{"id":10307,"date":"2015-01-16T09:31:44","date_gmt":"2015-01-16T14:31:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10307"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:11:29","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:11:29","slug":"a-tale-of-four-brothers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10307","title":{"rendered":"A Tale of Four Brothers (by MissJudy)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:<\/strong>\u00a0Adam and Hoss seem to have vanished while on their way to Placerville for ranch business, leaving Ben and Joe to search for what might have happened. What they can\u2019t imagine is that the lost Cartwrights were left for dead by two brothers who had once worked on the Ponderosa. Hoss and Adam\u2019s lives depend on being rescued quickly, but their situation stacks the odd against that happening, forcing Adam to make a decision that may leave the family short one son.<\/p>\n

Rating: K+ \u00a0Word Count<\/strong>: 23,425<\/p>\n

Author’s Note:<\/strong> This is one of two stories I’ve placed in the 6th year of Bonanza Canon as Adam finds that he’s becoming restless with his life in Nevada.\u00a0He is still actively participating in his family, but his heart has already taken the first steps away from home. Now he must figure out how to tell his family. I’ll post the second story in a week or so.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Tale of Four Brothers
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

One<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know about this, Jase,\u201d the bearded young man whined to his companion. \u201cIf them Cartwrights find us minin\u2019 on their land, they\u2019ll take us to the sheriff fer sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jase Swanson raised the lamp to take a better look at the blue-green swirl within the darker rock of the cave, and laughed. \u201cWell then they just can\u2019t find out, Myron.\u201d He wiped his hand down the face of the hard surface and smacked his lips. \u201cThis here vein is silver fer sure\u2026I think, and we\u2019ll be rich if we can get it outta here quick-like. We\u2019ve already spent a couple weeks shorin\u2019 up the wing of this cave, and I ain\u2019t seen hide-nor-hair of Ben or his boys. All we got to do now is blow out this section, bring in the wagon and grab the ore. So stop standin\u2019 around cryin\u2019 like a baby about bein\u2019 caught, and let\u2019s get them dynamite sticks planted up top.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two men squinted in the bright sunlight as they exited the cave. Myron pulled his hat brim lower to shade his eyes as he continued to voice his concern. \u201cWe been doing this too long already. Someone\u2019s bound to ride through soon; we ain\u2019t far from the road they take over to Placerville. And when we blow the dynamite, the noise will travel some distance. It don\u2019t feel right to me, and I don\u2019t want to spend time in jail for a few bucks of silver dust. You and I been there before and I don\u2019t intend on goin\u2019 back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s yer problem, kid; you think small. That vein probably runs far back and we won\u2019t know that until we get to it. There\u2019s no reason we can\u2019t do that by tomorrow. Then we\u2019ll cover everything up with them bushes jest like we been doin\u2019 so even if them Cartwrights do come by, they won\u2019t know we been here. If things assay good, we\u2019ll come back and blast some more. Besides, you know I done checked yesterday, and the nearest Cartwright beef is grazing some miles from here. If they do hear the explosion, they\u2019ll likely think it\u2019s thunder.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myron Swanson shook his head miserably while he made his way to the rocky ledge above the cave and kicked the top off the crate of TNT sticks. The Swanson boys had ridden together since their parents had died in a fire five years ago. Myron had only been 13 then; his brother18. The two had made their way from Abilene to Nevada together, working as drovers and farm hands along the way. But their original dream of having their own ranch someday had changed when they\u2019d decided to head to California and mine for gold. The silver bonanza was going strong in Virginia City about the time they arrived, and Jase had decided they\u2019d try for a different colored metal to make their fortune. They\u2019d taken work at the Ponderosa as a way to save up for a mining claim.<\/p>\n

What the Swanson boys knew about extracting ore would fit on the tip of a pickaxe, but they\u2019d asked questions and listened as the other trail hands on the Cartwright ranch had talked about their mining experiences. Many of these men had tried working in the mines, but they\u2019d eagerly given up the dark and dangerous caves and pits to work in the open air again. They\u2019d shared stories of what the silver looked like, and how to get it out of the uncooperative rock that surrounded Virginia City. The fact that all \u201cformer\u201d miners agreed that the compensation it brought wasn\u2019t worth the risk, hadn\u2019t dampened Jase and Myron\u2019s spirits, but it had solidified Jase\u2019s plan that they wouldn\u2019t mine for someone else. They were going to find it on their own and make money for themselves.<\/p>\n

Things had taken a turn in their favor when they\u2019d been chasing strays over a ridge along a far-south pasture on the Ponderosa. Jase had seen what he thought was a sagebrush-covered cave opening on the hillside, and had gone in to explore. Myron had suspected that they weren\u2019t the first to check it out, and figured there was a reason it hadn\u2019t been mined already, but his older brother had said that with as much land as the Cartwright\u2019s owned they couldn\u2019t look into every hollow.<\/p>\n

The brothers had stood there in awe that day as streams of sunshine snaked their way through natural vents in the cave\u2019s ceiling illuminated the greenish-blue coloration on the upper portion of one of cave\u2019s short branches. \u201cIt\u2019s just like them men described!\u201d Jase had hollered to Myron. \u201cBlue and green swirled in dirt! It has to be silver!\u201d<\/p>\n

After their find, they\u2019d worked another couple of months, saving their wages until they could afford a few tools and supplies, and then had given their regrets to the Ponderosa foreman, saying they were moving on. They had<\/em> moved on, but not far. They\u2019d made camp in a small canyon behind the mine, far enough off the road they wouldn\u2019t be seen. There hadn\u2019t been money for good shoring wood, so they\u2019d made do with the deadwood and scrub trees they could find. Jase had speculated that they only had to reinforce the area where they\u2019d found the ore anyway. With that in place, they\u2019d dug holes in the ground on the outside\u2014above the cave\u2014estimating where the silver-laden ceiling was inside.<\/p>\n

Myron was forced to end his pondering when Jase walked up to him, giving him a punch in the shoulder and snarling at him to, \u201cHurry up.\u201d He sighed miserably as he grabbed a handful of dynamite sticks and began wedging them into the shallow indentations they\u2019d chipped in the rock. His mind was still working hard to grasp what they were doing. They were trespassing; mining someone else\u2019s ore, and the part that scared him most, was that neither he nor his brother had any experience with this sort of thing. He had to trust that Jase was making the right decisions about where to place the explosives, but in Myron\u2019s mind, blowing the ceiling from outside seemed a better way to collapse the entire cave rather than the best way to free the silver ore. Unable to keep his anxiety at bay, he stopped and asked, \u201cYer sure you doing this right? I thought them men said they put the sticks inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jase let out an angry howl that was swallowed up by wind, and then grabbed his brother by the shoulders and shook him. \u201cStop worryin\u2019. I puzzled this all out, and if we was blowin\u2019 a wall, it would be done inside, but doin\u2019 it this way will save time, and we\u2019ll get outta here quicker.\u201d He shook Myron again. \u201cAin\u2019t that what you been sayin\u2019 you want?\u201d<\/p>\n

Myron nodded. \u201cI\u2019m sorry. You know I got a nervous problem. And it don\u2019t hurt to ask, just to make sure we\u2019s doin\u2019 things right.\u201d<\/p>\n

He let go of his brother and gave him a playful punch to the stomach. \u201cI guess it don\u2019t at that. It\u2019s gettin\u2019 toward sundown already,\u201d he said as he took the dynamite sticks from Myron. \u201cNothin\u2019s gonna go wrong. I\u2019ll finish setting this up; you go get us a rabbit or somethin\u2019 for supper. I\u2019m tired a beans.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hoss and Adam had their saddle bags slung over their shoulders, rifles in hand, and their bedrolls stuck under their arms as they stood in front of their father\u2019s desk getting last minute orders before heading out to Placerville.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you take a bank draft, Adam?\u201d Ben asked, and then chuckled when his son patted his saddle bag. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d the older man offered sincerely. \u201cI know you\u2019re capable of doing this transaction without me interfering, but I\u2019m anxious to get some of the Double D bloodline into our herd. \u00a0Daniel Dowd is a hard man to deal with. I\u2019ve been trying to buy one of his bulls for years, and I don\u2019t want this to go wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know, Pa.\u201d Hoss winked at his older brother after giving his reassurance. \u201cNow sendin\u2019 me an Joe might end up not workin\u2019 out so well, but you done got the pairing right in sending Adam and me. Adam ain\u2019t one to have any<\/em> fun while we\u2019re away\u2014or at least not the kind I\u2019d like, but on the other hand, he don\u2019t usually get me into any trouble neither, and I appreciate that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben looked from son to son and laughed. \u201cI suppose that\u2019s true enough, except I do remember a race horse and a few other escapades you two took on together that didn\u2019t turn out so well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBelieve me, Pa, we\u2019ve learned from our mistakes, and this is all business.\u201d Adam grinned and added, \u201cNow can we get going before it\u2019s lunch time and Hoss needs to eat again?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ignoring the snide comment, Ben asked? \u201cYou know how much to offer him. I won\u2019t sell the ranch to have his bull, but I\u2019ll pay well for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Pa,\u201d Adam answered with a grin. \u201cI\u2019ll pick out the best of the bunch; pay what he\u2019s worth, and we\u2019ll get him home safely.\u201d He looked at Hoss. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you go saddle up, I have something personal I\u2019d like to talk to Pa about before we go.\u201d The younger brother gave him a sidelong glance, and then bid goodbye to his father with a handshake before heading out to their waiting horses.<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s eyebrows rose as he asked, \u201cWhat\u2019s on your mind?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam walked to the window and made sure Hoss was actually moving to their horses rather than eavesdropping. \u201cI know you\u2019d like us back on Friday. That gives us two days to get there and buy the bull, and then three days to get back with it. But I\u2019d like to spend one extra day in Placerville.\u201d<\/p>\n

The father\u2019s eyebrows rose further as he grinned. \u201cYou got something in mind?\u201d<\/p>\n

He cleared his throat. \u201cNot me, Pa; Hoss. Remember last spring when the Dowd\u2019s came here to see our stock? Well, Hoss and Darlene Dowd spent a lot of time together. She\u2019s a nice girl\u2014pretty too, and I think Hoss is sweet on her. I thought if we stayed an extra day, he\u2019d have a chance to get to know her a little better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s mighty thoughtful of you,\u201d his father remarked with a knowing smile. \u201cYour love for your brother is an amazing thing, although I suspect this is more to do with you and a wealthy, beautiful widow you know in Placerville, rather than your concern for Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s blush testified to the truth in his father\u2019s suspicions. He pulled his shoulders back and breathed deeply. \u201cIt\u2019s a sad day on the Ponderosa when I can\u2019t do a selfless act for my brother without my father accusing me of having something up my sleeve.\u201d Father and son glared at each other before breaking into laughter.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, I won\u2019t ask any more questions. You\u2019re entitled to have a few secrets, and I do think Hoss will appreciate an evening with Miss Dowd. But we\u2019re already four men short with those Swanson brothers leaving, and the two gone who were injured when their horses slipped on that muddy hill, so get back as soon as you can.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry; we\u2019ll be back first thing Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben walked his eldest to the door, giving the young man\u2019s shoulder a squeeze as he said goodbye. He watched until all that was left was the swirling dust his sons left behind, and then muttered, \u201cDon\u2019t worry, he says.\u201d He walked back to his desk and dropped down in the green leather chair before finishing his thought. \u201cI will worry about them \u2018til the day I die.\u201d<\/p>\n

Three<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hoss and Adam were a half-day into their trip when they found Little Joe with the rest of the ranch hands out in the south pastures. \u201cHey little brother,\u201d Hoss called out as he rode up to the camp and dismounted. \u201cWe thought we\u2019d join you for some beans and biscuits before hittin\u2019 the trail again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs Adam of the same mind as you, Hoss?\u201d Joe asked as he observed the less-than enthusiastic look on his oldest brother\u2019s face. \u201cI recollect that Adam isn\u2019t all that fond of beans.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not, but the biscuits are usually good, and hopefully the company will make up for the ever-present legumes.\u201d Adam extended his hand in greeting, and noting his the squinting looks coming his way, he clarified, \u201cBeans, guys. Legumes are beans.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy didn\u2019t ya say that?\u201d Hoss asked, shaking his head.<\/p>\n

Adam ignored the snide remark and asked, \u201cHow\u2019s it going out here? Any problems since you got the herd settled?\u201d<\/p>\n

The three brothers filled plates with food and sat on rocks off to the side of the cook wagon. Little Joe spooned a heap of beans into his mouth and swallowed. \u201cI\u2019m heading home tomorrow with some of the men. A small crew can handle the beef out here while we get other work done at the ranch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded approvingly. \u201cThere\u2019s plenty to do. That breeding pen needs reinforcement before we get back with Dowd\u2019s bull. And there\u2019s hay to cut and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe cut him off. \u201cI already made the list with Pa. You get that bull here in one piece and I\u2019ll take care of the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that any way to speak to your elder?\u201d Adam asked even while sending his youngest brother a look of admiration. He laughed, and added, \u201cI have to admit that I do like it when you take charge. It makes me think I trained you well, and you\u2019ll do a good job when\u2026\u201d He stopped short of finishing his thought. He\u2019d almost said, \u201cWhen I leave,\u201d but he wasn\u2019t ready to make that declaration just yet.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s mind drifted away as he considered what such a declaration would mean to him and his family. But he was restless, and it seemed to stem from needing something more out of life than the ranch offered. Lately he paced his room at night trying to decide where his heart was leading him, collapsing in sleep only when he was too exhausted to continue. He\u2019d fully recovered since the fall that had paralyzed him for a few months, and his body was in better shape than ever because of all the strengthening exercises he\u2019d had to do to get back on his feet.<\/p>\n

It was his spirit that wasn\u2019t well.<\/p>\n

None of what he was experiencing stemmed from the accident. And it certainly wasn\u2019t because things hadn\u2019t worked with Laura; that outcome hadn\u2019t given him a moment of grief or regret. What bothered him was that he didn\u2019t understand why he\u2019d let himself get into the situation in the first place. He\u2019d pushed aside the persistent whisper in his head, telling him that he was making a bad decision even as he\u2019d let people and events push him toward a something he hadn\u2019t really wanted\u2014at least not with Laura. He hadn\u2019t even loved Laura when he\u2019d proposed, yet he\u2019d grown fond of her and he\u2019d begun to see her and Peggy as his way of settling into life as a rancher and family man. He\u2019d actually decided to build the house with the hope that it would get him more excited about staying put and marrying.<\/p>\n

The whispering that this wouldn\u2019t work had gotten louder as the house had neared completion. And as he\u2019d bought a ring and agreed to set a date for the wedding, the whisper had become a shout\u2014a constant scream saying that doing what everyone expected him to do was not the life he<\/em> wanted.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d finally been forced to listen to his internal voice while he was paralyzed. It wasn\u2019t that he didn\u2019t want a wife and family, but he wanted to marry someone who couldn\u2019t live without him\u2014someone he<\/em> couldn\u2019t live without either. She didn\u2019t have to love everything he enjoyed doing, but he needed her to understand why he did, and to have her own passions that he would come to appreciate. His wife would challenge him to be the best man he could be while he did the same for her; someone who would love him with her body and soul. The fact he\u2019d always known, and he finally faced, was that Laura would never be that person.<\/p>\n

Settling into a role because it was convenient wasn\u2019t enough. Being on the Ponderosa with his family had been a wonderful life, but it didn\u2019t challenge him anymore. He found himself longing for ways to shake out of the routines that had become comfortable. The truth had left no room for compromise and he\u2019d planned a way to take care of Laura until she found someone who would be a more suitable husband. It had proven a fortuitous turn of events that Laura had turned to Will, while he had come to his own conclusions\u2014ones that hadn\u2019t included her.<\/p>\n

It was always easier seeing life in hindsight, and he realized that both he and Laura had received an intervention in their lives that had saved them from a huge mistake. His had started with the unexpected meeting of a woman he\u2019d come to love while he\u2019d been away at school. Melinda Hayworth\u2019s aunt had lived next door to Abel Stoddard and he\u2019d seen the young woman when she visited there. They\u2019d soon fallen in love, but they\u2019d lost touch when Melinda had gone on to college to become a teacher and he\u2019d returned home. He hadn\u2019t heard from her in twelve years, but one day he\u2019d met her again outside a jewelry store in Sacramento\u2014the one where he\u2019d been choosing a ring for Laura\u2014while on the trip that had kept him from getting home for his engagement party. He and Melinda had spent enough time together then to discover that their estrangement had been caused by mail problems, not a lack of devotion, and their feelings for each other had reawakened like a dessert flower after the winter rains.<\/p>\n

Yet they\u2019d known it couldn\u2019t become anything more than a reunion, and he\u2019d returned home intent on fulfilling his promise to Laura. He\u2019d pushed his feeling for Melinda deep into the shadows of his mind as he\u2019d dealt with his accident and recovery, but now that he was doing well, he could hear her quiet voice whispering that his life was waiting for him in Boston.<\/p>\n

It was obvious to him that his heart had already booked passage back east, even though he was still playing his part on the ranch, pretending to be engaged in family discussions and planning. The biggest drawback to letting his body follow his heart was telling his father about it. He could envision the sadness his departure would cause, and that alone was enough for him to put things off\u2026for a little longer.<\/p>\n

Adam looked up from his thoughts to find Little Joe and Hoss staring at him. \u201cWhat wrong?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s jest what we was wondering, Adam,\u201d Hoss said, laughing. \u201cYou stopped talkin\u2019 and sort of drifted off fer some time.\u201d<\/p>\n

He busied himself dumping the remainder of his beans in the brush to keep the younger Cartwrights from seeing his embarrassment. When he came back he was all business again. \u201cSounds like you have everything in control, Joe, so the big guy and I better get moving if we want to make Placerville by tomorrow morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pair was mounted to go when Joe gave them a warning. \u201cZach said he saw a lone rider watching him the other day, but the guy took off when he rode over there. Might just have been someone passing through, but it might be a scout for rustlers waiting for an opportunity to run off some of the herd once our men are spread a thinner.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll keep our eyes open goin\u2019 both directions,\u201d Hoss answered. \u201cPa\u2019d skin us if we lost his expensive bull to a rustler who\u2019d sell it fer steaks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Four<\/strong><\/p>\n

C\u2019mon, Jase, let\u2019s get finished and go back to blow the dang thing. I\u2019m getting\u2019 nervouser by the minute.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Swanson boys had been busy all morning figuring out the fusing for their big blow. They hadn\u2019t purchased a detonator box, so Jase had added lengths of fuse to each stick of dynamite and then pulled them together to attach one long strand that ended behind a berm about 75 feet back from the cave. They\u2019d finished around noon, and then returned to their camp for some grub and final planning.<\/p>\n

\u201cRelax, kid,\u201d Jase issued with a silencing glare. \u201cYou been nothing but nerves since we got here, and I\u2019m plumb tired of it. We only got a few more things to pack and then we\u2019ll head back and set this off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myron hung his head while mumbling as he carried the last of their camp supplies to the wagon. \u201cThis ain\u2019t gonna work. I just know it ain\u2019t. We don\u2019t know what we\u2019s doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou say somethin\u2019?\u201d his brother snarled from a distance.<\/p>\n

\u201cNah, Jase, just hummin\u2019.\u201d Myron\u2019s hands and knees were shaking as he went back to kick sand on the fire pit. He was more than nervous; he was scared witless. His brother\u2019s lack of experience with mining had become obvious as he\u2019d struggled with setting up the configuration for blast. Myron had once watched Adam Cartwright set dynamite to blow a rock slide apart. Everything he\u2019d done had been just so, and he\u2019d even explained why he was setting things the way he was. It had worked perfectly. But thinking about the mess Jase had put together, Myron figured it was likely they\u2019d bring the entire hill down instead of breaking up the silver ore inside.<\/p>\n

But Myron knew that was how his brother operated. He always \u201cgot\u201d big ideas, but he never took the time to study out how to do anything the right way. They\u2019d already gotten into serious trouble once when Jase thought the two of them could cheat at cards. Jase had \u201cheard\u201d about a scheme, and he\u2019d planned out that he would play poker while Myron would walk around the table pretending to go to and from the bar and move around the room while he observed the other players\u2019 cards.\u00a0 Then Myron was supposed to give his brother signals. But they\u2019d never practiced, and he\u2019d been so clumsy in his observations, and so obvious at giving signs that the others had caught on immediately. Being hauled off to jail was the only thing that had saved them from being shot.<\/p>\n

They\u2019d been found out so early on that they hadn\u2019t won any money with their scheme and the sheriff had finally let them go after they\u2019d paid a fine for disorderly conduct. But Myron had felt like a caged critter in jail and it rode his nerves like lightning down a telegraph wire. He\u2019d spent the couple of hours pacing the cell and counting his steps; talking to himself to stay calm, and then banging his head against the wall when his nerves got to be too much to handle. He\u2019d made a vow that he\u2019d never get into that situation again. Yet here he was, trying to mine someone else\u2019s silver with his brother who didn\u2019t know how to do this any better than he knew how to run a poker scam. He wiped his sweaty palms against his legs and willed himself to relax. It would all be over soon and one way or another they\u2019d be on their way to Placerville.<\/p>\n

Myron spit and sighed as he thought about going off on his own. But Jase had stuck with him when their folks had died, and he felt obliged to stick with him now. The one thing he\u2019d done lately that he\u2019d liked and felt good about had been working on the Ponderosa. Being a drover suited him. The pay was good; he liked being out in the open, and the Cartwrights treated him well. The eats were good too for trail fare, and the bunk house was clean and comfortable.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d liked the Cartwrights. They weren\u2019t snooty and above their help like some ranchers they\u2019d worked for. The three brothers rode herd, and worked as hard as he and Jase did. Myron especially liked Hoss. He was wiry for a big guy; worked like a bull, and had an easy way of talking to people that set you at ease. The one called Little Joe was all right too, and he usually joined in the pranks the hands played on one another.<\/p>\n

The oldest son and the father made him nervous, although Myron thought they were nice enough. It was just that they were all business. Still, when Adam was riding herd, he\u2019d play his guitar and sing around the campfire at night, and it was so soothing that Myron could relax and let his cares go. Sometimes when he rode near Adam, Myron could hear him singing to himself. He had no idea what the songs were, but they were so sweet that he\u2019d ride a little closer just to hear better.<\/p>\n

If Myron had his druthers, he\u2019d ride back to the Ponderosa and beg for his job. He\u2019d told this to Jase several times until his brother had forbidden any more such talk. He\u2019d said, \u201cI\u2019m not gonna work for no man if I can find a way to make money fast and then do as I please.\u201d Those words sat in Myron\u2019s stomach like a rock, and he\u2019d had a feeling ever since that they foretold a life of hard prison time for both of them.<\/p>\n

A hard gust of wind blew ash from the fire into Myron\u2019s face making him rub his eyes and cough as he looked toward the west. The dark, angry looking clouds he saw moving toward him set his stomach to churning. Neither he nor Jase had kept an eye on the weather, and now it looked like they were in for a storm. He hollered to get his brother\u2019s attention as he pointed at the swirling mass of greenish-gray in the distance. \u201cLooks like we gotta wait a bit to explode that ceilin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jase kicked at the dirt and spat before meeting his brother\u2019s hopeful gaze. \u201cWhy would I wait? You\u2019s been worried that someone\u2019ll hear the blast, so I\u2019ll wait until the storm starts to makin\u2019 some noise and then burn the fuse.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myron\u2019s face dropped into a frown. \u201cI was thinkin\u2019 we\u2019d hole up in that cave during the storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jase strode over and grabbed his brother\u2019s suspenders, pulling him close as he snarled, \u201cYa can\u2019t have it both ways, kid. You worry about the noise; you worry about gettin\u2019 wet. I can\u2019t worry \u2018bout you no more. We\u2019re doin\u2019 this my way.\u201d He let Myron go and dusted him off. When he spoke again, his anger had subsided and his tone was easy. \u201cHelp me stretch that big canvas we got over the wagon and we\u2019ll sit under there while it rains. I doubt it\u2019ll last long, and then we\u2019ll load up the ore and head to Placerville.\u201d<\/p>\n

Five<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hoss and Adam made good time after leaving Little Joe. Their horses were fresh after the rest, and they\u2019d filled up on grass and water. \u00a0Hoss urged Chubby on until he was next to Adam so he could talk. \u201cIf we keep this pace, we\u2019ll get pretty close to Placerville by tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

There hadn\u2019t been much conversation on this leg of the trip since they preferred riding singe file at the speed they were moving. If they had something to say, they\u2019d adjust their pace. Adam was nodding his agreement at Hoss\u2019s assessment when a sharp wind nearly took his hat flying. He pushed his Stetson back in place as he pulled up on Sport\u2019s reins. A quick glance over his right shoulder enabled him to see the bank of storm clouds looming in northwestern sky.\u00a0 He took a moment to watch the direction it was taking and once he was certain, he nudged his brother and pointed. \u201cThat mess is headed right at us.\u201d<\/p>\n

The sky was darkening as the forward edge of the storm began to hide the sun, and the wind was blowing more steadily as Hoss twisted around in his saddle to join Adam in sky-gazing. \u201cDon\u2019t look too good,\u201d he said as he pushed his hat tighter onto his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cNope.\u201d Adam\u2019s additional comment, \u201cMaybe it\u2019s not that bad,\u201d was nearly drowned out by the howl of the wind and accented by the first brilliant flash of light across the length of the cloudbank. He looked at Hoss with a half grin, and when the wind died down enough to say more, he added, \u201cOn the other hand, I have no desire to serve as a lightning rod, so we better find someplace to shelter while it passes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss broke into a broad smile as he said, \u201cHey, that one cave we used to stay in when Pa hunted over this way is just up ahead. If we move fast we should make it before we get wet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Being hit by lightning was a real threat since a man on a horse was the tallest thing in this area of scrub brush and rocks, but Adam urged Sport on with an even stronger desire: that of not getting drenched. He and Hoss had oilskin slickers that would cover them and their gear, but those never kept driving rain from getting in and soaking everything under it. There was nothing more irritating than riding with wet pants on wet leather, or the plague of wet boots that kept socks soggy and feet clammy. Even worse was that once things were saturated they took forever to dry out again, ensuring days of discomfort. Adam figured he\u2019d write a book one day about the hazards of ranching, and he suspected he could devote an entire chapter to the miseries of being damp.<\/p>\n

His attention was drawn back to the present as they neared their destination. Both men dismounted before coming to a complete stop near the brush-covered cave. \u201cYou go clear the entrance,\u201d Adam hollered over the wind. \u201cI\u2019ll tie the horses and get our gear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam jumped when Hoss came up behind him within minutes of leaving, and grabbed the loosened saddle from Chub\u2019s broad back. He grabbed the sleeve of his brother\u2019s shirt, and shouted, \u201cYou done already?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss leaned in closer to be heard. \u201cNone a that bramble-looking stuff was attached to the ground. It was all shoved together into the opening, and once I pulled a couple sage brush free, the rest blew away. It almost looked like someone might\u2019a been there and camouflaged the entrance.\u201d In answer to Adam\u2019s turned up lip and furrowed brow, he added, \u201cIt looks deserted now, but there\u2019s footprints nearby.\u201d<\/p>\n

The brothers\u2019 conversation ended abruptly when a flash of lightening and sharp clash of thunder broke overhead, and large, wind-driven raindrops began pelting them. They hoisted their saddles over their shoulders, and reached down to grab their canteens, bed rolls and saddle bags before taking off at a run.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we\u2019re set, Myron. You wait by the wagon and I\u2019ll go light the fuse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou sure \u2018bout this?\u201d Myron shouted as his brother began to walk away. \u201cThat storm\u2019s pretty close and it looks bad. Maybe we should hole up \u2018til it passes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jase gave his brother a withering look, before walking away without answering. He never could understand his kid brother. He\u2019d always been jittery and there was good reason for that, but it had gotten worse lately.<\/p>\n

He suspected his brother\u2019s uneasiness came from always being afraid as a kid. Their pa had been a mean drunk, and their ma had been a moral and upright woman, who\u2019d enforced her own brand of righteousness with quotes from the Bible about not sparing the rod. But Jase had figured out that his mother\u2019s outrage had always been set off by their father\u2019s bad acts rather than theirs. Pa would knock her around when he was fouled with liquor, and then she\u2019d take it out on them.<\/p>\n

Being older, Jase had learned his parent\u2019s patterns, and knew to stay away when his pa was drinking, which had become a constant situation toward the end of his life. Pa\u2019s \u201ccondition\u201d was sure to bring on one of Ma\u2019s dark moods, stealing her resolve to cleanse her children of their sins.<\/p>\n

Their ma didn\u2019t spank; she swung. Sometimes it was an open-handed smack to the face or body that sent you reeling; other times, a back-handed wallop to the side of the head produced similar results. Jase remembered hiding outside the house and peeking in the windows to see his younger brother fly across the room with one of Laverne Swanson\u2019s mighty smacks. The kid would lay the floor, sometimes dazed, but most times just rubbing the wounded areas while he cowered in silence.<\/p>\n

As they\u2019d gotten older, Jase had asked Myron why he didn\u2019t hide too when their folks were beginning to boil. Myron\u2019s eyes had taken on a haunted, fearful look as he\u2019d answered, \u201cMa\u2019s gotta have some way to get past what happens to her, and I figure she\u2019s better off getting\u2019 it outta her system. If she\u2019d don\u2019t do it right then, I don\u2019t think she\u2019d be able to stop once she\u2019d start in on me later.\u201d It was that answer that had settled Jase on making life better for both of them. He suspected that Myron was right; one of these times his ma was going to hurt his brother so bad that he wouldn\u2019t get up again. So Jase had made sure Myron would live long enough to become a man.<\/p>\n

The sheriff in the town where they\u2019d lived had concluded that the deaths of Jase and Myron\u2019s parents were due to a fire that had started from an overturned oil lamp. The Swanson couple\u2019s penchant for fighting was well known by the townspeople, and it hadn\u2019t surprise anyone that they\u2019d come to an untimely and violent end. There\u2019d even been whispers among the fine people of the town that Ernest Swanson had beaten his wife to unconsciousness and then passed out drunk while the fire had spread.<\/p>\n

The other consensus in the town was how fortunate it had been that the Swanson boys had been out hunting at the time. The one thing no one had ever considered was that while the two boys had<\/em> gone hunting that morning, Jase had set Myron up in a blind to watch for deer, and then he\u2019d run back to the house, where he\u2019d found his father sleeping off a morning\u2019s worth of corn liquor, while his mother slept in the rocking chair after her taxing morning of punishing Myron for his father\u2019s sins.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d braced the two small window shutters closed from the outside, and then snuck inside where he poured a line of flammable liquid around the perimeter of the room, ending the trail near the door. He\u2019d given a final salute to his snoring parents before he\u2019d knocked over the oil lamp nearest the only exit, and had then blocked that from the outside as well. After he\u2019d made it to the woods, he\u2019d turned to watch until he\u2019d seen tongues of fire licking the sky above the cabin before he\u2019d made his way back to his brother. Myron had smelled the smoke, and had feared the worst as they\u2019d headed back to the house. They found the place completely engulfed, and Jase had thought to himself that this must be what hell would look like. He\u2019d held his brother back from trying to help, and embraced him as the youngster had cried over the loss. Yet he\u2019d<\/em> smiled as he\u2019d watched the timbers collapse, figuring it suited his mother to enter her afterlife in the manner she claimed was to be their<\/em> fate in eternity.<\/p>\n

A kind soul from the town had purchased the Swanson land, and that sum had been enough for the brothers to move on. Jase had done as he\u2019d intended; he\u2019d kept a good eye on his brother. But the kid was an adult now, and his constant worrying was getting on Jase\u2019s nerves. Myron had always been easy to convince or trick into doing what his older brother wanted. But something had changed when they\u2019d started working on the Ponderosa. Old-man Cartwright had scared Myron, and yet he\u2019d been more like a father to Myron than their own pa had ever been. The Cartwrights knew all their hands by name, and they took time to find out a little about each of them. His brother had been good at his job, and he\u2019d received a lot of praise from all four Cartwrights.<\/p>\n

Myron had admired the family they\u2019d worked for, and it had taken a lot of fast talk for Jase to get him to quit after they\u2019d found the silver. In fact Jase had played his \u201cHaven\u2019t I always done what\u2019s best for you,\u201d card to finally seal their departure. Since then, Myron\u2019s edginess had deepened, and Jase thought he looked purely miserable at times. His brother\u2019s second-guessing of every decision was making Jase edgy too, but he figured things would turn around once they had a little money. Then he\u2019d be fully in charge again, and the Cartwrights would be a memory.<\/p>\n

He shook his head to clear the thoughts that had walked with him to the fuse, and pulling a match from his pocket, he scraped it along a rock to make it spark and lit the fuse just as the first drops of rain began to fall. He waited until he saw the flame head over the edge of the berm on its way to the web of dynamite before running for the shelter of the wagon. He\u2019d once heard the oldest Cartwright son explain how these quick moving storms formed when currents of warm air swirled up from the hills meeting cooler air above. Jase didn\u2019t rightly care what was causing it; this one couldn\u2019t move fast enough by his thinking.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Hoss returned to the cave entrance to join Adam after dropping his gear further inside the shelter. \u201cIt sure does look awful out there. You thinkin\u2019 it could last a while?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam shook his head as he stepped back to avoid the swirling rain that was licking at his boots and pant legs. \u201cI think it\u2019s just a squall\u2026but you never know for sure until it gets overhead.\u201d He sighed. \u201cI guess we may as well get comfortable while we wait.\u201d He kicked something as he turned, and squatted down to see what it was. \u201cI think you\u2019re right about someone having been here. They left a lantern behind. You gotta match?\u201d<\/p>\n

By the time Adam returned from putting his gear near Hoss\u2019s, his brother had the lamp lit and was using it to examine a latticework of wood pieces lashed and nailed together in a small offshoot of the main cave. \u201cLooks like someone was trying to shore up this section, don\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam took the lantern, raising it to get a better look around, and gave a derisive snort. \u201cWhoever built it didn\u2019t know what they were doing. I see so many structural defects that any sort of blasting would bring everything down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy you s\u2019pose they built it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have my suspicions.\u201d Adam held the lamp up to the cave wall and ceiling. \u201cI remember coming in here once with Pa after the silver rush started around here, and noticing this coloration.\u201d He ran his hand along the grayish streak. \u201cWe both thought it was silver.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you saying it\u2019s not silver?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is, but it\u2019s mixed with so much iron that it\u2019s not worthwhile. There aren\u2019t any big smelting furnaces out west, and the vein is so shallow that it wouldn\u2019t be worth the cost to send it east.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems foolish to go through all this if they weren\u2019t gonna make any money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t suppose they knew what they were dealing with. But since they aren\u2019t here now, they may have taken a sample and found out what we did. I\u2019m just glad something made them leave before trying to blow out the ore. They were obviously amateurs, and probably would have died for their stupidity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey also must not a known this was on our land,\u201d Hoss laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore likely they didn\u2019t care.\u201d Adam rested his hand on Hoss\u2019s shoulder in the dimly lit cave. \u201cThis area is remote enough that we only pass by on our way to Placerville. And even then we\u2019re unlikely check on this cave. They figured to take what they could, sell it to a mining company, and make off with the cash.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s mouth turned down in a puzzled frown, \u201cDon\u2019t them companies need to check claim papers before buying ore?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam had just finished saying, \u201cSilver is in such demand that a company might absorb a small amount of rogue material into their totals without checking too hard,\u201d when the walls of the cave began to reverberate and shake.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that thunder or an earthquake?\u201d Hoss hollered over the din.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeither!\u201d Adam yelled as he looked up and saw cracks starting to form along fault lines in the rock above them. \u201cI don\u2019t think they left after all; the fools are trying to get at the silver by dynamiting from above.\u201d He stopped to listen, and then shoved Hoss toward the back of the cave as the second, third and fourth blasts created a storm of splintering wood and falling rock as the front sections of the cave collapsed.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Hoss took a long deep breath as he awoke in the dark, and tried to remember where he was. He had no idea how long he\u2019d been unconscious, but as the memory of what happened filtered into his mind, he started to tremble from the toes in his boots to the top of his head. The only thing that kept his panic from growing deeper was remembering that Adam was there too. After doing a quick check on his moving parts, he realized he wasn\u2019t injured beyond some bumps and bruises, and called out, \u201cAdam, where are you?\u201d The question lingered in the dense air without an answer. \u201cAdam!\u201d he tried again, louder this time.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Hoss, I\u2019m here. Are you all right?\u201d Adam\u2019s voice was groggy and laced with pain. He too had been out cold, but his post-blast assessment had found something awry. Everything worked except for his left arm. There was throbbing pain radiating from his upper left back down into his arm. While feeling gingerly around the ache, he bumped what felt like a jagged shard of wood lodged in his shoulder, sending a lightning bolt of pain searing down into his fingers. He remembered pushing Hoss ahead of him as the ceiling began to fail, exposing his own back to the brunt of the collapse. He\u2019d heard the cracking as the brittle shoring had snapped\u2014just as he\u2019d predicted it would\u2014and the force of the tonnage pushing downward had created splinter projectiles. He brushed several loose ones from around his wound, and yanked out some that were shallowly embedded in his neck, but there was no simple removal of the one that remained. A shiver coursed through him as he considered his good fortune in not having been impaled by any of the larger pieces that he could feel around him on the dirt floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m in good shape. How\u2019re you?\u201d Hoss answered. He heard his older brother\u2019s unrevealing grunt from the darkness. \u201cSeems like we\u2019re in a little jam here. Got any of them good ideas of yours that might get us outta here?\u201d Another grunting chuckle was the only answer. \u201cCan I ask ya somethin\u2019?\u201d Hoss waited for a reply but receiving none, asked, \u201cHow come you pushed me into the cave instead of outta it when that mess started to fall?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam cleared his throat and coughed as he ran his sleeve across his face and nose to remove some of the dust and dirt. \u201cIf we\u2019d tried to get out<\/em>, we\u2019d be under<\/em> that rubble instead of behind it. It was a split-second decision, but I could tell the blast was moving towards the entrance where there was less resistance. I agree we\u2019re in a jam, but at least we\u2019re alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss laughed. \u201cI know you think that\u2019s supposed to make me feel better, but it don\u2019t\u2026at least not right now. I\u2019m no more partial to being buried alive than I am to being dead.\u201d After a moment of silence, he asked, \u201cWhy d\u2019ya suppose whoever done this blasted from the outside?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing about what was done here was right, so I\u2019m not surprised. The same thing would have happened if the charges would have been put it on the inside. The shoring was no good, and they used too much TNT. I counted at least four blasts before it all crashed down. All I can figure is that they hoped to shake the ore loose.\u201d He laughed. \u201cThe ceiling of the cave isn\u2019t thick, but they probably didn\u2019t figure on that, so I\u2019m pretty sure the blast took out most of the front of this cave and the surrounding hillside. We\u2019re lucky that this back chamber held. It must look like a giant rock slide out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

The storm was blowing over outside, leaving a sun-streaked sky in its wake. The change in light outside brought a change inside the cave as well as a ray of sun lit up the ground between the two brothers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell I\u2019ll be,\u201d Hoss breathed out as he stuck his hand in the light and watched the glittering particles of dust dance around it. \u201cYou think there\u2019s a shaft up there?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam struggled to stand using only his right arm for support. His fingers and elbow still worked on the left, but his shoulder wound made it impossible to move his arm, and any jostling aggravated the pain. Once on his feet he reached upward to find the edges of the rock where the sun was shining through, and sighed. \u201cIt\u2019s just a fissure. It might have always been here, or maybe it opened in the blast, but I can barely get my hand in there. The good news is that we have fresh air coming in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what do we do now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTake stock of what we have and figure out the possibilities.\u201d Adam leaned his right side against the rock wall and slid gingerly down it to sit again. His head was spinning, and while he hoped it was merely the result of his fall he when he dove away from the blast, he soon realized it wasn\u2019t. When he removed his right hand from supporting his injured arm, he realized it was sticky wet, and he noted the unmistakable scent of fresh blood. At first he thought he was sweating, but he began to shiver as felt along the rest of his sleeve and cuff, and comprehended that they were saturated to the point of dripping with the same sticky liquid. \u00a0He took a couple of deep breaths and forced himself to focus. He would need to address the spike in his back soon, but now there were more important things to sort through.<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s voice was animated as he spoke again. \u201cHey, someone had to light that fuse, so they must be out there yet. They\u2019ll see our horses and figure out what happened. If there\u2019s a couple a them, they can start diggin\u2019 us out or go fer help.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe,\u201d Adam replied without enthusiasm. \u201cBut I wouldn\u2019t count on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhadaya mean by that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll know soon what they\u2019re going to do. In the meantime, let\u2019s feel around and see if any of our gear is here. It might have been far enough inside to be free of the rubble.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Myron lifted the canvas as the spattering of raindrops on the outside began to slow. \u201cWow!\u201d He reached back and tugged on his brother\u2019s shirt. \u201cYa gotta see this. There\u2019s a double rainbow out there. I ain\u2019t seen one a those since I was a kid.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jase crawled out from under the wagon and stretched before he started toward the cave. He wasn\u2019t interested in anything except seeing how well his plan had worked. \u201cDang it!\u201d he shouted as he got to the top of the rise and looked down at the mess below him.<\/p>\n

His brother caught up and swallowed hard as he too inspected the remains of what was once the cave. \u201cWas that what you expected would happen?\u201d he asked innocently.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course not, you idiot. I figgered it to just shake things up inside enough to knock the silver loose, not fall down completely.\u201d Jase rubbed at his face and kicked at a rock, stubbing his toe. After yelping and hopping around he said in a calmer voice. \u201cI must\u2019a used too much dynamite.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat, or maybe you should a done it from the inside.\u201d Myron hadn\u2019t meant his statement as a criticism, but he shrank away as he saw the threatening look on his brother\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you knew so much about minin\u2019, then why didn\u2019t take care a it?\u201d Jase\u2019s tone was clipped with sarcasm. \u201cYou never want to do things, but then yer right there to knock me fer not doin\u2019 it right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myron had stepped back, cowering under his brother\u2019s glare. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean nothin\u2019 by it, I swear, Jase. You done good. It\u2019s probably just that shorin\u2019 wood was so old it couldn\u2019t hold up.\u201d<\/p>\n

The anger blew away just as the clouds had. \u201cI think that\u2019s what it was too. Next time we try this we\u2019ll need to buy some good wood.\u201d Jase smiled. \u201cC\u2019mon, lets go see if we can get at any ore. If not we\u2019ll head out and find somethin\u2019 else to get some money in our pockets.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe mighten head back to the Ponderosa. They can always use good hands, and they don\u2019t know why we left, so they\u2019d take us back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jase\u2019s angry tirade at his brother\u2019s suggestion was interrupted by a loud whinny drifting toward them from further down the hill. \u201cDid our nags get loose during the storm?\u201d he spat at Myron. \u201cIt\u2019d be like you to not get \u2018em tied up tight.\u201d He paled as he looked back toward the wagon and saw their two horses munching grass, still where they\u2019d been tied on a stringer line.<\/p>\n

The younger Swanson followed his brother\u2019s gaze over toward their own team, and came to the same conclusion as they both broke into a run to get to the bottom of the hill. Jase grabbed his arm and pulled him behind a clump of brush once they could see the crumbled cave entrance. They waited to see if anyone was around, and when all remained quiet, they broke cover and went to check on what they\u2019d heard.<\/p>\n

\u201cThem\u2019s Cartwright horses, Jase!\u201d Myron walked over to the two fine mounts, soothing them as he stroked their manes. \u201cThis here brown one is Adam\u2019s. I\u2019d recognized his blaze and socks anywhere. And the big black belongs to Hoss. I remember he always laughed about really needing a draft horse because a his size, but how this good ol\u2019 saddle horse seemed content to carry him without complainin\u2019\u201d He stopped stroking Chubby as his face screwed up in thought. \u201cWhere you suppose Adam and Hoss are?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jase blew out a long sigh and shook his head. His eyes drifted toward the pile of stone that had once been the cave entrance. He asked, \u201cAre you really that stupid?\u201d before starting to pace. He stopped as he returned and realized that his brother remained clueless. \u201cThem Cartwright brothers were likely heading somewhere when the storm blew in. They tied off their horses, and cleared their gear, plannin\u2019 to shelter the weather in the cave. They didn\u2019t know\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The full brunt of Jase\u2019s explanation hit Myron like a boulder being shot from a cannon. He bent over and moaned as he put together what had happened. \u201cThey didn\u2019t know we was above them plannin\u2019 to dynamite, and we didn\u2019t know they was inside, and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we just killed off half the Cartwright family.\u201d\u00a0 Jase concluded without emotion.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know they\u2019s dead. We can dig and find \u2018em.\u201d Myron ran to the rubble and began shoving rocks away. He turned back and hollered, \u201cC\u2019mon Jase, give me a hand here. Maybe one a us should ride for help!\u201d<\/p>\n

Jase grabbed his brother by the shoulder, pulling him away from the stones, and spoke in the same toneless voice as before. \u201cIt don\u2019t matter whether they\u2019s dead or not; if they ain\u2019t they\u2019ll be soon enough. If we dig them out or get help, then the old man\u2019ll know what we was trying to do out here. The sheriff will accuse of trying to murder them two to cover our tracks, and we\u2019ll hang fer it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tears were streaking down Myrons face. \u201cNo, Jase, they\u2019ll tell how we saved them and it won\u2019t matter what we was doin\u2019. We can say we was just goin\u2019 past when we saw the explosion and stopped to help. We gotta do somethin\u2019!\u201d<\/p>\n

The calm, eerie voice continued. \u201cWe will do somethin\u2019. We\u2019ll get outta here fast and never look back. Everything\u2019s packed already so all we gotta do is leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut leaving is the same as murder if they\u2019s alive in there.\u201d He thought a moment. \u201cBut if we leave the horses, then someone ridin\u2019 by\u2019ll see \u2018em, and figger out what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re gonna take the horses back into that canyon and shoot \u2018em, Myron. By the time they find the carcasses we\u2019ll be long gone, and they\u2019ll have no way to pin this on us.\u201d He slapped his brother\u2019s face as the young man began to sob. \u201cGet hold a yerself. We\u2019s just doing what we always done: we survive. Now, you take them horses and I\u2019ll meet you by the wagon. I\u2019m gonna make sure there ain\u2019t nothin\u2019 left to connect this mess to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myron untied the horses and led them slowly toward his destination. This whole business left him feeling queasy and sick in the head. How could they leave the Cartwrights behind to die? It wasn\u2019t right, and yet he\u2019d seen his brother do a lot of things that weren\u2019t right in the years they\u2019d traveled together. Myron had managed to keep his sense of right and wrong, even through the years of beatings at his mother\u2019s hand. He\u2019d always figured that what was happening to her wasn\u2019t right either, and she was just so unhappy that she needed someone to hit out at. He hated the pain, but he understood that she didn\u2019t really want to hurt him.<\/p>\n

He pondered on how he could give the two brother inside the cave a fighting chance while the two brothers outside still got away without getting hung. He smiled as it came to him. These horses were used to these roads, and they might just head home if they were free. If these two were as smart as they looked, they\u2019d do that, and then someone would come looking for their absent riders. \u201cIt\u2019s now or never,\u201d he whispered as he checked to make sure his brother wasn\u2019t looking, and then gave both reins a sturdy yank that pulled hard in the animals\u2019 mouths. They reared up with the shock and pain, and Myron dropped the leather and shooed the two horses on their way before dropping to the ground as he yelled out, and pointed at the retreating horses when Jase looked over to see what the commotion was all about.<\/p>\n

By the time Jase made it to his brother, the two animals were nothing more than a dust cloud on the horizon. \u201cWhat did you do?\u201d He hollered; his anger raging so deep that he shook.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t do nothing. I was leadin\u2019 \u2018em back here like you said, when the black one reared up and tried to stomp me. Then the brown did the same and I had to let go or be trampled. Didn\u2019t you see it? It don\u2019t matter none, they\u2019ll just run till they find grass and water.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jase gave Myron a suspicious look and shook his head. \u201cIf I didn\u2019t know you better, I\u2019d say you cooked this up. But you don\u2019t lie.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myron got up and dusted himself off before going to get their horses hitched to their wagon. He kept his back towards his brother since his face was flaming red and he didn\u2019t want to be caught in his deceit. There was no regret; he suspected that some lies, when given to help save a life, weren\u2019t lies at all.<\/p>\n

Six<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam awoke in pain; his shoulder and arm were throbbing from the injury, and his back ached from the hard dirt and rock he\u2019d slept on. Hoss was still snoring, so he kept quiet to let the big man sleep on while he took a little time to think. Figuring the cycles of light coming and going through the cave\u2019s fissure, he thought this was the third morning of their captivity.<\/p>\n

He thought back to Hoss\u2019s disappointment when he realized there was no help coming from those who\u2019d trapped them. It hadn\u2019t surprised Adam. Whoever had lit the fuse had already committed a few offenses in trying to mine someone else\u2019s land. But Adam assumed that once they figured out what they\u2019d done, they\u2019d feared being charged with something far more serious. It had been an accident; a sick twist of fate that they\u2019d sought shelter in a cave that was being dynamited, yet he could see that those involved would seek to save their own skin. They must have ultimately decided that dead men can\u2019t bring charges. He did wonder what they\u2019d done with Sport and Chubby, and figured they\u2019d taken them along to sell somewhere farther from the Ponderosa. The horses bore a highly recognizable brand, but these wouldn\u2019t be the type to sell them to a reputable dealer, and some traveling man wouldn\u2019t care that there was no bill of sale.<\/p>\n

After they\u2019d realized that no help was coming, he and Hoss had figured out what they had to help them survive. They had fresh air coming in, so they didn\u2019t have to worry about suffocating, and they\u2019d found their gear under a little rubble, and that had lifted their spirits. Unfortunately, this had been planned as a short trip, and since they\u2019d planned to stop by Little Joe for lunch, they\u2019d only brought along a few biscuits and jerky to tide them over. Hoss had counted on getting to Placerville for a late breakfast at a friend\u2019s restaurant in Placerville by the next day. The food they\u2019d found wouldn\u2019t last long, and they\u2019d only found one canteen, but they\u2019d decided to strictly ration what they had to get them through a few days.<\/p>\n

Two things had weighed heavily on Adam\u2019s mind since the cave in, but he chose to keep them to himself. The first was that the canteen was only half full, and would go fast even with keeping their usage to a minimum. The food would run out quickly too, but a man could go a fair while without food. Lack of water was another thing entirely. He\u2019d experienced severe dehydration and starvation when he\u2019d been Kane\u2019s prisoner, and he knew some unpleasant days were coming if they weren\u2019t rescued soon. The deprivation would be even harder for Hoss than for him because of his size.<\/p>\n

The second problem Adam faced was his physical condition. Hoss had used the fissure\u2019s light to remove the wooden shard that first day, and had to use some of their water to clean the area. When It had continued to bleed, he\u2019d fashioned a heavy bandage from a spare shirt in Adam\u2019s saddle bag, and secured it using a saddle cinch and their belts. The pressure had done the trick, and Adam had hoped he\u2019d be all right. But he was far from all right.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d noticed from the beginning that he was foggy, and overly sleepy. Even though he and Hoss had talked a lot in the time they\u2019d been trapped, he couldn\u2019t remember what they\u2019d said, and he knew he\u2019d said, \u201cHuh?\u201d so many times that Hoss had begun to tease him about getting so old his hearing was going bad.<\/p>\n

Hoss had started moving rocks as soon as he could see a little on their first full day of captivity, figuring to do what he could to get them out. Adam had envisioned what had occurred when the dynamite exploded, and set his brother up in the area most likely to lead to the outside. He didn\u2019t have the heart to tell him that he\u2019d seen the long cracks snaking their way across the ceiling as it had blown. This had seemed a pretty clear indication that the entrance to the cave had gone down in large sheets of rock that would have been covered with rubble from the dirt higher up on the hill. \u00a0But as Hoss was Hoss, his enthusiasm for the job had buoyed Adam\u2019s spirits too, and he\u2019d helped as much as he could.<\/p>\n

He grit his teeth as he tried to remember more. It was odd; he could recall time passing, but what had happened during those hours was muddled. From the beginning he\u2019d noticed that the pain in his shoulder radiated into his neck and head, and he was now convinced he had some sort of injury to his brain that accounted for the fogginess in his thinking. He\u2019d originally hoped this would ease with time, but it was getting worse instead. Now he felt like he could sleep forever, and although he could carry on a conversation and \u201cact\u201d normal, it often seemed like in those times he was floating above his body instead of being grounded in it.<\/p>\n

That wasn\u2019t the only thing getting worse. His skin was hot and the wound felt raw, which probably indicated an infection. All these issues taken together had convinced him of what he\u2019d noticed from the first time he\u2019d stood to inspect the fissure\u2014the same feeling that had been gnawing in his heart and mind through the fog of the following days: he\u2019d had his miraculous rescue in the desert after he\u2019d been with Kane. Pa finding him had given him a few more years to live and make a difference, but this time\u2026he knew Hoss deserved the reprieve, not him. This <\/em>time, he was convinced that he wouldn\u2019t make it, and that was all right.<\/p>\n

That certainty had prompted a decision early in their ordeal\u2014one that ensured Hoss would have a chance at survival. If there was a \u201cway\u201d out, he knew that Hoss would find it. And if there wasn\u2019t, then at least the decision might give him the chance to stay alive long enough to be found.<\/p>\n

Adam shook off the momentary fear that shrouded him, and he turned his thoughts to the rest of his family. It was likely Pa and Little Joe weren\u2019t even aware there was a problem yet. And even when he and Hoss didn\u2019t arrive home as scheduled, they might figure there\u2019d been a simple delay. Once they understood that half the family had disappeared, they would still have to cover acres of the Ponderosa looking for a sign of what happened. There might be a few clues if they got to the cave remnant and poked around. His father and brother were good at putting evidence together, but it was unlikely that they\u2019d decide that digging up a hillside was their best option. Adam knew his father would think they\u2019d been fallen prey to thieves or had an accident on the trail, and that meant that Ben Cartwright would be looking for his sons\u2019 bodies; not their grave.<\/p>\n

Hoss grunted as he rolled over and stretched. He looked over and saw Adam sitting up. \u201cHow long you been awake?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA few minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The big man chuckled. \u201cSo what you wanna do today? If we had a deck a cards, maybe we could get a good game of blind poker goin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam laughed. \u201cHow\u2019d we play that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s voice took on the serious tone he always used when he explained his own ideas. \u201cI\u2019d deal out five cards to each of us. We could make our bets based on how lucky we felt and discard some fer new ones just like in a real game. At the end, we could stick our cards into that ray\u2019o light to see what we got. Best hand wins.\u201d<\/p>\n

They both chuckled. \u201cThat actually sounds like fun. Makes me wish we did have a deck.\u201d Adam caught his breath as the movement of his laughter made his left side hurt more, and he decided his shoulder needed to be addressed if he was going to give any assistance in the time he had left. \u201cOne thing I need is for you to look at that wound. I think the tight bandage is hurting more than helping now. Maybe we can make a sling instead so I can move without it pulling so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo time like the present. We\u2019ll get ya fixed up and then have a bite a breakfast.\u201d He laughed and added, \u201cA bite\u2019s about right, ain\u2019t it, since that\u2019s all we got left.\u201d<\/p>\n

They both moved toward the light, and Hoss made quick work of undoing his handiwork. He tried to stifle his hiss, but Adam heard it anyway. \u201cThat bad, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I thought it\u2019d be better.\u201d He felt around in the darkness for the canteen. \u201cI\u2019m gonna run a little water through it, and then tie the shirt over it again.\u201d What he didn\u2019t share was that he felt the heat in his brother\u2019s skin as he worked, and he knew with certainty that help needed to get to them sooner than later. He kept his voice calm as he speculated. \u201cPa was expectin\u2019 us home on Friday, so that leaves jest a day before he\u2019ll know somethin\u2019s wrong. He\u2019ll see our horses outside here when he comes lookin, and we\u2019ll be outta here in no time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe isn\u2019t expecting us until Saturday,\u201d Adam replied. \u201cI arranged for us to stay in Placerville an extra day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy\u2019d ya do that?\u201d he asked as he fashioned a sling from the same materials he\u2019d used to stem the bleeding. He finished by wrapping his own large belt around Adam\u2019s chest and arm to keep the limb from moving.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you might want to spend some time with Darlene before we headed back, and there was someone I hoped to see before\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss found the saddle bag with their food stash and broke off a piece of their last biscuit and jerky, handing them to his brother. \u201cYou need to eat something to heal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam shook his head. \u201cThanks, but I\u2019m not hungry right now. I\u2019ll let this pain ease up a little bit first. It does feel better shored up like this.\u201d He chuckled. \u201cWho knew saddle parts could come in so handy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can thank Pa for that. He always taught us to use what we had to its best purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat he did, and you should thank him when you see him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss chewed his meager rations and then moved closer to Adam. \u201cHey, brother. I notice you been ending a lot of sentences lately without actually endin\u2019 \u2018em. Like just before you said you wanted to see someone before… You did it with Joe too, sayin\u2019 that he\u2019d do good when you were…\u201d He waited for an answer. \u201cYa know you can tell me anythin\u2019,\u201d he said in the lingering silence. \u201cI\u2019ll keep yer secret if that\u2019s what it is. See, I\u2019m thinking those sentences would probably end with you saying you weren\u2019t gonna be around.\u201d<\/p>\n

A soft chuckle. \u201cYou\u2019re very perceptive, Hoss; you always have been.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo who is it you wanted to see in Placerville?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam considered whether to share his thoughts, but decided he\u2019d nothing to lose since his journey would be ending much sooner than he\u2019d planned anyhow. \u201cDo you remember Monica Crawford?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure do,\u201d Hoss said as he chuckled. \u201cI remember thinkin\u2019 you liked her some, and that friend of hers\u2014Addy I think\u2014was a 85 year-old force to be reckoned with.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat she was.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what happened to them gals? I thought maybe you and Monica would get together one day. She seemed a right better match for you than Laura.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam laughed heartily until he ended in a groan. \u201cI did like Monica, but there were too many ghosts lingering between us by the time we finished dealing with that Tanner woman.\u201d His voice silenced as he thought back to the time he\u2019d met Monica Crawford while trying to find out why a woman named Margot Tanner had lied about him fathering a child with her. He\u2019d only spoken to Margot a few times before leaving for college, and yet twelve years later she\u2019d showed up at the Ponderosa with a boy she\u2019d said was his. She\u2019d admitted she\u2019d lied when he\u2019d confronted her, but he\u2019d gone to Placerville, where she\u2019d been living, to see what other lies she might have told about him. What he\u2019d found out started a series of events that had almost gotten him killed twice.* The best part of the adventure had been meeting Monica and Addy. They were two very strong women who\u2019d risked their lives to help him. He and Monica had become close, but they\u2019d parted, knowing that they\u2019d each had work to do to heal the wounds Margot had caused.<\/p>\n

Hoss broke into his thoughts. \u201cDid ya ever hear from her again?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI got a letter a while back saying that Addy had died. I\u2019d intended to ride over there and see her after that, but I was engaged to Laura, and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

A rumbling chuckle reverberated through the cave. \u201cI think you were the only one who didn\u2019t wonder why you did that. I\u2019m not sayin\u2019 there was anythin\u2019 wrong with Laura Dayton. She was jest wrong fer you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, I wondered why I\u2019d done it too. But it turned out right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you thinkin\u2019 of startin\u2019 up with Monica again?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam shook his head and then realized Hoss couldn\u2019t see him. \u201cThat\u2019s not it… I just wanted to see her before\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t owe me no explanations when it comes to things like that. I shouldn\u2019t a asked.\u201d He took a deep breath and said. \u201cI s\u2019pose we could play some hide-and-seek instead a poker, or maybe a rousin\u2019 game of move the rocks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seven<\/strong><\/p>\n

Little Joe rode Chochise into his stall, and unsaddled him. He\u2019d noticed that Hoss and Adam\u2019s horses were in their stalls when he came in the barn, but his face screwed up as he realized they still had their bridles in place and they looked road worn. It wasn\u2019t like either of his brothers to put their mounts away without tending to them, and that made the hair rise on his neck. He headed to the house at a run knowing that something had gone wrong. They\u2019d only been gone four days so there wasn\u2019t time to get to Placerville and back with a bull.<\/p>\n

As he neared the door, he remembered something from earlier, and pulled a small envelope from his pocket. Zeke had run out to him as he\u2019d ridden past the Western Union office in town, saying he\u2019d just received a telegraph for Ben. He found his father sitting at his desk as he usually was this time of day, and walked over to perch on the corner\u2014his position for father-son discussions. \u201cWhy did Adam and Hoss come home without the bull?\u201d he asked as he handed Ben the envelope.<\/p>\n

Unexpected telegrams usually signaled bad news, so Ben paid less attention to Joe\u2019s words than to the words written on the paper in front of him. His brows neared and his breathing accelerated as he looked up at his youngest son. \u201cWhat makes you think Hoss and Adam are home?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir horses are in the barn\u2026in need of tending. I assumed they\u2019d gotten home and had to get inside in a hurry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s worried look deepened as he handed the telegram to his son.<\/p>\n

Little Joe skimmed over the words and then reread them more slowly as his heart began to race.<\/p>\n

CARTWRIGHTS 2 DAYS OVERDUE. PLEASE ADVISE CONCERNING DELAY. AWAIT YOUR REPLY. D DOWD.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething happened,\u201d Joe said softly as he laid the paper on the desk. His father was already moving toward the door, and he joined him as they ran to the barn. Joe brushed dirt and stones from Sport\u2019s tail and mane while Ben began to brush the dust from Chubby\u2019s back. \u201cWhat do you make of it, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir saddles are gone, so they were probably camped when something spooked the horses.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe shook his head. They should have only spent one night out, so it had to have happened between where I saw them, and Placerville.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Ben and Joe recruited two more ranch hands before setting out, figuring they could cover a broader area with four riders. They\u2019d gotten started by mid-afternoon and reluctantly gave up when they couldn\u2019t see enough to search thoroughly.<\/p>\n

Ben couldn\u2019t sleep and rode further along the road, calling for his sons; willing his ears to hear something in the still night air. The thought that kept poking him was that if they\u2019d been robbed or their horses had gotten away, they would have headed home on foot and they\u2019d have found the two of them walking along the road. That left the gut-wrenching conclusion that they were in no shape to walk, and from the sound of it, unable to call for help either. He returned to the others in time to head out in the morning, this time praying he\u2019d see<\/em> a clue that would lead him to his boys.<\/p>\n

The group rode into Placerville towards evening having found no signs of Adam and Hoss making camp. They split up, leaving the hands to ask around town if anyone had seen the missing Cartwrights, while Ben and Joe continued on to the Double D to apprise them of developments.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry to hear this, Benjamin,\u201d Daniel Down offered after hearing the details. \u201cI\u2019ll send a few men to ride back over the same ground with you tomorrow. Why don\u2019t you stay here tonight, and leave at first light.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben gave his thanks and regrets, explaining that they needed to see the sheriff in Placerville and they would stay in the city in case any news came in. They did accept the additional men, and planned to meet by the sheriff\u2019s office with full light.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Myron Swanson was looking out the grimy window of the lice-infected hotel they were staying at when he saw Ben and Joe Cartwright ride by late in the afternoon. He couldn\u2019t miss the look of misery on the older man\u2019s face, and it pained his heart because he knew he was the cause of it. He\u2019d seen that same haunted look on his ma\u2019s face after she\u2019d been beaten down by his pa.<\/p>\n

He knew that Ben Cartwright\u2019s pain came from different circumstances, but he also knew that it reflected a soul-deep ache that came from not knowing why things happened the way they did. Myron had no doubt that the father he\u2019d just seen ride by would be wearing that look for some time while he wondered where his sons had gone. He also had no doubt that they would find Hoss and Adam sometime. After that their pa would wonder how someone could have left them in that cave to die, and he wouldn\u2019t rest until he found out.<\/p>\n

Jase\u2019s voice carried over from the bed where he\u2019d spent the afternoon alternately drinking and sleeping. \u201cWhadaya lookin\u2019 at?\u201d he asked with a slur.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Cartwrights just got here, Jase. They must know now that Adam and Hoss ain\u2019t comin\u2019 home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s sooner than I expected. You come away from there so\u2019s they don\u2019t see you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey ain\u2019t lookin\u2019 this way.\u201d He dropped the dingy curtain back in place and added, \u201cI ain\u2019t never seen the old man look so sad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStop worryin\u2019 about it like an old woman. We did what we had to do. The old man can hire enough help to replace his boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myron turned to stare at his brother with a disgusted look. \u201cYou can\u2019t never replace family. I still miss Ma and Pa even though it\u2019s been some years since the fire.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jase\u2019s words were spit across the room with anger. \u201cHow can you miss those two? They tormented you fierce. Whydaya even give them a second thought!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey was still my parents, Jase. They weren\u2019t good, but maybe they didn\u2019t know no better. I once heard Ma say that she\u2019d been hit a lot as a kid too. Maybe she thought that was the only way to raise us. Besides, Pa\u2019s drinkin\u2019 didn\u2019t help none. Ma wouldn\u2019t a hurt us if Pa hadn\u2019t hurt her first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jase\u2019s drunkenness overrode the control of his tongue as he gave a low, evil-sounding laugh. \u201cI thought you\u2019d be grateful to me fer settin\u2019 that fire, and here you are sniveling about losing them. I shoulda jest gone off on my own and let Ma beat you to death like she was headin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

His mouth sagged open in shock while Myron made sense of what his brother had said. \u201cYou set that fire\u2026with them inside?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wouldn\u2019t have made much sense to light the fire with them outside!\u201d The older brother had sat up on the side of the bed and fell back down laughing, as he tried to stand. \u201cI even blocked the doors and windows so\u2019s they couldn\u2019t get out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myron shouted, \u201cHow could you!\u201d while his brother found his footing and stumbled over and grabbed his shoulders.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did it fer us, little brother,\u201d he slurred in Myron\u2019s face. \u201cThey didn\u2019t deserve to live after what they done to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one deserves<\/em> to die like that, Jase. Not even fer what they done to us. If you\u2019d a told me you was so miserable I\u2019d of told you to go along on yer own.\u201d<\/p>\n

His back-handed slap sent Myron flying across the room. Jase shouted, \u201cYou ungrateful weasel. I oughtta do to you what I did to them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myron sat on the floor where he\u2019d landed looking dazed, but this time he didn\u2019t cower. \u201cLike you did to Hoss and Adam too.\u201d He wiped his sleeve across his mouth where a cut on his lip was bleeding, and pushed against the door to steady himself as he stood up. \u201cIt\u2019s only been five days since we left them two behind.\u201d He reached for the knob and opened the door. \u201cThey might still be alive. I couldn\u2019t do nothin\u2019 to stop you when it came to our folks, but maybe I can do somethin\u2019 this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jase regained his senses even though drunk, and he closed the distance to his brother, pulling him back into the room where he knocked him out with one blow to the forehead. \u201cNo wonder Ma could always pound you, boy. You ain\u2019t got no fight in ya,\u201d he snarled at the unconscious form as he pulled him to the bed, and tied a hanky around Myron\u2019s mouth, and his arms and legs to the bedframe. Looking back to make sure that his brother was secure, he opened the door a crack, \u00a0and called pleasantly, \u201cI\u2019ll see ya later at the saloon,\u201d for the benefit of anyone who might be within earshot. He exited and tipped his hat to another half-sodden hotel patron as he stumbled by, and then locked the door from the outside.<\/p>\n

Eight<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam awoke to the hollow sound of rocks being tossed onto a pile, and remembered that Hoss had been moving the mound of rock between them and the outside when he\u2019d dozed off and must still be at it. He smiled at hearing his brother\u2019s grunt each time he threw another chunk of material, and then groaned himself when he moved his head and stretched, lifting his sore shoulder.<\/p>\n

Hoss tossed another rock onto the pile behind him before moving over to his brother. \u201cIt\u2019s about time you woke up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah, why\u2019s that?\u201d he answered with a yawn.<\/p>\n

\u201cCuz if you\u2019d a slept much longer, I\u2019d a been tempted to eat ya. I\u2019m jest that hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou deserve a good meal, but I\u2019m too old and tough.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou feeling any better?\u201d His brother\u2019s silence was all the answer he needed. \u201cHang on, buddy. I\u2019ll keep diggin\u2019 til I find a way outta here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe there is no way out, Hoss.\u201d He sighed. \u201cYou\u2019ve been moving rocks for a few days now, and I think you\u2019ve shifted half this cave, and there\u2019s no sign of breaking through of the pile you\u2019re working on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know\u2026but it feels good to be doin\u2019 somethin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam inched his way over to the wall of tumbled rocks. \u201cMaybe I can help a little now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two brothers shifted and moved rocks until Hoss declared a break. \u201cSeems we started talkin\u2019 the other day and got sidetracked,\u201d he said taking a swig of water and handing the canteen to his brother.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s \u201cHmm?\u201d sounded far away as he drifted out of the light sleep he\u2019d slipped into as soon as he sat down.<\/p>\n

\u201cI asked if you about why you don\u2019t end yer sentences lately. I think you got somethin\u2019 on yer mind that\u2019s botherin\u2019 you deep.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess it doesn\u2019t matter now, since\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss laughed. \u201cYou jest did it again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s chuckle was as dry as the air in the cave. \u201cI don\u2019t mean to sound mysterious. I\u2019ve had a lot on my mind for some time now, and I made a few decisions. They weren\u2019t easy, and I know they\u2019ll hurt Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re plannin\u2019 on leavin\u2019 the Ponderosa. That\u2019d be the only thing you\u2019d worry about tellin\u2019 Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore you ask; there was nothing bothering me about any of you. I just needed to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere you got in mind?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBoston\u2026to start.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss wrapped a big arm around his brother\u2019s shoulder. \u201cIt don\u2019t surprise me a\u2019tall. You got a granddaddy back East; you got friends there too\u2026maybe even some gal I don\u2019t know about?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe,\u201d he said, patting Hoss\u2019s hand. \u201cI wanted to talk to Pa about it first, but I guess that doesn\u2019t matter so much now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou go on plannin\u2019 what you gotta do when we get out, and I\u2019ll keep working on gettin\u2019 us there.\u201d He tried to rise, but stopped when Adam grabbed his arm.<\/p>\n

His older brother\u2019s voice took a serious tone. \u201cMaybe this is a little premature, but your food and water is nearly gone, and you\u2019re not going to be able to keep tunneling after that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not ready to give up; are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you won\u2019t give up. In fact that\u2019s what I was counting on when\u2026\u201d He sighed deeply. \u201cI just want to tell you that I appreciate what you\u2019ve done for me\u2026not just now, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, Adam,\u201d he said filling in the gap. \u201cYou and me always been\u2026good. We got mad sometimes, and had some good arguments and down-right fights. But we got a lot a good times behind us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve always known how to say the things easy. Thanks.\u201d He groaned as he angled his body to get up, and slid back down the wall when his head wouldn\u2019t stop spinning. \u201cSorry, Hoss, I\u2019m not gonna be able\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

His brother\u2019s body slumped against him, and the big man reached over to lay a hand on Adam\u2019s forehead. \u201cBurnin\u2019 up,\u201d he said to the stillness before getting the sleeping man more comfortable and going back to work.<\/p>\n

Nine<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was well into the evening when Ben and Little Joe made their way to the Crawford Hotel to get a few hours of sleep. Ben rang the bell and gave a startled \u201cOh!\u201d when a young woman rose from behind the large check-in desk, facing away from them.<\/p>\n

She squatted again to rearrange the ledgers that prevented the doors from closing properly on the cabinet as she glanced over her shoulder to say that she\u2019d be with them in a second. With everything in order again, she pushed back some wisps of hair that had drifted onto her face with, straightened her dress, and smiled as she turned to face her customers. \u201cBen Cartwright!\u201d she cried happily as she registered who was there. She hurried around the end of the counter to plant a kiss on his cheek. \u201cIt\u2019s been far too long. What brings you to Placerville?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s brief smile was replaced by the look of anguish that had settled on his face yesterday when he\u2019d read the telegram. \u201cIt\u2019s good to see you too, Monica. I didn\u2019t expect you\u2019d be here this late.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy clerk was ill, so I sent him home.\u201d She gave Little Joe a handshake, welcoming him too, and then stepped back and gave her patrons a good looking over. \u201cSomething\u2019s wrong,\u201d she concluded. \u201cYou look tired, Ben. But it\u2019s more than that. You had that same look on your face back when Adam had been shot and you didn\u2019t want me to know about it.\u201d She led him to a settee in the lobby and made him sit before issuing her order. \u201cTell me what\u2019s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you seen Adam and Hoss in the last day or two?\u201d<\/p>\n

A shake of her head confirmed her spoken, \u201cNo. Why do you ask?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey head out for a ranch on the other side of Placerville a few days ago, and they never made it there. I think Adam had planned to see you while he was here, and if he had stopped in, it would help us pin down when it was they got sidetracked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m assuming you asked around town and no one else has seen them either?\u201d She heard him sigh in acknowledgment. \u201cThen something must have happened on the trip rather than at the destination.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe nodded. \u201cWe rode the section between where they were last seen, to Placerville, but it\u2019s a lot of country, and we didn\u2019t see any obvious clues to what might have happened. Then again there was rain, and that wiped out any trail they left.\u201d<\/p>\n

Monica smiled reassuringly. \u201cYou\u2019ll find them. The Cartwright family always finds their own. I remember that fact very clearly from our previous meeting.\u201d She stood and looked down at the weary father and son. \u201cHow about some food and a soft bed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d appreciate that, but first tell us how you\u2019ve been,\u201d Ben said as he took her hand and made her sit again.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s taken a while, but I\u2019m doing well. I\u2019ve sold a few of my businesses here so I can concentrate on helping others who need a hand. I\u2019ve managed to get several women out of bad situations, and they\u2019re working for me now. My mission is to make sure that anyone who is afraid or in danger can feel safe. It\u2019s little atonement for not doing more to stop Margo, but it\u2019s something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd have you forgiven yourself?\u201d Ben asked with a knowing smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s always the hardest part, isn\u2019t it? Let\u2019s say I\u2019ve found peace in what I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam told me about Addy when he got your letter; I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be, Ben. She lived in strength, and died in dignity. I swear I saw angels come down to take her home.\u201d She rose again. \u201cI have a lot of questions about how your oldest son\u2019s been doing, but I\u2019ll ask him<\/em>\u2026when you find him.\u201d She winked. \u201cNow you two head up to room six. I\u2019ll send up a light supper to have before you turn in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ten<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hoss had continued to move the wall of rock until darkness overtook the cave at the end of the day. A good part of him wished he could go on working blind, but he knew it was too easy to get turned around in the dark and he\u2019d probably do more damage than good. His nerves were jangling more each hour because he knew something was seriously wrong with Adam, and he didn\u2019t know what to do about it. His brother had slept all afternoon, and he hadn\u2019t even been able to roust him to share in the scant supper rations. The wound on Adam\u2019s shoulder looked nasty, yet it didn\u2019t look to be festering. Hoss didn\u2019t know that much about human doctoring, and he had to go by what he saw. What he saw<\/em> was a man who seemed worse with each passing hour.<\/p>\n

The best thing about working so hard was that he was tired enough to fall asleep despite his worries. He\u2019d gotten as comfortable as he could, and was just drifting off when he heard Adam shout.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u2026more\u2026games!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hos got to his knees and felt in front of him as he found his way over and grabbed his brother\u2019s arms. \u201cYou\u2019re dreamin\u2019, Adam. Wake up.\u201d<\/p>\n

His brother\u2019s eerie laughter echoed dully in the small enclosure. \u201cOh, Pa,\u201d he sobbed as his voice turned despondent. \u201cThere was no gold.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss took Adam\u2019s face in his hands, bringing his forehead to his brothers, while speaking soothingly. \u201cYou\u2019s in a cave with me, Adam, but we\u2019re all right.\u201d The younger brother had heard his brother utter similar words before, and he suspected Adam was dreaming about his time in the desert hell with Kane. \u201cI\u2019m here with ya, Adam,\u201d he said again. \u201cAnd I\u2019ll get ya outta here soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Hoss\u2019s hand brushed his brother\u2019s cheek, he noticed how parched it felt. He wasn\u2019t sure why he did what he did next, but he brushed his thumb across Adam\u2019s lips and felt the ragged dryness there too. Something that had been sitting poorly in the back of his mind came flashing forward as he realized what had been bothering him. They\u2019d only found one of their canteens in the rubble, and they\u2019d allowed themselves only a few sips of water during the hours they were awake. That should have extended the contents for a good time, but earlier, when he\u2019d shaken the container, he\u2019d thought that there was a lot left considering how many days they\u2019d been stuck already. That had raised his spirits, and he\u2019d indulged in an extra-long swig to combat the dryness he\u2019d felt after a day\u2019s work.<\/p>\n

He felt around until he located the canteen and shook it again to make sure he was on the right track, and then patted Adam\u2019s cheeks, saying. \u201cYou awake now?\u201d\u00a0 His brother\u2019s, \u201cYeah, led me alone,\u201d came out sounding like his tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth. Hoss poured a splash of water in his hand and ran it across Adam\u2019s mouth, and held the canteen to his lips, telling him to drink.<\/p>\n

Adam sipped, but then retched as he tried to swallow. \u201cI\u2019m nod thirsdy,\u201d he growled in the same cottony voice. \u201cLed me sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss took hold of Adam\u2019s face again. \u201cYou haven\u2019t been drinking any water, have you!\u201d His accusation evoked a shake of the head, but no answer. \u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n

He licked the remaining water from his lips, creating enough saliva to answer. \u201cYou used water on my wound; I didn\u2019t want to take more than my share.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you pretended to drink? Why\u2019d you do a fool thing like that!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo make sure you\u2019d have enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

The big man was mad, sad, and scared all rolled into one as he pulled Adam into a hug. \u201cI\u2019m all growed up now, in case you didn\u2019t notice. Why\u2019d you think you had to take care a me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam chuckled as he draped his good arm around Hoss\u2019s neck. \u201cHabit, I guess. Besides, you\u2019re working harder than me, and something bad\u2019s wrong with me; we both know that. I won\u2019t make it, but you deserve a chance to get out alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll get out together or not at all. That\u2019s how I see it.\u201d But as Hoss was saying the words, he felt Adam slump away, and knew he\u2019d either fallen back to sleep or passed out. He moved around until his back was against the wall, and then pulled Adam over to rest against his large frame. As he leaned his head back to sleep, he whispered, \u201cLooks like this time I\u2019m gonna take care a you, brother.\u201d He grinned in the darkness as he completed his thought. \u201cIt\u2019s jest too dang bad you have to be unconscious fer you to accept my help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eleven<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ben stretched as he walked to window and pushed up the lower casement. A distinct odor of burning wood assaulted his nose, causing him to stick his head out and look around. Their room was on the side of the building, but as he looked down the alley toward the street he saw thin gray coils of smoke drifting skyward.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that smell?\u201d Little Joe asked as he joined his father by the window.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t see much; it\u2019s still too dark, but it smells like there was a fire.\u201d<\/p>\n

A knock brought turned their attention indoors, as Joe went over and opened the door. Monica walked in, balancing a tray with a pot of coffee and two covered plates. \u201cI know you\u2019re in a hurry, but you need something in your stomachs before heading out,\u201d she said with a pleasant smile.<\/p>\n

Ben took the tray, placing it on the table. \u201cWas there some excitement last night?\u201d he asked, as he and Joe pulled up their chairs. \u201cWe slept right through it if there was.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a rat-trap place across the street that takes in drovers and miners for cheap, if they don\u2019t mind the bedbugs and lice. I guess it serves its purpose.\u201d She stopped speaking as she grimaced with the thought, and then blushed when she saw the two Cartwrights looking at her expectantly. \u201cI guess that\u2019s not the important part. The talk out there is that a drunk knocked a lamp onto his bed and then passed out. They think it smoldered for some time before being noticed. The volunteer fire squad doused the flames before they spread too far, but the man was burned badly\u2026or at least that\u2019s the rumor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Monica remained with Ben and Little Joe while they ate and was saying her goodbyes when one of her clerks stuck her head inside the room, and cleared her throat. \u201cMrs. Crawford, the sheriff\u2019s downstairs asking whether we have any guests here by the name of Cartwright. I looked over the ledger and you don\u2019t have a name assigned to this room, so I thought I should check before sending him away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re the Cartwrights,\u201d Ben said as he strode to the door. \u201cI guess we never told the sheriff where we would be staying.\u201d He turned and nodded to Little Joe who joined his father in a rapid descent to the main desk.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad to have found you, Mr. Cartwright,\u201d Sheriff Mitchel remarked as he saw the Cartwrights walking toward him. \u201cWe\u2019d checked around this morning, and I was afraid maybe you\u2019d left last night after all. But you\u2019d mentioned your son being friends with Mrs. Crawford, so something made me try here one more time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you received information about my sons?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing official, but the young man who was hurt in the fire last night keeps asking for you. You best hurry. He\u2019s in bad shape.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Ben knelt at Myron Swanson\u2019s side in the examining room of the town doctor. The young man had been moaning in pain, but he\u2019d smiled when he saw his former boss enter the room, before starting to cry. Dr. Stevens had tried to prepare Ben for what he\u2019d see, but the sight of Myron\u2019s charred and bloody body had still made him catch his breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened to you son?\u201d he asked gently.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was Jase did it,\u201d he whispered. \u201cHe done to me like he done to our parents when he thought I\u2019d tell you…\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe was standing at his father\u2019s side, and he saw the puzzled look after Myron\u2019s statement. He touched Ben\u2019s shoulder, and explained, \u201cI remember Myron saying that their folks died in a fire.\u201d He squatted down next to his father. \u201cAre you saying Jase set the fire that killed your parents, and he tried to do the same to you because you knew something he didn\u2019t want told?\u201d<\/p>\n

A weak nod. Myron lifted his hand, motioning Ben closer while he whispered the story in his ear. With his confession complete, he said in a feeble voice, \u201cPlease forgive me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben laid his hand on the dying man\u2019s head and said, \u201cThank you, son. You\u2019ve done all you could to make this right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myron nodded again, and smiled as he exhaled for the last time.<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head to clear away his shock as he considered the information he\u2019d just received. He took Little Joe\u2019s arm and said, \u201cHe told me what he and his brother did to Hoss and Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre they\u2026\u201d Joe couldn\u2019t tell his brothers\u2019 fate from the look on his father\u2019s face. He couldn\u2019t say he ever considered Myron capable of murder, but something had obviously happened between the Cartwright brothers and the Swanson brothers. He suspected it had to have been bad for Jase to murder his own brother to keep it a secret.<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d He told Joe what Myron had said, and then sent him to arrange for a wagon and supplies, with the admonition to, \u201cHurry!\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Stevens had completed the assessments to confirm Myron\u2019s death, and arranged for the body to be taken away for burial while the Cartwrights had spoken. He\u2019d overheard what Ben had told his son, and he began gathering supplies as he told the impatient father, \u201cI\u2019ll come with you. If they\u2019re still alive, I can treat them there and save you hours trying to get back here or to Virginia City. I treated Adam when he was beaten to a pulp the time he came looking for information about that Tanner woman.\u201d He walked to Ben, laying a hand on his shoulder. \u201cThat son of yours had more grit and determination than any patient I\u2019d ever had, and I imagine that applies this time too. If he and your other boy are alive, I\u2019ll do my best to keep them that way once they\u2019re freed.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Everyone was assembled and ready to ride out on the search, when Ben arrived with Dr. Stevens. He thanked everyone and then took a moment to state his intentions. \u201cMy sons were inside a cave when it collapsed several days ago. I don\u2019t know whether they\u2019re still alive, but with your help, we\u2019ll find out. Little Joe and I know where to go, so we\u2019ll head out with our two men, and Ned and Jeb from the Double D.\u201d He nodded as he looked over the tools already tied to their saddles. \u201cI see Joe gave you each a shovel and pick to bring so we can start digging as soon as we get there.\u201d He looked toward the remaining hand from the Dowd ranch. \u201cI\u2019ll ask you to bring Dr. Stevens and the supplies in the wagon.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Double D hand asked, \u201cHow will I know where to go? I won\u2019t be able to keep up with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe spoke up. \u201cFollow the road east out of town, and then head north when you see the turnoff for Virginia City and the Ponderosa. You can\u2019t miss it, and the cave is near enough the road that you\u2019ll see us.\u201d After sending the wagon on its way, he turned his attention to the men on horseback. He didn\u2019t wait for his father\u2019s go-ahead to voice his next comments because Joe knew what his father knew: that he was the better rider. \u201cWe\u2019re going to ride at a good pace this morning,\u201d he told the group, \u201cbut it will still take nearly four hours to get there. I\u2019ll stay out front and pace us so our horses don\u2019t wear out. Keep your eyes open for my signals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eleven<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hoss yanked at a large rock, nearly toppling over as it gave loose. \u201cHoly Cow!\u201d he shouted as he turned to his older brother. \u201cNow\u2019d be a good time to wake up, Adam. I pulled me a good one this time, and doggone if I don\u2019t see daylight.\u201d Adam didn\u2019t move. He hadn\u2019t moved since the night before when he\u2019d admitted he hadn\u2019t been drinking any water to give Hoss a better chance of living until he was rescued. This was sitting heavy in his heart, but Hoss decided the best thing he could do to for both of them was to get them out.<\/p>\n

With daylight peeking through the hole, he was energized to move faster, and he began pulling more rocks from around the one he\u2019d just removed. It proved the wrong strategy as the stones above the area began to fall, once again occluding his opening. \u201cI need yer advice, brother,\u201d he said into the stillness once the rocks stopped rolling. \u201cWhat would you do?\u201d He thought about it for a minute, and said, \u201cI s\u2019pect you\u2019d tell me to work at the top now since there don\u2019t seem to be enough support to tunnel out where I was.\u201d With his efforts redirected, he was soon able to clear a space the size of his fist at the top of the pile of stone still standing between them and freedom.\u00a0 After a quick break and drink of water he took another look outside. \u201cAin\u2019t that a beautiful sight,\u201d he breathed.<\/p>\n

From the angle of the sun, Hoss judged it to be mid-morning, and he thought hopefully that they could be free by evening if he worked hard. His spirits soon plummeted as he began to work at the surrounding rock and found that there were now longer, solid slabs of rock surrounding the opening rather than the movable-sized pieces he\u2019d encountered so far. He slid to the ground, and wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve while he considered his options. One positive effect of getting through the mass of stone was the added light in the cave, and he was able to see another area with smaller rocks he could work at. He sincerely hoped that since he\u2019d broken through the wall in one spot, he was near the outside edge everywhere now, and he\u2019d break through again soon.<\/p>\n

Before starting up, he moved over to check on Adam. \u201cYou able to wake up, buddy?\u201d He laid his hand on the black clad shoulder, feeling it rise and fall with each of his brother\u2019s shallow breaths. Reaching over for the canteen, he shook it again, and realized that he\u2019d consumed more than he\u2019d meant to during his morning\u2019s work. Yet there was enough to get him through the next few hours. He gently brought Adam to a sitting position, and then poured water into his hand\u2014using it to wet his brother\u2019s lips. Hoss watched as Adam\u2019s eyes fluttered open and the hint of smile brushed his lips.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou still trying to make me drink?\u201d Adam\u2019s voice was muffled by dryness but still laced with humor. He ran his tongue across his lips and asked. \u201cHow\u2019s it going?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI broke through in one spot, but now I gotta move over, cuz the slabs there are too big to move. I was hopin\u2019 you\u2019d tell me if I had the right idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHelp me up, and we\u2019ll take a look.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam blinked several times before a little moisture returned to his eyes, allowing him to see more clearly. Memories of being stranded in the desert with Kane slipped into his mind with the effort. He\u2019d gone through similar problems with his vision back then as his dehydration had taken away \u201cnormal\u201d functions. Once standing, he stretched and found that his shoulder wasn\u2019t hurting as badly as before. \u201cCan you see anything outside from that hole?\u201d he asked Hoss, who was still next to him, mostly holding him up.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnough to make me want to get out there real fast.\u201d<\/p>\n

He observed the problem Hoss had noted with the first opening. \u201cWhere were you thinking of working next?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss pointed to a nubby-looking group of rocks he thought would be easy enough to move.<\/p>\n

Adam steadied himself on his brother\u2019s arm as he looked around the dimly lit interior. \u201cI\u2019m not sure that\u2019s the front of the cave, anymore. I know we were toward the back when it dropped, but everything looks different now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The younger man took a look around too. \u201cNow that you mention it, I\u2019m not sure either.\u201d He dropped his head and sighed. \u201cIt might not be the right place, but I can\u2019t get to anything on the other side, so I need to go with my gut.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour gut\u2019s always been pretty accurate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss helped Adam sit again and grabbed the canteen. \u201cAs long as yer awake, you should take some a this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think so; at least not yet.\u201d He could see his brother\u2019s disappointed look. \u201cI know you don\u2019t want me to get worse, but I know you aren\u2019t feeling all that well either, Hoss, and you need to keep working.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Hoss grumbled, before he chuckled. His brother was right. He\u2019d been feeling light-headed all morning, and the little bits of biscuits and jerky weren\u2019t enough to make his stomach stop aching with hunger. \u201cAll right, I ain\u2019t fine, but how\u2019d you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI could feel your muscles trembling when you were holding me up. You\u2019re starving, and the water isn\u2019t enough to make up for how much you sweat when you work.\u201d<\/p>\n

He could tell Adam was fading again. The words he was saying rang true, but his words sounded like they were drifting up from far away. \u201cWhat should I do? You always knowed best about these things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHand me the canteen.\u201d Adam shook it to gage the amount of water they had. He wet his lips again and handed it back to Hoss. \u201cI want you to drink about half of this right now. It\u2019ll help you get through that mess and see if you\u2019re right about where it leads. Save the other half for one more try if this one doesn\u2019t work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf that doesn\u2019t work, then rest and wait for Pa. You can last a few days without water if you…\u201d The effort of remaining upright proved too much and he passed out.<\/p>\n

Hoss lowered Adam to the ground and then hoisted the canteen, taking a long drink. \u201cI\u2019ll get back to work now,\u201d he said, knowing that there\u2019d be no answer.\u00a0 He bent to hold his hand near Adam\u2019s face to make sure he was still breathing. Once satisfied that there was warm air coming at rhythmic intervals, he attacked the wall of stone again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was right!\u201d Hoss yelled when after a few minutes, his efforts revealed another speck of daylight. His joy was moderated as he realized that the rubble wall was still very wide, and would take hours of whittling it down one rock at a time. Yet he felt real hope that this nightmare could end soon. He wasn\u2019t sure how he\u2019d get help once he was free, but he still had a few matches in his pants pocket and he\u2019d start a bonfire. If he got it big enough, the hands out watching the herd would see the smoke and come to check on it. His only fear was that help would come too late for Adam.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Ben was able to tell Little Joe more of what Myron had said before he died, when they stopped to water their horses at a creek that bordered the road.<\/p>\n

Joe whistled after hearing the details. \u201cI always thought Jase was a brooding sort, but I never suspected he could murder his own family.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t tell what\u2019s in a person\u2019s heart,\u201d Ben responded as he frowned. \u201cI think Myron only became aware of Jase\u2019s role in their parent\u2019s death last night when they fought about leaving your brothers. It seemed like that\u2019s what finally made him stand up to his older brother, and it cost him his life. He was a good worker, and without his brother\u2019s influence, I think he would have settled nicely into ranching.\u201d He sniffed. \u201cThe boy thanked me for being kind to him. Who\u2019d believe that\u2019s all it would take to give him enough courage to do what he did for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both Cartwrights bowed their heads in silence while Ben laid a hand on his son\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 After a few moments, he said, \u201cI suppose we better get moving. It feels like we\u2019ve been riding forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re almost there, Pa. The waiting is hard, but once we arrive, we\u2019ll get them out as fast as we can. I don\u2019t remember that cave being very deep\u2026\u201d He realized once he\u2019d spoken the words that this fact wasn\u2019t encouraging because the entire thing might have disintegrated with a downward blast. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa. I didn\u2019t mean\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s face took on a hard set as he turned toward his youngest. \u201cNo harm done, son. Your brothers are Cartwrights, and they\u2019d have found a way to survive. My only hope is that our help hasn\u2019t been too long in coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thirteen<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hoss checked Adam\u2019s breathing again after hauling stones for a while, and thought it seemed even shallower than earlier. \u201cHang on, brother. I\u2019m getting there.\u201d He meant what he said. His efforts had produced a hole about the size of his head in the new section, and he\u2019d found himself wishing he was Little Joe\u2019s size. \u201cI\u2019d be out in no time,\u201d he\u2019d said aloud as he\u2019d begun working on the surrounding areas to widen the access.<\/p>\n

He was humming to himself as he worked, trying to keep his excitement tempered and his mind on what he was doing when he decided to look outside again to keep his eye on the prize, like the Bible said. A shocked yelp preceded his roll down the hill of stones piled up beneath him. He blew out a deep breath, thinking he was hallucinating, and hollered again when he looked up and saw Little Joe\u2019s head sticking in through the hole he\u2019d made\u2014just as he thought he had.<\/p>\n

The youngest Cartwright laughed as he asked, \u201cWhat are you doing down there?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s head pulled back and was replaced by Ben\u2019s as he looked into what might have become his sons\u2019 tomb. \u201cThank God! Are you two all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss was still stunned and asked excitedly, \u201cHow\u2019d you find us? I thought it\u2019d still be a couple a days before you might even get here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s tone was sharp as he tried to calm the young man. \u201cI\u2019ll tell you all about it once you\u2019re safe. But now tell me if you need anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m good, Pa. I could use some food if ya got any. But Adam, he ain\u2019t good, so you\u2019re gonna have to hurry some.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with Adam?\u201d The father\u2019s tone had gone from take-charge to worried. He couldn\u2019t see well inside the cave but thought he could make out Adam\u2019s form curled up against the far wall.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe got hurt in the collapse, and he\u2019s been out a lot. And now all I know for sure is that he\u2019s breathing. He\u2019s gotta get help fast.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s heart raced as he considered the options. \u201cGet yourself and Adam as far back as possible. There\u2019re several men out here to dig, so you can rest now.\u201d Little Joe had gone off and returned with a sack of food and a full canteen. Ben handed them down to Hoss with the admonition to go easy. Before he finally pulled away to allow the digging to start, he said gently. \u201cI\u2019m pretty glad to see you two.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat goes double fer me, Pa. Seeing Little Joe nearly gave me a heart attack, but I would\u2019a died happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Hoss could hear the sound of shovels and picks hitting the hard rock outside as he opened the food bag and pulled out a thick sandwich. He\u2019d taken a few bites when he felt full and remembered his father\u2019s warning. \u201cI \u2018spect my stomach\u2019s gotten a little smaller,\u201d he said, leaning over toward his quiet brother. He took their canteen and drained it except for a few good splashes that he dropped on Adam\u2019s face while telling him to wake up. He was answered with dry, angry, \u201cWhadaya doing?\u201d as the interrupted sleeper swatted at him ineffectually.\u00a0 \u201cJust thought you might like to know that Pa and Joe got here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam turned his head and looked up at Hoss, saying, \u201cThat\u2019s nice,\u201d before closing his eyes again.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can drink now,\u201d Hoss added, hoping his words had made it through. \u201cI got a full canteen.\u201d He splashed more water on Adam\u2019s face, but this time it brought no response. \u201cYou best hurry!\u201d he hollered to those working outside.<\/p>\n

Fourteen<\/strong><\/p>\n

Joe giggled as he watched Hoss push the plate with his half-eaten steak toward the center of the table with a look of disappointment. \u201cI think this is the first time I\u2019ve ever seen you leave food behind,\u201d he said, and then laughed again. \u201cDoes this mean you\u2019ve turned over a new leaf and will be cutting down on the amount you eat?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss shot his brother a sardonic look as his lip curled. \u201cIt pains me to leave behind that good meat, but I ain\u2019t got the appetite right now. You might understand that if you\u2019d been in that cave starvin\u2019 with me.\u201d He knew he\u2019d made his point when Joe broke eye contact and looked down at the table, seemingly engrossed in rearranging the silverware. Hoss laughed. \u201cSorry Joe, I was teasin\u2019 you. I\u2019m glad you weren\u2019t with<\/em> us because we needed someone to rescue<\/em> us.\u201d He quieted for a moment and shivered.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou cold, son?\u201d Ben asked as he reached for his son\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cNah, Pa. I was jest thinkin\u2019 about getting out of there today.\u201d He shivered again as his mind went back to some hours earlier.<\/p>\n

The digging at the cave had gone quickly with the right tools and enough men to use them, and Hoss had lifted Adam out when the opening was large enough. His exit had to wait a little longer for a few more rocks to be removed, but by then he\u2019d had some food and water, and was in good spirits. Still he\u2019d stumbled when he\u2019d first tried to walk after crawling out of the rubble, and that had knocked him for a loop. The wagon had arrived by then and Dr. Stevens had explained that while Hoss had been active inside the cave, he probably had accomplished most things by crawling or leaning, not standing, so his legs would feel a little rubbery until his muscles got used to holding him up again.<\/p>\n

The doctor had given him a quick exam, and declared him in fine health other than needing a little rest and lots of water. The news hadn\u2019t been quite as certain for Adam. He hadn\u2019t awakened even while being manhandled through the hole and carried to the buckboard where Dr. Stevens had checked him over. He\u2019d complimented the unique shoulder halter Hoss had fashioned, and had said it was so good he\u2019d leave it in place and wait to examine the wound when they got back to his office.<\/p>\n

His assessment of Adam had gone on so long that Ben had begun giving threatening looks and voicing, \u201cAhems,\u201d until he\u2019d finally rendered his opinion. \u201cAdam is very dehydrated. His shirt is caked with dry blood that I assume was lost with the piercing of his shoulder, and from what his brother says, he wasn\u2019t taking water during the days they were trapped. He has a fever, and it might be an infection, but I think it\u2019s mostly from the water deprivation.\u201d He\u2019d motioned the family over as he rolled Adam onto his good arm and pointed out a bluish area starting above his ear that extended down onto his neck. \u201cHoss tells me that they couldn\u2019t see much in there, so I doubt they were aware this existed.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Pa had asked what had caused it, Dr. Stevens said he\u2019d supposed that Adam had been hit in the head during the structure\u2019s collapse. \u201cI\u2019m surprised he didn\u2019t mention the pain,\u201d he offered, \u201cbut since it\u2019s the same side as the shoulder injury, he might have thought it was all connected.\u201d In answer to Ben\u2019s next question about why Adam remained unconscious, the doctor had said it could have been the result of any of the factors in play. The one thing he\u2019d been adamant about was that Adam had to be awakened to find out if there had been injury to his brain.<\/p>\n

Hoss cringed as he thought about what had happened next.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you thinking about, Hoss?\u201d Joe asked. \u201cWe lost you there for a minute and now you look like you\u2019re in pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

He shook his head and blew out a long breath. \u201cI was thinkin\u2019 about how you had to get Adam awake out there today, and how it looked to make him powerful unhappy. I can\u2019t help wonderin\u2019 if I should have done that when we were trapped. Maybe he wouldn\u2019t have gotten so bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben patted his arm. \u201cYou did the best you could. Keeping him awake on the way back to Placerville was\u2026interesting\u2026but we did it, and he\u2019s better now. Even Dr. Stevens said that the symptoms from the head injury were probably mimicked by the dehydration, so you wouldn\u2019t have known what to do. The good news is that there\u2019s no infection, and he credits you with cleaning the wound and keeping it immobilized.\u201d Ben chuckled quietly, before adding, \u201cAnd I know how hard-headed your older brother can be, so if he made up his mind on a course of action, there was nothing you could do to change it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Pa,\u201d His eyes drifted upwards and he sighed again. \u201cYa know what\u2019s amazin\u2019 to me is how normal everythin\u2019 looked on\u00a0the outside of that cave. I know it was roughed up some with the guys shoveling, but if Myron hadn\u2019t told you what they did, I think you would have passed it by, not even remembering a cave being there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben nodded. \u201cYou might be right, but then again you were getting close to being free when we got there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seemed that way, but I don\u2019t know if I could have gotten some of them big pieces moved from the inside. I could punch holes, but nothing big enough to get through. I\u2019m powerful thankful things worked out as they did, and that Adam will be fit-as-a-fiddle in a day or two. Doc Stevens even said my appetite will return to normal in no time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe smiled across at his brother. \u201cMaybe we should send word ahead to Hop Sing to start cookin\u2019 so there\u2019ll be enough when we get home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething else bothering you?\u201d Ben asked when he noticed Hoss wipe at his eyes and sniff. \u201cDo you need to get back to the room?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss shook his head and did another quick wipe of his eyes as he regained his composure. \u201cI\u2019m fine, Pa. Just something hit my mind about the tale you done told about the Swanson boys. My older brother was gonna let himself die to make sure I got a chance to live. I know now that he\u2019d hit his head, and maybe his decisions weren\u2019t so good cuz\u00a0a that.\u201d He sought his father\u2019s eyes to make his point. \u201cBut I believe Adam knew he was in trouble, and he truly decided<\/em> to give me the time he thought I\u2019d need. We didn\u2019t expect help for a couple a days yet; the water was nearly gone, there was no food, but I could’a lasted a while\u00a0more, hopin’ to be found\u2026only cuz\u00a0he deprived himself.\u201d Hoss looked over at Joe. \u201cYou\u2019d a done the same fer me in a similar circumstance; I\u2019d a done it fer you too. That\u2019s what bothers do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben could see Hoss fighting to control his emotions and he moved his chair closer to wrap an arm around the big man\u2019s shoulder as he spoke quietly. \u201cI have three fine sons who care for one another.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, Pa,\u201d Hoss said as leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table. \u201cThat\u2019s what so danged sad about what happened to Myron. Jase should\u2019a protected him, but he killed his<\/em> brother to save his own skin.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all responsible for our own actions, son.\u201d Ben said after a moment to consider what Hoss had said. \u201cYou, Adam, and Joe will always choose to do what\u2019s right; it\u2019s what you\u2019ve always done, and nothing will change that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had you, Pa,\u201d Joe interjected. \u201cJase and Myron didn\u2019t have good parents.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben nodded, \u201cYet Myron chose to do the right thing. I think he\u2019d have had a good life if he could\u2019ve gotten away from his brother and worked with us a little longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t say what he would or wouldn\u2019t a been,\u201d Hoss offered, \u201cbut I know what he is now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s my brother too. He became a Cartwright, Pa; maybe not by blood, but by his blood. We gotta make sure he\u2019s taken care of.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s already done, Hoss.\u201d Ben patted the big man\u2019s shoulder. \u201cI asked Monica to make arrangements yesterday before we left to find you, and she\u00a0set up\u00a0a short service for tomorrow morning. He\u2019ll have the best we can give him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fifteen<\/strong><\/p>\n

Monica opened the door quietly and stuck her head inside Adam\u2019s room. \u201cI thought you were supposed to be resting,\u201d she teased as she saw him sitting up, reading. She went behind him and kissed the top of his head before pulling the desk chair over and sitting next to him. \u201cYou know you gave me a few more gray hairs, dear.\u201d<\/p>\n

He smiled as he squinted at her. \u201cI don\u2019t see any, but I\u2019m sorry you were worried.\u201d<\/p>\n

She reached out and touched his hand. \u201cIt seems that anytime you\u2019re near Placerville, there\u2019s reason to worry.\u201d Her hand was warm making her notice how cool his skin felt to her touch. \u201cYou\u2019re cold, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d be too if your family thought it was necessary to drag you through every freezing creek between here and the cave.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard about it, sweetie, and I don\u2019t think it was as bad as all that.\u201d<\/p>\n

His lips turned down in a pout. \u201cWell it seemed like it to me. They wanted me to stay awake, so they kept splashing me with cold water, and I\u2019m pretty sure that one time they dunked me completely. And that wasn\u2019t all; they took turns slapping my face and forcing me to drink.\u201d The left corner of his lip twitched into a grin. \u201cThey were just lucky I was helpless or I would have punched them all in the face.\u201d<\/p>\n

She patted his hand while clicking her tongue, and reached next to her chair where she\u2019d stashed the bottle she\u2019d carried in with her. \u201cYou are so lucky that I talked to Doc Stevens and he said you could have some of this fine brandy if you were unable to sleep.\u201d After getting glasses from the dresser, she poured them each a few fingers from the dusty bottle, and handed one to him. He gulped it down and she added another shot to his glass before sitting next to him on the arm of his chair. \u201cNow,\u201d she said, \u201ctell me when you\u2019re leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n

A chuckle escaped as he sipped at his drink. \u201cI just got here, and you want to know when I\u2019m going. That\u2019s hardly hospitable.\u201d He held his empty glass out for a refill.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe doctor said you could have a little<\/em> to warm you up. I\u2019m not sure you should have any more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a big boy, Monica. Besides, he also said I should rest now, and after all the effort to keep me awake, I\u2019m not very sleepy, so consider it a sleeping elixer.\u201d He pushed his glass at her and winked. \u201cFill\u2019er up.\u201d With his libation replenished, he thought about what she\u2019d asked. \u201cPa, Hoss and Joe are heading home tomorrow. Dr. Stevens wants to me rest my shoulder for a day or two because it kept bleeding after he removed the remaining slivers. He doesn\u2019t want me riding either, so I\u2019ll take the stage to Carson when it comes through Monday, and Pa will meet me there with a buggy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Monica was grinning at him. \u201cThank you for your itinerary, and you can stay here as long as you like. What I want to know is when you\u2019ll be leaving the ranch\u2026for good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d his mouth hung open. \u201cHow\u2019d you know\u2026\u201d He blew out a long breath and said, \u201cHoss. He said he\u2019d keep that to himself until I could talk to Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss didn\u2019t say a word, Adam. I just did a little arithmetic.\u201d She saw his nose and brows wrinkle as he shook his head. \u201cYour father came here when he was looking for you. He said you\u2019d planned to come to see me while you were in Placerville, and I figured that since this was the first time you\u2019d come by since we worked on the Margot Tanner thing, you must have something pretty important to tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did want to see you, but how\u2019d you decide it was to say I was leaving Nevada? That seems a mighty big leap.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019re two things that gave you away. First off, when you were here with the last time, you said you\u2019d almost lost something very important when you and your father had argued, and your priority was to be with your family. This time, they\u2019re downstairs, and you\u2019re up here. I know you\u2019re supposed to rest, but I don\u2019t think that would matter if you really wanted to be with them. I don\u2019t sense anything amiss either, so I suspect it is a distancing on your part. You\u2019re probably not even aware you\u2019re doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm; that makes some sense. So what\u2019s the second thing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAddy told me.\u201d<\/p>\n

He grinned. \u201cYou talking to ghosts, Monica? Addy\u2019s been gone for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n

She leaned over to rest her cheek on his head. \u201cShe saw how devoted your family was, but she also sensed that you were too much of an individual to remain satisfied as a cog in the Cartwright ranch forever. Addy knew you\u2019d want more. She always hoped you and I would get together one day, and I didn\u2019t have the heart to tell her it couldn\u2019t happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded as he reached for her hand and pulled her onto his lap, giving her a soft kiss on the cheek. \u201cAddy was right; I trained as an engineer, and I want to part of that world again. There are so many innovations happening. I\u2019m itching to get back to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Monica outlined the features on his face. \u201cI must have been crazy to let you go last time. You are the most handsome man I\u2019ve ever known, and the truth be told, I love you more than I loved my husband when I married him. But there\u2019s the rub. I didn\u2019t love him enough to fight for him when all those bad things started happening with Margot. If I had\u2026well a lot of others would still be alive, and I can\u2019t get past the guilt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d he said softly, \u201cand I understand. There are many episodes that might have turned out differently in my life too\u2026if I\u2019d had the wisdom I gained from going through them. I\u2019ve come to realize that all we can do is move forward and do the best we can. And speaking of opportunities, I\u2019ve seen articles in the papers that tell of the wonderful things you\u2019re doing for people from here all the way to San Francisco. You\u2019ve learned how to turn your sadness into action. I jumped at the chance to come to Placerville to get Pa\u2019s bull because I wanted to see you again, and tell you know how much I admire what you\u2019re doing before I go to Boston.\u201d He pulled her close. \u201cI think Addy is up there busting her wings with pride over the woman you\u2019ve become. And may I add that your good work becomes you. You\u2019re very beautiful when you\u2019re happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

She snuggled onto his chest. \u201cThank you. I saw things about the Ponderosa in the papers too, and I always cut them out if you were mentioned.\u201d Her serious expression turned into a grin as she\u00a0asked, \u201cSo who\u2019s the lucky woman in Boston?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s mouth dropped open a second time. \u201cI suppose Addy told you that too?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo! That I figured out all by myself. You could be an engineer anywhere between here and the East Coast. You chose Boston. I hope she\u2019s worthy of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

He laughed as he grabbed his glass from the floor where he\u2019d set it, and drained the remaining liquid. \u201cI hope I\u2019m worthy of her. I met Melinda when I went to school in Boston. We agreed we\u2019d marry after she went to college back east, and I came home to work with my family for a few years. But we lost touch and I assumed something had changed her mind about me. I saw her again a while ago, and found out it was all a mistake. That led me to an interesting conclusion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what might that be?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve met some intriguing, intelligent and courageous women in the years since I left Boston. In fact one of them is with me right now. But nothing ever worked out, and when I saw Melinda again, I figured out\u00a0why. She\u2019s always been there in the back of my mind, and in my heart, and I hope she\u2019ll have me after making her wait all these years. \u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe hasn\u2019t married?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNope.\u201d<\/p>\n

Monica walked behind his chair and leaned down to kiss his cheek. \u201cThen she\u2019ll have you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sixteen<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Cartwrights, and the people of Placerville who\u2019d heard the story of the young man who\u2019d died in the fire, assembled at the open grave the next morning. Reverend Pike, the only minister in town, officiated with prayers and scripture, and Ben gave a short eulogy to lay Myron Swanson to rest.<\/p>\n

Jase Swanson had become a victim of his own swagger when he stuck around town after the fire, assuming that his kid brother had died like his parents had. He\u2019d underestimated Myron\u2019s grit in holding on until he could receive absolution from Ben Cartwright, and he was arrested. Jase was quick to point out that he\u2019d been in the saloon all night, so he couldn\u2019t have done what his brother had said. His alibi had been confirmed to a point, but there were two things he hadn\u2019t counted on. The first was that the blaze hadn\u2019t taken away the evidence of Myron being tied to the bed, belying his ability to start the blaze himself, and Jase hadn\u2019t counted on those he\u2019d been playing poker with noticing his absence for more than enough time to sneak back and start the fire. One of them even went so far as to note that he\u2019d smelled kerosene when Jase had returned from using the outhouse.<\/p>\n

Daniel Down showed up in town about the time the funeral was ending with his bull and several heifers for the Cartwrights to take with them to extend the bloodline more quickly. After a quick drink to seal the deal and exchange the bank draft, Ben sent Little Joe and their two hands on ahead with the cattle, while he, Adam and Hoss finished up with the undertaker and sheriff.<\/p>\n

With their business finished, they gathered back at Monica\u2019s restaurant for lunch before Hoss and Ben would leave to catch up to Little Joe and the men.<\/p>\n

Ben was used to Adam\u2019s silence at the table. He\u2019d noticed that his eldest had been getting quieter over the last several weeks and had stopped offering his opinions on the running of the ranch, usually just agreeing with what the rest of them decided had to be done. But now Hoss was quiet as well, and that<\/em> bothered him. He finally said, \u201cYou seem very quiet today.\u201d<\/p>\n

The big man smiled as he set his fork down. \u201cI guess I\u2019m usually the one with the most to say, but I was jest contemplatin\u2019 on what we saw this mornin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d Adam asked as he shifted in his chair to see Hoss better.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was Jase. I knowed he was trying to get himself a little of the good will we showed to Myron when he apologized to us, sayin\u2019 he was raised wrong, and it left him mad all the time and not thinkin\u2019 straight. But when he talked about his brother, it sounded almost like he was jealous a him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard that too.\u201d Adam blew out a long breath as he winced while trying to ease his shoulder into a more comfortable position. \u201cIt seems odd to us, because we\u2019ve always worked hard for what we have. We get noticed because of that, but none of us do it for the attention. Jase Swanson did want attention. I remember an evening at camp when Myron told me he liked my singing, and I sat with him a bit showing him a few cords on the guitar while he talked about some of the things he and his brother had done before getting to the Ponderosa. It struck me that the older one would do just about anything to get ahead\u2026except work hard for it. I guess we saw how far he\u2019d actually go trying to get something for nothing. You do wonder if he is sorry for what he did, or sorry he got caught.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Adam stood in the street outside the hotel, watching as his father and brother prepared to leave. Hoss was already mounted and looking anxious to get moving, while his father tightened the cinch and then tied his saddle bags more securely. While waiting to say his goodbyes and send them off, his mind drifted back to funeral service, where he\u2019d had the chance to honor the young man whose admission had changed the course of events inside the cave. He understood the magnitude of Myron\u2019s sacrifice, and was sorry the young man died.<\/p>\n

He and Hoss had discussed their experience when he\u2019d been resting at the doctor\u2019s home, and he’d explained his rationale in the decision he\u2019d made to go without food and water. Hoss had thanked him, and then told him if they were ever trapped again, they would figure things out together because he had the right to have a say in such decisions. But then the big man had admitted that he would have had a hard time getting out on his own even though he\u2019d managed to punch through. The problem had been the amount of rubble that had to be moved from the outside to enlarge the hole on the inside. Hoss had admitted that getting so close and then not being able to get out would have defeated him. He laughed and said he would have hung his shirt out the hole as a signal, hoping someone would see it before he died of starvation, but he was powerful sad\u2026and thankful that Myron had sent Pa and Little Joe in the right direction.<\/p>\n

This miraculous rescue in his life had made Adam wondered if it was some sort of sign that he should revise his plans and stay with his family. But during his talk with Monica, he\u2019d come to see that he had to move on, just as she had done. Being with his brothers and father was good, and he loved all of them. Working on the Ponderosa was never easy, but it had become safe, and he realized again that he would never find what he needed there. Staying would only keep him riding in a circle while the only straight path for him led east. Myron\u2019s gift had given him another chance, and he knew he had to make the most of it.<\/p>\n

His thoughts returned to the present when Ben handed Buck\u2019s reins to Hoss, and took his older son\u2019s good shoulder, leading him to the boardwalk to speak privately.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no need to hurry, Adam. I saw how much that shoulder is bothering you, so you make sure you\u2019re feeling better before you get on the stage. You still have a couple of days before it comes through, but stay here longer if you need to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam continued to hold on after he and his father shook hands. \u201cPa\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben met the boy\u2019s gaze and smiled. \u201cI know, son. We\u2019ll have time to talk on the way home from Carson.\u201d He touched Adam\u2019s arm. \u201cYou do what you have to do, Adam. I\u2019ll always trust and honor your decisions. Right now, I\u2019m just thankful you\u2019re alive to make them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Pa.\u201d He sent his father away after a quick embrace, and walked over to Monica. The two of them waved until Ben and Hoss were out of sight.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you tell him?\u201d she asked, taking his arm as they went into the hotel.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t have to,\u201d he said with a wry grin. \u201cHe\u2019s my father; he already knows.\u201d<\/p>\n

The End<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*This is from a story I wrote called, The Burning Bridge. <\/em>It was about Adam finding justice for a number of people who\u2019d been hurt or murdered by Margot Tanner. Ben\u2019s failure to believe Adam over Margo\u2019s lie\u2014that the 12-year-old boy she had with her was Adam\u2019s son\u2026caused a rift between them that sent Adam away to find out the truth. He didn\u2019t tell Ben where he was going, yet the family met up by providence at a time when Adam needed them most. The rift was mended as such things were usually fixed in the Cartwright family: by them working together to end Margot\u2019s reign of terror. In the story he meets Monica and Addy, two strong women who stick by him in his quest. Adam is beaten within an inch of his life when Margot sends her lackey to kill him when she finds out what he\u2019s doing. The beating makes him lose his vision for a time, and then he\u2019s shot as he exposes all that Margot has done. Monica and Adam become close and it seems that a romance is blooming, but it can\u2019t happen. She feels great guilt for not exposing what she thought Margot was doing much sooner, thus saving all those who died at Margot\u2019s hands after Monica\u2019s husband died. She realizes that she never grieved her husband\u2019s passing and can\u2019t think about love until she makes amends. On the other hand, Adam had lost a connection to his father during the initial ordeal, and he knows his life will never be right until the two of them find that link again.<\/p>\n

The Burning Bridge<\/a> is in the Bonanza Brand library.<\/p>\n

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Tags:\u00a0 Adam Cartwright,\u00a0Family,\u00a0Hoss Cartwright<\/p>\n

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<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0Adam and Hoss seem to have vanished while on their way to Placerville for ranch business, leaving Ben and Joe to search for what might have happened. What they can\u2019t imagine is that the lost Cartwrights were left for dead by two brothers who had once worked on the Ponderosa. Hoss and Adam\u2019s lives depend on being rescued quickly, but their situation stacks the odd against that happening, forcing Adam to make a decision that may leave the family short one son.<\/p>\n

Rating: K+ \u00a0Word Count: 23,425<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":10192,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1009,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brothers","category-drama","wpcat-1009-id","wpcat-23-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2229,"today_views":1},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/A-H.jpg?fit=276%2C284&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":25624,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=25624","url_meta":{"origin":10307,"position":0},"title":"Christmas Spirit (by AC1830)","author":"AC1830","date":"December 25, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Little Joe learns something special about Christmas, with the help of his brothers. 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It\u2019s the same old story in a nutshell... 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Rated: K+\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Word count:\u00a01085","rel":"","context":"In "Brothers"","block_context":{"text":"Brothers","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1009"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Pondarosa-House-3.jpg?fit=564%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Pondarosa-House-3.jpg?fit=564%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Pondarosa-House-3.jpg?fit=564%2C401&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9477,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=9477","url_meta":{"origin":10307,"position":4},"title":"He Would Have (by DJK)","author":"DJK","date":"July 27, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 A short WHN for Hoss's loss of\u00a0Margie.\u00a0\u00a0 Rating: K+\u00a0 Word Count: 694","rel":"","context":"In "Brothers"","block_context":{"text":"Brothers","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1009"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/The-Tall-Stranger.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/The-Tall-Stranger.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/The-Tall-Stranger.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/The-Tall-Stranger.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46626,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=46626","url_meta":{"origin":10307,"position":5},"title":"The Prank Or Not (by BettyHT)","author":"BettyHT","date":"November 20, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Joe and Hoss do enjoy scheming for fun at Adam's expense, but as with many of Joe's schemes, there are unintended consequences. 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