Chapter Nine
Hoss Cartwright stood, churning, waiting for the stagecoach that would bring his father home early from St. Louis. His father’s response to Hoss’ telegram was a short ‘I’m on my way. Don’t let the trail get cold’. After that answer, Adam and Hoss knew one of them had to start tracking, and it was as plain to Hoss as the nose on his face which one should go and which one should wait. Adam was smaller and could move faster and right now speed was necessary. The only traces left of Joe was just about everything he carried with him. Whoever took him, took him and nothing else. It definitely wasn’t a robbery, and they definitely didn’t want anyone to identify him. It had taken weeks for his father to return and in all that time a demand for ransom never materialized.
Now, after receiving Adam’s telegram from Aurora, Hoss felt that maybe it would have been better if there had been a ransom note. If what Adam suspected was true, Joe could be in serious trouble, if not already dead, and there would be no one on the way Adam could trust to help him.
Hoss heard the unmistakable sound of the team of horses pulling the stagecoach. He craned his neck to see it coming around the corner, watching it until it stopped in front of him. Ben Cartwright barely waited for it to stop before he bolted from the coach.
“Any news?”
“Yeah, this telegram came from Adam about a week ago, Pa. It don’t sound good,” he said, handing the telegram to his father.
Ben read the telegram. “It doesn’t look like Adam’s going to get much help either except for this guide, Mike Dutton. He says the Army post down there is probably in on it.”
“Death Valley,” said Hoss, shaking his head. “There’s an Indian war goin’ on down there, and Adam’s walkin’ right in the middle of it.”
“He doesn’t seem to have much choice, Hoss. Let’s go. I want to get started as soon as we can.”
“Adam said we should bring some of the men unless we wanted to end up on one of those wagons.”
Ben and Hoss rode quickly home to the Ponderosa where they handpicked two men to ride with them, packed their gear on fresh horses, barely saying hello and goodbye to Hop Sing. Hop Sing understood. He was just as anxious for them to bring Joe and Adam home as they were. When Hoss told him his father would be on the stagecoach, Hop Sing packed enough food to carry them through the ride to Aurora.
“Thank you, Hop Sing,” said Ben.
Hop Sing could see the worry on Ben’s face. “Hop Sing be okay here. You bring Missa Joe and Missa Adam home.”
Thanks for this story. To write it in so many chapters allowed to keep the orientation while reading it in several steps.
SS, sorry for taking so long to reply to your review. I’m afraid life has gotten so busy, I’m not on the forums much these days. I’m just now getting a chance to skinny down my pending emails. I’m glad you appreciated the separation of the chapters. I tend to write long stories, so putting them in the library chapter by chapter takes time, but I like you appreciate the ability to come and go and not lose my place. You are very welcome!