Candy closed his eyes for a moment before encouraging Scout into the water. I gotta get that man to stop sneaking up on me!

After settling his horse with the marshal’s horse, Candy took a proffered plate of bacon, eggs, and biscuits from the marshal.

“You eat this way all the time?”

“No, but I had an opportunity to improve my supplies for the next couple of days. Eat up then I’ll answer all your questions.”

Candy didn’t wait and began seeking answers after his first bite of eggs. By the time he put down his empty plate he had all the answers he wanted, and more than he expected.

“So Enders and this Adam Cartwright were once joint investors in a mine and you think that’s where he’s hiding out? If he knows that mine so well, how are we going to flush him out?”

“Due to heavy rains, the mine flooded and collapsed about a year after Enders went to prison. The shares became worthless due to the danger of more cave-ins. Enders’ losses only added to his woes. His house was foreclosed on, and his bank accounts, such as they were, were claimed by the law to cover his trial expenses. If he didn’t know all that then, he will know it now so the mine is the only logical place he could hide, and due to the location of the collapse he won’t be deep into it.”

“Okay, how do I get close to him?”

The marshal scratched at his beard. “I’m still working on that part. Any suggestions?”

Candy stood up and dropped his plate and cup into the water bucket. “How about you show me this mine?”

“Let’s go.”

They secured the campsite and were on their way in a matter of minutes. Candy was still trying to figure this man out by what he was not revealing. He was quite familiar with the area, but if this was his territory as marshal, that would make sense. Despite third hand information he seemed to understand Enders’ thinking incredibly well. The fact that he navigated the Ponderosa and the surrounding land so easily showed he had outdoor survival skills. And to top it off, Candy still couldn’t figure out how he could restore his job with the Cartwrights. The man is an enigma to be sure.

“It’s over there, to the right of those boulders. Quickly, into those trees. I see movement.”

Candy squinted and finally saw a man in a suit approaching the mine entrance.

Stoddard pulled out his field glasses and handed them to Candy. “There are two men there. The one with the hat is Warden Peterson. I suspected he was involved with the escape. I’ll take care of him later. The other man is Enders. Focus on his appearance and his mannerisms.”

Candy did as he was told. After several minutes of animated discussion, loud enough they could almost make out the words, Enders handed Peterson a bag then disappeared into the cave. Peterson left and Candy returned the glasses to the marshal.

The marshal kept his eyes on the mine entrance. “What’s your assessment of that situation?”

“Peterson came to collect his pay. Enders gave him some of the gold?”

Adam nodded. “Perhaps, or not. My gut is telling me that won’t be the last of Peterson’s meetings with Enders. Maybe one more?”

“Yep. So you’ve got to get to Peterson either before Enders does or before Peterson disappears.”

“Enders won’t stop until all his loose ends are tied up.”

Candy studied Stoddard’s face and understood the marshal’s meaning.

The marshal noticed. “That’s why we need to move fast. Enders is there so we need to move soon to flush him out.”

“Please tell me you finally have a plan and we’re not just going to wing it?”

Silence with a smirk was Candy’s only answer. This is not going to end well.

*****

A cool breeze rustled through the pines as the sun rose higher in the sky.

Candy closed his eyes as he listened to the whispers in the trees. “Have you ever stopped to listen to the wind in the pines, Marshal?”

“Not recently.” Stoddard was busy checking his pistol and rifle.

“I find it can tell you a lot of things. Like you can hear different sounds, good or bad, if you listen just right. It can also help clear your mind of clutter.”

“I agree.”

“You really are a man of few words, aren’t you?”

“So I’ve been told.” The marshal put his weapons away then gave Candy an inquisitive look. “Go ahead and ask your question.”

“Have you told me everything about this mission and Enders?”

Stoddard raised an eyebrow. “Yes.”

“I feel like you’re more personally invested in this mission than you let on.”

“I want to see justice served. That’s all.”

“If Enders shot the station manager in cold blood, why did he get a life sentence instead of hanging?”

“The judge was hoping he would reveal where he stashed the gold.”

“And that failed. And now he’s escaped.”

“Yes.”

“And now we have him cornered but it’s like a stalemate. Who’s going to break it first?”

Candy watched as Stoddard’s left brow lifted.

He continued, “I see at least two options. First, we sit here and wait for him to come out. I reckon neither of us are coffee boilers so that won’t happen. Both of us are action-takers. So then we have option two. I work my way into the cave, keep him busy and away from his weapons, and you get your chance to arrest him.”

“That’s the general idea.”

“That’s a deadly idea, for one of us. How about option three? We both move in from different directions and flush him out together. It shouldn’t be too hard to do seeing as how we both move like cats. He can’t take us both out at the same time.”

“You have a point there. Even the odds.”

“Of course, he could find us first.”

“Then you better be as good a shot as I think you are.”

“Right. Thought so.”

“Check your weapons. We’ll move out in an hour.”

When Stoddard placed himself with a clear view of the cave entrance, Candy began preparing his pistol and rifle. As he worked he kept glancing at this mystifying marshal. For the thousandth time, Candy feared they were on a suicide mission. The marshal claimed he was seeking justice, but it was clear to Candy that he wanted Enders so badly he could taste it, and he sensed a dose of vengeance sprinkled in for good measure. He hoped he was wrong about most of it as he dropped extra cartridges into his vest pockets and moved to ready the horses.

*****

The marshal gave the signal and the two men led their horses closer to the mine and secured them behind several boulders. From there the two men scanned the area for ways to approach the entrance.

Candy signaled to the marshal that he’d found a way in. Stoddard raised his rifle to cover him and nodded for Candy to check it out. He smiled to himself when he finally noticed the hidden opening behind an outcropping that Candy had seen. He figured it was created when the mine caved in. The more he was around Candy the more amazed he was with the man’s skills in subterfuge.

Candy easily slipped into the slender space and disappeared. Stoddard immediately shifted to a clearer location, affording him a direct view of the cave opening. He didn’t have to wait long. He heard Candy shout Enders’ name then gunplay ensued. The marshal cocked his rifle when a shadow appeared at the entrance but he eased off when Candy stumbled out and fell to the ground.

“Enders!”

Enders froze in the shadows, the familiar voice conjuring many distasteful memories. With a straight back, the man stepped into the sunlight with two pistols in hand. “I hear you! Come out and face me this time, or are you still a dirty yellow-back and a sneakin’, thievin, lyin’ coward**?” He spit out each word as if it was poison.

The marshal revealed himself, now holding a shotgun securely at waist height. With cat-like grace he positioned himself about 20 feet in front of his quarry.

“It’s over Bill. Drop your guns.”

Enders’ grips tightened. “Oh it’s over alright, Adam, but for you, not me. Your dogged persistence five years ago wreaked havoc on my rise in the business world, destroyed my marriage, and left my finances in ruin. I hope you and Mary had some good times together as she’s about to become a widow.”

“No Bill, you still don’t have it right. Mary simply disappeared right after your trial. No one knows where she went. I never sought your ruin in any way. You did all that by yourself when you robbed the station and murdered Toby. All I wanted was justice for Toby’s death.” Adam raised his shotgun ever so slightly. “Drop your guns and surrender, Enders.”

“You think some tin badge gives you the right to exact your vengeance on me, Cartwright? Think again!”

Two pistols and two shotgun barrels fired at the same second. Both men toppled backwards. Somewhere in the back of Adam’s mind he thought he heard two extra shots but blackness overtook him before he could process it.

*****

Multiple voices bounced around in Adam’s head as he slowly reentered the land of the living. Was it too many conversations giving him a big headache, or was it the bright light overhead?

“Somebody turn off that light!”

“Sorry, big brother, no can do. That’s the sun you’re complainin’ about. But glad to have you back with us, in more ways than one.”

Adam felt large, gentle hands helping him to sit up. Someone else put a canteen to his lips. “Easy there, son. Take it slowly.”

“How’s he doing?”
“Oh, he’ll be okay. Just a graze on his head. Thankfully his duster deflected the other bullet.”

“Good to hear.”

Adam pushed the water away. “Is that you Rodgers?”

“Yep, and your family, Marshal Cartwright.”

Adam lifted his eyes to see the Sheriff grinning at him. “You figured it out.”

“Well, I knew some things about you weren’t adding up but it was Peterson who helped with the rest. After I took care of Yates’ body, I confronted Peterson. That made him real nervous and he started spilling the beans. He actually was set up by Enders to replace the previous warden. When he learned about your connection, he tried to keep you out of it. He finally told me who you really were and that you’d been keeping tabs on Enders since the trial. I found out he sent Daniels and Whit packing, so I got warrants out for their arrest. When Peterson left the prison, I followed and observed him meeting with Enders. I arrested him later with the gold in hand. Once I knew who you were I notified your family to meet me here. But we arrived a bit too late.”

Adam shifted and tried to look past Hoss. “Candy? Where is he?”

“Right here, Adam.”  Hoss moved so Adam could see Candy walking toward him.

“Enders shot you?” He noticed the bandage on his wrist.

“Just winged me. I played dead so you could draw him out. I was able to watch him and when he flinched, I shot him at the same time you two fired at each other. You can rest assured he won’t be causing any more trouble.”

“So you missed in the dark and needed some sunlight to shoot straight, is that it?”

“Actually, I only nicked him. It was your shotgun that cut him clean through.”

Candy’s grin faded when Adam didn’t respond as he expected. The man’s face grew dark and silent.

Ben watched it all and knew it was time for a distraction. Some things would need to be discussed in more private quarters. “Adam, we’re mighty glad to see you. But not quite the homecoming we expected.”

“Well, not the way I planned it either, Pa.” He released a half smile as he looked around counting familiar faces. “Where’s Joe?”

“I’m right here. Just putting up supplies after patching up Candy’s arm.” Joe rested his hand on Adam’s shoulder. “Glad to see you brother. I have to ask, were you the one sneaking around the ranch the other day?”

A dimpled smile showed up. “Yeah, that was me. I was actually checking out Candy as a partner to help me capture Enders. But I have to admit it was hard not revealing myself.”

Hoss chimed in, “Well, you sayin’ that quote to Candy pert near gave you away.”

“Yeah, I realized that too late. But it did seem to fit the situation.” He grinned at Candy.

Candy grimaced then cleared his throat. “Um, don’t you have something to say to your Pa, Adam?” His eyebrows rose into his dark curly hair as he flicked his head toward Ben.

“Oh, yes. Pa, I take responsibility for Candy’s sudden departure from your employment. Would you please reinstate him?”

Ben stared at Adam, then turned his dark eyes on Candy. Candy worked hard not to shrink back. Instead put on his most hopeful face with his big blue eyes.

“Candy, I know what our agreement was when we hired you, but don’t you ever do that to me again! You hear?”

“Um, yes, sir, Mr. Cartwright. I’m sorry for that.”

Ben held the dark gaze a moment longer before breaking into a smile. “You’re forgiven. You have your job back free and clear. And with a bonus for helping my son here and quite possibly saving his life.”

Candy’s jaw dropped as he looked between the smiling Ben and smiling Adam. “Thank you, sir.”

He glanced back at Adam with a twinkle in his eyes. “And if you’re going to be hanging around for a while, will you please not sneak up on me? Ever again?”

Everyone laughed as they all knew how that felt.

Adam chuckled and reached for Candy’s hand. “I promise.”

***The End***

Author’s Notes:  Written for the 2025 Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament. This year we played 7-card stud where we were dealt seven cards and had to keep at least five carfs, each one assigned a word or phrase.  The words/phrases I used were:

Coffee Boiler
He’s all hat and no cattle
His thoughts were like a tangled fishing net
Fart catcher
Between hay and grass.

References were made to Season 9, Episode 12 “Sense of Duty” and Season 3, Episode 18 “The Ride.”