Summary: Evil comes in many different guises, and Adam discovers that some things are not quite as they seem. When the evil stretches out and harms Joe, Adam realises he has a lot to do to protect himself and his family from even greater harm.<\/p>\n
Rating \u2018G\u2019 (26,485 words)<\/p>\n
Mea Culpa<\/strong><\/p>\n Introduction:<\/p>\n He was running. He was running so fast that his feet could barely keep up with him and he was stumbling, putting out a hand to steady himself and clawing at the grass to get himself upright and running forward once again. His breath came in harsh, unrelentingly urgent gasps that ripped through his lungs and burned his throat.<\/p>\n He tripped, fell, and blood filled his mouth as he bit his tongue. Resolutely he ran onwards, whimpering now, the taste of blood frightened him as though subconsciously he knew that if he did not run away from what he had seen, what he had witnessed, that he would suffer far worse than a bitten tongue.<\/p>\n He could hardly breathe now. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and saw the blood and blinked back tears from his cheeks and sweat from his brow, leaving smears of blood across his face. He was stumbling forwards. His heart was pounding so hard that it filled his ears like the crescendo from a bass drum beating louder and louder in his head.<\/p>\n He turned and glanced behind him but tears filled his eyes and blurred his vision. He was staggering forwards, his legs were dull and heavy, he could barely lift one foot before the other and then everything went black and he felt himself falling\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n falling\u2026\u2026falling<\/p>\n And everything was black and he was shivering and knew fear!<\/p>\n Fear engulfed him and paralysed him and by sheer mental effort he threw himself forward.<\/p>\n A light hovered close by and he blinked and raised his hand to shield his eyes which he narrowed to ascertain exactly who was approaching him. He was cold and groped forward with his hand and felt the edge of carpet beneath his fingers and floorboards beyond that\u2026.a hand touched his shoulder gently<\/p>\n \u201cAre you all right, son?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, pa. I had a bad dream.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd fell out of bed\u2026.\u201d Ben’s voice held a note of concern as he watched his son rather embarrassingly haul himself to his feet.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, seems so\u2026\u201d Adam rubbed his head and frowned, wondering what he had banged it against.<\/p>\n \u201cWas it the same dream as the other night?\u201d Ben set down the lamp and pulled back the covers, rearranging them with the expert hand of a parent who had spent years at the task.<\/p>\n \u201cSimilar…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn what way?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was running away from something I had seen, something that terrified me\u2026.I fell and bit my tongue and there was blood in my mouth\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut you were safe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know\u2026I fell, I can remember falling\u2026.then I landed on the floor.\u201d He gave his father a sheepish grin, \u201cSorry, did I wake you up?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI heard you calling out\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCalling out?\u201d Adam frowned and bit his bottom lip \u201cWhat was I saying?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were calling out for me\u2026\u201d Ben said quietly and he shook his head and smiled gently. \u201cIt probably meant nothing, try and get back to sleep.\u201d He leaned forward and picked up the oil lamp \u201cGood night, son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood night, pa.\u201d<\/p>\n The door closed and plunged the room into darkness. Slowly, as his eyes grew accustomed to the dark, Adam saw the darkness fade to gray and familiar shapes formed around the room. He folded his arms behind his head and stared at the window through which he could see the moon and the stars\u2026. He watched as the moon slid shyly behind a cloud and the grayness of the room became black once again.<\/p>\n How often had he had this dream now? For several months at least once a week, but lately it had increased to twice in a few days and this time\u2026he closed his eyes and tried to think of the dream again, but it was elusive now. All he could remember was that he was running away and his chest hurt and that he had stumbled and fallen onto the ground. He could feel himself drifting back into sleep\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n He had fallen onto the ground and his heart was hammering against his ribs as though raging against its imprisonment behind them. He could not move and the pain made his throat and ears ache. He could sense their approach. He could feel their feet making the earth tremble beneath his fingers. Someone grabbed him by the hair and yanked his head back<\/p>\n \u201cYou ever say one word of what you saw and I swear we\u2019ll hunt you down and kill you, Adam Cartwright!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoesn\u2019t matter where you go\u2026we\u2019ll find you\u2026we\u2019ll hunt you down and kill you\u2026.\u201d Hissed another voice close to his ear.<\/p>\n He had his eyes shut tight, forcing himself not to cry out in pain, or fear\u2026never show fear to anyone, that was what pa always said\u2026and then they were gone and he was left panting and trembling and feeling sick with the fear that he felt.<\/p>\n He woke up again and struggled to retain the words that had rang out so loudly in his head just seconds before.\u00a0 His eyes moved to the direction of the window through which an early morning sun was rising to greet a new day.<\/p>\n He sat up and buried his face in his hands and rubbed his eyes. Perhaps he should go and see Paul, perhaps he would understand why he kept having this recurring dream! He yawned as he heard the footsteps of his brother, Hoss, crash along the landing and the thud of his brother’s fist against the door to make sure he was awake. He rubbed his cheeks and his jaw, realising how they ached, as though during the night he had slept with them clenched so tightly that it pained him still. Joe\u2019s lighter footsteps passed along the landing, Joe was whistling \u2013 a new day had dawned and Joe was happy. Adam stretched, for some reason, he felt the day to be full of foreboding.<\/p>\n CHAPTER 1<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, son?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben’s anxious voice made his other two sons turn to face Adam as their elder brother came down the stairs.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re late\u2026saved you some pancakes..\u201d Hoss mumbled, jabbing in the direction of the few still on the plate, looking pale and greasy and uninteresting and Adam frowned and forced a smile of thanks as he pulled out his chair and sat down.<\/p>\n \u201cCoffee?\u201d Joe asked, unusually kindly so early in the morning and Adam cast a suspicious look at his brother before nodding and muttering his thanks. \u201cHow about some bacon and eggs?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo..er\u2026yes, thanks..\u201d Adam frowned and picked up his cup and gulped down the dark liquid and felt the bitter taste of it hit the back of his throat. He glanced up and saw Hoss\u2019 anxious eyes on him, and noticed the swiftness with which Hoss turned his head so as not to be noticed by his older brother.<\/p>\n Adam looked at his father who was reading a letter with a slight frown. Joe produced the bacon and eggs and smiled again at his brother as he placed the plate on the table<\/p>\n \u201cMind the plate, it\u2019s hot!\u201d he said gently<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d Adam asked suspiciously \u201cI don\u2019t usually get this kind of treatment\u2026not unless there\u2019s something you want me to do for you \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, you\u2019re too suspicious for your own good!\u201d Hoss counseled \u201cShucks, talking thataway, you could upset our little brother here\u201d and he shook his head sadly while he tucked into his platter of food.<\/p>\n \u201cWould I ever?\u201d Adam scowled, glancing over at Joe who immediately adapted an injured air and sighed heavily \u201cAlright? What\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing!\u201d Joe muttered<\/p>\n \u201cNope, nuthin\u2019\u201d Hoss said but his words got wrapped around a loud rumble of a burp at the same time, he pretended not to have noticed his fall from grace, even though Ben cleared his throat very loudly and scowled over at him. He picked up some bacon on the tines of his fork and engulfed it in one mouthful<\/p>\n \u201cOne day you\u2019ll choke\u201d Adam said calmly<\/p>\n \u201cNever\u2026it\u2019d be a waste of good food!\u201d Hoss grinned<\/p>\n \u201cHey,\u201d Joe sat upright, and stabbed the air with his fork in Adams direction \u201cAin\u2019t you and pa going into town today\u2026to see the teacher with the rest of the School Board?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t remind me!\u201d Adam winced, realising that he had forgotten, and now the day seemed certainly doomed!<\/p>\n \u201cShucks..I don\u2019t envy you!\u201d Hoss paused in shoveling food into his mouth to glance sadly at his brother and then sideways on to his father who was folding the letter back into its envelope \u201cReckon if Mr. Crook had ever been my teacher I\u2019d have eloped!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe burst into a sharp staccato burst of laughter and even Adam, despite his black mood, gave a chuckle<\/p>\n \u201cEloped?\u201d Joe shrieked \u201cEloped? Who with? Miss Abigail Jones?\u201d he gurgled<\/p>\n \u201cShucks no\u2026\u201d Hoss blushed and shook his head \u201cYou know what I mean well enough, Joe, jest quit the foolin\u2019 around!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you mean you\u2019d have played truant?\u201d Adam suggested, a smile on his face and feeling more relaxed at last<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, that\u2019s the word, only I wouldn\u2019t be playing, I\u2019d be deadly serious\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n This statement elicited another round of chuckles from his brothers and even Ben permitted himself a smile at his sons expense. Hoss frowned and stabbed at his food.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I mean to say is, that from what I hear, Mr. Crook isn’t the kind of teacher kids should have to put up with.”<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I agree with you there, Hoss\u201d Joe replied \u201cFrom the things I\u2019ve heard Peter Crook shouldn\u2019t be allowed ten miles near a school house.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe gets results.\u201d Ben said quietly, \u201cI\u2019ve heard a lot of good reports about him\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh sure, but what about the bad reports?\u201d Joe glanced at his father and then at Adam who seemed preoccupied with thoughts of his own. \u201cHe even gives the little girls a hiding if they dare to disobey any of his rules..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe has to maintain discipline, Joe\u201d Adam muttered.<\/p>\n \u201cThe kids I\u2019ve met in town have been asking me if you would go back and teach them again.\u201d Joe said, pushing his food around his plate and his voice a decibel or so lower in tone. \u201cWhen you recall the trouble you caused\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s fer sure..\u201d Hoss grinned, \u201cGot poor Charley shot! All those years he was the sole survivor of that massacre no one knew about \u2018ceptin\u2019 Chaffee and Colonel Scott and you come along and perchow \u2013 no more Charley!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t remind me.\u201d Adam sighed and frowned darkly, he bit his bottom lip and shook his head \u201cIt was a mess from start to finish and I wish to high heaven I had never got to know about it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think Charley would have wanted folk to know.\u201d Ben said quietly, \u201cIt may have been unfair justice, but it was some form of justice, some attempt at retribution that he had never experienced before.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe never got to have much time to enjoy it though, did he?\u201d Adam said bitterly.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, well\u2026\u201d Hoss glanced warily around the table, realising they had taken the lid off a topic that would have been better left alone, \u201cAt least Chaffee got his just desserts, and Colonel Scott has tried to make some amends.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, he came off the School Board and the Board of the Mining Committee\u2026.That should make us all feel mighty proud of him, shouldn\u2019t it?\u201d Adam said testily and he pushed himself away from the table, throwing his napkin down as he did so.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, at least we managed to get a school teacher who isn\u2019t afraid to stand up for his rights\u2026or the rights of his school children,\u201d Ben said quietly, standing up and pushing himself away from the table. \u201cPeter Crook may be a stricter disciplinarian than either of you would have liked had you been in his class room, but the standard of education has improved during the six months he\u2019s been here, and if he gets his way today, then the school house will soon be improving in appearance and there will be more equipment available for the students than there has been for a decade!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s also lost nearly a third of the students,\u201d Adam replied quietly as he buckled on his gunbelt. \u201cSome of the children refuse to go to school while Crook is the teacher, and their parents are backing them up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s something for us to discuss with the Board today.\u201d Ben replied, taking down his hat and he looked up and glanced over at his other two sons, \u201cAre you two checking fences down at the south east creek today?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYep!\u201d Hoss sighed, pouring out another cup of coffee.<\/p>\n \u201cThen don\u2019t you think you should both be getting started? By the time you get there at this rate, it\u2019ll be time to turn back and head for home and supper\u2026.\u201d Ben smiled, the smile of a father proud of his sons, all three of them, and Joe, catching the smile gave a twinkling smile of his own back to his parent.<\/p>\n \u201cSure, pa, we\u2019ll be right on our way\u2026c\u2019mon, Hoss\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He strolled over to the bureau and picked up his gunbelt and looked at his elder brother and frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope your day goes well, Adam\u201d he said quietly<\/p>\n \u201cNo reason why it shouldn\u2019t,\u201d came the terse reply, and then Adam bit his lip and glanced down at Joe and smiled, \u201cThanks, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n He was first to leave the house, and did not see the anxious glances that flitted between the three other men as he walked towards the stable. Nothing was said however, and all that he was aware of was the sound of the door closing behind them and the sound of their feet following him to where the horses were waiting.<\/p>\n \u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n Ben and Adam enjoyed a leisurely ride to town and rode down the Main Street in sunlight, touching their hats politely in salute to the women they knew and nodding to the men. It was not a busy time of day, and Mr. Cass was still arranging his wares outside the General Store as they rode past him. Sally waved from the window and was greeted with a smile from both men.<\/p>\n At the School house Mr. Hawkins was waiting, hat in hand and an anxious look on his face which Ben noted immediately, and in order to put his old friend at ease, he slipped on the cloak of bonhomie to make whatever Hawkins needed to say, easier for him to say it.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Jack, don\u2019t tell me we\u2019re too early? Or are we too late and everyone else gone home?\u201d Ben flashed a smile, but his eyes were wary.<\/p>\n Jack Hawkins glanced over at Adam, who had dismounted from Sport and was standing close behind his father. Adam did not bother to pretend, he was too honest to be so patronising, or perhaps not a good enough strategist to employ such tactics, he just narrowed his eyes and looked at the man and adopted a waiting attitude with his head to one side and his back straight<\/p>\n \u201c\u2019Morning, Ben, Adam. No \u2013 er \u2013 you\u2019re in good time, Ben. Everyone\u2019s here..but..there\u2019s kind of a hitch in proceedings?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat hitch would that be, Mr. Hawkins?\u201d Adam asked in a rather clipped tone of voice, while his eyes glanced over at the hobbled horses as if to imply that they could give a more straightforward answer to his question if they waited long enough.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Crook has asked that Adam did not attend this meeting\u2026he said..that if Adam stepped into the school room, he would leave!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben and Adam looked at one another in astonishment, this was something that neither of them had anticipated and then they looked at Hawkins, who was biting his lip anxiously.<\/p>\n \u201cDid he give any reason?\u201d Ben asked<\/p>\n \u201cNo, but he was very insistent.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI bet he was\u2026\u2026\u201d Adam hissed between clenched teeth and he slapped his hat back onto his head and turned on his heel, Ben grabbed at his arm to prevent him leaving, only to have it shrugged away.<\/p>\n \u201cListen, Jack, if Adam isn\u2019t allowed in to this meeting, then I shan\u2019t attend it either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Ben, we really need you there, we have \u2013 have to comply with the rules, sufficient numbers to make up a quorum and \u2013 Adam, I\u2019m jest real sorry about this but\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t apologise, Mr. Hawkins, there\u2019s no need. I\u2019ll wait for you in the saloon, pa.\u201d Adam forced a smile and nodded affirmation to his father, who seemed undecided as to what to do, so that Adam had to look his father in the face and insist on his going on into the meeting \u201cYou\u2019ll more than likely find out what it is that is worrying Mr. Crook, pa, whereas if you don\u2019t attend we may never know and the whole thing could get worse.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess you\u2019re right, son, but I\u2019m not going to let him get away with it, I\u2019ll make a formal complaint\u2026.\u201d Ben growled<\/p>\n Adam said nothing but just nodded, gave his father a grim smile and then tilted his hat at Hawkins and left. He vaulted into Sports saddle and turned the horses head back towards the Main Street of town.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you know what it\u2019s all about, Jack?\u201d Ben asked his old friend as they made their way up the steps of the school house.<\/p>\n \u201cNo idea, Ben, but one thing I do know already, it doesn\u2019t pay to upset Mr. Crook!\u201d and he gave Ben a long sideward look that made Ben frown and nod rather thoughtfully to himself.<\/p>\n Peter Crook stood by the teachers desk on the slightly raised platform with his hands clasped behind his back. He looked rather more like a bull ready to lock horns with the matadors in an arena, than a school teacher of a prosperous gold boom town.<\/p>\n He was short of stature but stockily built and seemingly with little or no neck of which to speak. His face was florid, with the high colour of a man choleric by nature. The dark eyes, piercingly bright, gleamed almost malevolently in their deep set sockets beneath black beetling brows. A strong nose with flaring nostrils, and a harsh gash of a mouth beneath which was a strong, square jaw. His near black hair was thinning on the top, but full around the back, making what neck he did posses seem to disappear altogether.<\/p>\n His eyes flicked up as the door opened, and when he saw Ben Cartwright and Jack Hawkins walk down the aisle towards him, he allowed a flash of triumph to gleam from the startlingly dark orbs. Other than that there was no movement of conciliation, warmth or friendliness from him. He remained standing as he had been before, his hands clasped behind his back, his short squat legs slightly apart and his chin thrust forwards as though he were mentally prepared to do battle with all and any who challenged him.<\/p>\n Ben had swept off his hat as he had entered the building, and greeted the other members of the Board with a hand shake and smile, after glancing over at the teacher, however, he merely nodded his acknowledgement of the man’s presence and pulled out a chair to sit down. The gesture was barely returned by the teacher.<\/p>\n Not for the first time did Ben wonder what had possessed the Board to take on such a man as Crook to replace Barbara Scott. He had been away on a cattle drive with the boys when the agreement had taken place, but as soon as he had seen Crook he had felt grave misgivings as to the wisdom of his being in such an important position in the town. Every meeting he had had with the man since, whether social or on school business, had only strengthened his dislike, and unease, about him. However, his was but one voice, and the other members had seemed disinclined to agree with him, or Adam. Now, with Adam disbarred from the meeting, Ben felt oddly isolated.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s call this meeting to order, shall we, gentlemen?\u201d Hawkins asked and glanced around the table, and then at Crook, who only then condescended to leave the platform and descend to their level and take a seat around the table with them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 2<\/p>\n Adam glanced about the saloon as he entered through the swing doors, and it was with a feeling akin to relief that he saw Paul Martin, nursing a glass of whiskey, reading some medical notes. He ordered himself a glass of beer and after paying for it he took himself over to the table<\/p>\n \u201cBusy, Paul?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot that much\u2026.pull yourself up a chair, Adam\u201d the doctor glanced up at the younger man and smiled, taking off his spectacles as he did so. \u201cI thought you\u2019d be at the School Board Meeting now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2019s gone \u2013\u201c Adam allowed his voice to trail away, a quick glance at Paul\u2019s face had been enough to convince him that the doctor already knew that he had been barred from the meeting. He brought the glass to his lips and swallowed a draught of it, then he set the glass down and looked over at the doctor, \u201cDo you have any idea why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy Crook did not want me to attend that meeting?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh! Yes!\u201d Paul tugged at his ear lobe \u201cWhen we get to the subject of Mr. Crook, we\u2019re talking about a very complex situation\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow complex?\u201d Adam leaned forward, his arms on the table and his hands cradling the half filled glass<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve met him?\u201d It was half question, half statement and Paul looked into the young mans face intently as he awaited the answer<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I have, several times now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd how does he strike you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe?\u201d Adam gave a half smile accompanied by a slight snort of derision \u201cI\u2019ve not a very good opinion of Mr. Crook, just now\u2026\u201d he glanced up at the Doctor \u201cWhy\u2019d you ask?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHave you met his wife?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout twice! Both times she looked at me as though I were the lowest form of snake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re talking about a woman who could make vinegar taste sweet\u201d Paul sighed, and he took a lingering gulp at the whiskey in his glass<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve children, haven\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPeter Junior and Paul.\u201d Paul Martin glanced over at the counter to where several men were lounging, one of whom had glanced over at them and then started whispering to the others in a low tone, but obviously about the doctor and his companion\u2026.or perhaps, just his companion. \u201cListen, let\u2019s go to my office, it\u2019ll be more private!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you wish.\u201d Adam replied, draining his glass and standing up to follow the doctor from the saloon. A hush settled upon the few men there, the saloon girls glanced up and at them from under heavily painted eyes, but they said nothing. Adam gave a slight frown but if he noticed anything worth commenting upon he kept his own counsel and quietly followed the doctor from the building.<\/p>\n The office was not far down Main Street, and they walked together in companionable silence. It was not long before they were sitting on opposite sides of the desk, and Paul smiled and offered Adam a cup of coffee, an offer the younger man refused.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on, Paul?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I don\u2019t rightly know, Adam. But there are rumours going around town about you, and not very favourable ones either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn what way?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRumours about you being a murderer\u2026a coward\u2026.someone who kills and then runs\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Adam said nothing, he barely moved, only the dark eyes betrayed any reaction as they turned several shades darker until they were as black as an Indians. The word \u2018runs\u2019 and what it meant, what it implied, triggered a memory in his mind. He then gave a slight shrug and looked at the doctor.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, where do these rumours come from, do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know what rumours are like, Adam. It just takes one person to hint at something and then it snowballs from there and no one knows or remembers the origin of it. At the moment \u2013\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean, at the moment?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust that at the moment your reputation here is solid, you\u2019ve built up a solid, honest name, along with your family, and the older townsfolk and settlers here know that. It’s the newer ones who move into town that seem to have brought the story along with them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCrook you mean?\u201d Adam snapped out the name and narrowed his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe, maybe not\u2026.but someone set the ball rolling, and Crook has his teeth into it and is prepared to, as he put it, keep his children clean from contamination.\u201d Paul frowned \u201cOf course, what happened here the other month when you were the stand in teacher for Miss Scott did not help, that just fed the whole story\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t kill anyone\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, but an upstanding citizen lost his good name, and two men were killed\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam slouched back in the chair and frowned, then he glanced up at the ceiling and then at Paul Martin who was looking too intently at his own fingernails to appear in any way comfortable with the interview.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd is it because he is a fine upstanding righetous minded man that Crook is fueling this story about me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think Mr. Crook comes into any of those categories, Adam. But he is using it to suit his own ends, and his wife does her bit too\u2026amongst the women\u201d<\/p>\n Adam sighed and shook his head thoughtfully, before looking out of the window which was behind Paul, and from where he could see people passing too and fro, going about their daily business without an apparent care in the world. Children ran by, whooping and shouting with glee, it was a weekend, free from school, free from the books\u2026.he returned his gaze to the doctor<\/p>\n \u201cWho was I supposed to have killed?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo one says\u2026but the fact is, Adam, you have killed men \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPaul?\u201d Adam stood up and shook his head \u201cThis is a country that doesn\u2019t abide by moral laws that govern the consciences of nice people back east! If a man isn\u2019t prepared to protect himself, his family or his land\u2026he may as well step back and get mown down\u2026I\u2019ve only ever shot a man down in self defense, you know that!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, most of the ranchers, settlers and townsfolk here have had to do the same, and it\u2019s a miserable statement of fact that life is held so cheaply. But the newer ones moving here are expecting different standards, they are expecting a conformity with the places they have left behind them\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ll have to wait awhile for that\u2026\u201d Adam said quietly \u201cNo one takes a life for pleasure, Paul, not unless they\u2019re sick in the head\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, look, if I get to hear of anything else\u2026I\u2019ll let you know. In the meantime, don\u2019t let it worry you,\u201d Paul smiled good humouredly, standing up and putting a firm friendly hand on Adams shoulder as he did so, \u201cAlthough even so, I would be careful if I were you around Crook\u2026.I doubt if you\u2019ll ever make a friend of him!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded and said nothing , although it crossed his mind that he could never see the day when he would want Peter Crook to be his friend .<\/p>\n He walked slowly to his horse and looked up at the sun and knew that it would not be long before Ben would be joining him, so it would be best to wait for him there. Sport turned and looked at him and snorted softly, and it was when he reached out to stroke the sleek neck that he noticed the slip of paper that was tucked under the saddle blanket, a white triangle peeking through to draw his attention. Glancing around he withdrew it slowly and opened it<\/p>\n \u201cThe good Book says \u2018Vengeance is mine\u2019 I shall repay, saith the Lord\u2019 but my patience has long run out and I do not intend to wait much longer.\u201d<\/p>\n He read it through twice over and then glanced about him once more. No one broke their stride as they walked by him, nor glanced uneasily in his direction, or paused out of curiosity to see his reaction to the note. He frowned and refolded it carefully, before slipping it into his pocket.<\/p>\n He eased his shoulders back, his left and then his right, and turned uneasily, as though aware that someone out there could well be aiming at his back with a rifle\u2026his eyes roved over the rows of windows in the hotel, the saloon, the stores\u2026.<\/p>\n \u201cDay dreaming, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben’s voice broke through his surveillance and he turned to his father and gave him a thin smile. Ben frowned and looked around him<\/p>\n \u201cFinished here for the day, son?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir, you could say that\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI collected the mail on the way here.\u201d Ben tapped the top pocket of his jacket and turned to watch as Adam mounted onto Sport. \u201cYou looked as though you were miles away when I came up just now..is everything alright?\u201d<\/p>\n Adams lips parted, then closed. He glanced away from his father and shook his head, and as he rode past his father he did not notice the way his fathers face fell into anxious, stern lines and the dark eyes followed the younger man as he rode ahead of him.<\/p>\n \u201cThe meeting went well, Adam\u201d Ben said as they jogged their way out of town<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCrook was extremely affable, for him\u2026and he seemed grateful that we had honored his request \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut all the same, he\u2019s an unpleasant character!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I agree!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded, and bit his bottom lip, it was obvious that Adams thoughts were elsewhere, and details about the school teacher, the school board and the meeting were far from his mind. He was two thirds wrong in his assumptions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 3<\/p>\n Hoss Cartwright stood at the door of the house and looked across to the dark figure leaning against the corral fence. For some minutes he looked upon his brother and wondered what it was that was gnawing at him to such an extent that he was even more withdrawn than usual. After awhile he took a deep breath and walked across the yard to join Adam in a companionable silence.<\/p>\n Side by side they stood together, their arms folded over the top rail of the corral and their eyes fixed to a destination far beyond where the line of trees obscured the horizon. Hoss, after casting copious sidelong glances at his brother, took a deep breath and ventured to ask Adam what it was that was worrying him, and if there was anything, then could he, Hoss, be of any help in the matter.<\/p>\n Without a word Adam drew the note from his pocket and passed it over. Hoss read it quickly in the diminishing light of eveningtide.<\/p>\n \u201cShucks, that\u2019s some kind of odd letter! Reckon it to be some kind of warning?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think so\u2026\u201d Adam intoned, taking the letter back and slipping it into his pocket and then, with a sigh, he resumed his posture against the corral fence.<\/p>\n \u201cTold pa about it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNope!\u201d Adam pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you reckon you oughta?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cP\u2019raps!\u201d Adam began to chew his bottom lip while his eyes remained fixed on a far off point amongst the trees<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cD\u2019you reckon this has anything to do with those dreams you bin havin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam said nothing to that but pursed his lips again and then shook his head. Then he looked at Hoss as though seeing him for the first time that evening<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you know about my dreams, Hoss?\u201d he asked finally<\/p>\n \u201cI heard ya\u201d Hoss looked down at the ground and scuffed the dusty soil into a small mound with his foot, before flattening it again \u201cSometimes during the night when I go down to the kitchen.I peeked inta ya room once or twice ta make sure you were okay; sure were tossing about some and yelling\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was I yelling?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t ya know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWould I ask if I did?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss frowned and shrugged, and then turned his eyes from his brothers face to look over at the darkening horizon<\/p>\n \u201cJest calling out for pa mostly\u2026once you yelled \u2018Leave me alone\u2019\u201d he shrugged \u201cBout all I can remember\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHoss?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHave you heard any talk about me in town\u2026you know, vindictive talk , making out I killed someone and then ran?\u201d Adam looked at his brothers profile and watched how Hoss\u2019 knit his brows in concentration in an effort to recall anything, when Hoss shrugged again and the honest face cleared of any emotion other than concern, Adam nodded \u201cI just wondered.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSeems an odd kinda thing to be wondering about, brother.\u201d Hoss sighed \u201cIs that \u2013 does that \u2013 have anything to do with that letter?\u201d and he jerked a thumb in the direction of Adams breast pocket<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know\u2026maybe!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve all bin guilty of killin\u2019..\u201d Hoss frowned and clasped his hands in a gesture of prayer, while he stared, like his brother, at the trees that were rapidly fading into the darkness \u201cShot down folk without even knowing their names nor kin\u2026what\u2019s a man to do when the law of the gun rules? Stand still and be shot down? It\u2019s a risk we all have to take, Adam\u2026every time we go into town!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d Adam bowed his head<\/p>\n \u201cPeople talk all the time, you don\u2019t usually take no notice of rubbish like thet?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know\u201d Adam repeated slowly and narrowed hs eyes and looked thoughtfully at his brother \u201cBut Doc Martin told me, and he seemed to attach some significance to it all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw, what\u2019s he know about life for the likes of us? Folk respect him \u2018cos he\u2019s the doc, but he still has a rifle in the buggy when he rides outa town and he\u2019d use it too.\u201d He grinned at the mental imagery that flashed into his head, that of the good doctor shooting down some assailant and then scrambling down from the buggy to patch the fellow up with bandages and linaments.<\/p>\n Adam smiled, seeing a similar picture in his own mind, then he slapped his brother on the back in a friendlier manner than he had done for some days<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go on inside\u201d he suggested \u201cIt\u2019s getting late\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, and I could do with a good nights sleep.I\u2019m that beat.\u201d Hoss yawned loudly and stretched, reaching up to the sky with his hands .<\/p>\n They both paused at the sound of a horse trotting slowly into the yard and through the darkening night Joe emerged, guiding Cochise lazily towards the stable. He drew up at the sight of his brothers and nodded a greeting<\/p>\n \u201cHave a good evening?\u201d Hoss ventured to ask.<\/p>\n \u201cNot as good as I had hoped!\u201d Joe muttered, dismounting now and leading Cochise forwards. \u201cLost most of my money to some new four flusher in town, then Daisy went swanning off with the guy. Sure was his night and not mine.\u201d he glanced thoughtfully over at Adam, and then frowned \u201cCrook was in the saloon\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe school teacher, you mean?\u201d Hoss asked, his eyebrows shooting up<\/p>\n \u201cWho else?\u201d Joe replied, twisting the reins of the horse in and out of his fingers, he glanced hurriedly over at Adam again and then squared his shoulders as though he were about to take on some prize fighter \u201cHe sure has a thing against you, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019d you mean?\u201d Adam asked with that clipped tone of voice that meant trouble for someone and Joe sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was saying how he used to know you back along and how he heard you killed someone, and then ran, didn\u2019t have the guts to stay and take your punishment!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope\u2026\u201d Hoss growled, stepping forward with his fists clenched and his jaw thrust forwards in such a manner that anyone else would have laughed, but not Joe nor Adam, the latter of whom placed a restraining hand on his brothers chest<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I did! I got up and walked right up to him and said \u201cThat\u2019s my brother you happen to be back stabbing, mister!\u201d and he looked me in the eye and said \u201cI know that!\u201d so I said \u201cThen you had best take them words back or I\u2019ll make you swallow each and every one of them.\u201d \u201cHow do you intend to do that\u201d he replied and the next thing I know someone was jabbing me in the back with a pistol and two other guys sprung up from nowhere and flanked him. So I said \u201dMy brother never killed anyone and ran from the consequences\u2026he\u2019s no coward, never was and never will be\u2026\u201d then he just looked me up and down as though I were dirt on his boot and told me to take myself off home.\u201d<\/p>\n They were silent for a few seconds and then Adam nodded, as though to himself, and placed a gentle hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Joe, I appreciate your standing up to him on my behalf.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe told me to tell you, that he had never forgotten you nor what you did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally ? Then he has the advantage over me, I can\u2019t recall him nor what it was I apparently did.\u201d and without another word Adam walked slowly back into the house.<\/p>\n Joe looked at Hoss and then back to his eldest brother and sighed, then he looked at Hoss once more \u201cDo you think this could get serious?\u201d he asked<\/p>\n \u201cI think it already got serious!\u201d came Hoss\u2019 honest reply and with a sigh the big man walked to the house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 4<\/p>\n \u201cCan I help you in some way?\u201d<\/p>\n The woman turned her head and looked at the speaker and then smiled. A pleasant smile. But then she did like what she was looking at\u2026.a tall, broad shouldered young man, with an attractive smile, dark brown eyes and black hair that curled close to the nape of his neck. The black shirt he wore cast a sombre shadow over an overall very attractive picture, and the gun belt that fitted snugly around his hips was a none too subtle reminder that her new world was quite different to the one she had left behind her.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you. I would be very grateful if you could help me and take some of these packages \u2013\u201c she indicated the boxes at her feet \u201cIf you could take some of them, then I shall be able to take the others without any trouble at all\u201d she paused and then struck out her hand \u201cI\u2019m Harriett, Harriett Davies, your new Pastors wife\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Adam Cartwright\u201d he replied and shook her hand and then began to pick up the parcels and boxes that were piled on the sidewalk \u201cI\u2019m sorry I wasn\u2019t on hand to catch these before you dropped them\u2026.I hope nothings broken\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be my fault if they were\u2026.I should not have been so ambitious as to try and carry everything home. I was just so glad to get them John said not to bring them along with everything else, he thinks of my work as \u2013 well \u2013 rather a waste of time and money, I suppose, but he means well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re an artist?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose the easel gave the game away?\u201d she laughed, a pleasant tinkle of a laugh.<\/p>\n \u201cIt did rather\u201d he smiled and hoisted the item further upon his shoulder in order to have the other packages more evenly balanced for him to carry.<\/p>\n They walked along the main street towards the clapboard house close to the church and as they neared the building Adam was able to hear the yells and laughter of children. He glanced at his companion and noticed the soft smile on her lips broadening as they neared the gate to her home<\/p>\n \u201cYour children?\u201d he asked, pushing the gate open with his foot<\/p>\n \u201cAll three\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n Up the steps and through the door and then, gratefully, able to abandon the packages and boxes and easel. She turned then, and smiled as she pulled off her bonnet, and once again surveyed him from head to foot and nodded<\/p>\n \u201cCoffee, Mr Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I should be getting back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNonsense. I\u2019d like you to meet my brood and I\u2019d like the chance to get to know you better. John won\u2019t be long, he\u2019s just visiting the teacher to arrange for the boys to attend school.\u201d she smiled again, and patted her chestnut hair into some semblance of order, although Adam thought that no amount of patting would ever manage to collect every stray wisp back into place.<\/p>\n He sat down, feeling much like a school boy himself doing as his teacher had bidden him. He twirled his hat round and round in his hands and looked around the room while with half an ear he could hear her calling out some names. There were paintings on the wall, some of children\u2019s faces sketched in charcoal and which he assumed, quite rightly, to be those of her own children. Other pictures showed a garden full of summer colours, flowers and butterflies and trees in blossom. Otherwise the room showed the usual clutter and chaos of a family recently moved in and with still a lot of work involved in transforming the house into their home. Boxes and furniture still under dust sheets were strewn here and there in a disarray and he frowned and thought how much the room seemed to reflect the personality and character of its new mistress, who could not even keep her hair under control.<\/p>\n She returned much like a frigate with her sails at full mast, followed by a small flotilla \u2026two boys and a girl. When she stopped they stopped, and hurried to stand in line by her side. Adam stood up and straightened his back and surveyed them with the same scrutiny with which they surveyed him<\/p>\n \u201cThis is Jeremy. Jeremy, say hello to Mr. Cartwright!\u201d<\/p>\n Jeremy stepped forward and held out his hand and smiled, a handsome boy of ten who had his mothers colouring and piercing blue eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you do, Mr. Cartwright!\u201d he had freckles massing across his cheeks and nose, and his dark hair flopped rebelliously over his brow, as fast as he pushed it away, so it would flop back. It seemed to be a constant battle and Adam wondered why his mother never got hold of some scissors to cut the whole thing off.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is James.\u201d James was helped forward by a firm push between his shoulder blades and he scowled up at his mother and wriggled away, before glaring at Adam, producing his hand and nodding a greeting.<\/p>\n Adam shook the boys hand and smiled back, rather grudgingly the boy smiled in return. He was a thin faced blond haired boy with pale blue eyes and a ruddy complexion. He was eight years old and Adam wondered, briefly, how the boy would fare with Mr. Crook as his teacher.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Amy!\u201d piped up the girl bouncing up to him with a dimpled grin, exposing a lack of two front teeth.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Adam.\u201d he replied and shook her hand<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m five\u201d she tossed back her dark ringlets and her gray eyes twinkled up at him, even at five she was a born coquette and didn\u2019t care who knew it!<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s enough, off you go, go and play!\u201d the mother ordered, clapping her hand as though she had at least thirty rather than just three to dispose off. They promptly scattered, returning to the garden with whoops and hollers of delight. She shook her head and sighed and then turned to him rather absent mindedly, as though now that he was there, she was rather unsure as to what to do with him, then she smiled and clicked her fingers<\/p>\n \u201cAh yes, coffee\u2026..and I\u2019ve some cake\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no\u2026honestly, it\u2019s quite alright, believe me\u2026I had best go, I have chores to do\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Mr. Cartwright, I can\u2019t let you go without\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence fell upon the room. It was rather similar to the effect a black cloud has on a bright summers day. It even brought a shiver down Adams spine and before he turned to meet the Pastor he knew that he would not like the man.<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning, my dear, we have a visitor I see?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJohn, this is Adam Cartwright, he kindly helped me carry my bits and bobs home.\u201d Harriett declared, obviously quite undeterred by anything her husband said and oblivious to the method of his delivery \u201dI\u2019m going to make some coffee\u2026do you want some?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, my dear” he turned and nodded at her retreating back and then swiveled round to look at Adam. \u201cIt\u2019s good to meet you, Mr. Cartwright, I\u2019ve heard a lot about you.\u201d he paused, as though to let the significance of what he had said sink into the younger mans mind. He extended his hand which Adam accepted and shook hurriedly \u201cYou\u2019re Ben Cartwrights eldest son, aren\u2019t you?\u201d and he smiled .<\/p>\n He was a handsome man. Tall, well built and with startlingly gray eyes. His fair hair was thick and heavy and grew straight from a high brow. He had the face of a gentle man, a man of kindness and affability and when he smiled his eyes smiled too, which indicated that he was relaxed with this stranger in his home, and prepared to make him welcome as a friend. He was, in fact, so much the opposite of what Adam had anticipated that he wondered why he had assumed that he would feel such dislike for him, when in fact, John Davies was one of the most charming men he had met in a long time.<\/p>\n His handshake was firm and strong, of which Adam both liked and approved. And his hands were attractive, as indeed was his whole appearance. When Harriett re-entered the room with a tray of cups and pots he stepped forward immediately to relieve her of them and carried them to the table, an action that Adam respected and which made him smile.<\/p>\n \u201cSit down, Mr. Cartwright, you look as though you are planning to run for your life\u201d Harriett said, waving at a chair close by and indicating that he should make himself comfortable there. Her guest did as he was ordered and sat down quickly, discovering a book concealed beneath the dust sheet which caused some degree of discomfort but which he felt it proper to ignore.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Mr. Cartwright, you\u2019re our first visitor. Welcome to our home!\u201d and John raised the coffee pot in salute and began to pour out the hot liquid \u201cI understand that your family were one of the first to settle around here.\u201d He passed a cup of the dark bitter liquid to his guest who smiled upon accepting it \u201cIt must have been an extremely tough time for you all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was by no means easy.\u201d Adam replied rather shyly and he smiled over at Harriett who was settling down on a chair opposite him.<\/p>\n \u201cHow long have you been here?\u201d she asked, looking at him with an intensity that made him feel uncomfortable.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I think I was about 8 or 9 when we arrived. Carson City was called Eagle Station then, it was little more than a settlement of a few clapboard shacks and a huddle of tarpaulin tents. Hereabouts there were some panhandlers though, the Grosch brothers had panned for gold on the Washoe for years before we arrived. The Pauite lived more freely then too, but as both settlements grew and more and more gold and silver was discovered new boundaries were drawn up and they have less freedom to roam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo the indians here cause any problems at all?\u201d Harriett asked quietly, lowering her cup and her face registering a degree of alarm.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve not done so for some time, ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d hate to think that we had brought the children somewhere dangerous.\u201d she frowned and sipped her coffee, it was obvious from the change of her mood that she was imagining a Pauite behind every shrub and tree beyond the town.<\/p>\n \u201cThey would not harm the children.\u201d Adam said very quietly \u201cEven when there has been trouble, the Pauite love children, you\u2019ve nothing to fear from them, believe me.\u201d<\/p>\n She glanced at John, her husband, and then back at the young man opposite her, and smiled slowly, but said nothing. John cleared his throat, a prelude to his deciding to speak now, and he leaned forward a little to do so.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did your mother think of it here? When you came it was obviously far more dangerous and wild. Did she settle alright? Was there a school for you and your brothers to be educated?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy step mother moved here when I was about 11 years old, and she settled here very well, thank you. There was some kind of school established by then.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I heard that you were the one that went to college?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir, I did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you study?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cArchitecture and engineering. But, if you don\u2019t mind my changing the subject, Mr. Davies\u2026what made you decide to come here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, not my choice personally.\u201d John smiled broadly and his eyes twinkled \u201cI doubt very much if I would ever have moved from New York had not our Bishop allocated this diocese for me. We were due a change and decided that we would give it a try. If it is God’s will, then may His will be done.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded thoughtfully and finished his coffee and then stood up and picked up his hat. He looked at Mrs. Davies and then at her husband. From the garden came the whoops and yells of the boys and the lament of a child in distress and Harriett bounded up from her chair.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s Amy, those boys have probably got her tied to the washing line or something dreadful. Please excuse me, Mr. Cartwright, and do feel welcome to come at anytime.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, I shall.\u201d he turned to go, aware that John was standing and ready to walk him to the door.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope you\u2019ll be happy here, Mr. Davies.\u201d he said as they paused at the front door.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure we shall be, and please, call me John\u201d he smiled again and extended his hand for the second time, once again Adam accepted it and this time shook it more warmly, something that the Pastor noted for his smile widened and the creases around his eyes deepened. \u201cTell me, Mr. Cartwright, Adam, have you had any dealings with the school teacher as yet?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot very much, sir. I have no children and \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understood that you were on the school board?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was before Mr. Crooks arrival, but I am not now.\u201d Adam slipped his hat onto his head and glanced down the path at the sprawl of houses along the road, then he smiled, bade the Pastor farewell and walked back to the General Store.<\/p>\n He thought about the Davies family as he walked to where he had left Sport. They were friendly and warm, hospitable and carefree and so different from the school teachers family that his thoughts began to wander in that direction merely because of the difference. Not for the first time in his life did he ponder about the complexities of life, and the effects upon different personalities. He reached Sport while still deep in thought and was about to swing himself into the saddle when he noticed the slip of paper tucked into the seam of his saddle.<\/p>\n It had been two weeks since the last time he had been in town and received such a slip of paper. A trickle of apprehension shivered down his spine and he chewed the inner part of his cheek as he carefully opened it and read the sprawled message.<\/p>\n \u201cCartwright, don\u2019t forget some people have long memories.\u201d<\/p>\n He stared long and hard at the words, it was the same rough paper, the same crude way of writing. He glanced up and nervously glanced up and down the street, before tucking the paper into his waist belt. Then he mounted into the saddle and turned the horse in the direction out of town, and rode slowly down the Main Street. His eyes were constantly moving too and fro now, as he wondered constantly who could possibly have written such a note among the people he had known for so long.<\/p>\n A man came out of the Bucket of Blood saloon, and leaned against a post, a beer glass half filled in his hand. As Adam passed him, he raised the glass in salute, with a mean cold look in his small beady eyes and Adam, having noticed him, flicked his eyes back to the road. Peter Crook, mean spirited, and quick to talk and accuse\u2026..could it be possible that the school teacher had written the notes, and if it were so, then why? What connection was there between himself and Peter Crook?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 5<\/p>\n Days ticked by with remorseless constancy. Time chased itself \u2026and never caught up!<\/p>\n A week slipped by before Adam, and Joe, rode back into town. It had been a busy week and the dreams that had haunted Adam so relentlessly for months had left him with seven nights of undisturbed sleep. The two brothers galloped into town without any particular cares nor anxieties on their minds and dismounted outside the General Stores. Joe rubbed his hands together and with a grin glanced up and down the street , his hazel eyes twinkled and he slapped his brother amicably on the back<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll see you at the Bucket of Blood then about 12:30!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be late..\u201d Adam smiled as Joe pushed back his hat and looked rather like the twelve year old boy his brothers took, often under protest, into town with them<\/p>\n \u201cAm I ever?\u201d Joe laughed, a clear ringing chortle that indicated the high spirits he was in that morning \u201cI\u2019ll collect the mail and do my errands and see you with two beers waiting on the table\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMake sure they are, and don\u2019t forget we have to be home early this afternoon, pa wants us to check over some horses\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, okay, I hadn\u2019t forgotten\u201d Joe grinned and with a merry whistle on his lips he sauntered down the street to the Telegraph and Mail Office.<\/p>\n Adam watched his brother for a second or two and then walked into the store. Sally Cass saw the door open and glanced in his direction and smiled a welcome, before continuing to serve the lady by the counter. Harriett Davies and Barbara Scott were also in the store, chatting together in a pleasant manner, and as Adam tipped his hat politely something struck him in the leg and hung on tightly, so that had he taken another step he would have fallen, he glanced down and saw Amy Davies clinging to him like a limpet<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, Adam \u2013 I bin waiting for to see you agin\u201d she cried, her eyes widening with delight at the sight of him<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid my daughter is something of a hoyden, Mr Cartwright, she decided last night that she was going to marry you when she was old enough\u2026..I hope you don\u2019t mind?\u201d Harriett smiled, her eyes crinkling pleasantly and by her side Barbara Scott laughed<\/p>\n \u201cNow that\u2019s a proposal you can\u2019t refuse, Adam\u201d she said, her eyes scanning his face to see what reaction there would be to this situation. Barbara was an intelligent woman, she had been the school teacher for a while, a brief while, and was quite well qualified to teach anywhere she chose. Why she had chosen to remain in Virginia City after her uncle\u2019s disgrace was still a mystery.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll bear it in mind\u201d Adam smiled and looked down at the little girl \u201cIt\u2019s good to see you again, Amy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you gonner come to my house agin soon?\u201d the girl shrilled, tugging still at his leg.<\/p>\n \u201cI daresay I shall\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMommy will bake a cake if\u2019n you do!\u201d she turned large eyes to her mother and smiled \u201cWon\u2019t you, mommy?\u201d<\/p>\n The sound of someone snorting in derision could not be ignored and all of them turned in the direction of the other woman who had turned to view them for a moment or two and had allowed the expression of disgust to escape her thin lips. She glared at them and picked up her basket before striding past them, both women and Adam watched her departure with some discomfiture. Harriett sighed<\/p>\n \u201cMrs Crook seems as much out of temper as ever\u2026\u201d she murmured and turned to scrutinize more closely the bales of material stacked on the counter<\/p>\n \u201cOne of her sons was complaining of feeling unwell this morning.\u201d Sally Cass explained, although her cheeks were a little redder than usual and she looked uncomfortable as she turned to Adam \u201cHave you come for your order, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs it ready?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be in about half an hour\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll come back for it then\u2026\u201d he tipped his hat and smiled and nodded over at Harriett and Barbara and quickly walked out of the store. He saw Mrs Crook walking hurriedly across the main street and even as he stepped from the sidewalk she disappeared into the dressmakers<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n He turned immediately, taking off his hat as Barbara Scott approached him<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Barbara?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about Mr and Mrs Crook\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about them?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you know of any reason why they should hate you so much?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo they?\u201d he stopped walking, and turned to face her and when she looked up into his face his dark eyes scanned her own and saw only anxiety and concern \u201cI thought that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMr Crook came to see my uncle the other day. Of course he wanted to know all about the situation with Sam Chaffee and Charley and your involvement\u2026.but uncle did not tell him too much. Then he said he was going to charge you with defamation of character and undermining his authority as a teacher in the town\u2026.Uncle asked him on what grounds could he put such claims and Crook said on the basis of what he knew about you and the fact that his students have more than once commented that they want you back as their teacher\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what about your Uncle? I\u2019m sure he must have had something to say on the matter?\u201d Adam smiled thinly, although his eyes only darkened<\/p>\n \u201cHe said that you had proven to be an excellent teacher and that he had nothing but admiration for you, in every way possible.\u201d She smiled now, her turn to smile without mirth and her eyes also darkened as she looked away from him \u201cI think he was trying to make amends for the way things happened, Adam\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was Crooks reaction?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe lost his temper apparently, he seems to have a very short temper\u2026.Uncle has got the impression that Crook is weeding out anyone in town who has a grudge against you, or your family\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, well, he\u2019ll find himself with quite a small army then\u2026\u201d Adam sighed and frowned and bit his bottom lip \u201cIt was good of your Uncle to stand up for me, I do appreciate that, Barbara.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s trying to build bridges, but\u2026he\u2019s not very good at it as yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPractise, they say, makes perfect!\u201d Adam smiled again at her \u201cAre you going to the library?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I was going to change these books\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn that case, I\u2019ll walk along with you !\u201d he said quietly.<\/p>\n \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n Peter Crook stood on the platform beside his desk and flexed the thin cane between his fingers. With his stocky legs wide apart, and his chest thrust out, he looked more than ever like an enraged bull about to explode. He viewed with dark little eyes the heads that were bent over their slates and books as each and every child there labored at their tasks. Each of them knew that were they to raise their heads and loiter for an instant Crook would have his fat little fingers curling around their collars and have them hauled out to the front as an example of bad conduct before the whole class.<\/p>\n Oh how many tears were shed every morning as children begged their mothers not to send them to school. Little girls feigned sickness, clung to their mothers skirts and wept. Boys grumbled and groaned and threatened to play truant rather than go. Older boys just stayed home, persuading their fathers that there were chores to be done that were more important that any school work.<\/p>\n Crook viewed the bent heads, but he also viewed the empty desks and chairs that had been filled when he had arrived to take up his assignment as school teacher. For each empty desk and chair he blamed Adam Cartwright!<\/p>\n Jeremy and James Davies nudged one another and glanced sideways along to see how their neighboring students were getting along with their school work. In five short minutes the bell would sound for recess and they grinned over at one another and nudged each others foot for reassurance that playtime would soon be there.<\/p>\n Peter and Paul Crook, the teacher’s two boys, sat side by side laboring over their school work. For as long as he could remember Peter Junior had suffered being the student the other students hated most even though such a label was totally undeserved. But he was the teacher’s eldest son and it was wrongly assumed, the teacher’s spy. Not for him the pleasure of being part of a gang of boys running out to kick a ball around, for group together to make innocent mischief. The fact that he looked so much like his mother, long faced, lantern jawed, thin lipped and narrow eyed, did not help either. He looked like a ferret, therefore it was assumed he would act like one. He dreaded recess. He hated the loneliness and the obvious dislike as one and all of the students, no matter what their age, turned away from him.<\/p>\n He had other concerns too weighing upon his mind. His brother, Paul, had woken that day feeling nauseous and feverish, but their father had insisted that no son of his ever became ill. Paul was forced to dress and walk to school alongside his brother and father..and now he sat beside his brother, sweating and grunting and wheezing\u2026Peter Junior was praying earnestly that Paul could hold out long enough for recess before having to go to the out house and do whatever he had to do\u2026.<\/p>\n The crash of a desk being shoved to one side brought every child’s’ head up with a snap as they watched Paul Crook lurch from his seat and push the desk from him. They watched as the teacher lunged forward, barking as he did so \u201cWhat do you think you\u2019re doing, boy, get back into your seat!\u201d<\/p>\n The teacher’s son! Breaths were sucked in with an audible hiss. Little girls huddled closer together. Every eye was fixed on the teacher as he lunged towards his son and grabbed his arm. Surely Paul Crook knew by now that no one left the class room without asking permission, in fact, no one dared to ask for permission\u2026everyone knew that you never moved, sneezed, coughed or needed to release your bladder in Mr. Crook’s classroom. Would the teachers son have priviledges that were never extended to the others?<\/p>\n \u201cLemme go. Lemme go.\u201d Paul shrieked as the thin rod whistled and struck his rear.<\/p>\n \u201cYou should know better\u2026.what kind of example are you\u2026\u201d and the rod whistled again.<\/p>\n \u201cLeave him be\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The three words brought silence like a shroud falling upon them all. Paul wrested himself free of his father’s clutches and ran from the room, he reached the door and vomited onto the step before fleeing into the yard. Inside the class room every eye now turned to the tableau before them as father and son stood face to face in front of the teacher’s desk<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you say?\u201d Crook hissed<\/p>\n \u201cI said to leave him be\u2026he\u2019s sick, ill\u2026.if you had any sense of decency you would have noticed that this morning, but no, you had to insist he attend school, he wasn\u2019t allowed the opportunity of staying home and getting well\u2026you could have\u2026\u201d the rod whistled through the air and landed across the boy’s shoulders. \u201cPaul’s sick\u2026you don\u2019t even care\u2026..\u201d the child cried, oblivious of his pain as anger gave him the courage to show the contempt and loathing he had for his father, this once in a lifetime chance that had come his way to prove to everyone there that he was not his father’s spy, nor his father’s toadie, he was just like them, a little boy who was frightened by a bully, the saddest thing being that the bully was his own father.<\/p>\n CHAPTER 6<\/p>\n \u201cLook at that dumb fool kid!\u201d some one yelled.<\/p>\n \u201cGit hisself killed if\u2019n he don\u2019t watch out!\u201d another voice commented.<\/p>\n Adam and Barbara paused in their stroll towards the library and glanced over to the sound of someone yelling. Hogan was trundling down the main street in his wagon, rickety as it was, it was making a fair speed towards the General Stores. He was driving along quite contentedly and minding his own business when suddenly a movement caught the corner of his eye and he saw the boy stumble\u2026<\/p>\n \u2026Adam Cartwright moved from a standing position to top speed in a second. With a yell to Hogan to stop, which went unheeded amidst the melee that was occurring, Adam ran full pelt across the road, threw himself at the falling boy and rolled with him in his arms into the sidewalk. He lay there, his arms around the boy, shielding him with his body and waiting, braced, for the impact of either the horses or the wagon to pass over him.<\/p>\n Hogan veered, pulling with all his strength at the reins and using every ounce of body weight behind the action to pull and veer the horses over to the right. As they moved so a barrel of molasses toppled from the back of the wagon and smashed into the road, spewing its contents into the dirt and dust.<\/p>\n The horses pulled up but not before they had mounted the sidewalk opposite and overturned several barrels of apples, some sacks of potatoes, and several buckets that sent half a dozen mops skittering across the door of the Store.<\/p>\n One of the mops fell onto Widow Hawkins who thought she was being attacked by a tousled headed lanky lad and on that premise went immediately into action with her parasol which she wielded to such good effect that Hank Purvis, who was passing by counting the money he had just taken from the bank, was forcibly jabbed in the stomach, back stepped five paces, toppled down two steps and lost his money (he found all but two cents within five seconds of the incident however and Widow Hawkins claimed that he even caught several coins before they even landed).<\/p>\n A small crowd gathered around Adam and the boy, whom Adam very gently raised up in his arms and lay across his knees as he felt the small body for any broken bones. Barbara, leaning over them, put a gentle hand on Adam’s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the school teachers youngest boy,\u201d she said quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou had better go and tell him, Barbara\u2026.his boy doesn\u2019t look too well\u2026\u201d Adam replied, getting to his feet with the boy in his arms and striding hurriedly across the road to Paul’s surgery.<\/p>\n \u201cBless my soul\u201d whispered Widow Hawkins \u201cI\u2019d best go and tell Mrs Crook\u2026\u201d and with a swish of her purple skirts she hurried over to the dressmakers where Mrs. Crook had last been seen.<\/p>\n It was ten minutes later when Joseph Cartwright sauntered to where Sport and Cochise were nodding over the hitching rail. He paused a while, watching with some amusement the antics of Hogan and several other men as they attempted to clear up spilt molasses from the street. Then he checked his watch and realised he was running short of time\u2026he stretched, flexed his arms and yawned. There seemed little point in hanging around much longer, he would go to the Bucket of Blood and order those beers. He grinned and pulled his hat lower and stroked Sport’s sleek neck\u2026.his fingers touched something sharp, and upon turning for a closer look he noticed a triangle of paper fixed to Adams saddle.<\/p>\n His first action was to look around for some sight of his brother but there was no sign of him anywhere. Next he scratched the back of his neck, peered beneath the brim of his hat and stroked his chin. Then he filched the paper from the saddle and with a grin, opened it. It would be fun to see just who Adams latest amour was\u2026.and what this little billet-doux had to say..perhaps a rendezvous? He grinned from ear to ear as he read the note, written in a neat hand he read, \u201cMeet me at the corner of the livery stable alley\u2026noon\u2026I\u2019ll explain everything when I see you.\u201d<\/p>\n He rolled his hazel eyes in a mischievous gleaming air of curiosity. Well, it was just past noon now\u2026he tapped his fingers upon his chest, as though weighing the pro\u2019s and con\u2019s of his actions and then with a grin on his face, he slipped the note into his jacket pocket and hurried to the assigned alley way.<\/p>\n There was no one there! He glanced about him and stepped further down to where the fire escape staircase to the livery stable cast a dark and sinister shadow. A slight rustle ahead and he grinned\u2026that could only mean a lady was waiting\u2026and now he was at the livery stable door and he stepped inside<\/p>\n \u201cHello?\u201d he called in as close an imitation of his brothers voice that he could make<\/p>\n There was the sound of movement and he turned, a smile still on his face. He heard a gasp, perhaps of surprise or anger, he had little time to work out which as something struck him forcibly across the brow.<\/p>\n He flung out a hand, as though expecting another blow and hopeful of preventing it from falling. He could feel his head going numb and seeming to swell, he wanted to keep his eyes open, he knew he needed to see exactly what was happening to him, but the numbness was affecting his eyes, it was like an unbearable weight forcing his eye lids to close. He felt something hard against his back and a voice in his head told him that it was the bars of the stall that he had stumbled against, he reached out and half turned, and then felt the full force of something hard striking against his back\u2026.<\/p>\n He was aware of his fingers turning to putty, he had no grip, no strength. He was unable to field off the blows that were raining down upon him\u2026he wanted to yell but all he could do was clench his teeth\u2026he needed to keep his feet and fight back but his legs no longer had the strength in them to support him.<\/p>\n Suddenly his head was no longer numb, there was an indescribable pain searing around his skull and down to the nape of his neck\u2026he needed to breathe, but the breath would not come\u2026he was gasping, floundering, falling\u2026.<\/p>\n \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026he fell heavily upon the straw strewn upon the hard floor of the livery stable. As consciousness slipped away he was aware of hands roughly pulling at his body, turning him over, rummaging in his pockets. He raised a feeble hand but there was no strength left to fend away the enemy, it fell, limp and lifeless across his body.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 7<\/p>\n \u201cWill he be alright? Will he?\u201d<\/p>\n Paul Martin looked at the woman and sighed. Mrs. Crook was not an attractive woman, may be she had been once, but life with Peter Crook had been hard and robbed her any vestige of good looks that may once have been hers. Now she looked the worse that a woman could do with her hatchet face swollen with tears and her eyes narrowed due to the constant rubbing at them with a scrap of soiled linen she used to wipe her nose and eyes and scrub at her cheeks.<\/p>\n He summoned up every ounce of pity he could feel for the misery of humanity and put a gentle hand upon hers. He could feel them trembling, they were cold and boney and the soiled handkerchief was wet with her weeping.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Mrs. Crook, Paul had obviously been unwell for some days, you should have sent for me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d she looked up at him with bleary eyes, unable to focus on his face and unable to comprehend what it was he was saying.<\/p>\n Peter Crook pushed his way towards them , taking his wife by the shoulder and pulling her away from the doctors gentle kindly embrace.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, how bad is it?\u201d he barked, the piggy black eyes protruding from their sockets, the only sign of any emotion he had shown through out their enforced wait.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul died a few minutes ago. He asked for you but \u2013\u201c the doctor glanced at them both and then at the boy who was leaning against the wall, his arms folded across his chest and his head hanging down. All three of them turned their faces to him and he could see the empty horror and denial on their faces, so he began to talk again \u201cBut I\u2019m afraid you came too late! He was saying that he felt ill, that he \u2013\u201c<\/p>\n The school teacher gave a snort of protest and waved the doctor to silence. Mrs. Crook wept more copiously and struggled rather feebly to remove herself from her husband’s grip. \u201cPaul was always complaining about something, we got so that we took no notice, he was always better once he got to school.\u201d Peter Crook growled, his fingers digging deep into his wife\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was sick at school.\u201d the boy launched himself away from the wall, and stepped up to his father \u201cHe was sick on the step by the door, but you didn\u2019t care, you hit him; you said he was malingering; but he\u2019d been feeling sick for days.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up, the doctor doesn\u2019t want to hear you belly aching about nuthin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n A whining, keening sound interrupted whatever else the father and son were about to say and they turned, stupefied, to see the woman crumple to her knees in the agony of her loss. Her handkerchief she held to her mouth as though it would prevent the sound of her misery from permeating further than the room. Peter Junior hurried to her side, knelt down and put his arms around her and drew her into his embrace, her hair, disheveled and unkempt, covered her sons breast like a shawl while he buried his face into it.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright, mom, I\u2019ll look after you. I promise\u2026I\u2019ll look after you!\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was that Cartwright, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d Peter Crook turned and scowled at Paul, who frowned, puzzled at the way the teacher spat out the accusation \u201cHe did it, he killed my boy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Cartwright risked his own safety in his attempt to save Paul’s life. It was due to his actions that Paul was not trampled to death by Mr Hogan’s horses. If anyone was to blame for your son’s death, Mr. Crook\u2026\u2026..\u201d he paused, remembered the grieving woman, a mother and wife, he thought of the son, brother to the dead boy; he shook his head and without another word re-entered the room where the child lay, paused at the door and said quietly \u201cMrs. Crook, would you like to see your son now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cHas Joe been in yet, Sam?\u201d<\/p>\n Sam paused in the act of polishing a glass and looked over at the young man who was scratching the back of his neck and looking bemusedly around the room. He shook his head and put the glass down on the counter<\/p>\n \u201cHeard what you did, Adam, that was a brave thing to do.\u201d he said, pouring out the amber liquid of good whiskey into the glass \u201cHave this one on the house.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow is the boy?\u201d Hogan asked, sidling up along the counter with his rheumy eyes more blood shot than usual.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d Adam accepted the glass and thanked the bar tender who nodded at him and walked down to serve another customer \u201cI left him with Paul,\u201d he raised the glass to his lips and took a pleasurable sip.<\/p>\n \u201cYou did well!\u201d Moncrieff, who ran the Hardware Store, slapped him on the back\u201cNever thought anyone could cross the street that fast; p\u2019raps we should enter you for the next horse race this year.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a chorus of chortles and chuckles at that sally, and Adam smiled and finished his drink. He glanced over at the clock and frowned, Joe was often late, but never so late as this! Daisy sasheyed over to him, her black hair coiled like serpents about her head, with silver stars and spangles sparkling among them it looked as though her head was alive. Her eyes were always gentle and tender however, and her lips were still young and rosy and now they were parted in a smile. She leaned one elbow against the counter and placed a beringed plump hand on his chest, brushing away some dust that still clung to his black shirt.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, where is that brother of yours? He\u2019s been keeping me waiting for over an hour now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI agreed to meet him here, and he\u2019s late!\u201d he turned as the door opened and frowned when he saw Roy stroll in, \u201cRoy, have you seen Joe at all?\u201d he asked and Roy paused and looked over and shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cLast time I saw him was near on half an hour or more ago. He was waiting for you I reckoned, leastways he was looking at his timekeeper.\u201d Roy scratched his neck and shrugged \u201cCochise is still at the hitching post with Sport.I jest now passed \u2018em by.\u201d The sheriff glanced, narrow eyed, around the room \u201cJest thought to tell ya, Adam, the boy died.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCrook\u2019s boy do you mean?\u201d Daisy asked, and when Roy nodded there was a murmur that trickled around the room and Daisy put her hand on Adams arm \u201cThat\u2019s a shame, a terrible shame.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was alright when I took him in. I mean, he was alive then, although he did smell of vomit and looked sick, but I thought it was just the shock of what had happened.\u201d Adam picked up his hat, and then looked at Roy \u201cWas it anything that I had done?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019d ya mean? You saved his life, or rather, you saved him from being trampled underfoot by Hogans horses!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know, but perhaps \u2013 perhaps I may have harmed him in some way, I grabbed at him with some force.\u201d Adam glanced anxiously around the room, the circumstances of the situation hitting him with renewed force as he mentally tallied several facts \u2013 fact one, the boy was Crook\u2019s son and fact two, it was Crook who was responsible for the rumours that he, Adam Cartwright, were a killer. What better evidence could Crook produce to back up his claim than this\u2026his own son killed by Adam Cartwright<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t blame yourself, son, I doubt very much if that had anything to do with it at all.\u201d Roy murmured, pushing his hat to the back of his head and wishing that the boy had been anyone else\u2019s other than the school teachers.<\/p>\n \u201cThe boy jest fell, toppled right into the road, seemed like to me that he was sick anyhows.\u201d Hogan put down his glass, slopping beer over his hand as he did so \u201cHe was clutching at his belly too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou saw him do that?\u201d Roy asked, narrowing his eyes again and giving Hogan a very straight look and Hogan nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cYep, that was what made me start hauling on the reins \u2013 I saw the boy, thought to mesel\u2019 he looked like thar were summat wrong with him, started pulling on the reins and then he stumbled into the road..he was prac\u2019tickerly under the horses when Adam grabbed him and rolled with him outa the way.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and Roy exchanged glances, Hogan was an evil smelling old hermit who kept himself to himself but he was as honest as the day was long, and would rather cut his tongue out than utter a lie.<\/p>\n \u201cIt might be a good idea if\u2019n you went along to the doc and told him that, in case he\u2019s trying to work out jest what was the cause of death.\u201d Roy suggested to the old man and then he turned and placed a reassuring hand on Adams arm. \u201cAnd that don\u2019t mean you got to start worrying about it none, d\u2019you hear!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s jest a shame Crooks got it in fer yer so much.\u201d Hogan muttered as he passed Adam and the younger man blanched and watched the hermit leave the saloon with a remorseful look on his face.<\/p>\n \u201cThere ain\u2019t nuthn\u2019 you can do about it now.\u201d Roy said kindly, \u201cWhat\u2019s done\u2019s done!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded and then glanced at the clock and remembered that Joe had been late and now was even later, anxiety began to niggle at the back of his brain and he slipped his hat onto his head and turned to go.<\/p>\n \u201cAin\u2019t yer waiting for Joe?\u201d Daisy asked<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been waiting long enough\u2026he\u2019s never this late\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho was going to pay for the drinks?\u201d she smiled but when that comment did not produce an answering smile from the young man she heaved a sigh and with a swish of silk and satin, walked away to the table where a game of pontoon was being played.<\/p>\n Adam glanced at the clock once again, as though to assure himself that the time was as late as he expected it to be. He strode out of the saloon and into the full glare of the sunlight. He stood there, the sun blazing down upon him as he looked to the right and left of him. True enough, there were the horses, nodding together outside the store. There were people strolling about, women with their children, men talking together, some Chinese arguing in their shrill voices but no sign of Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cD\u2019you want for me to help look for him?\u201d Roy asked, having left the saloon without Adam even hearing the door open behind him and Adam frowned, nodded and indicated that he would take the right turning if Roy would take the left. \u201cCould be he\u2019s just forgotten, got caught up with some girl or another.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCould be, wouldn\u2019t be the first time.\u201d Adam admitted, biting onto his bottom lip<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go this away then.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Roy\u201d the younger man nodded, and without another word, but with his hand resting casually on the butt of his pistol, Adam began to stride down the street.<\/p>\n He had not gone far when John Davies came running towards him. There was anxiety, alarm, on his face and it transferred itself to Adam, who quickened his pace so that the two men met and Johns fingers curled around Adam’s wrist.<\/p>\n \u201cSomethings happened to Joe\u2026.\u201d Davies said, breathing deeply as a result of his exertions to reach Adam as quickly as possible. Sweat was beading his brow and he wiped it away with his sleeve \u201cAt the livery stable\u2026 I sent someone for the doctor\u201d<\/p>\n Adam said nothing but was now running towards the livery stable, he could feel his heart pounding beneath his ribs and he seemed to be having difficulty in breathing, and all he could think was the very worse of things, and the only words that kept pounding through his brain, were \u201cLet him be alright \u2013 let him be safe\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He pushed aside the lanky figure of the livery stable owner and that of some other man, and then he saw his brother.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe?\u201d he whispered, and knelt by his brothers side \u201cJoe\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n The youth’s face was a sickly pallor, and the eyes were closed so that the long lashes formed dark crescents upon the pallid cheeks. There hardly seemed to be any breath passing through the blood stained lips and Adam leaned over to put his face as close to his brother’s mouth as he could, just in the hope of feeling a soft whisper of breath touch his skin to reassure him that he was still breathing, still living.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened? Does anyone know?\u201d Roy’s clipped voice came behind him, he heard the murmur of other voices but all he could think about was that his brother was in pain and in need of help and he put his arm around Joe\u2019s shoulders and lifted him up,<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t do that \u2013\u201c John said quietly \u201cLeave him be, you could do more harm than good moving him just now. Best to wait for the doctor to come and check him over.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded, said nothing, could say nothing, his brain seemed to have dulled over and he could not think. He could feel, however, he could feel the warmth of blood seeping from Joe\u2019s body onto his clothes, and he could feel the slow heart beat against his own chest as he cradled his brother in his arms and held him close against him.<\/p>\n \u201cLeave him be\u2026let him down now\u2026here\u2019s Paul,\u201d Roy whispered<\/p>\n Adam looked up, over Roy’s shoulder and saw the doctor hurrying towards them. He looked down at his brother and slowly and very carefully lay him back down upon the straw.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 8<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s the boy?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam glanced up as the sheriff came into the room, and Roy, seeing the distress on the young mans face, took off his hat and prepared himself for the worse. Adam slowly rose to his feet and took a deep breath<\/p>\n \u201cPaul’s still with him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo news then?\u201d the sheriff’s pale eyes flicked away from Adams face and he shook his head. \u201cDangblast it, what was he doing there anyhows? Have you any notion?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I \u2013 I can\u2019t seem to work it out. The horses weren\u2019t stabled at the livery so I can’t see any reason why he should have gone.” he paused as the door opened and closed, very gently. John Davies came into the room, his hat in his hand and waiting respectfully for one or other of them to notice him. When he realized that Adam was looking in his direction he nodded and stepped further into the room<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve sent Richardson for your father and brother, Adam. I thought that the best thing to do.\u201d He said very softly, \u201cWhy not sit down, you look just about all in.\u201d and he gestured towards the chair that Adam had just vacated.<\/p>\n \u201cSo far as I can tell, there were no witnesses to what happened.\u201d Roy said quietly, \u201cI don\u2019t even know for sure who found him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI did!\u201d John said quickly \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Sheriff, I should have mentioned it to you before, but what with one thing and another\u2026.” he shook his head in a distracted manner, and looked from Adam to Roy, before he continued with a sigh “I was going to tell you anyway, once I had checked that the lad was alright and \u2026and everything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks for sending for my pa and Hoss,\u201d Adam said suddenly as though he had only just heard or understood what John had said earlier. He sat down, dangling his hat listlessly in his hands between his legs. He stared unseeingly at the wall ahead of him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened? Did you see anything ? What caused you to go into the stables?\u201d Roy asked the Pastor, who was looking anxiously at Adam and like the younger man, seemed to be distracted with other thoughts.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened?\u201d John frowned and shrugged \u201cI don\u2019t know, sir. I had taken a short cut through the alley, still not too sure of my way around the town, but when I passed the livery stables I heard someone call out. I ignored it at first then there was another cry, and I realized then that someone was in pain, the cry was so weak. When I went into the stables I saw the youth there, lying in the straw.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid he say anything?\u201d Roy asked<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I went to him, knelt by his side, tried to check that he was alright but he seemed in too much pain to be moved. I yelled for help at the top of my voice and finally the Manager came to our assistance. It was he who told me that the boy was Joseph Cartwright, Adam’s brother, and that Adam was in the saloon.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded, and bit into his bottom lip as though to assuage the guilt that touched him. He was in the saloon and his brother was being beaten, perhaps, to death. He looked over at John and nodded again, then he stood up and extended his hand. John took Adam’s hand in his and shook it warmly, as though by doing so he could impart compassion and strength to the other.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for being there to help him.\u201d Adam said very quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cI just wish I had been there earlier, sooner, then perhaps what took place may never have happened,\u201d the Pastor said kindly, tears standing out in his gray eyes in sympathy for the young mans pain, for Adam, so intense and so controlled, looked as though he were slowly unraveling at the seams. \u201cHe\u2019ll be alright, believe me, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam darted a cynical look at the older man and shook his head. How would he know? Adam sat back down into the chair and slumped against the wall, looking once again at the bare wall ahead of him. How would a man like John Davies know whether Joe would live or die? Do Pastors have a direct link to God? In that case, how good was John Davies\u2019 credit up there and if it were that good, could he not use it to spare Joe\u2019s life? He bowed his head and chewed on his bottom lip again. He should be praying, and if he could not, then John Davies should, he was the Pastor and he should be praying for Joe\u2019s life!<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n He looked up and John Davies\u2019 gray eyes were looking down at him. It struck Adam then that John was rather a gray sort of person really, gray eyes, gray suit, even the gloves he had been wearing had been good quality gray kid leather. He gave himself a mental shake and forced himself to concentrate on what John was saying\u2026what was it? Roy had gone back to his office and needed John to make a statement.<\/p>\n He watched the gray man walk away and open and close the door. Then he slumped back again and stared fixedly at the bare wall ahead of him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 9<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben Cartwright’s bark was always worse than his bite, so they said, but sometimes his bark was enough to terrify the most resolute of men and Paul Martin, often the recipient of Ben’s bark, quailed inwardly. He gently closed the door behind him and stepped further into the room.<\/p>\n The three Cartwrights were standing together, Ben slightly in the forefront with his two boys flanking either side of him. They seemed to fill the room and Paul wished he could push them back away so that he could say what had to be said without feeling so closely their pain and anxiety and fear.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright, Ben, there\u2019s no need for alarm\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo need for alarm, but I was told\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know what you were told, but believe me, Joe is in no danger. He\u2019s suffering I grant you, but not from anything fatal. The main problem is the amount of blood he has lost due to the blows inflicted on him. He put up a great defense against whoever attacked him, and that saved not only his life, but protected him from getting far worse injuries than the ones he did sustain. He\u2019s going to be alright. Just very, very weak and in some pain\u2026 Congratulations on providing your sons with heads as solid as rock, Ben.\u201d He smiled and hoped that would help get through to them and calm their fears. Ben however was not mollified so easily and raised his chin challengingly<\/p>\n \u201cWhat injuries does he have exactly?\u201d Adam asked anxiously.\u00a0 \u201cWhen I found him I thought for sure he was near to death\u2019s door, the amount of blood he\u2019d lost.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe skull bleeds profusely, he caught a major blow there, I\u2019ve had to stitch that one up, but thankfully I doubt if he\u2019ll even suffer a concussion. No, the major injuries were to his arms and back where he must have turned to one side to avoid the blows and then raised his arms to deflect them. Whoever attacked him must have come at him so suddenly, and so forcibly, that it gave him no opportunity to fight back. I\u2019ve strapped his ribs, and there were several lacerations to his back but they should heal as he rests. And I mean rest, even if you have to strap him to the bed, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI want to see him.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul sighed, and nodded and stepped to one side. One might as well have been a twig trying to prevent flood waters surging forwards as to try and stop the Cartwrights doing what they wanted. One and all they trooped into the sick room \u2013<\/p>\n \u201cSon?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes flickered at the sound of his father’s voice. Somehow or other it seemed as though a small brass band were playing right inside his brain and a bass drum was being pounded in his ears. He felt as though iron bands were being tightened around his skull and the effort that was needed to force open his eye lids was incredible.<\/p>\n \u201cSon?\u201d<\/p>\n Through a blurred haze Joe could see his father’s face leaning down close to his own. He could smell the warmth of Bens body, the pipe tobacco that clung to his clothes. The reassurance of smells gave him strength and he forced a smile, a small one, for his bottom lip was cut and painful<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright, pa?\u201d it was a statement along with a question and Ben took his son’s hand in his and squeezed it gently.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright, son, it\u2019s alright.\u201d Ben whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cIs Hoss here? And Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, they\u2019re here!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHi, Joe\u2026sure gave us a fright, little brother\u2026.\u201d Hoss mumbled, his throat still too tight from fear to be able to speak coherently.<\/p>\n \u201cI jest got a headache\u2026.some sore ribs\u2026\u201d Joe whispered, \u201cFeel weak\u2026like a kitten\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou lost a lot of blood,\u201d Adam said quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cI tried to stop him\u2026.\u201d Joe closed his eyes \u201cThat\u2019ll teach me \u2013 not to go prying in future \u2013 guess so, huh, big brother?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean, Joe?\u201d Ben leaned forward, trying to catch the words slipping from Joe’s swollen and cut lips.<\/p>\n \u201cThe letter\u2026Adam’s\u2026should have left it alone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat letter? What letter, Joe?\u201d Adam placed a gentle hand on his brothers chest \u201cCan you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot much\u2026in my jacket pocket\u2026.\u201d Joe\u2019s hand limply pointed in the air, waved a vague circle and flopped back onto the bed. \u201cPa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, son?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was waiting \u2013 for Adam \u2013 came right at me\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n They waited for more, but nothing came. Paul stepped forward and checked Joe\u2019s vital signs and then looked over at them and smiled reassuringly<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright, he\u2019s asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan I stay here the night?\u201d Ben asked<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no need. He\u2019s in no danger, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps not, but he is my son,\u201d Ben said quietly, firmly and then he turned to his sons, \u201cGet yourselves booked into the hotel. I\u2019ll see you there later.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss nodded and waited for Adam, but his brother was rummaging through Joe\u2019s blood stained jacket and pants and found nothing that resembled a note or letter.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing?\u201d Hoss asked<\/p>\n \u201cNo, there\u2019s no letter there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cD\u2019you think he was delirious?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 I don\u2019t think so!\u201d Adam said quietly and looked down at his brother and shook his head \u201cThis was meant for me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t know that\u201d Hoss said while his eyes never strayed from the pale features of his sleeping brother.<\/p>\n \u201cI do!\u201d Adam sighed and walked out of the room.<\/p>\n \u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n Blood filled his mouth where he had bitten into his tongue and he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand because he did not dare to stop running. He had to run. He had to force his feet to run as fast as he could and distance himself from what he had seen. He knew that if he stopped something, someone, would catch him and perhaps he too would be killed, just like\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n He jerked awake! Looking around the unfamiliar room he shivered although it was not cold. By his side his brother was snoring. He slipped out of bed and walked to the window and stared out at the sky and leaned his brow against the coolness of the glass. He closed his eyes and thought of Joe, what if John had not come along in time? Joe would be dead and it would have been his fault.<\/p>\n ‘I’m his brother and I should have been there to protect him.’<\/p>\n The sky was already growing lighter as the sun came to chase away the moon and stars of night. He walked to the chair and began to dress himself\u2026yesterday’s clothes. They smelt of sweat and dust and blood.<\/p>\n The pant legs were stiff with blood from the knees down\u2026.Joe\u2019s blood\u2026he could remember the warmth of the blood seeping into his clothes from the pool that had gathered there around his brother’s body. So much blood. What was it that Macbeth\u2019s wife had said about Banquo, \u201cWho would have thought he would have had so much blood?\u201d<\/p>\n It was the amount of blood seeping onto the floor that had convinced him that Joe could not possibly survive, he closed his eyes \u2013 somewhere at the back of his mind a memory stirred!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 10<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n Paul Martin smiled and shook the young mans hand. No doubt about it, Paul thought, this young man was far from well. He looked thoughtfully at the eldest son of Ben Cartwright and pursed his lips.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought you would like to know about Paul Crook?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, thank you, I would!\u201d Adam pushed the beer glass away, and beckoned over to Sam and called out for two whiskeys, \u201cJoe\u2019s coming along pretty well now, Paul. I thought he was going to die but\u2026as you say\u2026he seems to have inherited the Cartwright’s thick skull!\u201d he smiled thinly and pushed one of the glasses over to the doctor who was now seated opposite him.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul Crook was ill, had been ill for some days. His brother and mother both confirm that he had been suffering from fever, vomiting and pains in the stomach. His appendix must have ruptured that morning\u2026.it was a miracle that he actually managed to get from the school to the town without dropping down stone dead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think he was coming to find you?\u201d Adam paused with the glass halfway to his lips.<\/p>\n \u201cMore likely to see his mother, she works at the dressmakers.\u201d Paul sighed and tossed back the whiskey, \u201cShe may look like vinegar, and she may talk like prussic acid, but she loved her child, she was his mother\u2026.and he was going there for some comfort, of that I\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy wasn\u2019t he at home then\u2026if he were that ill.?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFear! That family is terrified of Peter Crook!!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSeems most everyone is, especially his students and the Town Council and the School Board.\u201d Adam took a mouthful of whiskey and swilled it around in his mouth before swallowing<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a bully, a thug.\u201d Martin replied \u201cBut I don\u2019t think he\u2019ll be teaching much longer, not here anyway!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shrugged, for some reason he no longer cared about Peter Crook. He finished his drink and left the saloon and stepped out onto the sidewalk. Harriett and John Davies were strolling on the sidewalk opposite, and seeing the young man they called out a greeting.<\/p>\n \u201cCome and have some coffee with us.\u201d Harriett called over and John smiled charmingly, so without any qualm Adam stepped into line with them, and walked the rest of the way to their home.<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s Joe?\u201d Harriett asked eventually, as she set down the tray of coffee cups and pots.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s improving every day.\u201d Adam smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad he\u2019s safe and well.\u201d John said quietly. \u201cWe\u2019ve kept him in our prayers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you.\u201d Adam nodded and leaned back in his chair. He accepted the cup of coffee and began to drink the bitter brew from the dainty cup, aware of the woman’s kindly eyes upon his face.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t look well, Adam, is everything alright ?\u201d Harriett asked quietly<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I\u2019m fine, just a little tired that\u2019s all!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour work on the ranch must be very demanding.\u201d John picked up his cup and sipped the coffee, it was rich and dark, very Italian.<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes, it\u2019s a long day\u2026lots to do\u2026\u201d Adam smiled again.<\/p>\n \u201cIs there anything worrying you, Adam?\u201d Harriett probed, being a woman she was obviously more discerning than her husband.<\/p>\n \u201cApart from wondering who would want to murder Joe in the livery stable?\u201d Adam raised his eyebrows cynically \u201cNo, apart from\u2026\u201d he paused and cast his eyes down.<\/p>\n \u201cYes? Apart from what?\u201d she smiled, she was a mother after all and knew how to tease out information from her own little ones.<\/p>\n \u201cDreams\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, disturbed nights, is that it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but \u2013\u201c he frowned and looked at them both \u201cNo, it\u2019s alright, it\u2019s nothing that either of you could possibly understand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s my job to understand.\u201d John said primly \u201cApart from which, I had hoped, we were friends, and friends look out for one another, don\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded, and drank the coffee, which, after the whiskey he had already had, was extremely pleasant. He looked at them both, and thought how eager they looked for his little bit of a problem.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s stupid really, just a dream I keep having.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe same dream?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, more or less. It started months ago, at first just this terrible fear and running, I was running away from something then I would wake up sweating and feeling panic stricken. Gradually it changed, became more complex. I could see so much of what was going on around me, sense so much, but I was always running and that fear was always with me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow long has this been going on for?\u201d John asked quietly<\/p>\n \u201cMonths\u2026\u201d Adam looked at him thoughtfully and frowned \u201cDoes this happen often to people, John? Do you know ?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sometimes\u2026I have had parishioners suffering the same thing\u2026perhaps a memory, something they have locked away deep in their minds, suddenly begins to resurface after many years\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo they aren\u2019t mad or anything like that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no\u2026.it\u2019s just \u2026perhaps \u2026it\u2019s just the brain solving some problem from long ago! That\u2019s what has happened to these others\u2026perhaps it is the same with you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo one night I shall have a dream that will explain everything. I\u2019ll know who I am running from and why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I\u2019m sure that is exactly what will happen\u2026\u201d John smiled and finished his drink. \u201cHarriett, when you\u2019re ready, you have an appointment with Widow Hawkins\u201d he smiled over at Adam, and nodded conspiratorially and Adam, in return, smiled and winked back.<\/p>\n They parted company with Harriett just before the junction by the General Store, and Adam was walking to his horse with John strolling comfortably by his side, when there came a commotion behind them, and turning they saw Crook, staggering forwards across the road towards him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou \u2013 you scum \u2013 you blackguard \u2013 you killed my boy \u2013 you murderer. murderer\u2026.\u201d he stepped closer, stumbling over the bottom step of the sidewalk but steadying himself by leaning against the post. \u201cYou Cartwrights, just who do you think you are? You think you can kill people, hide away and then kill again, don\u2019t you? And you want my job\u2026you\u2026you can have my stinking job\u2026do you want it? Do you?\u201d He waved a hand in an arc, his face was puce and the black beady eyes that had filled so many with dread for so long seemed to disappear in the pouches of fat in his face \u201cWhy don\u2019t you say something, you murderer\u2026if I had a gun\u2026\u201d he lurched forward \u201cI\u2019d kill you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s enough\u201d John Davies stepped forward, between Crook and Adam, \u201cPeter, go home. Adam did not kill your son, you know that.\u201d He took hold of the man’s arm but Peter Crook pulled himself away, and seemed to roll slowly back down the steps.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to kill you, Cartwright\u201d Crook screamed as he shook his fist in the direction of the two men.<\/p>\n \u201cGo home, Peter. Your wife needs you, get sobered up and forget all this.\u201d John cried, stepping once again between the hate filled man and the young man who was watching with something akin to bemusement on his face.<\/p>\n Peter Crook glowered at them both, turned, tripped over his own feet and in an action that created a ripple of laughter among the passersby, fell face down into a mass of horse dung.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d best go, or I\u2019ll be blamed for that as well\u201d Adam said quietly, he turned to John and extended his hand, which the Pastor took and shook warmly \u201cThank you for your help, John\u201d he said, and with a last look at the school teacher, he mounted Sport and rode quickly from the town.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 11<\/p>\n \u201cWho did this?\u201d<\/p>\n The cane whistled as the school teacher swung it down through the air. No one stirred. Not one child moved from their seat. Peter Junior watched as his father paced up and down the platform, swishing the cane back and forth. He wondered if his father had any idea of how stupid he now looked!<\/p>\n The drawing on the board was crude to be sure, but it was significantly clear\u2026..a stick man depicting the school teacher with a huge dark mass tumbling about his head!<\/p>\n \u201cWho did this?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Maggie Frobisher began to cry. She was just over five years old and very timid. The whole thing was too terrifying for words. She clung tightly to her sister, Clara, for support.<\/p>\n \u201cVery well. If you won\u2019t tell me then one of you will have to take the blame for the whole class!\u201d Crooks beady dark eyes flashed as he glanced fiercely from one to another and landed on Jeremy Davies. His fat fingers grabbed at the boys collar and Jeremy was yanked unceremoniously from his seat and hauled, wriggling and protesting to the front of the class.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was me!\u201d James Davies stood up, his chin up and his eyes staring straight ahead \u201cI drew it!\u201d<\/p>\n Jeremy wriggled free and escaped to his desk. Crook frowned and looked over at his son<\/p>\n \u201cWhich of these two did it?\u201d he spat.<\/p>\n The moment of truth had arrived for Peter Junior. He gulped. All around him the tension grew, the children waited with dread and bated breath.<\/p>\n \u201cWHICH ONE!\u201d screamed Crook and the cane swished down upon Peter Juniors desk.<\/p>\n \u201cI did it!\u201d Leon Albierno stood up, dark eyes wide with fear<\/p>\n \u201cNo, it was me!\u201d Alberto Albierno cried, standing up in his turn.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was me!\u201d \u201cMe, me\u201d and one after another children stood up, crying out their admissions of guilt.<\/p>\n Peter Junior stood up and immediately silence fell upon the room once more and all eyes turned to Peter\u2026Judas\u2026traitor\u2026ferret\u2026.\u00a0 “It was me, father, I did it!\u201d he said very quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cWHAT \u2013 DID \u2013 YOU \u2013 SAY?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHave you still got dung in your ears, father\u2026I said..it was me!\u201d<\/p>\n The effect was more terrible than Peter Junior or the other students had possibly envisaged as Peter Crook gave a bellow of fury and lunged at his son. Peter succeeded in ducking from under the man’s arm and ran for the door, he was followed by the whole class who stampeded from the building much like any crowd would if a mad bull \u2013 which was probably the most fitting description of the teacher at that time \u2013 had been released in the class room.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d yelled Mr. Humphries as streams of school children, all shrieking and crying, hurtled down the hill towards the town.<\/p>\n \u201cTeacher’s gone mad!\u201d Alberto yelled \u201cTeacher’s gone mad!\u201d<\/p>\n \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n Adam dismounted from his horse and waited as Hoss clambered down from the wagon and as they approached the General Store, they paused to watch as the children tumbled and scattered through the town, Hoss frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cBit early for school to close, ain\u2019t it?\u201d he muttered<\/p>\n They watched as the children slowly dispersed and disappeared from the streets. Then with a shrug of their shoulders they entered the General Stores. Sally Cass greeted them with her usual sunny smile and enquiry after Joe\u2019s health<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s well enough to dance your feet off at the summer fete next month,\u201d Hoss assured her with a chuckle, bending down to lift a large sack of flour from the floor.<\/p>\n Adam chuckled and counted out the money onto the counter and whilst he was doing so Mrs Humphries came rushing into the shop, clutching hold of her bonnet to keep it on her head as she delivered the news \u201cThe school teacher’s gone mad! Roy’s had to lock him up in a cell!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was probably due to his boy dying\u2026\u201d Mrs Proctor mumbled \u201cLittle Paul was such a sweet boy!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss said nothing, but exchanged silent glances and hurriedly left the store, placing the groceries in the back of the wagon<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve paid for everything, Hoss\u2026\u201d Adam murmured and walked towards his horse. He paused, hesitated, and then reached out and took the triangle of paper from the saddle. How long had he been in the store? Merely a few minutes. He looked about him but there was no one close by who could possibly have put it there\u2026everyone was walking about, constant motion, no one just sitting round to watch, to observe\u2026..he opened it slowly and read its contents.<\/p>\n The neat calligraphy boldly stated, \u201cCartwright, sorry about your brother, but what does it say in the good book but an eye for an eye? Don\u2019t think I\u2019ve forgotten about you though, even if you cannot remember me\u2026.everything goes full circle, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n He refolded the note into its triangle, and slipped it into his pocket. Glancing about him for a second or two, he then turned and made his way to the Telegraph Depot.<\/p>\n \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does it say?\u201d Joe asked, reaching out for the slip of paper which his brother handed to him without a word.<\/p>\n \u201cIs it the same writing, Joe?\u201d Ben asked, watching his sons face as the youth scanned the words<\/p>\n \u201cYes, exactly the same. I thought it was a woman who had written it, it was so neat and tidy!\u201d Joe passed it back to Adam \u201cThat\u2019s why I went to the livery stable, to see who it was\u2026.didn\u2019t want you sparking any of my gals,\u201d he grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cIt couldn\u2019t have been Peter Crook though\u2026\u201d Hoss muttered, \u201cBecause he was at the doctor’s place when that note was left\u2026.and he had no time to leave a note today..we were barely there five minutes when we left the store and found it, and Crook was being hauled away to the jail house by Roy in that time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Crook is the one who hates Adam, and he\u2019s the one who was spreading all those lies about him in town\u2026about him being a killer and coward\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt must have been Crook, who else could it have been?\u201d Hoss frowned and began to pace the floor, up and down, up and down, his arms folded behind his back \u201cI got it\u2026\u201d he clicked his fingers \u201cIt was his wife, the missus\u2026she\u2019s as sour as vinegar about summat that\u2019s for sure\u2026I guarantee she did it!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled slowly and stood up, slipping the note back into his pocket. He walked over to the bureau and began to buckle on his gunbelt, Ben immediately stood up<\/p>\n \u201cWhere are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBack into town\u2026\u201d his son said quietly. \u201cI shan\u2019t be late!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWant company?\u201d Hoss offered.<\/p>\n Adam hesitated and then shook his head \u201cNo\u201d he said quietly \u201cIt\u2019ll be alright!\u201d<\/p>\n He paused then, momentarily, and pulled a cablegram from his pocket which he placed down on the desk. He then turned and left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.<\/p>\n Ben picked the cablegram up and read it through slowly, then with a stern look on his face he glanced to the door and took a very, very deep breath.<\/p>\n \u201cIs everything all right, pa?\u201d Joe asked from his position on the settee and looking very pensive with the heavy blanket draped over his legs.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know\u2026.\u201d Ben said as he folded the cable and slipped it into HIS pocket \u201cPerhaps I should go with him\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf\u2019n he\u2019d\u2019ve wanted you with him, pa, he would have said\u2026\u201d Hoss murmured, placing a gentle hand on his fathers arm<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re right!\u201d Ben nodded, then glanced over at the clock \u201cI\u2019ll give him an hours head start!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn that case, I\u2019m coming too\u2026..\u201d Hoss said<\/p>\n \u201cHey, what about me?\u201d Joe demanded<\/p>\n \u201cYou can stay right where you are!\u201d Ben growled, his dark brows knitting together over the fierce beak of his nose and the black eyes flashed with enough electricity in them for Joe to quail back under the blanket and mutter very squeakily \u201cYes, sir\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n Peter Junior was in seventh heaven. He was the hero. He was everyone\u2019s friend. He, Jeremy, James, Leon and Alberto were now an official gang. They were buddies and shared their goodies, their woes, their joys and their time together as though they had all been born under the same patch of sky and had never known a day without the other.<\/p>\n For a boy who had never known friendship from his peers before, the whole thing was a heady experience. Was he remorseful over his father’s condition? Not at all! His mother was singing in the house, cleaning herself up, smiling and looking \u2013 almost \u2013 human! And he had friends, friends..oh, it was sheer magic!<\/p>\n Barbara Scott was going to be stand in teacher until they got a new one. But they still had a whole day to enjoy their independence as a gang. Laden with goodies they swaggered their way along the track out of town. They were going to go wild. They were going to have a wonderful day\u2026they would swim in the pool, climb the trees, climb the rocks\u2026prove who was the bravest, who was the best\u2026and whoever was the worse. well it didn\u2019t matter because they were all brothers now\u2026.the Gang of Five!<\/p>\n \u201cI wanna come too!\u201d<\/p>\n The five boys stopped in their tracks and turned to face her. Amy Davies glowered at them, her hands on her hips and a small bag of goodies swinging from one fist and bumping against her skirts.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t come\u2026you\u2019re a girl!\u201d Jeremy protested<\/p>\n \u201cGo home, Amy, we don\u2019t want no girls along with us!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShan\u2019t go home! Ma said you were to look after me\u2026so you gotta..so there!\u201d she stuck out a very pink tongue in defiance<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t want no girls!\u201d the Albierno boys protested.<\/p>\n The five boys bunched together and ran. They were older and longer legged and soon out distanced her. Her shrill wails of protest soon filtered away into the distance and were blotted out by their own shrieks \u2026they were wild indians now, they were braves, they didn\u2019t want GIRLS!!!<\/p>\n They stripped down and plunged into the pool and swam and splashed. Beneath the boughs of a venerable old tree the pool was neither too hot nor too cool. They threw themselves into the grass and began to eat their snacks.<\/p>\n \u201cFound you, found you,\u201d came a shrill squeak and Amy appeared, dusty and dirty and smeared with sweat.<\/p>\n \u201cGo home!\u201d they chorused.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not!\u201d she stamped her foot in protest.<\/p>\n \u201cGirls are rubbish, they ain\u2019t as good as boys!\u201d Jeremy yelled.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are too\u2026\u201d Amy shrieked.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re spoiling our day, go home\u2026\u201d James yelled at his sister.<\/p>\n Peter Crook raised himself up on an elbow and looked at the child who was now bawling in the middle of the track. How many years had he been like that, not so obviously perhaps, but deep inside, crying, protesting, longing to belong to the group. He stood up and looked down at the boys.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s only little, leave her be\u2026\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cGirls can\u2019t do nuthin\u2019 as good as boys!\u201d Alberto said and to prove it he ran to the tree and began to clamber up its broad limbs with the agility of a monkey.<\/p>\n Amy watched with her eyes growing rounder and rounder and then, thinning her lips and throwing off her pinafore apron, she ran for the tree and began to scrabble for foot holds. For a while the boys watched as she made her way up inch by inch, not pausing for an instant when the twigs and branches snagged at her or scratched at her face, with a determination unusual in such a little girl she continued her way up.<\/p>\n Alberto, now having reached as far as he felt inclined to go, had began to clamber down and reached out to stop her, but she kicked out with one foot at him and with a degree of petulance the boy clambered back down to join his friends on the ground.<\/p>\n Once there he joined them in looking up to watch as she clambered from limb to limb and then it seemed to dawn on all of them at the same time just how dangerously positioned she was for the section of the tree upon which she had began to climb overhang the deepest part of the pool in which they had only recently been swimming. Were she to fall the chances of her drowning were very real indeed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got to get her down!\u201d Peter Crook cried.<\/p>\n \u201cJames, get in the water\u2026if she falls you can get her out\u2026\u201d Jeremy begged his younger brother who happened to be the stronger swimmer of the two.<\/p>\n \u201cCome down, Amy\u2026come down!\u201d the boys began to chorus, realizing that she had reached too far to descend easily, but defiantly she clambered on, although they could hear her sobbing as she went, and it was when she had scrabbled along one branch in particular that her situation became eminently more precarious for an ominous creak broke upon their hearing. With renewed horror they screamed in unison \u201cCome down..\u201d \u201cStay there!\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t move!\u201d<\/p>\n The child stopped, frozen with fear to the spot as the diverging messages reached her ears. Most resonant of all sounds however, was the cracking and creaking close beneath her. Beneath her the dark pool of water looked black and ominous and for a child of her tender years it was truly the stuff of nightmares. She clung now to the limb like a limpet clings to a rock, and found that her body no longer seemed capable of functioning for her brain had been seized with a complete mental shut down.<\/p>\n \u201cGet help, get someone!\u201d James yelled in horror as he began to jump up and down in horror.<\/p>\n It was Peter who began to clamber up the tree, his feet scrabbling for foot holds and his hands grabbing at branches. Jeremy ran with his shirt in his hand towards the road as Peter inched upwards towards the white faced terrified little girl.<\/p>\n Amy began to shriek, her grip on the branch was loosening, she was too frightened to hold on much longer now and her fear propelled Peter to go faster.<\/p>\n A lone rider stopped as he saw the boy ahead of him, waving a white shirt. Putting a spurt on he urged his horse forwards as Jeremy ran towards him<\/p>\n \u201cMr Cartwright\u2026please help\u2026Amy\u2019s in trouble!\u201d<\/p>\n Without a word Adam turned the horse in the direction of the sound of the girls screams and dismounted before Sport had even come to a halt. Running towards the tree he saw the girl’s plight immediately, but he also saw that the boy was about to enter into danger as well. As he ran he unbuckled his gunbelt and cast it to the ground and without another thought plunged into the pool. Wading through the water until he was directly beneath the bough upon which she clung he called her name. The water, up to his chest, posed no threat to a grown man, and on the banks the children watched in horrified silence. He called her name gently, softly until eventually she stopped her crying to listen.<\/p>\n \u201cAmy, don\u2019t be scared now..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut I am scared already\u2026\u201d she whimpered.<\/p>\n \u201cCan you see me, Amy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got my eyes shut!\u201d she wept.<\/p>\n \u201cAmy\u2026.let go the branch\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll fall\u2026.I\u2019ll fall\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I want you to do, Amy\u2026.I\u2019m right here to catch you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPromise?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPromise!\u201d<\/p>\n With a sob the little girl tightened her eyes, squeezed them as shut as she possibly could\u2026.then she was falling, down past the branches, leaves were torn off and drifted down with her and when she landed in his arms she gave one huge shuddering sob and fainted .<\/p>\n Holding her carefully in his arms he waded back to the river bank and there very gently lay her down upon the grass. A loud splash sent eddies of water rippling towards them, as the branch fell and sank and then bobbed back to the surface. With white faces the boys looked at one another and then at Amy.<\/p>\n \u201cPeter\u2019s still up there\u2026\u201d Alberto suddenly declared, just as Adam was emptying water from his boots and immediately he got back onto his feet.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m here\u2026.I\u2019m alright\u2026\u201d the boy cried, as he fell onto the ground and after picking himself up he ran over to the huddle of boys, and the man, who now began to wipe away the blood from the scratches on the little girls face and hands \u201cIs she going to be alright, Mr Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Peter.\u201d He smiled at the boy and then looked at them thoughtfully \u201cWhat exactly happened here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe wouldn\u2019t go home!\u201d Jeremy said defensively.<\/p>\n \u201cWe told her to go home!\u201d James backed his brother up staunchly.<\/p>\n \u201cI climbed the tree first\u201d Alberto admitted \u201cIt was my fault, but I didn\u2019t think she would ever try and follow me!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy sister’s always been able to climb trees\u2026pa says she\u2019s more like a monkey than a human,\u201d James admitted, leaning down to look at his sister with grudging admiration.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks for trying to help her, Peter\u201d Jeremy struck out his hand to his class mate who seized it and felt a warm glow of pleasure ripple through his whole body\u2026not only was he an accepted member of this gang, but now\u2026he was a hero! The boys muttered their commendations and after a minute had elapsed stepped back as Adam Cartwright picked the girl up into his arms and carried her over to his horse. The boys followed behind him, Jeremy carefully carrying his boots and James bearing the gunbelt and pistol.<\/p>\n He hung the gunbelt over the pommel of his saddle and without a word pulled on the sodden boots, and then maneuvered himself and the child onto Sport, he was about to ride off when Peter Crook placed a hand on his knee<\/p>\n \u201cSir?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, boy?\u201d Adam looked down at the earnest face and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, wondering where he had seen the boy before and his dark eyes softened as the boy blushed under the mans scrutiny<\/p>\n \u201cSir, I\u2019m Peter Crook..the school teacher’s son\u2026\u201d Peter gulped and blinked rapidly \u201cI \u2013 I just wanted to say thank you for what you did for us..trying to help Paul\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry it didn\u2019t work out, Peter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoc Martin said that Paul had a ruptured appendix\u2026..I just wanted to thank you though\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled and nodded, and then turned Sports head towards town. Behind him the boys stood in a little group, disconsolate and unsure of what to do, slowly they too began to make the journey homewards.<\/p>\n Adam was lost in thought as he rode into town. The sun was warm, very warm, and it soon dried his wet clothes. He was barely conscious of the child in his arms for she was so light. It was only when her two arms encircled around his neck that he realized that she was no longer unconscious, and looking down he saw her eyes looking up at him, wide and serene, as most children are when they feel utterly and totally secure and safe.<\/p>\n \u201cFeeling better?\u201d he said very quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cYes\u2026I told \u2018em I could do anything \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you indeed?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love you, Adam!\u201d she cuddled in closer, feeling the warmth of his body against hers and feeling totally cocooned in the protective embrace of his arms. Her eyes closed, and within seconds she was fast asleep.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHAPTER 12 \u201cShe\u2019s alright, Harriett, just very scared\u2026\u201d Adam said, following the woman into the house as Amy was borne away.<\/p>\n \u201cOh Adam, thank goodness you were there, she could\u2019ve been killed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh I don\u2019t know, I\u2019m sure the boys would have kept her safe!\u201d Adam smiled slowly and glanced down at the boys who were now trooping up the garden path towards the house.<\/p>\n Harriett did not even bother to look at the boys to confirm his guarantee one way or the other. She continued to hurry her way into the house and then paused, divided between her duties as a hostess and a mother. With a nod of the head she indicated a door ahead of them<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019d like to wait in there\u2026it\u2019s Johns study, it won\u2019t be very long. I know he\u2019ll want to see you, Adam, and thank you himself.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded, and watched as the woman hurried up the stairs carrying the clinging Amy away. He put his hat down on a bureau and sat down and looked around him at the large, impressive study into which he had been ushered.<\/p>\n Books lined the walls. It was a dark room and the books brought the walls in closer, against the wall with the large window was the desk and towards this Adam was drawn, as he saw upon it sheets of paper lying upon the blotter. He glanced at it thoughtfully and then drew nearer, until eventually he was leaning upon the desk and seemingly perusing it word for word.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope it sounds as interesting when I deliver it, as you seem to find it \u2013 reading it!\u201d John murmured as he entered the study. As Adam stood erect and turned towards him John extended his hand \u201cAdam, what can I say? Harriett and the boys have just told me about Amy\u2026she\u2019s a little urchin but precious to me\u2026thank you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy pleasure!\u201d Adam replied, taking the extended hand and shaking it in a firm grip of his own.<\/p>\n \u201cSit down, Adam, Harriett said that she would be bringing in some coffee in a while\u2026\u201d his gray eyes watched the darkly clad man as he sat down \u201cYou don\u2019t seem very relaxed, Adam, is anything wrong?\u201d he smiled, a smile that made his handsome face appear even more attractive.<\/p>\n \u201cNo..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s good. I would hate it if my sermon for Sunday had upset you in any way, our task is to encourage and enlighten, not distress and dismay\u2026.\u201d And he chuckled warmly as he settled into the chair opposite his guest. \u201cStill having bad nights then? How\u2019s Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI still have those dreams, if that is what you meant..and Joe\u2019s recovering very well, thank you.\u201d He frowned and leaned forward \u201cJohn, tell me something, what kind of man, would you say, could do something like that to Joe? Who could beat up a young man just because he happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time\u2026and leave him there to bleed to death? I\u2019ve thought about it a lot and there isn\u2019t anyone I can think of here who could be so callous, so cruel.\u201d He pursed his lips and raised his dark eyes and looked directly into the face of the man opposite him. \u201cDon\u2019t you think there\u2019s an element of evil, in what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf there was, then thank goodness I came along\u2026.good triumphs over evil yet again\u2026\u201d John said quietly and he placed his finger tips together, and formed a steeple with his fingers\u2026.\u00a0 “Adam, perhaps whoever did that to your brother, was a desperate man, frightened\u2026.and seeing his chance to escape, he takes it\u2026rather brutally\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs that what you think?\u201d Adam\u2019s brow creased thoughtfully.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat else can one think?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think that a man, desperate as you say, would not have stayed to systematically beat a youth nearly to death\u2026he would, perhaps, have slugged him once, to stun him, and then run\u2026.but to stay there, and to beat Joe as he did, even when Joe was beaten to the ground, to still beat him\u2026seems to me to be more like the action of a man so full of hate and anger as to be evil, and cruel\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh well\u2026who\u2019s to know\u2026\u201d John shrugged, \u201cI\u2019m not a doctor, and I\u2019m not able to read minds, or hearts\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, of course not\u2026\u201d Adam sat back against the chair rest and chewed his bottom lip thoughtfully \u201cJoe didn\u2019t see his attacker, but got the impression that he was tall, well built\u2026and very strong.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo doubt! And the sheriff? He hasn\u2019t found any clues as to who it could have been?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, and the letter that Joe said was meant for me, which was in his jacket pocket, that\u2019s gone. Joe said he remembered feeling hands on his body\u2026he said he lay there praying that it was someone come to help\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere now, God does answer prayers then\u2026 I came, and I helped\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, so you did!\u201d<\/p>\n There was a slight hiatus, a silence that hung delicately in the balance between them, so Adam got up and with a slight smile picked up his hat, he paused only when there came a clatter from the door, and Harriett emerged, bearing crockery and tea pot rather unsteadily on a tray<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve some tea\u2026.Adam, you are staying aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, if you\u2019ll excuse me\u2026I have an errand..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, whereabouts?\u201d she looked at him with wide eyes, pushing back a strand of hair.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to have a chat with Mr Crook\u2026.he\u2019s safely locked up at present so this could be about the safest time to talk to him!\u201d he walked towards the door.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, he\u2019s not very tall, but he is strong..\u201d John said quietly \u201cHe might well be Joe\u2019s attacker.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think so, John?\u201d the question came from Harriett, who was still looking at Adam who half turned at the doorway to hear her husbands reply.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, he has the right temperament for it.\u201d John glanced over at Adam \u201cI\u2019m sure you\u2019ll agree with me there?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes\u2026\u201d Adam nodded and slipped on his hat, his dark eyes rested upon the couple who were watching him with their eyes wide \u201cAbout those dreams I was having\u2026it\u2019s strange how, bit by bit, they\u2019ve all come together\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn what way do you mean?\u201d John asked, a slight smile still on his lips.<\/p>\n \u201cJust that I know what it was all about now\u2026it was rather like a puzzle being put together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you\u2019ve all the pieces now\u2026\u2026.\u201d Harriett said brightly<\/p>\n \u201cYes, nearly all !\u201d<\/p>\n He closed the door behind him quietly and walked down the hall to the doorway, from the room upstairs he could hear children laughing and shouting in play, Amy shrieking \u2018I hate boys\u2019 and the boys teasing and laughing\u2026with a sigh he opened the door and stepped out into the sunlight.<\/p>\n CHAPTER 13<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve come to see Peter Crook, Roy\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat on earth for?\u201d Roy peered short-sightedly at the young man leaning against the desk and frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s one or two things I want to clear up with him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell alright now, but just don\u2019t start him off again..I\u2019ve had just about enough of him and his shouting and bawling!\u201d Roy stood up and picked up the keys and jangled his way to the cells, Adam walking close behind him. At the doorway he turned, \u201cBest give me your pistol, Adam,\u201d then he grinned \u201cAin\u2019t used to seeing you walking around town without your hardware, Adam!\u201d he observed.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I \u2013 \u201c he paused and shook his head \u201cI left it at the Pastor’s\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShould be safe enough there\u2026\u201d Roy grinned and opened the cell door.<\/p>\n The school teacher glanced up and scowled but any sign of the rage that was usually only inches beneath the surface was gone. He watched with his black beady eyes as Adam advanced into the cell and sat down on the bunk opposite him<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d he growled.<\/p>\n \u201cJust some answers\u2026.\u201d Adam replied quietly, and he set his hat down by his side and looked at the man and sighed \u201cIt won\u2019t take long\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n Harriett opened the door and smiled as the young man slipped off his hat and nodded over at her. \u201cSo, you decided to take us up on that cup of tea after all?\u201d she laughed as she stepped aside to let him pass through into the house.<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to talk to John, Harriett, is he still here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid not, he left just a few minutes after you left the house, Adam.\u201d\u00a0 She led the way down the hall, then turned when she realized that Adam was not following her \u201cIs everything all right, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, Adam,\u201d the child ran towards him, her arms outstretched \u201cCome on in and play\u2026\u201d she embraced him tightly as only a child who loves passionately can do in the hope of love being returned and he hugged her very gently and picked her up in his arms \u201cCome and see what mommy brought me \u2026a new doll and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t stay, Amy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot even for a little while?\u201d she pouted.<\/p>\n \u201cAmy!\u201d her mother came and extricated her daughter from the dark mans arms \u201cAdams busy, he has things to do\u2026isn\u2019t that right, Adam?\u201d she turned and looked at him, her eyes large in a pale face and he nodded and without a word, turned and left the house.<\/p>\n He was walking towards Sport and thinking over various aspects of the day when he heard the gunshot. As always everyone froze for a second before surging forwards towards where the sound came from, although why was a singular theory for if one shot was fired who was to tell how many would follow?<\/p>\n He paused by his horses side and put a hand to the animals flanks and glanced about him\u2026nothing was happening. People had resumed walking at their customary gait, pausing here and there to talk, whisper, gossip together. A man was walking very hurriedly towards him, his cassock blowing against his long legs just as a woman\u2019s skirts would do\u2026.Adam’s dark eyes flicked to where he had left his gunbelt and holster, he recalled when he had taken it from the boy and placed it upon the pommel of his saddle, he recalled the gun in the holster\u2026the gun which was no longer there.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone shot the teacher,\u201d John was gasping as he strode up the hill towards Adam \u201cShot him through the bars of the window\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Adam darted another look at the empty holster and heaved a sigh! John slowed now, seeing Adam waiting for him by the big horse, he wiped his brow with a handkerchief, it was still hot and the exertion was telling on him. He pointed to the church.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to talk, Adam, but not in the house, with Harriett and the children. I need to talk to you about the school teacher, something he told me earlier this morning\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam glanced over at the house, children’s voices floated from the window, sound muted by the heat, by the tension that crackled through the air\u2026he nodded thoughtfully and followed the Pastor to the church. Chapter 14<\/p>\n \u201cHow did it happen, Roy?\u201d Ben Cartwright looked up from the body of the teacher to the steel blue eyes of the sheriff, who shook his head and stepped back to his office, followed by the two Cartwrights.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The door opened before he could reply to Ben’s question and Paul Martin walked in, glanced over at them and without a word followed the direction indicated by the jerk of Roy\u2019s thumb. Gently he closed the door behind him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJest minutes after your boy left\u2026.Adam\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam was here?\u201d Hoss raised his eyebrows.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCame to talk to the teacher. But he was unarmed, no chance of a gun being handed over or used when he was here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo Adam came here to talk to Crook and then what happened?\u201d Ben asked, a dark scowl falling across his face, he had not intimated, hinted nor suggested that his son was anyway involved in this murder, and he resented the implication by Roy, good friend though he was, that Adam would have been involved in any way at all.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe left, and I went to get some coffee for the prisoner when there was a gun shot\u2026.jest minutes after Adam had gone.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They paused as Paul opened the door and came out and looked over at them, he shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s dead all right. Bullet got him clean in the back of the skull, he probably never knew a thing about it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou mean, he was shot in the back?\u201d Hoss gaped, his jaw dropping open<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou could say that\u2026had he been taller it would have probably got him between the shoulders.\u201d Paul closed his bag with a snap, \u201cHe probably didn\u2019t even know his killer was anywhere about.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo someone snucked up to the window and jest shot him.\u201d Hoss frowned. \u201cWhat kind of guy could do that?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSame kind as would beat your brother half to death and leave him there to die,\u201d Roy said gruffly, his eyes narrowing<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s Adam now?\u201d Ben asked the sheriff \u201cDid he say where he was going from here?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNope, can\u2019t help you there none,\u201d Roy frowned, and tugged at his whiskers<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI can.\u201d Paul picked up his bag and swung it from the desk. \u201cI saw him going into the church with the Pastor.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAh well, he\u2019s in good hands then.\u201d Roy smiled blandly and prepared himself to sit down\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..but when Ben and Hoss turned and practically ran out of the building, he got himself back onto his feet, stared open mouthed at Paul for a second and then ran after them.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Chapter 15<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u201d Adam stood at the front of the altar and looked at the Pastor. He clasped his hands in front of him and looked at John Davies and raised his eyebrows questioningly.<\/p>\n John Davies shrugged and smiled. He was handsome. No doubt about it, he was one of the best looking men to be seen in those parts. He had a face so well chiseled, so well formed that it could only have been meant to be loved by men and women alike; the gray eyes were so large, so limpid that every emotion could be seen fleeting like clouds across them. As he listened to his Parishioners those eyes would talk to them, would assure them that their pain was seared in his heart; as he prayed for them his words would convince them that no God would dare to refuse to answer his supplication; as he preached to them they were reassured, comforted, considered themselves blessed to have so many words poured out on their behalf.<\/p>\n He leaned forward slightly, one hand to his breast, and a lock of hair falling across his brow. He stood there in such a pose for some seconds before speaking, and then raising his head as he did so \u201cYou know, don\u2019t you?\u201d he said very simply.<\/p>\n \u201cYes\u2026\u201d Adam replied with the slightest of nods of his head in affirmation.<\/p>\n \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shook his head and frowned, shrugged in his turn and then sighed; \u201cSome things fell into place\u2026my dream\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust tell me how you know it was me.\u201d John raised his face, and his eyes swept over Adams face and he saw in his turn a man who was handsome, resolute, courageous and unafraid. \u201cTell me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou said that you had knelt by Joe\u2019s side.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you could not have done so, John. You were wearing a gray suit, and there was not a blood stain on them. I had knelt for a while by my brother’s side, and my pants were stiff with his blood. You lied to me. I got to thinking, if you lied once, you could lie again, and you did.\u201d he paused \u201cYou knew Peter Crook, you stepped between us and called him Peter, and he knew you; he was even afraid of you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, he was always afraid of me.\u201d John said very quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cHe must have told you about the stupid letters he had written to me, threatening me so you decided to do the same Was it to frighten me off or what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI under estimated you, when I heard about the bad dreams you were having I thought the pressure of those notes would send you over the edge, that the fear they engendered would drive you mad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI never told you about those dreams, not then.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, but I got to hear of them. People talk to their Pastor! That\u2019s what happens all the time; we\u2019re trusted, people tell their secrets, other peoples secrets.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat makes you a powerful man, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d Adam had lowered his head a little and glanced up at him with dark eyes. There was a slight pause as John seemed to think about the comment before he could answer.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought you were the little boy from all that time ago, scared and running away.\u201d He looked at Adam with his gray eyes cold, like slate on a wet day \u201cI was angry when Joe came instead of you. I get angry. It \u2026it just boils up inside of me somehow and I have to explode. I grabbed at the section of wood closest to hand and swung at him, the more he tried to fight me off the harder I hit him.\u201d He gulped then, noisily, and clutched at his breast. \u201cI thought he was dead, people started coming and I ran, for help.\u201d The handsome mouth twisted into a cold smile \u201cYou\u2019re right, I didn\u2019t kneel at his side to offer help or comfort, I merely hauled him up to get that note from his pocket.\u201d He withdrew his hand and smiled again \u201cYou know where the stairs are, Adam, walk over to them and start climbing.\u201d The pistol in his hand never wavered, it was as gray and cold as the eyes that penetrated from his face \u201cHands up, as they say, stupid expression but apt, keep them up\u2026go on\u2026up the stairs.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam glanced to the left and right, and knew that there was little point in trying to run, he merely did as he was told and began to mount the stairs to the bell tower.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me why, John, first of all – why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKeep going up\u2026\u201d the hard blunt end of his own pistol jabbed in his spine and he took several steps a little faster \u201cI didn\u2019t expect to ever see Crook again, this life I had now as a Pastor may have had its drawbacks, but it was sufficient for now and I had Harriett and the children, and they mean more than life to me, Adam, more than anything you can imagine. I couldn\u2019t let that wretched man ruin everything and I couldn\u2019t let you spoil it all either. I had an idea in my head that if I could just push you hard enough you could get rid of Crook for me. Oh, its easy enough to talk desperate people into doing things, I\u2019ve had enough practice, and people in my line of business are trusted more than most.”<\/p>\n Adam took several steps up the stairs, and looked upwards to the bell tower, he had a vague idea of what John intended to do and could only hope that somehow or other, in the intervening moments, he would think of something to defeat him. He paused and turned to face the Pastor, who, with his long black cassock, was not so far behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t tell you to stop,” John said coldly, his gray eyes now devoid of any emotion, just a dull gray like two puddles on a bleak cold day.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy did you shoot him?\u201d Adam asked in as expressionless a voice as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cWho? Peter?\u201d John frowned as though the question puzzled him, as though the reason was so obvious that Adam were crazy to have needed to ask \u201cHis temperament was always so volcanic, I was always worrying about when he would explode and spill out the truth about me. I couldn\u2019t risk that, couldn\u2019t risk losing Harriett and the children.\u201d\u00a0 He licked his lips and then indicated that Adam started to move up the stairs again. \u201cHe had lost everything, blown it, thrown it away. I knew he was on the verge of telling people the truth. When you left here I knew what you were going to do, you were going to ask Peter Crook about me.”<\/p>\n \u201cJust some things I needed clarified\u201d Adam said quietly, his hands still in the air as he stepped backwards up the remaining stairs to the bell tower.\u00a0 \u201cI realized you had written the notes, when I saw your sermon I recognized the writing, then I looked at the blotter.”<\/p>\n \u201cI know\u2026I realized I had made a serious error there when I saw that you had removed the sheet \u2026Had you taken it for evidence?”<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not? The message you wrote to me last was still there on the blotter, back to front I admit, but nevertheless it was there\u2026.I had also received a cable confirming that you and Crook had grown up together, gone to school together \u2026.it brought back memories to my mind and made sense of all the dreams!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat was clever of you.\u201d Davies frowned and sighed, \u201cStill, it won\u2019t matter now. You left the gun hanging from your holster on your saddle, I took it\u2026I thought that a serious mistake on your part\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was,\u201d Adam admitted, feeling with his foot for another step, there was none. He was now standing in the bell tower itself and he looked up at the bell and sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have a problem with this though\u2026your gun, your bullet and your antagonist. It will be easy to tell them what you had done, how Crook had finally broken your nerve, you had to kill him, then, full of remorse, you came to me\u2026confessed \u2026.you could only do one thing to wipe the slate clean, to keep your family honor intact.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo you shot Crook,\u201d Adam frowned, his eyes moved from left to right and a vague smile graced his lips, he glanced down at the floor and then looked up at the Pastor \u201cWhy? You didn\u2019t explain why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPeter and I had gone to school together\u2026his temperament was always aggressive, but he was scared of me. We worked well together for years, raiding small homestead, lonely travellers. One day we held up a man, he was rich, but he saw my face and recognised me, I couldn’t let him live so Peter dispatched him.That\u2019s when we realized we had been seen\u2026.by you.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam took a step backwards, he was now in the centre of the bell tower.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember\u2026I was eight years old, my pa and brother and I had stopped over at a homestead for the night. The woman of the house told me to go to the town and get her mail for her while she cooked breakfast for us and because I was hungry I ran all the way there. On the way back I saw what happened\u2026.I thought I was hidden, but not well enough.”<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I saw you. I\u2019d seen you in the town some days earlier, knew your name, knew all about you, and if your pa had been as rich then as he is today, perhaps it would have been you whom we held up next, as it was we ran and put the fear of the devil in you.”<\/p>\n Adam nodded slowly as a slight frown furrowed his brow, he glanced again at John and then at the gun pointed in his direction, he sighed, a slow exhalation.<\/p>\n \u201cI was terrified for days but eventually could forget. Then when I saw Crook again after so long the dreams began bringing things to mind. Tell me why the elaborate story ? The fable that Mrs Crook spread around town?”<\/p>\n \u201cIt was her pa we killed.\u201d John frowned, thinking back to that day, when the sun had shone down on the scene of two young men who had slain an innocent victim on his way home \u201cPeter wanted to marry her, she would inherit her father’s money so we decided she would inherit sooner, rather than later. Finding you there, provided us with an alibi, someone to blame..and people remembered your name, and that you had been there with your father in the town. Sure, there was some confusion about your age, the old lady you stayed with insisted you were too young, too pleasant\u2026but I soon convinced them differently..I had that gift you see..people always believed what I told them!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo one came to find us.\u201d Adam said quietly \u201cI lived in terror for days waiting for someone to come.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh a posse was formed, but they came back empty handed\u2026maybe God spared you for this time\u2026.\u201d John smiled, angelic and handsome, quite beautiful in his awfulness.<\/p>\n There was a frozen silence. Adam shivered, he felt the shudder trickle all the way down his spine and he glanced once more to the left and right of him\u2026he creened his head forward slightly as though listening to sounds that John may perhaps not have heard..<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t try that game, I was playing it before you were born..\u201d John snarled \u201cMove over to the arch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you intend to do, John, push me over?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you\u2019ll just step off., of course I\u2019ll tell your family that I begged you to reconsider, that I did all in my power to stop you, but you were crazy, out of your mind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI saved your child’s life only a few hours ago, John.”<\/p>\n \u201cI know, but then I didn’t actually kill your brother, did I? I did help him when he needed help.”<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not going to jump, John\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou will! You know me well enough to know that I won\u2019t hesitate to use this gun if necessary. Step onto the cill.”<\/p>\n Adam stepped back, felt the wall hit against his heel, groped with his hands up the wall to the arch and gingerly stepped up onto the cill. He could feel the wind blowing at this height, it was cool, almost refreshing. If he wasn\u2019t feeling so full of trepidation he would have found it exhilarating. He bit his bottom lip and glanced over at the stairs.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019d like me to pray for you, Adam\u2026after all\u2026\u201d John smiled, and Adam shivered. Sometimes beauty in a man, or woman, could be tangibly evil, and he recalled someone saying, weeks earlier, that John Davies was a \u2018handsome devil\u2019\u2026nothing could have been more appropriate in describing him at that instance.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 16<\/p>\n \u201cJOHN!\u201d Ben\u2019s voice boomed loud and reverberated around the bell chamber.<\/p>\n Just for a second it seemed as though time stood still. Just for a second Adam wondered if John would still pull the trigger. No one moved although hearts were beating fast and Adam had to eventually reach out a hand to steady himself.<\/p>\n John Davies turned and his eyes widened in horror as he saw the sheriff and Ben Cartwright standing at the top of the stairs. He turned however with his lips thinned as though resolved to carry through his threat to remove Adam from his life and attempt to bluff his way through afterwards. He stared at Adam and raised his gun arm but then realised that Adam wasn’t looking at him, but someone behind him.<\/p>\n “Hello, Harriett.” Adam said softly.<\/p>\n She stood so still and so pale that Ben had to move to make sure she didn’t fall as she stared at her husband and then at the young man standing as though about to step out into the open air. “John?” she said and her voice was broken, cracked in two by a sob and he turned to look at her and his face then crumpled into dismay and misery when he saw the white blanched face of the woman he loved as she stood with Ben by her side, and the sheriff only a few steps behind her.<\/p>\n \u201cHarriett?\u201d he whispered and his voice contained a note of despair as well as surprise, as though of all people in the world he had never expected to see her standing there confronting him with her big sad eyes and her white tear streaked face, “Harriett, what are you doing here?”<\/p>\n “Oh John -” she shook her head and turned away as though the sight of him was too much for her to bear.<\/p>\n It was his undoing as he looked at the three of them with frantic eyes and then turned to see Adam still standing on the cill with the expanse of sky behind him in the background. With a howl of despair he rushed towards the archway, his foot mounted the cill and his fingers brushed against Adam’s chest just as the younger man twisted out of his reach.<\/p>\n As Adam stepped down onto the floor and John Davies continued his headlong flight down to the earth. Perhaps he heard the screams of his wife echoing in his ears, perhaps he thought it was just the wind streaming past but whatever his thoughts in that moment of time not one was that of repentance.<\/p>\n Harriett’s screams filled their ears for some minutes before they could lead her, sobbing, from the scene of her husbands confessions, and his death. At the house Mrs. Hawkins ran to the house and succeeded in closing the door in order to prevent the children seeing and hearing what had befallen their father. When Adam stepped out into the sunlight it was no longer with the sound of children laughing at play. He heard only the sobs of a heart broken woman as she knelt beside the shattered body of her husband.<\/p>\n Adam turned to his father who was looking at Harriett with such compassion and he felt the sadness of knowing that three children would no longer have a father to look to for comfort and pleasure in the future. He knew also that Harriett would live with the burden of Johns’ confession for the rest of her life.<\/p>\n He stepped back as he watched Mrs. Hawkins stand by Harriett and put her arm around her, and Paul Martin hurrying up the slope with his black bag slapping against his leg as he came to do his ministering. Roy was waiting like the patient law abiding officer that he was and all Adam could think of was that it had all been such a waste. So much hate, so much anger … he turned to his father and nodded, “Home, Pa?”<\/p>\n Ben replaced his hat slowly, his dark eyes still fixed upon the tableau before him, then he put his hand on his son’s shoulder, reminded himself that it could have been Adam’s body they were viewing shattered there on the ground. He gripped Adams shoulder as though to remind himself that his son stood there, flesh and blood, before him, “Yes, son, let’s get home.”<\/p>\n CONCLUSION:<\/p>\n Harriett Davies took her children home to New York, never telling them the truth about their father. Mrs. Crook and Peter lived happy lives, free from the oppression of a cruel despotic man, they settled permanently in Virginia City and in time Peter became one of its leading citizens.<\/p>\n On the morning of John Davies\u2019 funeral, Adam stood some moments alone at the graveside as the other \u2018mourners\u2019 departed. He thought of John\u2019s life and very softly began to speak the words that had sprung to his mind when John had stood in the bell tower\u2026<\/p>\n *.\u201dThou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth, and I have set thee so; thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, til iniquity was found in thee!\u201d\u2026yes, perfect evil\u2026.and John Davies\u2026as handsome as the devil himself.<\/p>\n The End.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n * The Bible Ezekiel 28 v 13-15<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tags:\u00a0 Adam Cartwright,\u00a0Ben Cartwright,\u00a0Hoss Cartwright,\u00a0Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright,\u00a0revenge<\/p>\n
\n\u201cAmy, Amy, Amy\u201d Harriett murmured as she cradled the child into her body and rocked her in her arms with such vigor that several pins securing her hair sprung free and dark tendrils of curling hair fell over her face.<\/p>\n
\n\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n