4

His own breakfast only half finished, Adam paused to look over at his pa. Ben Cartwright was digging through his eggs every bit as aggressively as Hoss ever could, but with none of Hoss’s enthusiasm for the meal. Last night’s dinner had been no different. Pa had been in a foul mood since Mrs. Hansen’s visit. At the moment, those eggs seemed to be taking the brunt of his anger, but as the day progressed Adam had no doubt both he and Hoss would be on the receiving end themselves.

Glancing quickly at his middle brother, Adam saw that Hoss was watching Pa too, and appeared to be as concerned as Adam himself.

“I’m riding back into Virginia City,” Pa announced loud enough to startle Adam right out of his thoughts.

Hop Sing must have been startled too, judging by the way he came scurrying from the kitchen. “What wrong with breakfast?”

“Nothing,” Pa shouted back before lowering his voice to say, “it’s fine. Just fine. Thank you, Hop Sing.”

“Then why you yell?”

“No reason. Everything’s fine. Thank you.”

Hop Sing shook his head and headed back to work, complaining as only he could with words none of the Cartwrights would ever understand.

“What’s so important in Virginia City?” Adam dared to ask a moment later, while Pa was finishing off his coffee.

Pa’s cup slammed back onto the saucer so hard it was a minor miracle both didn’t shatter. “We still need those supplies. I was in such a hurry to get your brother away from that Hansen business, we came straight home.”

“I’ll take care of it.” Adam wiped his mouth and then set his napkin on the table.

“No, Adam. You’ve got plenty to keep you busy here, especially with your brother gone.”

Adam rose, making it a point to show he really did intend to ride to town. “I need to see Charlie Miller about that lumber contract, anyway.” Of course, they’d actually worked out the terms of that contract a week ago, but Adam was counting on his pa being so focused on Joe and the Hansens that small fact wouldn’t occur to him. If Pa figured there was no need for him to go back to Virginia City himself, maybe his temper would ease some.

What Adam had not been counting on was Pa deciding to ride along with him. Clearly, there was more on Pa’s mind than supplies. Adam suspected he was hoping to get word from Joe, a suspicion that was proved true when they guided the buckboard past the telegraph office a few hours later. Pa’s gaze focused on it so thoroughly Adam was sure he’d stop right in front. Instead he waited until they reached the mercantile.

“You start taking care of things here,” he told Adam. “I’ll be right back.”

“Sure, Pa.” Adam smiled as he watched his pa stroll back the way they had come. Joe was sure going to get an earful when he returned.

“Hey, Adam!” Sheriff Coffee’s shout pulled Adam’s attention to the other side of the street.

“Roy,” Adam nodded. He stepped down off the rig and watched the sheriff’s hurried approach. Something in the set of Roy’s shoulders caused Adam to stiffen his own, and the closer Roy came, the more Adam could tell he wasn’t looking for pleasant conversation.

“I was planning to head out to see you,” Roy said as he took the last few steps.

“What about?”

Roy did not answer right away. Instead, he looked over to where Pa had gone a moment before. “Word came in last night from Peter’s Station,” he said finally. And then he met Adam’s gaze. Adam could almost swear he had to force himself to do it. “There was an accident with the stage, just the other side of Dagget Pass.”

The words hit Adam almost like a physical blow. “How bad?” he asked, bracing himself for an answer he was afraid to hear.

“I hear the stage is lost, though they managed to save most of the mail and the money box.”

Adam studied the sheriff. Roy was clearly holding something back. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Adam,” Roy took a deep breath and shook his head before going on. “Message said one of the passengers was banged up pretty bad. We’re still waiting on word to see just what that means.”

“One of the passengers?”

Roy gave a quick nod in response.

“Do we know which one?”

“Adam, I—”

“Is it Joe?”

Roy blew out a lung full of air. “I’m afraid so.”

Taking a deep breath of his own, Adam shifted his gaze back to the telegraph office. “We’d better go see if that word has come through yet.”

They had barely taken a step when Pa rushed out the door. “Adam!” he shouted.

“I heard, Pa!” Adam shouted back as his pa hurried toward him. “Any new messages come through?”

Pa shook his head. “Nothing.”

“I’ll get a fresh horse from the livery and head out there.”

“They could all be on a new stage by the time you arrive, Adam,” Roy argued.

Adam shrugged. “Then I’ll know Joe’s okay. Won’t I?”

“I’ll go with you,” Pa said.

“Pa…,” Adam started. But what should he say? How could he tell his pa the ride might be another waste of time, and just another reason for Pa to get even madder than he already was? If Joe wasn’t seriously hurt, it would be better for both Joe and Pa if Pa stayed back to calm down. On the other hand, if it really was serious, then it might be better for Pa to wait a while and prepare himself to face whatever it was rather than riding blindly out without knowing anything at all.

“Speak up, Adam!” Pa shouted. “What is it?”

“Ben,” Roy said before Adam could choose his words. “Don’t you think maybe you ought to wait for more information? If it was real serious, I’m sure Jebediah would have said something more about it. Don’t you?”

“I’m not sure of anything right now, Roy! I don’t know anything! And I’m not going to wait around to maybe hear something when I could already be there and seeing for myself before any conclusive information is provided!”

“Of course, Ben. I understand.” Roy cocked his head, seeming to consider something else. “I imagine poor Mrs. Hansen might feel the same way, don’t you?”

“What?”

“Her children were on that stage. We know they’re okay, I suppose. But they would have ended up spending last night in that desert. Gets mighty cold up there at night. I imagine they’d be pretty scared, bein’ on their own without their ma.”

“Just what are you getting at, Roy?”

“She doesn’t even know about the accident yet, Ben. I wonder if maybe you’d consider riding out and letting her know.”

Pa’s gaze shifted outward. Still, he waited a moment to answer. “There should be no need to worry her with so few details.”

“There’s no harm to two parents sharing a bit of worry together,” Roy went on. “Is there? I mean, you could keep each other company waiting for more information—which I will gladly provide as soon as it comes in.”

When Pa glanced Adam’s way, Adam found himself offering a small smile, appreciating Roy’s suggestion.

“What are you trying to do now, Roy?” Pa still sounded angry, but his voice was far softer than it had been. “Play matchmaker?”

“Not at all, Ben. I’m just sayin’ it makes a bit of sense, don’t it? That Mrs. Hansen is in a mighty lonely place right now. You or anybody else ridin’ in and sayin’ her children have been in an accident and then ridin’ out again isn’t gonna do her any favors.”

Pa sighed. “You’ll let me know as soon as you hear anything? Anything at all?”

“I will, Ben. That’s a promise.”

“And Adam, you’ll send word just as soon as you can?”

“You know I will.”

Shaking his head, Ben Cartwright gave his oldest son a familiar if worn look, one that spoke so loudly there was no need for words. Be safe, it said. And take care of your brother, as I know you will.

XxXxX

James was missing.

At some point in the middle of the night, with Gainsby on watch, the boy had wandered off. Now, hours after daybreak, they seemed no closer to finding him.

Joe dropped to one knee and rested his forehead against the walking stick Martin had salvaged from the stagecoach—the lever for the foot brake. It helped to keep Joe upright even as the world shifted dizzily around him; but it was useless at fighting off the nausea or the black holes that kept trying to swallow his vision.

“You’re in no shape for this, Cartwright.” Burke’s voice swam up from somewhere nearby.

“We have to find him,” Joe said in a whisper. He was struggling to breathe while his heart beat angrily against bruised ribs.

“And we will,” Burke answered, “long as we keep looking for him rather than looking out for you.”

“So stop wasting time with me then!” Joe shouted. The effort stole more of his breath and his vision. “Just find James!”

He sensed more than saw Burke ease away from him, and then closed his eyes. He didn’t have time to feel this way. He needed to find James. He needed to protect the other children. He needed to do so much, but he couldn’t seem to do anything at all. Not a damned thing.

Joe had known it would be a long night. He’d known Gainsby couldn’t be trusted, and Burke would need help on watch. For that, Joe had tried everything he could to stay awake, hoping to provide the help Burke needed. But his head had felt like it was being worked in some blacksmith’s forge, with that blacksmith hammering away endlessly, pounding so many dark spots across Joe’s vision he could almost believe he’d wake up to find himself turned into one of Hop Sing’s cast iron skillets.

While Joe had focused on ways to chase away his blacksmith, Burke and the children—with little help from Gainsby—had gathered up the mailbags, luggage and valuables to set up a small camp. At some point, Martin had brought over some of the softer bags for Joe, and he’d gratefully used them to prop himself up, hoping the position would help him to stay more alert and aware of what the others in the group were doing. It also eased his breathing, taking some of the pressure off his sore ribs. With any luck, he’d hoped it might even help him to stay awake. There were plenty of things to worry about in that high desert, anything from mountain lions to rattlesnakes to highway bandits. And while Burke was good at his job, one of the best on the line in fact, he was just one man. Every man needed at least a couple hours of shut-eye. Who would give Burke those hours? Gainsby?

That had been what Burke had counted on, anyway. Unlike Joe, who had never believed it possible, Burke had been intent on forcing Gainsby to pull his own weight. As dusk fell, the guard had talked to Gainsby out of ear-shot of the children, figuring he could scare the self-absorbed easterner into taking his turn at watch seriously. Joe had looked on, keenly aware of the kind of stories Burke would be sharing about the fearlessness of hungry wolves or the slow, painful way a man could die from rattlesnake venom.

When Gainsby had returned from that conversation, his face had been about as gray as his suit. Joe had found himself smiling, thinking if only for that one moment maybe Burke’s plan would work. Yet the moment had passed quick enough. Joe had known better then, and he sure as hell knew it now. Nothing would ever make Joe put his own life or the lives of the children in Gainsby’s hands—nothing except a concussion that kept causing Joe to doze off without even realizing he was doing so. And at some point when the night was at its darkest Joe had done just that, dozing off when he’d been needed the most.

“James!” Martin cried out again from somewhere in the distance. “If you don’t come out right now, Momma’s gonna whoop you good!”

Joe pushed all of his weight against that stick, forcing himself back to his feet. Unfortunately, the world pushed back.

XxXxX

Joe was lying back against his stack of mailbags and soft luggage when he heard a horse ride in. He opened his eyes, at first confused and then disturbed to find himself back where he’d started. It also bothered him to find the sun much brighter than it should be. He hurriedly tried to shut it away again; but it just kept burning fire right through his eyelids.

“Hey there, Joe!” Jebediah Ralston called out. “Where is everybody?”

“James,” Joe said in a voice that somehow seemed too distant to be his own. “He wandered off.”

“Oh, hell,” Jeb complained as he moved closer. “That’s kids for you. You gotta watch them ever’ second. Always gettin’ into things.”

“It’s Gainsby’s fault.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me none. No, sir.”

“Did you bring that horse doctor of yours?”

“Well, no.” Jeb hesitated. “Gordo weren’t there. I’d a been back quicker, but I was waiting to see what the company might do about all this. Turns out they’re sending a stage up from Carson City to collect these folks. I asked to see if they could put a doctor on it. Should be here before nightfall.”

It didn’t matter, Joe realized. No doctor was going to be able to get him back on his feet quick enough. “You’ve got to help them find James. Gainsby’s worthless, and Burke…he’s too focused on the other children. That boy could be anywhere by now.”

“How long he been gone?”

Joe shook his head slowly. It was just once to each side, but enough to wake up that blacksmith. “Don’t know. Some time last night.”

Jeb whistled. “Well,” he said then, “he’s just a small one, right? How far could he go? I’ll find him for ya’.”

Joe wished he could feel as confident as Jebediah Ralston.

“Hoss,” he whispered hopelessly after he heard Ralston moving away. Hoss would be able to find James. If Hoss were there, they’d have nothing to worry about.

And Adam.

And Pa.

But none of them were there, were they? Joe had gone off on his own. He had allowed himself to get pulled into another family’s misfortune, and was likely to blame for the accident that had left them all stranded. The misfortune had been Gainsby’s fault. But the accident might well have been Joe’s. And James would never have had the chance to wander off if it hadn’t been for the accident.

“I’m sorry,” he said to whatever spirits might be listening in the warm desert breeze.

XxXxX

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