{"id":12645,"date":"2016-03-07T05:57:48","date_gmt":"2016-03-07T10:57:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12645"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:10:21","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:10:21","slug":"the-iron-horsemen-by-krystyna","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12645","title":{"rendered":"Home is the Sailor #2 – The Iron Horsemen (by Krystyna)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary<\/strong> : \u00a0It is the winter of 1877 and two of Adam and Olivia’s children are lost during the blizzards. This story is about the iron like qualities the Cartwrights need in order to find a child.<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 K+\u00a0 (182,450)<\/p>\n

Home is the Sailor Series<\/strong>:\u00a0 The saga continues after the conclusion of the Captain Cartwright series<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Home is the Sailor<\/a>
\nThe Iron Horsemen<\/a>
\nThere will Always be Rainbows<\/a>
\nThe Pledge<\/a>
\nNo Greater Love<\/a>
\nKismet<\/a>
\nThe Gap\u2026<\/a>
\nA New Direction \u2013 Changes<\/a>
\nEquinox<\/a>
\nThe Cattle Station<\/a>
\nLove Thyself Least<\/a><\/p>\n

The Iron Horsemen<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter 1<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

November 1877 and the wind was blowing cold from the high mountains.\u00a0 Women hurried about their way in town, \u00a0one moment holding onto their hats, and the next struggling to keep their skirts from billowing above their knees.\u00a0 Where possible babies were kept within doors and the children complained bitterly about having to go to school. \u00a0 The doors and windows of the stores and town buildings slammed and thumped adding to the cacophony of sound that reverberated through the alleys and streets of Virginia City.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The two horsemen dismounted outside the livery stable, where they walked their horses inside and paid for them to be led into some \u00a0warm stalls while they were in town. \u00a0 They both had a healthy respect for their beasts and the weather \u00a0had caused both horses and riders to feel bone weary .<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSee you later\u2026\u201d the tallest of the two said just loud enough to be heard above the screech of the wind as they stood together on the side walk.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBucket of Blood \u2026 \u00a0in an hour?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A grin and a slap on the arm indicated that the suggestion was well received, \u00a0and with a cheerful \u201cMind you don\u2019t get blown away in this here breeze.\u201d \u00a0the big man strode away towards the Hardware store.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With a slight smile on his face Adam Cartwright made his way to Amanda Ridley\u2019s \u00a0Ladies Fashions Store, head down against the wind and holding onto his hat, .\u00a0 The bell \u00a0tinkled as he stepped inside and he quickly closed the door behind him as the wind stole inside and threatened to topple over several of the mannequins on display. \u00a0 A tall fair haired woman hurried to set a wig straight on \u00a0the one closest to the door while Amanda came and approached Adam with a welcoming smile<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, \u00a0this is an honour, and a pleasure.\u201d she glanced over at the other woman and nodded \u201cIt\u2019s alright, Mrs Carstairs, I\u2019ll attend to this gentleman. \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam glanced quickly over at the other woman \u00a0before turning back to Amanda, he took a deep breath and glanced rather bashfully around the store \u201cI want to get Olivia a present \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, special occasion?\u201d \u00a0Amanda raised an eyebrow which was matched by Adam raising one of his own<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHmm, \u00a0yes, wedding anniversary.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, did you forget?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot at all,\u201d \u00a0he laughed, a pleasant soft laugh that made Amanda smile, bringing to her mind memories of the tall lanky boy who used to take her to parties back in the days when they were both \u00a0young, \u00a0when everything and everyone seemed so young\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat would you like to get? \u00a0 We have some very elegant and feminine articles of clothing here.\u201d \u00a0she led him to a counter and opened some drawers where clothing of a \u00a0rather intimate nature was revealed.\u00a0 She glanced slyly to see his reaction, \u00a0and smiled at the resolute manner in which he stood his ground \u2026 most men \u00a0went rather hot \u00a0and red around the collar when being shown such items, \u00a0for some reason it seemed they could never believe their wives would wear such things\u2026 although they never seemed to worry so much when requesting her to parcel them up for their mistresses.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mrs Carstairs watched the tall man as he pointed out several items and queried the size and assured Amanda that he knew exactly what size his wife was, thank you very much!\u00a0 So this was the man who had sailed ships across the oceans, had become a high ranking officer in the navy, \u00a0had seen worlds others could only read about in books, \u00a0the man who had two children at the school about whom her son spoke constantly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t realise you were married in November.\u201d Amanda said as she put the garments in the oyster coloured box with the scarlet ribbon which was her trademark, and Adam smiled and shrugged<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t, \u00a0but I like to surprise my wife every so often.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh I\u2019m sure she\u2019ll be very surprised and pleased when she see\u2019s what you\u2019ve bought her.\u201d Amanda laughed \u201cI hope she likes them, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t reply to that but tucked the box under his arm and headed for the door, the bell tinkled again and both women watched as he made a quick departure. \u00a0 \u00a0Now that he had the box \u00a0Adam wasn\u2019t so comfortable about walking around town \u00a0with it, perhaps he should have left it for another time, \u00a0but then Olivia would have been disappointed, not that she knew about his idea of purchasing the clothing, but she had commented about seeing them a few days earlier when in town and rather liking the thought of having something so delicate to wear.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He smiled slightly to himself at the thought of going into the saloon with such a gift for his wife and could imagine only too well the ribald jokes, the borderline teasing and outright crude comments that would come his way.\u00a0 No, he didn\u2019t have the courage to face that, though he had been a seaman there were still some things he was fastidious about \u00a0even now. \u00a0 As he passed Paul and Bridie\u2019s home he paused, then turned and approached the door, gave it a loud rap and was more than relieved to see Bridie smiling in front of him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBridie\u2026!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCome on in, don\u2019t get cold standing out there.\u00a0 Is everything alright?\u201d the door closed quickly and she smiled, her eyes anxious \u201cNothing wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0nothing at all. I just need to ask if I could leave this with you for a while.\u201d he produced the box and she nodded<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI see, not the sort of thing you want to be seen carrying around, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Bridie.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be back in about an hour.\u201d he kissed her cheek and turned to the door only to be prevented from opening it by her grabbing his arm<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs Mary Ann alright? \u00a0 How\u2019s the baby?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBoth doing very well.\u00a0 Joe is as happy as any man could be, I don\u2019t think he can believe he has such a perfect daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd little Daniel, is he alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, \u00a0he seems very well.\u201d \u00a0he smiled slowly, \u201cHe did ask me if I was going to take his sister back with me the other day. \u00a0 I think he\u2019s a little confused.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMost children of that age are when a sister or brother comes along.\u201d \u00a0Bridie smiled and patted him on the arm \u201cAnd what is her name, the new baby?\u00a0 They didn\u2019t seem to know when I saw them last.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI think they\u2019ve settled on a name now, Constance Marie Cartwright.\u201d \u00a0Adam grinned and his eyes twinkled, \u201cI\u2019d best go, \u00a0I promised to meet Hoss \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll make sure no one runs off with your parcel,\u201d she laughed, \u00a0her big hearted warm laugh that always made him smile.\u00a0 Her hand now reached for the door handle \u201cAnd has she got on alright with her help?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, young Jenny has settled in very well. \u00a0 I must go, Bridie\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh of course, \u00a0I am sorry, my dear, I just wanted to catch up on the news\u2026 Olivia is keeping well?\u00a0 And the children?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAll the children are well, Nathaniel has grown.\u201d Adam frowned, \u00a0he pursed his lips as he tried to think of what other kind of things Bridie would want to know, \u201cEveryone\u2019s fine. Pa\u2019s complaining about his gout although he isn\u2019t suffering from it, but seems to be expecting it to come anytime.\u201d \u00a0he sighed \u201cWell, I must go\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, \u00a0and Hesters well\u2026and the children.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes\u2026all well.\u201d \u00a0he put his hand on the handle now and gave it a yank to open \u00a0the door, \u201cThanks Bridie\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With a sigh of relief he hurried down the path, out through the gate and back into the main street.\u00a0 He hugged his collar higher, and braced himself against the wind as he made his way through the town.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss deliberated over his purchases carefully, \u00a0he had a list of things to get from the hardware \u2026 nails, a new awl, \u00a0screws and some new hinges for the door of the barn.\u00a0 He watched as everything was collected and placed on the counter for him, \u00a0then there was kerosene to be ordered but not to be collected until Hop Sing could get into town with the wagon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From the Hardware Store he made his way to the Mercantile only to find the one closest to the Hardware store was closed.\u00a0 He stood outside it for a moment as though he couldn\u2019t believe the sign and leaned in closer to take another look . \u00a0 \u201cIt says closed.\u201d \u00a0 Mrs Garston muttered from behind him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This caused Hoss to drop his packages, \u00a0he hadn\u2019t expected anyone to creep up behind him, although of course, Mrs Garston would deny having done any such thing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s gone, the whole family went and left last week. \u00a0 Said \u00a0business was getting too bad here, what with the mines closing and so much competition in town.\u00a0 He\u2019s gone to New York, that\u2019s what he said, \u00a0that\u2019s where he came from \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAh, I didn\u2019t know that.\u201d Hoss muttered as he retrieved some screws that had rolled out of hands reach. \u00a0\u201cNew York huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSeveral stores have closed over the past few weeks. \u00a0 Place is becoming a regular ghost town.\u201d \u00a0she muttered and shook her head.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou ain\u2019t thinking of leaving us, are ya Ma\u2019am?\u201d \u00a0Hoss asked trying to look genuinely interested but she shook her head resolutely and smiled with that smug self righteous look on her face that gave all the Cartwrights an itch.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh no, \u00a0my husband would never think of abandoning his flock just because of a mere down turn in business. \u00a0 It might do some people good to have to tighten their belts a little.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss found himself immediately sucking in his stomach and holding his breath which he released once she had made her way homewards.\u00a0 With a sigh of relief he headed towards Ridleys Mercantile and pushed open the door \u00a0to be greeted with the warm smiles of the manager in charge.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He produced a different list this time, mainly made up of items Hop Sing required, \u00a0and then there were the bigger things that would be required to tide them over should the weather worsen, and that would be kept in the cellar. \u00a0 These he assured the Manager would be collected by Hop Sing as soon as he could get into town. \u00a0 Mr Anderson nodded and promised that he would make sure his \u2018man\u2019 would be available to carry the items to the wagon taking into account the age of the Ponderosa\u2019s cook.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Having accomplished that task Hoss sauntered out, stood on the sidewalk and watched the people scurrying by. \u00a0 His hat nearly took flight so he had to make a grab for it, but realising that he had now fulfilled all his commissions in town he made his way to the sheriff\u2019s office to see how Candy was getting along.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clem Foster greeted him with a smile and an offer of coffee but Hoss declined that in favour of the drink he was anticipating his brother paying for in the saloon. \u00a0\u201cWhere\u2019s Candy?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOver at the Town Hall. He had to sign some documents along with the Judge.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, nothing serious?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNope,.\u201d Clem grinned, \u201cHey, tell your Pa that the Barringtons are on their way to Sacramento, \u00a0 Their lawyer insisted on trying the case there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u00a0 What about Aubrey Jones?\u00a0 Has he gone too?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYep, \u00a0the three of them.\u00a0 Not that they looked very happy about it.\u00a0 Strange affair all round, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss nodded and watched as Clem poured coffee into his mug, the smell was good, \u00a0it tantalised his nose so it was no surprise to the deputy when Hoss decided that perhaps a good hot drink of coffee now was just what he really needed after all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel deQuille stepped out of his doorway just as Adam was about to pass it by, he nodded and smiled \u201cAdam.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel.\u201d \u00a0Adam returned the welcome and was about to continue on his way when Dan stopped him, \u00a0a hand on his arm to arrest his progress<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, you recall that young lad you helped educate some while back?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhich young lad did you have in mind?\u201d \u00a0Adam narrowed his eyes and glanced up and down the street for a sight of his brother, then looked at Daniel \u201cAny in particular?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJewish if I recall rightly. \u00a0 His parents took over the General Store after Cameron got shot.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam smiled \u201cYou\u2019ve a long memory, Daniel.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNeed to in this profession of mine, never know when it may come in useful.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, \u00a0say what you need to say\u2026 \u00a0Albert Michealson* is the lad you\u2019re referring to, \u00a0if I follow you correctly?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou do.\u201d \u00a0Daniel nodded, \u201cSeems he has made quite a name for himself.\u00a0 He\u2019s just had a book published. \u00a0 I think he\u2019s going to go a long way\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, \u00a0and for a moment his face relaxed into that of a man indulging in pleasant memories \u201cYes, I have never had any doubts about that, \u00a0he was a quite remarkable youth.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe owes you a lot\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot really, \u00a0he got where he is by his own merits.\u201d Adam replied and after muttering a farewell, he hurried on his way.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Albert Michealson, well, who would have thought it\u2026 \u00a0he bowed his head against the wind and thought over the brief time he had tutored the lad, \u2018Mike\u2019 they had called him, brilliant intellect, totally hopeless with people.\u00a0 Yes, there had never been any doubt in Adam\u2019s mind that the young lad would go far.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He saw Hoss in the distance and quickened his pace to reach the saloon alongside him. \u00a0 Then remembered he had to collect the mail so did a quick turnaround towards the Mail and Telegraph Depot.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was mail and Eddy passed it over with a smile, \u201cPackage for you, Adam, along with the mail.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A neat package was handed over, \u00a0sealed with red wax and looking very important with all the stamps, Adam tried to decipher the post mark but it was obscured and hard to read.\u00a0 He tucked letters, papers and package into the leather satchel provided for the task, and bade Eddy goodbye.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By the time he reached the saloon and pushed open the batwings Jake Solomon was already pouring out his drink, \u00a0Hoss was sitting at the table with his own \u00a0in front of him smiling widely and nodding affably over at his older brother.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWindy today\u201d Jake observed for probably the hundredth time that morning and Adam nodded, picked up his drink and joined his brother at the table.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGot everything?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, \u00a0and you?\u201d \u00a0 Adam raised the glass to his mouth, sighed, and emptied half the glass before he set it back down on the table.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Outside there was a crash as \u00a0the wind brought down \u00a0the signpost hanging outside the \u00a0Pharmacy, \u00a0Hoss and Adam exchanged a look, raised their eyebrows and then raised their glasses. \u00a0 It was November \u2026 what else did one expect?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 2<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With the wind roaring outside there was relative calm in the large room where Olivia sat and watched Sofia\u2019s diligent care over her hand writing.\u00a0 Adam had – much to Sofia\u2019s delight – agreed that the children would be safer at home as the winds were going to increase and he hadn\u2019t wanted his children scattered all over the territory.\u00a0 This hadn\u2019t meant they could forego their studies however, as Olivia ensured that they did the work she knew Miss Brandon would have been expecting of them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben set down his pencil and regarded his paper solemnly, \u201cI\u2019ve finished, Ma.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJust leave it there, I\u2019ll check it over in a moment\u2026no Sofia, write F not 5, don\u2019t worry, everyone makes that mistake at times, try again. \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben sighed and rolled his eyes, lolled back in his chair and swung his legs back and forth for a while. \u00a0\u201cMa, can I get down from the table?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs all your work done?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve some reading but that won\u2019t take long.\u201d he glanced over at the fire \u201cShall I put some logs on the fire, Ma?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She glanced over her shoulder and nodded, \u201cBe careful, don\u2019t put too many \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A gust of wind blew down the chimney at that moment and smoke billowed like a black cloud which Reuben valiantly wafted aside \u201cWinds sure getting bad, Ma.\u00a0 Do you think Pa will be alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia nodded, and managed to say \u201cOf course he will,\u201d even though she had been worrying about her husband ever since the winds had began to gather apace.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood thing Uncle Hoss went too,\u201d Reuben said over the noise of the wind in the chimney and his loading the flames with more logs \u201cIf\u2019n it had been Uncle Joe there would have been trouble, Uncle Hoss says Uncle Joe would blow away in this wind.\u00a0 Do you reckon that\u2019s true, Ma, or is Uncle Hoss just joshing?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, you know your Uncle Hoss\u2026\u201d \u00a0Olivia said vaguely and looked at Sofia, \u201cWell done, you did very well. I think Miss Brandon is going to be very pleased with your work, Sofia.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDo I have to go back to school?\u00a0 Can\u2019t I always have lessons like this at home – with you, mommy?\u201d \u00a0Sofia murmured and cast big eyes up at her mother who wisely shook her head and said a very firm \u2018No\u2019<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben wandered over to the window and stared out at the yard.\u00a0 The wind was whipping up to a fury now, \u00a0anything loose was being thrown about \u00a0and clattering around, not that there was much, Adam made sure the men working there kept a – what he called – a tight ship.\u00a0 Reuben was never sure what that meant except that mostly everything was stored away, tied down or shored up securely.\u00a0 He looked over at the outline of the stables and frowned \u201cDo you think the horses will be alright, Ma?\u00a0 Kamille might be frightened?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure she will be alright, Reuben.\u201d \u00a0Olivia frowned, only recently, since the arrival of the new baby, had Kamille been brought down to the stables here, leaving Joe\u2019s and much to Reubens delight, now safely \u00a0installed just across the yard from the house.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He thought about that day, the excitement of having Kamille right there across their yard in their own stables; he remembered how he had helped his Pa groom her, and how they had talked about her and he had listened as his Pa had spoken some Arabic words to her, \u00a0although for all Reuben knew it could have been any language under the sun.\u00a0 Hoss said it was really double Dutch, but Reuben had no idea what that was either and when he had asked Ben his grandfather has just laughed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShould I go over and just make sure, Ma?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0you can just stay right here. \u00a0 Pa wouldn\u2019t be very pleased if you were to be blown over in our own back yard, would he?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben frowned, no, his father wouldn\u2019t have been pleased, \u00a0so he sighed and left the window to return to the table and pick up the book. \u00a0\u201cMa, this is boring, \u00a0do I have to read it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIf it\u2019s the work Miss Brandon wants you to do, then yes, you do have to read it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd afterwards she wanted you to write a short summary of what you had read.\u201d Olivia collected up the pencils and set them down by Reubens hand, \u00a0\u201cSofia, go and practice \u00a0your piano lesson.\u00a0 Reuben, you can read the chapter aloud to me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll find it boring too, Ma.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo doubt, but a lot of things in life can be boring, \u00a0Reuben, \u00a0it\u2019s what you put into it that can make it exciting – or not.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben frowned, he wasn\u2019t sure how he could make a story exciting when it was just plain boring.\u00a0 He sighed and opened to the page where he was to begin his reading and in a monotone began to read aloud \u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia listened with slight interest, her mind was dwelling on her husband, whether he had decided to stay in town or venture back home with Hoss. \u00a0 What if the wind got worse, it had already gathered pace since they had left, it was twice as strong as the morning when he had decided it was too bad for the children to get into town.\u00a0 She sighed and shook her head, Reuben paused thinking he had misread something and then restarted when she remained silent\u2026 \u00a0 one blessing was, she told herself, that he was not on board a ship in a storm like this.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben stopped and closed the book, \u00a0Olivia blinked as though she had just woken up, he nodded \u201cI told you it was boring, Ma.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, \u00a0you were right, it was\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben smiled, and got down from the table.\u00a0 It must \u00a0have been boring, even more so than he even realised because Ma hadn\u2019t even noticed that he\u2019d not completed the whole chapter. \u00a0 Sofia was methodically tapping out her scales on the keyboard, \u00a0her face a picture of concentration as she played, one day she knew she would be a concert pianist, \u00a0she just knew it!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cheng Ho Lee came in with a tray of refreshment and Olivia got up from the table and walked over to the window. \u00a0 Darkness was falling now, \u00a0and she clasped her hands together tightly, \u00a0before hastily drawing the drapes across the glass and returning to wards the fire.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary Ann stood in the middle of the room with the baby in her arms, \u00a0she was swaying too and fro rocking the infant and whispering a little song to her \u00a0daughter but all the time \u00a0her eyes were fixed on the window as the wind buffeted and pummelled against the glass.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAre you alright, darling?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s voice came from behind her, and she half turned and gave a smile, a nod of the head, \u201cYes, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve \u00a0been standing there for nearly an hour\u2026.\u201d Joe said and came to stand beside her, he stretched out an arm and hugged her to him, then smiled as she turned to look up \u201cYou look lovely, I don\u2019t like seeing you looking anxious about nothing. The glass won\u2019t break you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She shook her head \u201cHow did you guess?\u00a0 I didn\u2019t think you would realise\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I realised, you\u2019ve been staring at that window and the door for almost the whole hour,\u201d \u00a0he kissed her brow \u201cDo you think I\u2019ll ever forget what happened that day, when the glass blew in during that storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She shook her head and forced herself to move away, \u00a0\u201cNo, of course not.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She smiled now and looked at her baby girl, \u201cJoe, isn\u2019t she just perfect?\u00a0 Aren\u2019t we blessed?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMore than I deserve to be,\u201d he admitted and watched as she lowered the baby into the bassonet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He loved Mary Ann, he had thought himself blessed when she had married him, but now, with a son and a daughter, he was wondering just how many blessings one man deserved in a lifetime. \u00a0 He stroked her back, and remembered how \u00a0scars from that fateful day were not just on the mind, \u00a0he was reminded of it every time he stroked her back, saw the scars.\u00a0 He shivered now, \u00a0his thoughts turned to the time when Paul Martin was diligently plucking out the slithers of glass from a young girls back, the blood on the floor, Hop Sing gathering up the glass and scrubbing away the blood.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAre you alright Joe?\u201d she whispered now, \u00a0realising he had stopped, frozen as though something had frightened him and he shook his head, and kissed her again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201c!No, I\u2019m aright, so long as you are\u2026!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She kissed him playfully then, and her smile was in her eyes like rainbows \u00a0behind clouds, and his mind settled back to what they had now, what had happened in the past drifted away like cobwebs, equally as inconsequential. \u00a0 Both of them bowed their heads to observe the baby sleeping so contentedly in her crib, and from the other room came the voice of their son chatting animatedly to Jenny Ford<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re blessed, aren\u2019t we?\u201d she whispered and when he nodded, smiled and his hazel eyes sparked green, she leaned forward to kiss him.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was a struggle for Ben to reach the front door, head bowed and his body straining against the wind. \u00a0 The door opened so violently that it slipped from his hand and crashed against the bureau making the picture on the wall shake as a result.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hope and Hannah stopped in their play as they turned to watch their grandfather fumble for the door in order to get it closed behind him, and Hester came hurrying from the kitchen area wiping her hand on a towel the look of relief on her face only momentarily wavering when she saw Ben, and not as she had hoped, her husband<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWinds building up\u201d Ben muttered as he removed his hat and tossed it to one side.\u00a0 He began to remove his gun belt and looked over at her, smiled and then frowned \u201cAnything wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you were Hoss, \u00a0he and Adam went into town earlier and \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWent into town?\u00a0 What made them do a fool thing like that?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThere were things we needed here, Hop Sing wanted, and the weather wasn\u2019t so bad as it is now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She came to help him remove his coat, not that he needed any help but it was always nice to have a pretty woman \u00a0make themselves appear indispensable.\u00a0 He kissed her cheek and then held out his arms to catch his little girls whom he swung up upon each arm \u201cGoodness me, Hannah, \u00a0have you been eating again?\u00a0 You weigh twice as much as you did this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She giggled and Hope smiled and rubbed her cheek against that of her grandfathers, \u00a0and when both were set back on the ground they ran to continue their play. \u00a0 Hannah looked over at her mother and her smile faded, she knew Hester was worried, and she knew why\u2026Pa was still out there, in the winds and Ma was frightened.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLook, Hester, Hoss won\u2019t come to any harm.\u201d Ben said as he nodded over to Hop Sing who had come into the room bearing a tray of refreshments \u201cThey\u2019ll either stay in town or find a place to hole up somewhere until the worse will have passed.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded vaguely and walked to the window \u201cIts \u00a0getting dark\u2026\u201d \u00a0she sighed, \u201cI don\u2019t like it when it gets dark like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben shook his head, and poured coffee for them both, \u00a0then looked over to watch as she remained standing, staring out into the gathering darkness \u201cHester, have some coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She didn\u2019t say anything but turned and joined him \u201cI \u00a0had better get on with my job, Hop Sing wanted me to peel some apples for the pie.\u201d \u00a0she wrapped her hands around the hot cup and smiled at Ben, \u201cI know I\u2019m being stupid, but I can\u2019t help worrying, \u00a0I\u2019ve heard enough stories about people getting lost or \u00a0killed in bad weather and I know for a fact no one\u2019s invincible, not even Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded as he carried his cup and saucer to his chair, side stepping the toys that Hope and Hannah had left like a little mine field to trip him over. \u201cI know, and to be honest if I had been here I would have told him to stay home or to come with me, I could have done with some help.\u00a0 Never mind, \u00a0this squall won\u2019t last for long.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That didn\u2019t settle Hester\u2019s mind, \u00a0she sipped some coffee and then rather absent mindedly wandered off to the kitchen where she picked up her knife and began to peel the apples. \u00a0 She couldn\u2019t help but worry about Hoss, \u00a0hadn\u2019t he only recently been injured in that mine accident?\u00a0 Hadn\u2019t they spent weeks worrying about whether or not he would ever walk again?\u00a0 She shook her head and picked up an apple, it looked so rosy and plump in her hand that she had to put it back down. \u00a0 She drank some more coffee and then wandered to the kitchen window and peered out into shadows and reflections, then with a sigh turned to see Hop Sing watching her anxiously<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m \u00a0worried about Hoss.\u201d she said simply knowing that he would understand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWind soon go. \u00a0 He come home soon.\u00a0 Smell roast pork and apple pie \u2026like homing pigeon, not lost long.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester frowned, shook her head and set down her cup.\u00a0 She would prefer it if Hoss were not \u2018lost\u2019 at all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The two horsemen leaned against the wind and when one stopped so did the other. \u00a0\u201cWhat\u2019d you stop fer?\u201d \u00a0 Hoss shouted in the hope of being heard above the sound of the storm<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t waste his breath, he turned in the saddle and then signed to Hoss to get off the road and to take refuge in the rocks. \u00a0 A cross wind blew hard against them and Adams horse staggered, did a side step as though to avoid being blown over. \u00a0 Adam dismounted and grabbed the reins and pulled the animal behind him as he made his way for cover behind some high boulders.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t long before Hoss was right beside him, \u00a0the two horses standing close to the rocks, their heads down, but now shielded from the worst of the blows the winds brought against them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Together the two brothers hunkered down on their haunches, pulled their collars even higher and tried to shrink themselves into their coats to make themselves warmer.\u00a0 Hoss shivered and bellowed in Adams ear \u201cBetter here than out at sea, huh, big brother?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, \u00a0but said nothing.\u00a0 Thoughts of the sea at times like this often filled his mind, \u00a0when the crew and himself battled against waves as high as houses, that would wash over the decks and try to snatch some unwary seaman away down to the waters that boiled and surged around them. \u00a0 He looked over at Hoss and smiled, it was good to know \u00a0they were not so far from home, \u00a0and that his brother was so close by. \u00a0 He turned to look at the horses and then up at the sky where the clouds were scudding furiously fast across the blue expanse.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow much longer do you think it\u2019ll blow like this?\u201d he yelled to be heard and Hoss shook his head, he couldn\u2019t hear, he put a finger to his ear and shrugged.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was nothing for it but to stay put until there was a lull.\u00a0 Adam hugged his arms around his body, and lowered his head. \u00a0 Hoss did likewise, \u00a0looking up and around him every so often just to make sure that the horses were secure and safe, \u00a0and that his brother was really there.\u00a0 He dug a sharp elbow into Adams \u00a0ribs and when his brother turned to look at him, he nodded vigorously \u201cIt\u2019s good to know you\u2019re here, Adam, \u00a0I missed you some when you were away at sea.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once again Adam nodded but looked away. \u00a0 He smiled vaguely, it was good to know he\u2019d been missed.\u00a0 He wanted to tell his big brother how much he had missed them all as well but knew his voice wouldn\u2019t carry above the roar of the wind\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 3<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The storm blew itself out after a while so eventually children fell asleep, babies stopped their crying and parents gradually managed to settle down themselves.\u00a0 Ben, who was accustomed to all weathers had slept through as soon as his head had settled upon his pillow.\u00a0 His snores, drowned out by the growls of the wind, now were the only sounds to disturb Hester\u2019s peace although she was far from sleeping herself. \u00a0 Pulling on her shawl she made her way down stairs where the old clock greeted her by chiming twice and returning back to its normal stately ticking away the minutes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2 o\u2019clock and still no sign or sound of Hoss. \u00a0 She padded with bare feet to the fire and raked through the embers, \u00a0gathered up those still red hot and put some kindling around them.\u00a0 Gently blowing upon \u00a0the remnant of the fire a small flame soon flickered and within ten minutes the kindling was blazing around the logs she had put on to rebuild the fire up.\u00a0 After brushing her hands free of dust she settled herself in the big leather chair and awaited her husband\u2019s return.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the house not so far away Olivia was doing much the same, curling herself on the big settee and forcing herself not to worry or fret over her husband\u2019s whereabouts.\u00a0 The storm had passed but the damage it must have done remained to be seen, all she hoped was that some of the damage had not been vented upon Adam or Hoss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It had taken such a long time to get the children to sleep, Sofia had always had a dislike of the wind and had several times called out for her by which time Nathaniel would be awake and crying for attention. \u00a0 It \u00a0made matters worse for the fact that he was teething., and all the noise banging about the house made him fractious and miserable. \u00a0 Reuben decided to sleep walk and walked himself into a wardrobe where she found him fast asleep hanging onto one of Adams jackets.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t woken when he was propelled back to his room and into bed, it was only when she had wearily got into her own bed that he called out for her \u2026 and that woke Nathaniel up again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Such a night! \u00a0 She got to her feet and went into the kitchen and stoked up the stove, \u00a0and having got it into a good blaze she closed down the damper and then put the kettle on.\u00a0 If only Adam would come home, if only he hadn\u2019t decided to go into town, if only \u2026 if only \u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Not so far away Joe and Mary Ann slept with no fears or worries about the storm, \u00a0Daniel woke up several times and called for them but soon fell back to sleep when no one came to attend to him. \u00a0 Constance woke and gazed up into \u00a0a blurred darkness, coo\u2019d \u00a0at the shadows, \u00a0listened to the sounds of the wind and was lulled back to sleep for she, having no conception of fear, heard only the music of different sounds and melodies that caused her no concern at all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In her own little bedroom Jenny Ford had sat awake listening to the wind howling and growling.\u00a0 She had heard Daniel crying and didn\u2019t know what to do, was she supposed to get up and see to him?\u00a0 Was she to give him food?\u00a0 No one had told her what to do and without directions she was unable to do anything but cling to her blanket and stare up at the ceiling.\u00a0 She wondered about her father and if he were safe, \u00a0was he happy in his new work, \u00a0did he have as nice people to work for as she – for she loved Mary Ann and although a little timid of Joe, found him quite amusing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Life had changed for Jenny, \u00a0from the large ostentatious home of Patrick McGarthy she was now settled in this wooden house with the big windows \u00a0and the warmth of smaller rooms \u00a0and a \u2018modern\u2019 kitchen. \u00a0 She had been there a month now.\u00a0 She wasn\u2019t sure how she had got there, nor who had arranged for her to go with the young Cartwright family, but here she was, and her father \u2026 well, for the first time in her life she had had to go somewhere without him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Victor Ford had told his daughter that she would see him once a month.\u00a0 He would come to collect her and they would go into town, or a ride around the countryside.\u00a0 Or perhaps sometimes she could come into town with Mrs Cartwright and they would meet together at the hotel and he could \u00a0spend a little time with her then. \u00a0 It had soothed her, those promises, and she had been content to come and live with this little family far from town, \u00a0where it was quiet and \u2018safe\u2019.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A whole new and different life. \u00a0 She did what she was told – because that was really the only way she could function – \u00a0and Mary Ann had known just exactly how to manage her little assistant perfectly. \u00a0 Jenny had been shown how to hold a baby and how to rock it to sleep.\u00a0 It was when the baby cried and didn\u2019t respond to her rocking that Jenny would put Constance down and walk away. \u00a0 She couldn\u2019t quite understand the mechanics of babies, and that they were spontaneous little beings who didn\u2019t really do exactly what they were told when they were told\u2026 \u00a0it was something Mary Ann \u00a0had the patience to teach her little friend, in time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So much to learn\u2026 there were the horses of course, \u00a0so many of them. \u00a0 But now she knew that she could stroke their noses, and if they nibbled at her sleeves it didn\u2019t matter they meant her no harm. \u00a0 Yes, so much to learn. \u00a0 As she lay there in bed and stared up at the ceiling she thought over and over again of her own mother, \u00a0whom she remembered perfectly clearly, and she thought how one day she would be a mother too\u2026 one day.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam jerked awake and looked around him, rubbed his face and blinked rapidly for a while before remembering where he was\u2026it was still dark, stars shone from the sky and the only sound was that of Hoss snoring.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was stiff from having fallen to sleep contorted in the squatting position he and Hoss had adopted to avoid the wind. \u00a0 He couldn\u2019t recall the time when he fell asleep, he wasn\u2019t even sure if he had actually been asleep \u2026he rubbed his face again and yawned. \u00a0 Hoss was still snoring, his chin rested on his chest and he was hunched in the same squatting position that Adam remembered with his hands dangling between his knees.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam yawned again and managed to get to his feet, \u00a0the stillness of the night after the noise of the storm was tranquillity it self.\u00a0 He walked over to his horse who was asleep out among the rocks, and flicked at the reins, which brought the animal back to wakefulness.\u00a0 It scrabbled to its feet, \u00a0and shook its head.\u00a0 Adam patted it on the neck and then reached for his canteen of water from which he took a deep long drink before pouring some into his \u00a0hat and offering it to the horse.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWassmatter?\u201d \u00a0 Hoss mumbled and staggered to his feet, rubbed his face with both hands and shook his head \u201cdid I fall asleep?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSnoring fit to bust.\u201d Adam muttered and \u00a0walked over to his brother with the canteen of water in one hand \u201cHere, drink this, and then we had better make our way home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHome?\u00a0 Yeah\u2026of course\u2026sure\u2026mmmm\u201d \u00a0Hoss rubbed around his face again \u201cThought that storm would never stop. \u00a0 What time is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBack of three o\u2019clock.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHester will be worried.\u201d \u00a0Hoss glugged down some water and then stretched, \u201cI feel like I\u2019ve been folded over and stuck in a box for weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam smiled and took the canteen from his \u00a0brother, slammed in the stopper and hung it back on his saddle \u201cLet\u2019s go, Hoss, \u00a0we have wives to make our peace with\u2026\u201d \u00a0he frowned, \u00a0Olivia would be worried, he knew that, and for sure Hester would have been too. \u00a0 He could see the darker shadow of his brother emerging from the shadows of the rocks and as Hoss went to his horse Adam quickly mounted into the saddle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They rode in silence for some miles before Hoss turned to Adam and said \u201cShucks, I can\u2019t believe that I fell asleep, when did the storm pass over?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shrugged and grimaced \u201cOh some time back\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you didn\u2019t wake me up?\u00a0 Dadburnit, Adam, \u00a0Hesters going to have my hide \u2026and she\u2019ll never believe that I slept through that storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not?\u201d \u00a0Adam frowned, he couldn\u2019t believe he\u2019d slept through it either, nor the fact he\u2019d slept through Hoss snoring so loudly once the storm had passed.\u00a0 He sighed \u00a0\u201cTry and imagine facing that storm out at sea if you\u2019re so busy feeling sorry for yourself, I would say with a wind velocity of that strength the waves would be houses high\u2026 we\u2019d have lost men on board, they\u2019d have been washed over the side of the ship\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDid it ever happen to you?\u201d \u00a0Hoss\u2019 face registered alarm and concern \u201cI mean, \u00a0were \u00a0you ever washed over board?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAlmost – several times.\u201d \u00a0Adam shook his head \u201cIt happens so fast, one moment you\u2019re on your feet and the next flat on your back skidding across the deck and knowing that any moment you\u2019ll be lost at sea, not that you even have the time to think it, it\u2019s all happening so quickly. \u00a0 I owe my life – more than once – to the vigilence of some seaman who grabbed me or threw me a line in time.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShucks, Adam, \u00a0we often thought of you and wondered how you were, but never thought too much about what your life would really be like\u2026I mean \u2026well, you know what I mean, don\u2019t\u2019cha?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded and glanced up at the sky, \u00a0\u201cI wouldn\u2019t have missed it all, though, Hoss.\u00a0 There were times I hated it, many a time I wished I were home with you all, especially after marrying Olivia, but I\u2019m glad of it now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss darted an anxious glance over at his brother, a niggle of \u00a0worry like a tiny worm \u00a0appeared on the fringes of his consciousness \u2026 surely Adam wasn\u2019t getting restless again, \u00a0wanting to return to sea, he opened his mouth to say something but closed it again just in case by doing so his brother volunteered some information that Hoss would not have liked to hear. \u00a0 He sighed and shook his head, then frowned \u201cRemember that Jacob Brown?\u00a0 Wonder what happened to his wife?\u00a0 She was a great cook\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe sure was,\u201d Adam grinned, \u201cLast I heard she was in a place called Tombstone, \u00a0opened a diner there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d \u00a0Hoss\u2019 eyes opened wide and he smiled slowly, \u201cShe was a good woman.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe was that\u2026\u201d \u00a0Adam replied but preferred not to speak any more on the subject, the incident with Jacob Brown cast a long shadow and he hated to linger within it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sky was lightening and the two men \u00a0were now on the home track towards their homes. \u00a0 If one were able to stand on a mountain and look down upon the valley where the \u00a0houses were built they would notice they stood on what could have been termed the points of a triangle\u2026 Adams home was the first point, the track forked towards his home first, but by keeping to the main track it would then fork off to the very first the main Ponderosa and by returning to the main track and heading a mile up would be Joe\u2019s home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, I\u2019ll bring your mail over later this morning.\u00a0 Don\u2019t forget to tell Pa I\u2019ve collected it\u2026 unless he wants to go into town for any reason.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019ll tell him.\u201d \u00a0Hoss slowed his horse \u00a0and rode closer to his brother so that Adam, by the touch of Hoss\u2019 knee against his, was forced to slow his own mount, Hoss extended his hand \u201cAdam, \u00a0I\u2019m sure proud of having you for a brother\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam looked momentarily surprised, then grinned and clasped his brothers hand in his, \u201cHoss, I feel the same about yourself\u2026. I couldn\u2019t wish for a \u00a0better brother than \u00a0yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShucks, Adam -\u201d \u00a0Hoss \u00a0nodded, sniffed and shook his brothers hand firmly, then broke away \u201cSee you later\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWith the mail\u2026I won\u2019t forget\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A wave of the hand and Adam turned his horse into the first turning off from the main track towards his home. \u00a0 He knew immediately that Olivia was waiting for him as lights shone from the windows of the big room. \u00a0 Smiling to himself he led the horse into the stable and after seeing to the beast, checking its feed and water, he strode home, \u00a0packages and satchel under his arm.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia was curled up on the settee with her head resting on a cushion, her eyes closed.\u00a0 Even when Adam leaned down to kiss her she never stirred. \u00a0 Quickly removing his hat and jacket, his gun belt and putting that safely away, Adam returned to where she lay, whispered her name and was rewarded with her eyes fluttering open, then closing again. \u00a0 Very gently he lifted her up into his arms and carried her step by step to their room, \u00a0set her upon the bed and covered her with the quilt.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The clock struck the hour, \u00a0the sky was streaking with the colours of dawn\u2026he yawned and welcomed a new day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss \u00a0found Hester in the big chair with a book on her lap, as he approached her the book fell on the floor with a soft thud, but it was loud enough to startle her awake.\u00a0 She opened her eyes and saw Hoss\u2019 face close to her own, the blue eyes rather blood shot but twinkling, the smile on his face tender and loving. \u201cOh Hoss,\u201d she cried and flung her arms around his neck \u201cI was so scared.\u00a0 I thought you might have been blown away.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He grinned at that, and then she shook her head and laughed, and he laughed and as the clock struck the hour their laughter \u00a0became smothered with heart felt kisses.\u00a0 Hoss \u00a0considered himself the most blessed of men, \u00a0he was so loved.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 4<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When Olivia opened \u00a0her eyes it was to find her husbands side of the bed cold and still unslept in.\u00a0 For a moment she lay very still with her heart beating like a pulsating lump of lead in her chest.\u00a0 The fears she had felt during the night swarmed in on her\u2026 fears of his not having returned, being swept away in the storm; \u00a0and how did she get back to her bed?\u00a0 Her last memory had been of sitting by the fire, arms wrapped around her knees, waiting –<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The door opened and she could have laughed with relief but that feeling dispersed like a bubble when Sofia entered the room and rubbed her eyes \u201cMommy, is today Saturday when I can stay home?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia couldn\u2019t think, was it Saturday?\u00a0 She smiled and was about to speak when Sofia gave an almighty yawn and mumbled \u201cWhats in that big box?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat big box?\u201d she replied and turned to look at where Sofia was pointing, \u00a0and then her face softened as she saw the oyster coloured box \u00a0sitting proudly on the chair opposite the bed.\u00a0 Had she not been so panic filled it would have been the first thing she would have seen when waking and obviously put there for that purpose.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDaddy\u2019s home?\u201d she whispered as she swung her legs over the side of the bed and Sofia looked at her with slight scorn on her face as though such a comment was unnecessary, of course daddy was home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The big red ribbon was pulled off immediately and the lid carefully raised and set to one side. \u00a0 Sofia came and peered over her shoulder as Olivia looked at the sheer silken garment with the delicate lace trim. \u00a0\u201cThat\u2019s pretty, mommy \u2026I like pink.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia nodded, she liked pink too, her very favourite dress was pink, she wore it when she went to a ball with Robert and then .. Later\u2026 with Adam . But this wasn\u2018t just any kind of pink, it was a soft pearl coloured shade, and she looked at the label and saw it had been made so far away, far away in Paris, France. \u00a0 She sat there and then lifted the dainty scrap of a chemise up so that it floated in her hands \u201cIts so pretty\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia nodded, hadn\u2019t she already said so? \u00a0\u201cAre you going to put it on?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0it\u2019s not for wearing during the day\u2026\u201d Olivia hugged it against her slim body, \u00a0smiled dreamily and then looked again into the box where a matching dressing gown \u00a0was just waiting for her to pick \u00a0up, and beneath that certain other matching garments that made her laugh at the thought of her husband asking Amanda Ridley to \u2018pack them in as well!\u2019<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben came into the room \u201cMa, Nathaniel\u2019s smelly.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nothing like that kind of comment to bring a mother back down to earth, she sighed and let the garments drift back into the box.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia could hear the dull thud of an axe striking against wood so knew where to locate her father. \u00a0 She ran with a skip to her feet and called out to him, \u00a0\u201cPa, Pa, it\u2019s Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam smiled and swung the axe down upon the log, splitting it evenly into two, he settled one back into position to split that into a smaller section \u201cI know\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat means I don\u2019t need to go to school today.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cUh-huh\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The axe swung again and she stepped back, keeping her distance for Adam had strict rules as to safety around the wood shed, \u00a0\u201cThat means three days and not \u00a0going to school.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know that too\u2026\u201d \u00a0Adam smiled and put the axe down, \u00a0collected up the logs and nodded to his daughter \u201cCollect those up for Ma, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa, \u00a0that means I don\u2019t have to go back to school ever\u2026 do I?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019d you figure that out?\u201d \u00a0he frowned slightly as he bent to collect up some of the logs, \u00a0while she busied herself picking up the kindling.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, \u00a0Mommy taught me my sums and my reading. \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat was just yesterday for a few hours.\u00a0 Ma\u2019s too busy here to teach you schooling at home.\u201d \u00a0he balanced an extra log and began to bear his load towards the house \u201cDid Ma send you out to tell us breakfast was ready?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded having forgotten her errand in the excitement of having another free day, \u00a0\u201cReuben finished cleaning out the stables.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMmm,mmmm\u201d \u00a0Adam nodded and gave her a quick glance as a reminder that now she had ownership of Buster she had her responsibilities in the stable too, but she pretended not to notice and skipped along beside him with the kindling scratching her arms and chest through her clothing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI helped Ma to make the breakfast.\u201d \u00a0she said as they reached the door<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded and set down the logs, \u00a0then banked them up upon the wood pile while she put the kindling in the basket. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m \u00a0going to \u00a0look after Buster when I\u2019ve had breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cRemember in future to do it in the morning before breakfast.\u201d he said sternly, and wanted to tell her that working alongside her brother at the chore lightened the burden as well as providing time together but Olivia came to the door then, her face wreathed in smiles as she came and wrapped her arms around his neck<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d \u00a0she smiled up at him, her sea green eyes twinkling the way the sea would when the sun shone and danced upon the waves<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDid you like it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s beautiful, how did you know I wanted that colour?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him \u201cBecause I \u00a0know you \u2026\u201d and over her shoulder he winked at Sofia who was \u00a0grinning up at him<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThank you again\u2026\u201d \u00a0she whispered and kissed him once more \u201cI\u2019ve never seen silk so delicate as that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNor have I\u2026\u201d \u00a0he laughed again, and kissed her harder \u201cSorry I wasn\u2019t home sooner, you\u2019d have had your present earlier but the storm \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut you were safe\u2026did you stay in town?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss and I found some rocks to duck behind on the way and \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben dashed out, \u201cMa, Ma, the pancakes are burning\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia ran in ahead of them and sure enough there was enough damage done to one of the pancakes for it to be dumped aside.\u00a0 Nathaniel was wrinkling his nose and saying \u201cPooh\u201d while shaking his head as smoke wreathed around his head<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben sat down and looked at his sister with a scowl \u201cI cleaned out Buster\u2019s stall. You should have done it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI was going to do it after breakfast.\u201d \u00a0she said and blinked her eyes at him, \u201cI was helping Mommy\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI had to look after Max as well.\u201d Reuben muttered and sighed heavily while Adam poured milk into his glass and tapped him on the shoulder as a way of telling him to be quiet. \u00a0\u201cTell her though, Pa\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam frowned, trust Reuben to be determined to have the last word, he nodded \u201cI have. Now, that\u2019s enough on the subject. \u00a0 Look, Reuben, before we start eating, could you get the satchel from the bureau, I collected the mail yesterday from town and haven\u2019t had time to check it through yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSure, Pa\u201d \u00a0the boy grinned and ran to the other room, returning with it in his hand and passing it to Adam, \u201cLook s like a parcel in there\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThere is.\u201d Adam \u00a0nodded and waited for his wife to sit down and join them at the table.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia didn\u2019t dwell on the thought of mail, she never expected to receive any so it held no interest for her. \u00a0 She was thinking of Buster which led her to consider the matter of Kamille\u2019s colt and how much she had wanted it instead of Reuben\u2019s old mount.\u00a0 When Adam had brought Max along for the boy Sofia\u2019s hopes had soared, just perhaps, just perhaps \u2026. But no, Kamille\u2019s colt was free to run around the corral at Uncle Joe\u2019s while she had to make do with Buster.\u00a0 Life was hard!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once the meal was finished and everything cleared away, apart from Nathaniels area which was still littered with the debris of his breakfast at which he would pick for a while longer, Adam picked up the satchel to check out the letters.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He sifted through them and then set them into separate piles two of which he returned to the satchel.\u00a0 From the remaining few he handed one over to Reuben with a flourish. \u00a0 Sofia watched as her brother\u2019s eyes lit up with delight, \u00a0the writing was familiar but it wasn\u2019t until he said \u201cIt\u2019s from Billy Webb\u201d \u00a0that she remembered the boy who had pushed her into the river all that time ago.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded and smiled as he replaced the mail for his father and brothers into the satchel \u201cI promised to take the mail over to Pa\u2019s, \u00a0Livvy, will it be alright if Reuben comes too?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCan I, \u00a0Ma?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d \u00a0Olivia nodded \u201cI\u2019ll be busy today, there\u2019s cheese to make and \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPlease, can I go with Daddy?\u201d \u00a0Sofia piped up, the thought of helping in the dairy made her stomach turn over, she hated the smell of that cheese being made, the thought of playing with Hannah and Hope was much more appealing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIf Pa says so\u201d \u00a0Olivia replied and glanced over at Adam who was busily unwrapping the package.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He smiled when he saw what it was and withdrew it with a kind of reverence which aroused her curiosity \u201cWho is it from? \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a moment he didn\u2019t reply, then he passed the book to her and she read the title and shook her head, the authors name was unfamiliar so she looked at her husband \u201cWho\u2019s Albert Michaelson*?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, \u00a0Mike – we all called him Mike back then – was the son of a Polish Jewish family.\u00a0 A genius.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDid he come out of a bottle?\u201d Sofia asked immediately which prompted Reuben to laugh<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cA genius means someone who is extremely clever and intelligent\u2026 not a genie, Sofia.\u201d Adam smiled and tweaked her nose playfully. \u00a0 \u201cI had the privilege of tutoring him for a while \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy? \u00a0 What\u2019s a tutor?\u00a0 Is that a teacher?\u201d Reuben now wanted to know and Adam nodded and took the book back from Olivia and opened it to read the inscription on the flyleaf<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cA tutor is someone who teaches another in preparation of an education\u2026 Mike needed help before he took the attendance examination for college.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you helped him to get to colllege?\u00a0 Was he a good boy?\u00a0 Did he learn his lessons you taught him?\u201d Reuben was all questions, \u00a0to his mind if the boy was a genius then that made his Pa even more \u00a0of one, \u00a0his respect for his Pa soared several more degree\u2019s.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot the one he took the examination for\u2026 but we applied to the President for help and he attended U.S Naval Academy in Annapolis as a Midshipman.\u00a0 He was an amazing boy, he taught me a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about Pa?\u201d \u00a0Reuben frowned, \u00a0how could anyone teach his father anything at all when his Pa knew everything there was just about \u2026well, \u00a0everything.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, \u00a0about the sciences, \u00a0 he was particularly fascinated by the thoughts of Leon Foucault, \u00a0and his theories on light \u00a0so -\u201c \u00a0he paused, \u00a0smiled and looked at Olviia who was smiling at him from her side of the table \u201cAnyway, \u00a0that\u2019s who the book is from , Albert Michaelson.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs there a letter enclosed with the book?\u201d Olivia smiled over at her husband who seemed to have drifted into memories and forgotten that there were those at the table expecting him to continue with his history, so he checked inside the package and produced a letter, which was short, which was not unexpected from Albert.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGreetings Adam<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There have often been times over the years that I have had to consider the words of advice you gave me about people, I have never forgotten that particular lesson, Adam. \u00a0 Yes, you were and are so right, without people, then nothing means anything at all.<\/p>\n

So much has happened since being in Annapolis.\u00a0 I worked on refining the rotating mirror method of Leon Foucault for measuring the speed of light, you know.\u00a0 His work, if you recall, always held a special fascination for me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I have experimented with measuring the speed of light here, did you realise, Adam, that the speed of light in air is 299,864 + 51 kilometres per second.\u00a0 I am experimenting with light in a vacuum at present.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

You will be pleased to know that I have excelled in optics, heat, climatologic and drawing and after I graduated in \u201873 I became an instructor at the Naval Academy in physics and chemistry in \u201875<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I hope you enjoy my first book\u2026of course, it will be revised as I make further refinements. And, by the way, I was married this year to Margaret Hemingway*.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sincere best wishes and thanks<\/p>\n

Albert \u2018Mike\u2019<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia nodded, smiled \u201cThe speed of light – how fascinating. \u00a0 The next thing you know they\u2019ll be building ships to go to the stars.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam laughed as he folded the letter away, \u201cYou know, Mike said exactly the same thing, I can remember we had been discussing Faucault in the hay loft over the livery stables and – \u201c \u00a0he paused, grinned and shook his head \u201cWell, guess it doesn\u2019t matter, he\u2019s settled and will make his own way.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia sighed and looked over at her son \u201cAnd you, what did your letter have to say?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben shook his head \u201cI haven\u2019t opened it yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou have five minutes,\u201d Adam said after putting the book and letter back in the wrapping, \u201cUnless, of course, it\u2019s private.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben grinned and pulled out the letter, which he read quietly to himself before saying \u201cBilly\u2019s gran\u2019ma died and he\u2019s going to \u00a0a boarding school with his cousin.\u00a0 He likes it there. \u00a0 That\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t like Billy.\u201d Sofia announced rather grandly, \u201cHe pushed me in the river.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou liked him well enough when he came and lived with us, Sofia.\u201d her mother said as she pushed herself away from the table and dropped a kiss on her husband\u2019s dark curls as she passed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia thought about that and then nodded \u201cYes, I remember now.\u201d and looked very thoughtful as she recalled to mind the lad who was so kind to her, and read her stories even when the book was held upside down.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, enough of this reminiscing,\u201d \u00a0Adam muttered \u201cI promised to take the mail over to Pa\u2019s and Joe\u2019s. \u00a0 \u00a0Sofia, you have Buster to attend to.\u201d \u00a0 and when Sofia rolled her blue eyes he rolled his dark ones back at her, \u201cHurry now or you won\u2019t be able to come with us.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia slid down from her chair and ran off, \u00a0Reuben waited awhile until Adam asked him to go and saddle his horse, Max. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll be out in a moment, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The door slammed and he smiled at his wife \u201cYou would have liked Mike\u2026not sure what he would have thought of you though, he had no real awareness of how people worked, not then anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSome children are like that, when they are exceptionally intelligent.\u201d \u00a0she replied and went to clean up the mess Nathaniel had made before cleaning him up as well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI guess so, \u00a0but I do think the time he had here, \u00a0being around Hoss and Joe helped him more than anything I\u2019d have said.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He wrapped his arms around her and dropped a kiss upon the back of her neck, then leaned forward a little to ruffle Nathaniel\u2019s hair. \u00a0\u201cWell, I had better go.\u00a0 See you soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She watched him leave and then hugged the child tightly before kissing his chubby dimpled cheeks. \u00a0 The book with the letters remained on the table, and after looking at the title she decided that it wasn\u2019t the kind of book that would appeal to her and picked it up along with the letters which she took and placed on Adams desk in the study.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat time did you get in last night?\u201d Ben asked his son who was gulping down his breakfast as though he hadn\u2019t eaten for weeks.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t \u2026I mean, I got home about 5 this morning.\u00a0 An \u00a0hour ago to be precise.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDid you get any sleep at all?\u201d \u00a0 Ben then enquired and glanced over at Hester who was \u00a0pouring fresh water into a glass for Hannah<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSome, \u00a0Adam and me – we hunkered down by some rocks and snatched some sleep there.\u00a0 Leastways I did.\u201d \u00a0he frowned \u201cI reckon on him having got some too\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, no doubt about it, winters on the way.\u00a0 Could be a long hard one this year, it was too soft last so may make up for it this year by being harder than usual.\u201d \u00a0Ben dabbed at his mouth with the napkin, \u00a0\u201cDid you get everything we needed in town?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSure did, Pa. \u00a0 Couldn\u2019t get any of that stuff from Murphy\u2019s though\u2026it\u2019s closed down and he\u2019s gone to New York, according to Mrs Garston anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester sighed and shook her head \u201cAnother store closed \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMmm, \u00a0don\u2019t think it\u2019ll affect Amanda Ridley much though, Adam spent a small fortune there on some \u2018dooby-dats\u2019 for \u00a0Olivia, prices she charges for a few bits of material and lace – \u00a0and Ridleys Mercantile is always full of customers.\u00a0 Anyway, its all ready for Hop Sing when he goes in today.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben \u00a0nodded and looked thoughtful \u00a0\u201cI may go in myself later \u2026 Hester, what about yourself, what do you intend doing today?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester was prevented from saying anything when there was a brisk knock on the door and Adam, accompanied by his children, stepped into the big room and called out a greeting along with \u201cI\u2019ve brought the mail.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI rode all the way here on Buster.\u201d \u00a0 Sofia declared proudly as she ran into the room and stood beside her Aunt Hester whom she loved very much.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester put her arm around the little girls shoulders and told her what a clever girl she was, \u00a0\u201cHave you come to play with my girls?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, please.\u201d \u00a0Sofia frowned \u201cI left Clarabelle with Jessie.\u201d \u00a0she turned to Hannah \u201cJessie\u2019s eyes fell off yesterday so Clarabelle is going to look after her until Mommy can sew two new ones on for her.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hannah nodded, \u00a0she understood all about eyes dropping off from dolls faces having experienced much the same herself and knowing it was often caused by some tugging and pulling on her part as well.\u00a0 Hope said nothing, \u00a0she was busy picking up her food very daintily<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam -\u201d Ben rose from the table and dropped his napkin beside his plate \u201cI need you to do me a favour, well, not me exactly -\u201d \u00a0he paused and looked over at Hoss who was looking curiously at his father<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben put a hand on his eldest son\u2019s shoulder and after looking again at Hoss turned to Adam \u201cI promised Winnemucca that I would cut out some steers from the main herd for his people. \u00a0 It\u2019s going to be an early and hard winter this year, son, and I don\u2019t want to have them coming begging.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam \u00a0didn\u2019t reply immediately, \u00a0he thought about it for a moment before mentioning that it would take a few days to which Ben nodded, \u201cI know, I\u2019ve already asked Hop Sing to organise staples for you to take along.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSure, Pa.\u00a0 Do you think Joe will come along?\u201d \u00a0Adam \u00a0replied and \u00a0nodded over at Hoss who had left the table and was standing beside his father and brother now, his hands on his hips as he listened to what was being discussed<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMore than likely,\u201d Ben murmured and sighed \u201cI\u2019d rather get it done sooner than later, \u00a0son.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHm, \u00a0well, we\u2019ll go and see what he\u2019s up to, \u00a0he won\u2019t thank us for not including him.\u201d Adam muttered and then noticed Reuben standing beside Ben watching and listening.\u00a0 He paused, frowned and pursed his lips and Hoss, looking at the boy, did much the same thing. \u00a0\u201cReuben, \u00a0you\u2019ve not \u00a0been to the Paiute village yet, have you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u00a0the boys cheeks reddened, \u00a0excitement mounted and he looked at his Pa, his grandfather and his Uncle \u201cCan I come with you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you think?\u201d Adam asked of his brother who looked very serious and rubbed the back of his neck and hemmed and hawed a bit so that Reuben said \u201cPlease.\u201d very plaintively<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI reckon he could, he\u2019s gitting growed up so should be no problem.\u201d \u00a0Hoss finally admitted and Ben and Adam both smiled and nodded.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cVery well, then\u201d \u00a0Adam placed a hand on the boys shoulder and leaned down a little \u201cLook, Hoss, if you go and check with Joe. \u00a0 I need to go back and talk this over with Olivia, she was expecting me back and as we\u2019ll be gone a few days ..\u201d \u00a0he let his voice trail away as he turned to go, \u201cSee you in a moment, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d \u00a0Reuben stepped closer to his father, just in case Adam had forgotten him but a smile reassured him that was not the case<\/p>\n

\u201cStay here and I\u2019ll collect you when I get back.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben nodded and followed his father to the door, then paused \u201cWhat if she says I can\u2019t go\u2026. I mean, she\u2019s a girl, she won\u2019t understand \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe will.\u201d \u00a0Adam laughed and gave him a little shove, \u201cNow, just wait here awhile, I\u2019ll be right back.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 5<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia was more than pleased to see \u00a0her husband home so soon after his departure, she had not yet gone to the dairy to make the cheese and had been brushing her little boy\u2019s hair while singing to him.\u00a0 Nathaniel clapped his hands and \u2018sang\u2019 some of the words that he recognised until he saw his father in \u00a0the door way whereupon he stopped and just raised his arms in anticipation of hugs and cuddles<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHome so soon? \u201c Olivia stood up and leaned towards him to kiss his cheek, while Nathaniel reached out and grabbed at Adam\u2019s jacket so that his father was forced to take him into his arms where the baby crowed in delight<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, sweetheart,\u201d \u00a0Adam said immediately \u201cBut Pa wants us to do an errand for him\u2026 it\u2019ll be a few days before I – we – get back.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe?\u201d \u00a0She frowned and inclined her head a little to one side, narrowed her eyes \u201cA collective noun, which infers \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSweetheart,\u201d he leaned towards her and took hold of one hand, grinned mischievously \u201cHave you been reading those dictionaries again?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She shook her head, slapped his arm playfully \u201cBe serious, Adam.\u00a0 Now, who exactly will be going with you to wherever you happen to be going?\u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoe probably, Hoss certainly with myself and – I thought Reuben would like to come along too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReuben?\u00a0 And \u00a0I\u2019m expected to agree to you taking our son \u2026where exactly?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He pouted and pulled a wistful face, sighed \u201cWell, I thought it would be a good idea if Reuben were to join his uncles and I on this errand for Pa. \u00a0 It\u2019ll be part of his education, not only that it will help him see what being on a ranch is all about..\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going on a cattle drive?\u00a0 In this weather?\u201d she asked with wide eyes and amazement in her voice \u201cAre you serious?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0not at all. \u00a0 I mean, no we are not going on a cattle drive.\u201d he paused, tapped his mouth with his forefinger, \u201cUmm, \u00a0not really, well, just a little one.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re sounding more like Little Joe every day, why not just say it as it is\u2026\u201d and she raised her chin as though in challenge and along with her chin, she raised her eyebrows.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa got a request from Winnemucca for help, \u00a0they must be anticipating a bad winter this year so Pa wants us to cut out some steers from the main herd for them.\u00a0 It helps them through the winter\u2026 I thought if Reuben came to watch, he\u2019d learn something new.\u00a0 He\u2019s never been involved with the running of the ranch yet, has he?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She was silent for a moment and then folded her arms across her chest, Nathaniel leaned forward to brush chubby dimpled fingers across her face before hugging back into his father.\u00a0 Adam waited, then she nodded \u201cYou\u2019re right, he hasn\u2019t. \u00a0 There\u2019s always been so much else for him to do closer to home.\u00a0 But, Adam, he isn\u2019t even ten years old yet \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam frowned \u201cWhat has that to do with it?\u00a0 He handles his horse really well, and he\u2019ll only be observing us, I don\u2019t expect him to ride down and help in any way.\u201d \u00a0he smiled then and reached for her hand, \u00a0gently rubbing his thumb against the rings on her finger \u201cWe\u2019ll be camping at night, he\u2019ll like that, and then we\u2019ll go onto the reservation and he\u2019ll see how the Paiute really live.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded \u201cThat\u2019s the bit I\u2019m most worried about -\u201d she sighed and a slight frown appeared between her eyes \u201cAdam, \u00a0he\u2019s very young and -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI was a lot younger when I saw a wagon train wiped out by Indians,\u201d \u00a0he said quietly, \u201cAnd not much older when I saw what white men can do to Indians.\u201d \u00a0 he passed Nathaniel back into her arms \u201cThere is no danger of any thing like that happening so what are you afraid of?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d \u00a0she stroked her baby\u2019s back and enjoyed the way he nestled his head into her neck, but even so the thought of her little boy going t o the reservation filled her with dread, \u201cI guess I have no right to feel this way when I recall the months I spent living with the Bannock when I was a child much younger than Reuben, but \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo but\u2019s \u2026\u201d he tapped her nose with his forefinger and smiled \u201cHard to loosen the apron strings , huh?\u00a0 Guess I never had the experience of a doting Ma fussing over such with me, \u00a0wouldn\u2019t know what it\u2019s like \u2026 but I promise you he will be fine, and he\u2019ll learn a lot, believe me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll mean he\u2019ll miss some schooling.\u201d she trailed behind him as he walked to the study and picked up Albert\u2019s book, the mail he had yet to read.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll learn something more from this experience than he will from a book.\u201d \u00a0her husband replied which quite surprised her considering his strictures about education.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She held Nathaniel close and followed Adam from the study to another room where he took down a box of cartridges from the drawers of the rifle rack.\u00a0 It took a lot of self control not to say something about that although he must have sensed her uneasiness because he smiled and assured her they would be hunting for their food.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He kissed her then by the door and whispered something that would at other times have made her laugh but only made her shake her head at him this time, but he laughed and then picked up his hat which he put on Nathaniel\u2019s head, \u00a0which elicited a howl of protest from the child.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She watched him leave and shook her head, watched as the dust settled and fell back onto the yard.\u00a0 Looking up at the sky she saw grey clouds gathering and wondered if Reuben was going to enjoy this adventure quite as much as her husband appeared to think.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe, Hoss and Reuben were waiting at the junction on the road leading to the north pasture when Adam arrived, Joe grinned \u201cHave trouble persuading Livvy to let Reuben come?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shook his head \u201cNo, \u00a0just wanted to collect a few things. \u00a0 You alright, Reuben?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSure, Pa.\u201d \u00a0the boys eyes were alight with excitement and following his Uncle\u2019s example he turned Max\u2019s head in the direction of the field where the cattle were grazing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They rode down to the pasture in silence, \u00a0the herd was not overly large as most had been taken to market during the autumn cattle drive weeks earlier.\u00a0 This saved the men from having oversight of the vast numbers that were there after the spring, it meant less winter feeding during the snows and hard winter weather.\u00a0 The young heifers would fatten and breed, so that by spring the numbers would have increased to a good healthy and profitable number.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As the three brothers looked down at the herd it was Hoss who pointed out the ones that they would cut out, \u00a0then each of them loosened their lariats from the saddle. \u00a0 Adam turned to Reuben \u201cStay here. \u00a0 Don\u2019t move from this spot, do you hear?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut, Pa, I thought I was going to be able to help.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot this time, son. \u00a0 This is when you watch and learn, \u00a0no one gains anything by having a greenhorn running loose down there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben looked hurt, that he could be considered as a green horn by his own father rankled rather and he looked sullen, \u201cBut what can I do\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe grinned and tipped the lads hat down over Reubens eyes \u201cDo as your Pa says, you watch and learn.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Uncle Hoss nodded and leaned both hands on the pommel of his saddle, \u201cNo one knows what kind of mood them thar critters are going to be in when we go down there, \u00a0our horses can sense it though and they know what to do.\u00a0 Now, Max \u00a0is a good cow pony, but even he ain\u2019t been down there with you on his back, has he?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWal, you jest sit still now and keep your eye on us. \u00a0 We\u2019re gonna cut out mebbe 15 head of cattle from the herd, right? \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reluctantly the boy sat in the saddle and watched as the three horsemen rode down the grassy slopes towards the grazing cattle.\u00a0 They rode at a leisurely pace, their lariats loose in their hands close to their legs, closer to the herd they split three ways until they were riding into the herd and slowly by use of their horses and the lasso they gradually bunched a number of the cattle together and separated them from the others.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam raised himself from the saddle, standing in the stirrups and counted the number that Hoss and Joe were herding away from the larger number, \u00a0he raised a hand and then rode alongside the several he had close by until they were also alongside those his brothers had gathered up \u201cHow many?\u201d Hoss asked and Adam nodded \u201c16.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI made it 15\u201d Joe said with a grin and Hoss laughed when Adam said \u201cYou must have missed the little one still wanting to tag along with its ma\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It surprised Reuben that the main body of cattle hadn\u2019t protested about some of their number being taken from them, some had raised curious heads but then either moved on, \u00a0sat down or continued to graze. \u00a0 He remained in his saddle as the smaller herd pushed their way up the hill, flanked by Hoss and Joe with Adam in the rear, his horse \u00a0going back and forth to ensure than none broke loose to return to the larger herd.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The boy watched them pushing and shoving against once another, not being allowed to stop or graze as the three men pushed them on, \u00a0if one broke loose then the rope would quickly bring them back, or the horse would head it off and \u2018encourage\u2019 it to return. \u00a0 As Adam came abreast to the boy he nodded over to him and so Reuben edged Max so that he could ride alongside his father.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey didn\u2019t seem angry, Pa.\u00a0 Don\u2019t they mind leaving their friends behind?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam gave the boy a quick glance, not of disapproval, but of some surprise, then had to remind himself that his son was a city boy, \u00a0his knowledge of cattle herding \u00a0was nil.\u00a0 He shook his head and chided himself for that fact, knowing that had he been home before now, and not at sea, then the boy would have had a fuller and better education about ranching.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re well fed, quite content.\u00a0 It\u2019s only if we were on a long cattle drive that they get nervous and edgy, then you have to be careful.\u00a0 If they stampede\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know what a stampede is, \u00a0one of the boys at school, his Pa was injured in one.\u00a0 He told us all about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, \u00a0\u201cWell, it happens, and it can happen fast.\u00a0 A man has to have total confidence in his horse so I want you to work along with Max every opportunity you get.\u00a0 He\u2019s a good cow pony but he needs to get used to you as his regular rider, do you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For several hours they drove the cattle onwards, \u00a0every time one made a \u00a0break one of the men was onto it to bring it back. \u00a0 They rode beneath trees where the leaves were falling, \u00a0the grass was moist and tender, \u00a0the cattle slowed as a body to graze and they agreed it was a good place to make camp.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben listened as the three of them discussed who was to take which shift so that one of them would be on guard to make sure no cattle wandered off and got lost.\u00a0 Hoss collected up kindling and fallen wood and Adam told Reuben to go help his Uncle, \u00a0which the boy was more than happy to do, at least he could do something!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was no need to shoot for their food after all as Hop Sing had packed enough away for them that night. \u00a0 Adam watched as his son \u00a0fixed up where he was going to sleep from his bed roll, with the saddle for his pillow. \u00a0\u201cIt\u2019ll be a harder bed than usual, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s alright, Pa.\u00a0 Shall I come on your shift and help you, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam paused for thought, caught Joe\u2019s eye and then smiled, \u201cSure, I\u2019ll wake you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe had first shift so rode off on Navejo to keep watch.\u00a0 Hoss, Adam and Reuben sat around the fire which was being constantly fed from the wood pile.\u00a0 The flames glowed a ruddy hue over their faces, casting sinister shadows over their features so that Reuben began to think he was caught up in some kind of other world and wondered if he would ever sleep well during the night.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They ate some food, \u00a0drank some coffee which Reuben didn\u2019t really like, it was bitter and hot, and he wrinkled up his nose somewhat so that Adam laughed and gave him a cup of water instead. \u00a0\u201cWe need some more wood,\u201d Hoss said and stretched out his legs alongside the fire, put his arms behind his head and closed his eyes \u201cAnyone with young legs willing to go for me?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll go,\u201d Reuben jumped \u00a0up eagerly, and smiled over at Adam who gave him a nod of approval but didn\u2019t stir from where he was sitting, already engrossed in the first chapter of Albert\u2019s book.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He made two trips coming back each time loaded down with wood which he dropped just near enough Hoss to wake him \u00a0up and laughing at his Uncle when he got startled. \u00a0 On his third trip he reached out to collect some wood when there came the ominous warning rattle of a snake and immediately Reuben froze to the spot, his hand darting back to his side just as the head of the snake flashed forwards \u2026 and a gun shot rang out so that the snake lay like a black shadow among the wood.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe dismounted and ran forward, from the camp Adam and Hoss appeared but it was Joe who grabbed at the boys arms and demanded if he were alright.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I heard \u00a0him and then \u00a0you shot him..\u201d \u00a0Reuben said with awed admiration in his voice<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, good thing I was close by and heard him too.\u201d Joe muttered as he slipped the gun \u00a0back into its holster.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded at his brother with a smile of thanks but then looked more soberly at the boy \u201cYou alright Reuben?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss leaned down and picked up the remains of the snake, he carried it over to the fire where the flames shone brightly and then took out his knife, with one swift move he cut off the rattle and then smiled over at the boy \u201cI remember when my Pa gave me one of these, no fancy rattles back then, not like you and the kids back home have now.\u00a0 I kin recall playing with it for hours\u2026 \u00a0remember, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shook his head, and picked up his book, then looked over at Reuben, \u201cit\u2019s late, settle down to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou will wake me up though\u2026\u201d Reuben said and then walked without protest to the bedding.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was tired, he had never thought before that riding a horse could make a person feel so tired.\u00a0 The ground was hard, the thought of rattlers creeping about made him anxious, he heard the cry of a coyote warbled not so far away and screwed his eyes tightly shut.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t think he\u2019d ever get to sleep feeling like this\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His father\u2019s hand shook him awake and he could see Adams face clearly enough in the dusky light of a new day. \u201cIs it time for our shift?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, \u00a0stepped away from the boys bedroll \u00a0and picked up his rifle.\u00a0 Reuben looked around the camp, \u00a0Hoss was snoring and so was Joe, the fire was dying down.\u00a0 He yawned and stretched and watched as Adam placed more wood on the flames, and then walked to his horse.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Max was saddled ready and Adam helped the boy into the saddle for Reuben was still half asleep and fumbled when he was supposed to put his foot into the stirrup.\u00a0 Together they rode down to the small herd.\u00a0 They rode slowly round them, it seemed to Reuben that was all they did for what seemed hours and he saw the dawn sky with colours so clear and dazzling that he almost forgot that most mornings he was awake and doing his chores at that time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The smell of bacon wafted into the air and Adam nodded, turned his horses head and led the way back to camp where Hoss was turning the sizzling bacon over and Joe was scratching his head and yawning. \u00a0 \u201cSleep alright, little feller?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes thank you Uncle Hoss.\u201d \u00a0Reuben replied and looked over at where he had been sleeping, in the light of the new day it looked like a place full of rocks.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTime to eat\u2026\u201d Joe muttered and stretched \u201cThat bacon sure smells good\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t it just?\u201d Hoss grinned and watched as it sizzled in the pan.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben would never forget that meal for as long as he lived, bacon had never tasted so good before, nor ever would after, but best of all, he was with his Pa.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 6<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss was first to draw up his horse so that his brothers and nephews joined him on the rim rock overlooking the reservation.\u00a0 Adam frowned and looked at his brothers \u201cWhat\u2019s happened to it? \u00a0 \u00a0Where is everyone?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe sighed and folded his hands over the pommel, leaned over and eased his backside before settling back into the saddle \u201cWhen was the last time you came to see them, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His brother shook his head and thumbed his hat back from his brow, \u201cWell, \u00a0some time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSome years ago you mean.\u201d Joe replied, \u201cIt was when Sam Parrish* was still the Indian Agent here\u2026right?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam inclined his head in agreement, \u201cYes, he was a good man, keen to help\u2026I think his wife helped Sarah Thoc-metony *open a school *\u2026or am I wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss released a sigh and shook his head \u201cWal, you\u2019re partly right, I guess.\u00a0 It were Charlie Parrish* and his wife who got the school started with Sarah*.\u00a0 Weren\u2019t open more\u2019n a few weeks when Parrish was sent away and the new agent came along\u2026 he aint so good.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe nodded \u201cRemember the agent in Red Clouds reservation?\u00a0 Well \u00a0Rinehart* is of that type, I don\u2019t think he\u2019ll \u00a0be happy until every Paiute, Shoshone and Bannock is dead.\u00a0 He\u2019s an Indian hater of the worst kind.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve met him before?\u201d \u00a0Adam asked quietly as his eyes roved around the sight of the village that was sprawled out before them on the plateau<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah, we met him\u2026last year \u2026.we brought ten head of cattle down and he threatened to requisition them for himself.\u00a0 Government use, he said.\u201d Hoss sighed and shook his head as though still finding it hard to believe a whole year later. \u00a0\u201cThat\u2019s when we first noticed a decline in the number of Paiute here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd?\u201d \u00a0Adam prompted<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe \u00a0just took the cattle back. \u00a0 Then when Natchez came with some of his men to the Ponderosa we let them have them\u2026not sure if they ever did get them to the reservation but at least we tried.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Adam \u00a0stroked his chin \u201cIf that\u2019s how he felt last year, he\u2019ll not have changed his mind about it, he\u2019ll no doubt try to requisition them again.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cS\u2019right.\u201d \u00a0Joe nodded, he was about to say something more when he saw some horsemen below threading their way up the scree towards the rim rock. \u00a0\u201cLooks like they\u2019ve seen us.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t think we would drive these to Winnemucca\u2019s wickieup without being seen, do you?\u201d Adam replied scornfully and then turned in the saddle at the sound of horse approaching from the rear. \u00a0\u201cOh .. Mmm. ..this is going to be interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The three men and the boy turned to see who was approaching from the rear, a woman and several men were riding towards them and when they were close enough to speak they stopped their horses and the woman smiled \u201cMy brothers from the Ponderosa\u2026 \u00a0Manahuu\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The brothers greeted her warmly, and Joe rode closer \u201cSarah, I haven\u2019t seen you for a long time. Is everything well with you and your people?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She shook her head and looked over at the men with her, then at Joe, before turning to Adam and Hoss \u201cThe cattle\u2026if Mr Rinehart sees them, he will take them.\u00a0 Lee saw you afar off, \u00a0we came \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s alright,\u201d Joe said and raised a hand, \u201cTake them, and hurry, it looks as if the agency men are already on their way to take them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam rode forward \u201cWill this cause trouble for you all?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sarah Winnemucca shook her head \u201cIf he does not see them\u2026\u201d \u00a0she turned again and spoke quickly to her brother, Lee Winnemucca, \u00a0upon which he and the other men rode up to the cattle and whipped them hard into a run \u201cIt is too bad that we meet like this, Adam wannnga\u2019a.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He agreed but looked over his shoulder to watch as shades of horsemen rode through the dust cloud created by the cattle.\u00a0 They were quickly disappearing from view but the sign of their passing was still only too obvious.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was about to speak when the horsemen whom they had earlier seen now scaled the rim rock and rode towards them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

To Reuben it seemed very strange that this Indian woman sat between two groups of white men, he was a child but he could sense the tension \u00a0between them.\u00a0 A thin faced man with a large nose and thin lips edged his horse closer to where Sarah Winnemucca sat astride her pony \u201cWho are these men, Sarah?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThese are my brothers, my friends, the Cartwrights from the Ponderosa.\u201d \u00a0she replied and stared into his face as though daring him to challenge her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Cartwrights.\u201d \u00a0he nodded, and his eyelids hooded the cold eyes as though he were looking inside himself, to remember what he knew about the Cartwrights then he was suddenly staring right at them , from one to the other of them and his thin lips seemed to disappear over his teeth \u201cI remember, you \u00a0brought cattle last year \u2026 but I told you then, these people didn\u2019t need any cattle from you.\u00a0 If I recall rightly you took them away\u2026or am I wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss leaned upon his saddle horn and shrugged \u201cSeems to me that\u2019s about right, least ways you didn\u2019t git them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBy rights whatever comes onto this reservation belongs to the Government.\u201d came the cold sullen reply<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot while those cattle bear the Ponderosa brand.\u201d Adam said sharply and the cold eyes swivelled towards him \u201cI\u2019ve not met you before?\u00a0 Who are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam twitched his shoulders and narrowed his eyes \u201cI don\u2019t believe we have met\u2026I\u2019m Adam Cartwright, from the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Agent scowled, but raised his chin and didn\u2019t quail back like some had done in the past, he merely nodded \u201cI\u2019m \u00a0William Rinehart, *the Agent here on this reservation.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a moment there was silence and then Rinehart nodded, \u201cI\u2019ve heard of \u00a0you, \u00a0the one who went to sea \u2026 and whom Mr Grant thought so highly of, \u00a0if I recall the story correctly.\u201d \u00a0 now he turned back to Sarah \u201cWhere are the cattle?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no cattle.\u201d Sarah replied, \u201cDo you see any cattle?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI saw them here a little while ago, do you want my men to chase after \u00a0your brother and take them?\u00a0 You know what will happen to them if you prevent me from -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe rode his horse forward a little now, it nudged against Rinehart\u2019s so that the other horse had to step back, \u201cYou\u2019ll do no such thing.\u00a0 Those cattle belong to the Ponderosa.\u00a0 They still belong to the Ponderosa.\u00a0 You touch them and I\u2019ll \u00a0have you arrested for rustling.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rinehart stared, then turned to his men, and laughed as a result the others laughed along with him, \u00a0Sarah nervously edged her horse closer to the Cartwright brothers and \u00a0Hoss beckoned to Reuben to get closer to him. \u00a0 Rinehart shook his head<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGentlemen, \u00a0this is funnier than a music hall joke. \u00a0 Once those cattle cross into the reservation they become Government property.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam raised his head, removed his hat and frowned \u201cIn which case, Mr Rinehart, we require a bill of sale from \u00a0yourselves, and payment for the cattle.\u00a0 As it is we are not \u00a0yet on the territory you designate as the reservation of these people, \u00a0nor are you at present. \u00a0 Pay us for the cattle and we will provide \u00a0you with a receipt.\u201d \u00a0he paused for a moment, \u201cIf you can find them, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For \u00a0a moment there was silence apart from the creak of leather from saddles and the shuffling of horse\u2019s hoofs. \u00a0 Rinehart again lowered his eyelids and stared down on the ground, his men casually flicked aside their jackets to reveal their hands on their pistol butts\u2026 Adam glanced towards Reuben to make sure he was tucked away safely and then was about to speak when someone cried \u201cHO!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chief Winnemucca was an old man, to Reuben he appeared ancient, wrinkled with skin like tanned leather fallen into folds about his face, his body, clad in ragged clothing was exposed here and there as loose folds but his eyes were bright as he looked from one white man to the other \u201cHo, my brothers \u2026\u201d he greeted Adam, Joe and Hoss, his eyes swept over Reuben, timidly peeking from behind his Uncle. \u201cWelcome\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Several other men rode alongside him, the horses were mean looking, thin, wretched animals.\u00a0 It gave Adam a jolt of dismay to see such a vast change in his old friend and he looked with some sadness at Sarah, and then with colder eyes to Rinehart who gave a wave of the hand to his men who turned their horses and along with him followed the track down the escarpment to the properties of the agency men.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Winnemucca rode his pony closer, \u00a0\u201cThank you.\u201d \u00a0he bowed his head \u201cIt is good to see my friends, it is good that my friends have not left us with nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss cleared his throat, he had not seen Winnemucca for a year and was as shocked at the sight of him as was Adam \u201cChief Winnemucca, your son took the cattle we brung ya.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The old man nodded, his lips seemed to part in a smile although it was difficult to tell the difference. \u00a0 It seemed to Adam that if the Souix and Cheyenne were suffering on the Pine Ridge reservation then a visit to their cousins, the Paiute, might make them feel they lived in the lap of luxury.\u00a0 He shook Winnemucca\u2019s outstretched hand \u201cIt\u2019s good to see you again, Chief, but -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou see changes?\u201d \u00a0Winnemucca nodded \u201cYes, our good father Parrish left us, and we now have the bad face here. \u00a0 It is hard.\u00a0 Thank your father Ben for his gift.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWinnemucca, \u00a0is there nothing else we can bring you?\u00a0 What else can we do to help?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The old mans lips twisted across what teeth he had remaining and he nodded as though he understood Adams words, then he raised his head and pointed to the sky<\/p>\n

\u201cSee the sun? \u00a0 Can you turn it backwards with its sister the moon? \u00a0 Do so for \u00a0many times many times over until you bring us back to when we saw no white man. \u00a0 My father was happy* when he heard of the white mans coming, he believed white brother would live alongside red brother in peace but it was not to be.\u00a0 Can you do this, Adam Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shook his head and Winnemucca sighed \u201cNo, \u00a0you cannot.\u00a0 No man can and I am a foolish old man now.\u00a0 I leave you now with my daughter. \u00a0 Come another time.\u00a0 Visit us.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, shook the old mans hand, as did Joe, and then Hoss. \u00a0 Reuben watched with big eyes, and when the old chief stared at him he felt as though he were shrivelling to nothing, but the old man nodded and his face softened into gentler lines before he turned his horse and together with his escort rode back, following the tracks of the Agency men to his home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The brothers watched the small procession for a few minutes before Joe turned to Sarah \u201cIt\u2019s been a long time since we talked, Sarah pune\u2019e.\u00a0 It seems as though a lot has happened since then\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded her head, \u201cYes, and all \u00a0bad. \u00a0 Come \u2026 xkay\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

No one said a word as they turned to follow her along a narrow track away from the rim rock and in the opposite direction from where Lee Winnemucca had taken the cattle.\u00a0 Reuben rode close to his father, his eyes turning this way and that to make sure that he didn\u2019t miss a thing.\u00a0 He noticed how straight his father\u2019s back was, and when he looked at his Uncles he could see they deported themselves similarly.\u00a0 All he knew was that he somehow had not imagined an Indian village to look anything like what he was seeing now.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sarah led them to a building that was ramshackle but still standing.\u00a0 Dismounting she didn\u2019t stop to see if they were following her but entered and turned to face them as they stepped inside, removed their hats and waited for her invitation to sit.\u00a0 Unlike many Indians, Sarah liked the comfort of the white mans furniture and chairs were arranged around the room, close to a table where pens, inks and paper were collected together.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou see many changes, my waaang\u2019ga \u2026it is because our good Father Parrish, and Charley his brother have left us. \u00a0 He said to us that the reservation was ours*, the Government had given it to us and our children and they will help us if we work to make the reservation good for us and our children. \u00a0 He taught us to irrigate the land, to work it so that it produced food.\u00a0 All this the Good Father Parrish did for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She turned and began to prepare coffee, no one spoke, they each felt that in her own way she wanted to tell the story of what had taken place to bring about the changes they had seen.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe told us \u00a0how the poor white man has no one to help him, he gets land and works at it as best he can, but we had much, because the Government wanted to help us.* \u00a0My father said that he was a good man, he and the sub chiefs agreed and so we worked. It was good, very good.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She poured out the coffee and offered a cup to each of them, even to Reuben who didn\u2019t want to drink it but felt he should take the cup from her at least.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe worked hard.\u00a0 The old men and the women worked even when Parrish said he did not want the old men and women to work. * But we wanted to work and show the Government and the Good Father Parrish that we were grateful for the land.\u00a0 But\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Now she sat down and cradled her cup of coffee in her hands, her mouth drooped, the dark eyes were clouded, \u201cWe were all good friends, and our agent liked my people, and my people loved him. All his men were good men.A day came when he called all the men together and told them a man, Judge Curry*, had written to our Big Father in Washington and lied about us, saying we were lazy and didnt work.\u00a0 Our Father Parrish said he would speak with our Big Father and my cousin Jarry went as Interpreter.\u00a0 It was May 1876 and we opened the school.\u00a0 We had 305 boys, 23 young men, 69 girls, and 19 young women. \u00a0 \u00a0We were happy, Mrs Parrish was very kind to all the children.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Another pause and Joe glanced over at Hoss, both nodded slightly one to the other.\u00a0 Reuben noticed and wondered what that meant but he saw the attention that they were paying to the lady with the black eyes and sad face.\u00a0 They drank their coffee and set down the empty cups, and then she began to pick up the story from where she had left it \u201cThree weeks and very bad news came.\u00a0 Our white father, Parrish, was going away to leave us.\u00a0 He had received a letter from our Big Father in Washington saying another man would take his place. \u00a0 He told us that it was because he was not a Christian and all the reservations were to be under the Christian men\u2019s care. \u00a0 \u00a0I was given again my role as interpreter.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She rose and refilled the cups, except for Reuben as he had not drank any but she said nothing about that, just passed on by and returned the coffee pot to the stove.\u00a0 Reuben wondered why no one asked her questions, \u00a0what had happened to Mr Parrish, where had he gone.\u00a0 Why didn\u2019t they keep him on the reservation, fight for him to stay?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe new agent is a bad man.\u00a0 When he calls the men together to speak with them they hang their heads and no one looks at him while he is talking.\u00a0 Since that time there has been abuse, and threats.\u00a0 He steals the clothing for his own store and sells it there, our people go hungry and when we speak of it he tells us that if we do not like it we can go and leave, he does not care.\u00a0 Children are beaten, old men starve, women are \u2026\u201d she paused and frowned, \u201cWe are dyng, my waaang\u2019ga.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This was the end of the narrative although all three men knew that there was so much more she would have said had there been time. \u00a0 She hung her head and her long hair hung down her shoulders \u201cWhen you would come even before good father Parrish was here, when the land was not called reservation but was our own land, then we would play, and laugh, and run together.\u00a0 It is not possible for those times to return now, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam looked at his brothers and then shook his head, but he leaned forward and took hold of her hand \u201cThoc\u2019metony, I shall write to Big Father Hayes in Washington, and tell him what is happening here.\u00a0 Are you able to leave the reservation at all?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded and looked up at him, \u201cI can.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThen you must take the letter to Washington.\u00a0 I will give you the money and a man will accompany you who will \u00a0be a good friend for you.\u00a0 When the Big Father has read the letter you will have to answer his questions truthfully, do you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCan I take my brother, Natchez?\u00a0 Or Lee?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded and looked over at his brothers \u201cTake a walk around the camp, take Reuben with you while I write this letter.\u00a0 Sarah -\u201d he stood up now and stretched out a hand to draw Reuben to his side, \u201cThis is my son, Reuben. \u00a0 Reuben, this is Sarah, Thoc\u2019metony, she is the daughter of the Chief, grand daughter of a great Chief, Truckee.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She looked at the boy and smiled, her face softened and she looked at Adam and smiled wider as her glance moved on to Joe and Hoss \u201cI hear of your families and how you prosper. \u00a0 It is good.\u201d \u00a0 she turned to the door \u201cxkay \u2026 come\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben looked at his father, already seated at the desk, and then keeping close to Hoss, he followed them out of the building.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 7<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sarah led the way through the village of scattered wickie-ups, \u00a0and both Joe and Hoss found themselves feeling more and more dismay every step they took.\u00a0 Reuben, even as a child from a reasonably wealthy family, knew what poverty was, he saw it every time he went to town.\u00a0 Children from homesteader families eking out a living arrived with barely enough warm clothing on their backs and their shoes or boots were mostly hand-me-downs from families in town who donated to Bridie\u2019s refuge\/clinic.\u00a0 He knew of those in the shanty town, as it was now called, who lived on barely enough to keep them alive although there seemed to be new babies born every year.\u00a0 He saw the feckless who wandered the streets begging for handouts\u2026but this, it bewildered him, to see so many with so little.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There remained the pride of the people however, he could see that in the way they would look directly into their faces, those who knew the Cartwrights would acknowledge them with pleasure, sincere and unbegrudging.\u00a0 Children ran and called to Sarah \u201cThoc\u2019metony. \u00a0 Thoc\u2019metony\u201d and men rode by with straight backs on horses that looked as though they could collapse at any time beneath the weight of their riders.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A boy of Reuben\u2019s age ran up to them and looked at the white boy with a frown, then a grin which brought about a twinkle in the eyes and dimples in his cheeks \u201cKxay\u2026\u201d and he \u00a0beckoned to him, Kxay\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGo along, Reuben\u201d \u00a0Joe said with a nod of the head \u201cHe is saying \u2019Come\u2019 \u00a0he wants you to join him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rather hesitantly Reuben turned to follow this child, who nodded and ran away, holding out a hand as though to grab at the white lads.\u00a0 It was only moments before they were among a group of other children, \u00a0girls with their dolls although they were nothing like the ones his sister possessed, and boys running and kicking the blown up bladder of a pig around . \u00a0 The boy looked at Reuben and grinned again, \u00a0received a nod of the head in return and both plunged into the fray.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Boys were boys the world over, that bladder was kicked about until no one had any energy left so they paused and gathered around Reuben who found himself under careful scrutiny.\u00a0 A little girl came holding her baby, which was a dried out corn-cob wrapped in cloth and carried in a beautifully bead decorated back cradle , she looked from Reuben to the other boy \u00a0and shook her head before running away.\u00a0 Obviously Reuben didn\u2019t amount to much in her eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Reuben Cartwright.\u201d \u00a0he pointed to himself and smiled, the others smiled and nodded, looked at one another.\u00a0 Several boys ran off together to pursue something more interesting but the lad who had first drawn Reuben away from his Uncles nodded and said something that the other boy didn\u2019t understand at all, then turned away, beckoned to him \u201cKxay\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe and Hoss continued on their walk through the village with Sarah as their guide, watchful and observant to what they saw and the changes so evident from the previous visits they had made in previous years.\u00a0 They were deep in conversation when their progress was halted by the presence of two white men, \u00a0both of whom had been among those with Rinehart when he had confronted the brothers on the rim rock.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sarah immediately lowered her eyes and looked down on the ground, \u00a0not to indicate subservience as some white men interpreted it, but to show her dislike, distrust and disgust at the sight of them.\u00a0 One shoved her to one side with his shoulder in order to draw closer to Joe and Hoss \u201cWell, \u00a0come to look around have you? \u00a0 Going to report back to your daddy what you see\u2019d here?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s nothing to do with either of you,\u201d Joe replied calmly, and looked from one to the other of them \u201cNow just step aside and let us on our way.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat if we feel you can\u2019t go no further?\u201d \u00a0the other man stepped forward now, he looked at Joe and then at Hoss, realised for perhaps the first time that Hoss was considerably larger than himself so drew his gun \u201cWhy don\u2019t you just go back and stay away.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you put the gun away, and just let us continue on.\u201d Joe looked over at Hoss who nodded, \u00a0and clenched his fists.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sarah stepped forward \u00a0and stood between the four men, \u00a0\u201cIt is not good to fight over words.\u00a0 My friends wish to speak with my father, Chief Winnemucca\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe knows who your daddy is, Sarah, you don\u2019t have to go into that spiel with us you know.\u201d \u00a0the first man muttered and spat into the ground, before lowering the brim of his hat over his eyes and moving away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t need to go see \u00a0your daddy, Sarah, he\u2019s busy with his new wife\u2026you know what I mean?\u201d and with a crude leer and laugh the second man followed his partner although both stopped after a little distance to watch and see what the Cartwrights would do.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sarah shook her head and turned towards Joe and Hoss \u201cIt is true, my father has a new, young wife.\u00a0 He is an old man but -\u201d she sighed and was about to say more when her name was heard, she smiled briefly \u201cIt is my brother, Natchez\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe and Hoss greeted Natchez with a handshake, but refused offers of hospitality saying they needed to return to where they had left Adam.\u00a0 Natchez nodded \u201cWe have the cattle safely hidden.\u00a0 Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe would have brought more had we realised how bad the situation was here\u2026.\u201d Hoss muttered as Natchez walked alongside them \u201cThis new Agent sure don\u2019t seem the generous kind\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe is not – as you say – generous.\u201d Natchez agreed, \u201cHe is not like our father Parrish.\u201d \u00a0he frowned then and glanced nervously around as though anticipating others to be more interested in the conversation \u00a0than he would have liked, \u201cListen \u2026my father and others are going to leave the reservation and ride into the mountains.\u00a0 They want to live as free men, \u00a0not here as prisoners of the Government.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI can hardly blame him for wanting to do that, will you go as well, Natchez?\u201d Hoss asked and when the other man nodded both Cartwrights said nothing, only shook his hand and wished him well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They were now back at the building where Sarah lived, \u00a0and Adam was standing at the door with an envelope in his hand, he smiled briefly when he saw Sarah, \u00a0then asked his brothers for the whereabouts of their nephew.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s safe, he is playing with a new friend\u201d Sarah smiled and entered the building. \u201dNow you have seen for yourselves how sadly we live here, and how desperate we are.<\/p>\n

Do you think, my brother Adam, that the Big Father in Washington will listen to your letter.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so, \u00a0but remember what I said earlier about going to see him, Sarah, if you take it and delivered it personally you may be a better mouth piece for your people than this letter could be.\u201d Adam replied and passed the envelope into her hands.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI shall go.\u201d \u00a0she nodded and for a moment was silent, \u00a0\u201cThere are those who have good hearts, and mean well.\u00a0 If I do not find them, they will find me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTrue enough,\u201d Hoss nodded, \u201cBut your brother tells us that your father\u2019s going back into the mountains, \u00a0can\u2019t you persuade him to stick around?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd die \u00a0here?\u201d \u00a0she laughed then, and shook her head, her long black hair moved like a wave down her back, and her black eyes gleamed \u00a0\u201cRemember, Joe waaang\u2019ga \u00a0when we met before?\u00a0 When the white soldiers took you away in the cage along with your \u00a0Cheyenne friends?\u00a0 The size of a prison means nothing, when it is still a prison.\u00a0 Let my father die on the mountains a free man if he chooses, \u00a0it is our way, we must honour a mans decision to do what he feels right for himself.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded and placed some dollar bills on the table, without a word Hoss and Joe did the same \u201cFor your journey, Thoc\u2019metony.\u201d \u00a0Joe said quietly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded and hid them away \u201cThe Agent is a bad man, a thief, he stole* my stove and did not pay for it, \u00a0he says it belonged to the Government but it did not, I bought it myself with my money I earned as an Interpreter. \u00a0$40 a month* \u2026\u201d she paused and shrugged \u201cI shall leave tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded and shook her hand, \u00a0as did his brothers before they picked up their hats and walked to the door, \u00a0by which time Reuben was running, short of breath, towards them followed by two other lads who were laughing along with him.\u00a0 Adam nodded and pursed his lips, neither he or his brothers said a word about the shirts and pants the other boys were wearing that Reubens father recollected folding neatly into the boys saddlebags a few days earlier.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As the Cartwrights rode from the village William Rinehardt strode out to the doorway of his house and watched them go. \u00a0 His eyes were like stones in his face, cold, without feeling. \u00a0 He turned back into the building and scowled at two of his men \u201cThose Cartwrights are known for their interfering, \u00a0if we\u2019re not careful they could cause trouble for us here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow can they?\u00a0 They don\u2019t have the power of the Indian Affairs Bureau behind them, do they?\u201d \u00a0Colby muttered only to receive a scathing glare from \u00a0the Agent.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They were interrupted by the sound of a mans thick voice cursing and the squeal of a boy as one of the men who had earlier confronted Joe and Hoss came in.\u00a0 The boy was being hauled in by having his ear gripped firmly and painfully before he was thrown down onto the floor \u201cCaught this thieving baggage about to run off.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The three men stood up and surrounded the child who was whimpering now with pain, \u00a0his hand cupped his ear and as brave as he tried to be, he could not prevent \u00a0tears trickling down his face. \u00a0 Colby leaned down and took hold of the shirt the boy was wearing, he rubbed the material thoughtfully between finger and thumb before grimacing \u201cNot from my store this isn\u2019t, where did you get it, you little thief.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The boy didn\u2019t understand the \u00a0words, he cowered back and cried a little more.\u00a0 Rinehart stood folded his arms across his chest and shook his head \u201cOnly one way to get it out of him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Colby nodded and walked over to the wall where a thick bull whip hung upon a hook, he took it down and handed it to the Agent who slowly unfurled it to its full length, raised his arm and was about to bring it down when Sarah stepped through the doorway \u00a0\u201cWhat do you think you are doing, \u00a0Mr Rinehart? \u00a0 Do you not realise yet that our children do not speak your tongue? \u00a0 If you ask me then may be I can tell you what you wish to know?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rinehart paused, lowered his arm and scowled \u201cThis boy is a thief, he\u2019s obviously taken clothing from the saddlebags of \u00a0your friends, \u00a0he deserves a good whipping.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She sighed, shook her head, \u201cThey were given as gifts by the white boy, Reuben.\u00a0 We are not thieves, Mr Rinehart, but we do know those who are\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Colby \u00a0spluttered something and turned his back on the woman, \u00a0Rinehart nodded \u201cWe\u2019ll talk about this matter another time, Sarah.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She said nothing to that but beckoned to the child and in silence both left the Agents house.\u00a0 Once back at Sarah\u2019s house the boy wept and sobbed, he was in much pain but Sarah knew there was little point in taking him to the Agency doctor for he was a man who had stolen everything he could even when father Parrish had been the Agent there.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As darkness fell and the Cartwrights prepared their own camp on their way home to the Ponderosa, Sarah and several Paiute left the camp walking with their horses on leading reins until they were at a safe distance from any Agency man who may have seen them. \u00a0 An hour later Chief Winnemucca and a band of his men, with women and some children, did likewise only they headed for the mountains and their vaguely hoped for freedom.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 8<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Monday dawned and Sofia gazed out of the window with a heavy heart for there was no Reuben nor father sharing the meal at breakfast time. \u00a0 Nathaniel chewed his food and dropped some over the side of the chair and watched it fall to the ground as though studying some scientific theory on gravity before picking up another morsal to eat. \u00a0 Monday, and school beckoned.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCome along, Sofia, don\u2019t look so miserable.\u201d Olivia passed a glass of milk to her daughter, \u201cThis will be your chance to show Miss Brandon just what a good girl you are and how hard you have worked.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to .\u201d she pushed her plate to one side, \u201cCan\u2019t I -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, you can\u2019t.\u201d \u00a0Olivia said before another word could be spoken, she looked at her daughter thoughtfully and then leaned forward to tweak her nose \u201cI\u2019m taking you into town today, so hurry up.\u00a0 Don\u2019t make me late will you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia shook her head and although she wasn\u2019t totally miserable at the prospect of going to school the fact that her mother was taking her in was an extra special pleasure. \u201cWill daddy be home later?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, \u00a0Sofia, it depends on how far they have had to travel.\u201d \u00a0Olivia replied and began to \u00a0attend to Nathaniel in order to get him ready for the trip into town. \u201cHurry now, dear, I want to be out of here within fifteen minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia didn\u2019t say anything about not yet being able to tell the time, but she did as she was told and \u2018hurried\u2019.\u00a0 By the time she was in her out door clothes her mother was bundling Nathaniel up and calling out goodbye to Cheng Ho Lee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was reasonably mild, the wind had died down and rain had held off.\u00a0 Soon there would be frosts and perhaps snow.\u00a0 Sofia gloried in the thought of snow, \u00a0the pass would be cut off, they would have to stay home perhaps for days, even weeks.\u00a0 She sighed with contentment at the thought and smiled up at her mother who nodded her head and settled the baby between them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did Reuben go with daddy?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause daddy feels it\u2019s time for Reuben to learn about things to do with the ranch\u201d Olivia took her seat in the buggy and flicked the reins, \u00a0the horses set off at a steadily paced walk.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI could have gone too, \u00a0Buster would have taken me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know, but you are still a little young, Sofia, and daddy would rather you went to school. \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They lapsed into silence with Nathaniel chattering between them, until his little nose went quite red from the chill, and he slowly fell to sleep. \u00a0 Sofia wished she could fall asleep, perhaps if she did she would fall out of the buggy, \u00a0mummy would be upset and sorry and take her home.\u00a0 But then she was sensible enough to remind herself that being home because of some painful hurt, was not quite the same as being able to enjoy oneself when fit and well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Miss Brandon listened to Olivia\u2019s explanation for Reuben\u2019s absence and whether she agreed with the reason or not she had the sense not to comment . \u00a0 Sofia went to her seat and set down her books and slate, \u00a0looked around her and noticed that one other child was missing also\u2026Jimmy Carstairs\u2019 seat was empty.\u00a0 Joy of joys, she sighed with relief and sat down as though floating on air.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From the school house Olivia carried her little boy to where Bridie lived, and was warmly welcomed by her dear friend. \u00a0 MrsTreveleyn provided refreshments and said she would be more than pleased to look after Nathaniel while Olivia did her few hours work at the refuge with Bridie. \u00a0 This arrangement didn\u2019t actually suit Nathaniel who bawled as loud as possible for as long as he could when he saw his dear mama leaving the house, \u00a0and no one to care for him except \u00a0a stranger.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On the way to the refuge Olivia and Bridie paused to talk to Mrs Garston and her daughter, Lucy. \u00a0 Although there was no love lost between any of them there was a semblance of courtesy existing between them all, a tolerance that most people in town bore towards the Garstons who had the sad ability to alienate people by their smug self righteousness.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From his vantage point in his office Dan deQuille \u00a0watched as the ladies grouped together, and then separated. \u00a0 He stepped to the door onto the street and watched as Mrs Cartwright and Mrs Martin made their way to the refuge, \u00a0a project that had become a resounding success even though it could no longer function as a clinic due to a lack of doctors in the town.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He knew for sure that Olivia would be in town for some hours, \u00a0and that the Cartwright men worked long hours on the ranch, \u00a0starting early and arriving home late. \u00a0 He paused a moment, the frown on his brow deepening until his decision was made, \u00a0he turned and snatched up a warm outer jacket, his hat and gloves and left the building.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He chose to take a horse on this particular journey as he wanted to have some speed for there was no accounting for error in his calculations.\u00a0 Of course there was the cook , Cheng Ho Lee, \u00a0but even so he could well be too busy to notice an uninvited guest to the house, he was of no concern to the journalist who was confident that his mission would work out totally to his satisfaction.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The brothers ate their meal in comparative silence and for Reuben this was something of a relief.\u00a0 There had been little communication between them all since leaving the reservation and the boy had been aware of the fact that his uncles and Pa may have found his presence one of the reasons for such reticence to talk. \u00a0 As it was he had a lot to think about himself, and would occasionally look over at his father to see if he could work out what he would be thinking about by the expression on his face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, son, \u00a0you\u2019ve \u00a0been very quiet.\u201d Adam said after emptying his plate and gulping down the first coffee of the day, \u201cGuess you had a lot to think about, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Pa.\u201d \u00a0Reuben nodded and chewed on the bacon, \u00a0\u201cPa?\u00a0 Why are those people so poor?\u00a0 Do they have to live there in that place?\u00a0 Why can\u2019t they come and live in town with everyone else?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe \u00a0stood up and walked over to join them, \u00a0he stood balancing his plate in one hand and feeding himself with the other \u201cSegregation, that\u2019s what it\u2019s called, Reuben.\u00a0 Some of it of their own choosing, but most of it because that\u2019s how the Government prefers it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand.\u201d Reuben said and shook his head, \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of people in town who speak different from us, \u00a0Josef\u2019s folk are Polish and he speaks funny, so does \u00a0Jose\u2026\u201d \u00a0he frowned \u201cWhat\u2019s does that seg – seg – ation mean anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSegregation.\u00a0 It means keeping something or someone separate from others.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t make sense does it? \u201c Adam sighed and then gave his son a rather whimsical smile \u201cBelieve me, it doesn\u2019t just happen here, it\u2019s world wide.\u00a0 A disease of humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cA sickness you mean?\u201d Reuben frowned, trying to make sense of it all<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cA terminal illness is what Dr Martin would call it,\u201d Joe muttered, and strolled \u00a0back to the fire to set down his plate and pour out some coffee, \u201cIt stops the human race from actually being a united – what do you call it – family? \u00a0 A family of nations \u2026 mmm, \u00a0well, that isn\u2019t going to happen any time soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs it because of those bad men who wanted to take the cattle away from the Paiute?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s part of the problem. Just a small part.\u201d Adam sighed and stood up, stretched and walked over to his horse, picking up his saddle and bed roll as he went while Reuben struggled to finish his meal.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cUncle Joe, I made some friends there, \u00a0they didn\u2019t mind me being white at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, well, they might do when they\u2019re a few years older.\u201d Joe muttered and then shook his head, \u201cSorry, Reuben, \u00a0I didn\u2019t mean to say that, I hope they stay your friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWill I be able to see them again?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat depends on your Pa, \u00a0and how things work out.\u201d \u00a0Joe sighed again and emptied his cup, \u00a0throwing the dregs into the fire which spluttered and hissed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss ambled into the camp and nodded over to Reuben \u201cYou alright, Reuben?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, but I didn\u2019t sleep very good.\u201d Reuben admitted<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss stretched, and pulled his jacket tighter, the morning was cooler and they had started camp earlier than he would have liked.\u00a0 He warmed his hands by the fire and then poured out more coffee for himself.\u00a0 For a while he stared into the flames and then glanced \u00a0up as Adams footsteps approached \u201cYou reckon your letter will do any good?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTo be honest -\u201d \u00a0Adam paused, stroked his chin for a second and then shook his head \u201cNot really. \u00a0 I guess it will be put in with a lot of other papers in a fat file which will stay on someone\u2019s desk for some time before it gets shuffled down to the official in charge of the Indian Affairs Bureau.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThen why bother writing it at all?\u201d Hoss muttered with a scowl<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause it gets Sarah out of that place, and gives her the chance to speak for her people.\u00a0 She may be able to achieve far more than my letter ever will.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs she really \u00a0a princess?\u201d Reuben asked which gained a gentle smile from the three men and Joe nodded and said that yes, in a manner of speaking.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSarah Thoc\u2019metony\u2026that word means shell flower by the way, Reuben \u2026 is a very intelligent young woman.\u00a0 She speaks several different languages and at least three different dialects, and she knows how to use words. \u00a0 She has what some would call\u2026charisma\u2026 others would say she knows the power behind words.\u00a0 She\u2019s a lot like her grandfather in that respect.\u201d \u00a0Adam looked at his son and stroked his head affectionately, \u201cWe will have to wait and see what happens now, not much more we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCant\u2019 we go again?\u00a0 My friends don\u2019t have much clothes and toys like we have\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll see,\u201d Adam replied without looking at him and for some reason Reuben felt disappointed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut, Pa \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReuben, I said, we\u2019ll see.\u00a0 There\u2019s a lot more involved than clothes and toys \u2026\u201d Adam paused, realised he had spoken more abruptly than he had intended and squatted down to his son\u2019s level \u201cWe have to be patient, son.\u00a0 Sometimes that\u2019s a very hard lesson for us to learn, but -\u201d \u00a0he sighed and playfully tapped Reuben on the chin with his fist, \u201cwe \u00a0are sometimes forced to learn it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd,.\u201d Hoss winked \u201cSome of us never do\u2026 learn it that is\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They dismantled the camp, smothered the fire and cleared the area before mounting up and turning their horses towards the Ponderosa. \u00a0 There was still a long way to go yet, Reuben wondered if he would ever get used to riding so far for so long.\u00a0 He rode alongside his father and looked up at Adam, who smiled down at him \u201cAlright, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Pa.\u201d \u00a0the boy smiled, everything was alright while he was with his Pa, even if he didn\u2019t understand much of what was happening about him, he\u2019d learn, his Pa would show him and so would his Uncles. \u00a0\u201cPa, I\u2019m going to be the President one day and make people get united.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s good. \u00a0 Ambition is a good thing\u2026just aim for small reachable goals first, son, then you won\u2019t get so many disappointments.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben nodded and for a while was silent as \u00a0he thought over his \u2018ambitions\u2019.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As he had expected the door was unlocked and yielded to his gentle pushing against it.\u00a0 Daniel had already seen Cheng Ho Lee leaving the house and driving towards the premises where Hop Sing resided.\u00a0 Perhaps, \u00a0Daniel mused, the two men shared a few leisurely hours together \u2026 while the cats were away the mice will play\u2026and he smiled at the thought as he stepped further into the house.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He knew where to go to find what he was looking for, and it was only a matter of moments before he had the journal in his hands.\u00a0 As he turned the pages he realised that the book was actually comprised of a series of smaller journals, collated together but not attached.\u00a0 Each journal was dated, and entitled with the voyage undertaken at the time.\u00a0 His hand hovered over one, then another\u2026which to choose, \u00a0which would be best and least missed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He selected one, the thinnest which would he hoped, create less of a gap and be less noticeable by its absence. \u00a0 He slipped it beneath his jacket and quickly replaced the book and took his leave. \u00a0 If he had any pangs of conscience he silenced them by saying that it was only on loan, \u00a0he would return it, it wouldn\u2019t be missed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 9<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Miss Brandon observed her class of children, they ranged from all ages, some were shy and timid, some were brash and belligerent, a few were exceptionally intelligent and others just needed a lot of nurturing. \u00a0 She knew that once the bad weather came some of her pupils would be missing, for they came from long distances to be educated.\u00a0 Sometimes it seemed to her she was fighting the elements during every season in the year for the bigger children would be needed on the homesteads, \u00a0or caring for their mothers and smaller children when the father was absent from home.\u00a0 It was the towns children that were the most reliable but they were not, in all honesty, necessarily among the most intelligent.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Miss Brandon had always had a thirst for teaching, she loved to see young minds growing as knowledge expanded their reasoning powers and intellect. \u00a0 She was still young and had lost her suitor recently, a young man she had loved, but whom she felt she could not marry as the law forbade married women to teach.\u00a0 It was unfair and rankled somewhat in her mind, \u00a0the loss of someone she loved conflicting now with her love of teaching.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cChildren\u2026pay attention now please.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Silence and all eyes turned to her with respect and obedience, for which she was grateful. \u00a0 She nodded and clasped her hands together \u201cJimmy Carstairs has been taken ill. \u00a0 Quite seriously ill and I thought it would be a kind gesture on our part if we all wrote him a little letter to wish him a speedy return to health. \u00a0 Rosie\u2026\u201d she nodded over to Rose Canaday \u201cIf you would hand out the sheets of paper please.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rose felt very important as she walked along the desks handing out the note paper, she smiled and simpered at everyone, and Sofia had a strong desire to slap her for no other reason than it seemed unfair that her \u2018cousin\u2019 was given such a privilege.\u00a0 She looked down at the paper and noticed that Miss Brandon had painted a little flower in the left hand top corner.\u00a0 She looked up and saw her teacher smiling at them all, looked around her and watched as everyone began to pick up their pencils.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Heads were bowed, Rosie returned to her desk and smiled over at Annie Sales.\u00a0 Sofia sighed and picked up her pencil and stared at the blank sheet of paper.\u00a0 What was she to write? \u00a0 Her parents had always told her to tell the truth, always.\u00a0 Did that go as far as writing something down?\u00a0 Could she write a lie and once written would it stop being a lie?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She chewed her pencil and drifted into a day dream\u2026 \u00a0in stories animals could talk, dragons breathed fire, princesses had very long hair that people could climb up and some even wore glass slippers. \u00a0 Nothing like that happened in real life, did it?\u00a0 So they were lies, \u00a0weren\u2019t\u2019 they?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scribble scribble\u2026she could hear the paper rustling around her and pencils and pens scratching out little messages of sympathy for Jimmy. \u00a0 She wasn\u2019t sorry for Jimmy, \u00a0she was glad that it meant he would not be at school for a few days. \u00a0 She should write that \u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDeer \u00a0 Jimmy<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Will \u00a0 you \u00a0 be \u00a0 away \u00a0 for \u00a0 \u00a0long?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia Cartwright<\/p>\n

69<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She had just finished writing when her name was called out and Miss Brandon smiled at her when she stood up \u201cWould you collect up the notes please, Sofia?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She blushed and glanced quickly over at Annie Sales who must have thought she would have been asked for she stuck her nose in the air and her glasses looked a bit steamed up. \u00a0 Sofia didn\u2019t care. \u00a0 She collected up the notes and handed them to the teacher who put them into a large envelope.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cVery well, and thank you, everyone.\u00a0 I am sure Jimmy will be really happy to read your notes and to know you are thinking of him. \u00a0 Now, let\u2019s get on with our lessons for the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia sighed, \u00a0stared out of the window and thought of the coming week.\u00a0 Even without Reuben by her side, she was going to really enjoy these next few days at school, she just knew it.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben thought that he would \u00a0never forget this time with his father and Uncles. He felt at times much older than his age, and at others so very young and na\u00efve. \u00a0 By mid day Hoss was complaining that his stomach felt \u2018mighty empty\u2019 so they made camp and Adam took his rifle and went aways a little distance. \u00a0 He had nodded over to his son as he passed him and the boy had taken it as an indication that he could go along as well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll have to go on more hunting trips, Reuben.\u201d Adam said as they made their way carefully through the boulder strewn ground.\u00a0 A few shrubs and straggles of trees grew here and there, nothing like the green canopy that they had ridden through earlier.\u00a0 He checked the chambers of his rifle and hunkered down, signalling to Reuben to do likewise.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It seemed a while before some rabbits decided that just perhaps it was safe to go bobbing about their business.\u00a0 They appeared behind boulders and out from among the undergrowth, eyes alert, noses twitching and then off they bounded.\u00a0 Reuben was quite enjoying watching them running around together as though playing tag, which reminded him of his recently made friends and brought a sigh to his lips.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sound of the rifle being fired made him jump, but by the time his heart had settled back down again his father had reloaded the rifle and fired off twice more.\u00a0 The rabbits had disappeared apart from three that lay dead on the ground.\u00a0 Adam sighed and rose to his feet, then slowly walked over to collect up the limp little bodies.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben was going to say something inane like \u201cPoor little things\u2026\u201d when Adam handed them over to him to carry back to camp.\u00a0 He faltered a little, but kept his eyes down rather than look up at Adam, Adam sighed again \u201cWell, think of it in the same way as fishing, Reuben. \u00a0 If you want to eat then you \u00a0have to take advantage of what is available.\u00a0 You enjoy fishing, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Pa, but -\u201d \u00a0he frowned and then looked up at his father who was looking down at him with a slightly bemused expression on his face \u00a0\u201cThey were only playing ..\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAw, son, you\u2019re still a city boy at heart, aren\u2019t you?\u201d \u00a0Adam didn\u2019t laugh, although he had been tempted to do so, \u00a0\u201cWe shall definitely have to go on more hunting trips.\u00a0 Hoss will show you how to track.\u00a0 Joe will show you how to skin a rabbit faster than any man I know \u2026 and \u2026\u201d he paused and turned on his heel, the rifle in his hands aimed ready for use.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss came and grinned \u201cWondered where you had wandered off to, \u00a0thought you might have got yourself lost.\u201d \u00a0he stretched out a hand \u201cHere Reuben, I\u2019ll take those.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you like rabbits, Uncle Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSure I do.\u201d \u00a0Hoss grinned and nodded in appreciation at the plumpness of the rabbits now in his hand \u201cI like \u2018em served up all manner of ways. \u00a0 Hop Sing knows more ways to cook a rabbit than you\u2019d believe.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t you ever have a pet rabbit, Uncle Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cA pet what?\u00a0 Shucks, lad, you don\u2019t keep wild critters for pets\u2026.\u201d he paused and then lowered his head as he caught his brothers sardonic grin, oh yes, he remembered all those little cages he had made for damaged, injured and crippled little creatures he had brought home. \u00a0 Feathered or furred, if they were hurt, regardless of size it would be Hoss who would gather them up and fondly bring them home<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAsk you Uncle Hoss how to make splints out of chop sticks, Reuben\u2026\u201d Adam said and laughed at his sons expression of incredulity \u00a0 \u201cWe never knew what he would bring home to \u00a0put right, brought home a skunk once\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but it had a broken leg, Adam\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt still stunk the house out \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWal,\u201d \u00a0Hoss rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head \u201cGuess that\u2018s what skunks do\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHmmm.\u201d \u00a0Adam winked at Reuben and said nothing more for a while \u201cHoss, we\u2019ve got to get this boy educated. \u00a0 We need to take him on a few hunting trips before the winter really sets in.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood idea,\u201d Hoss nodded thoughtfully, \u201cHe needs to learn how to survive in this neck of the woods.\u00a0 Education -\u201d he looked down at his nephew who was getting a trifle confused \u201cisn\u2019t just going to school and learning from books. \u00a0 It\u2019s about life, and learning about what really makes things matter in this world.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut Pa says going to school is important, and I go to school -\u201d \u00a0Reuben frowned and looked from Hoss to Adam \u00a0as though he was caught up in some kind of conspiracy and didn\u2019t quite know how to get out of it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, well, that\u2019s your Pa for you\u2026\u201d Hoss grinned and as they stepped into the camp he tossed the rabbits over to Joe who caught them deftly in his left hand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The rabbits were strung together and hung from Joe\u2019s saddle horn for the evening meal, coffee was poured out and some of the food Hop Sing had packed away was eaten.\u00a0 Joe wiped his mouth \u201cBe careful with the coffee there isn\u2019t much left.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAny sugar?\u201d \u00a0Hoss asked and when Joe shook his head the big man sighed \u201cShucks, I gave mine away too.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben looked over at his father who was staring into the fire as though a million miles away \u201cWhere did they give it away?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGive what away?\u201d Adam frowned and then smiled as he put his arm around Reuben and hugged him \u201cYou may have noticed that Sarah\u2019s friends didn\u2019t have much to eat? Well, \u00a0guess they just left some staples behind, \u00a0Hop Sing gave us enough to last us a week \u2026we can well manage without for a day or two.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben frowned \u201cDid you give them yours as well\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course. That goes without saying, \u00a0as \u00a0you said earlier, we have to help those who have less.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben nodded, he couldn\u2019t recall saying any such thing but it pleased him mightily that his Pa and Uncles were prepared to go without \u00a0in order to help Sarah.\u00a0 Adam sighed \u201cYou know, Reuben, when I was your age we\u2019d only just got to the Ponderosa.\u00a0 Winnemucca\u2019s people numbered into the thousands then, and all this was \u00a0their land.\u00a0 You had to tread careful in those days, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Hoss came and sat down on a rock next to them, he was chewing on dry tack and washing it down with weak coffee \u201cSometimes the younger bucks would get riled up about something and get together to try and scare the lives out of the homesteaders and such.\u00a0 I was only little at the time, but I know some who never got to live out the year\u2026 wasn\u2019t until after the Pyramid Lake uprising* that things settled down some.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOnly because the Government moved them onto reservations,*\u201d Joe muttered and scowled , Reuben knew already how much his Uncle Joe hated talking about reservations and glanced at Adam who was frowning and his mouth a tight line, obviously he didn\u2019t like reservations either.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI remember Sarah telling me about how, in her grandfather\u2019s time, there was a raid on their camp.\u00a0 She and her sisters were very little at the time, \u00a0and their mother buried them in the ground, just \u00a0wild brush * covering their faces. They were there all day while the white men razed that camp to the ground, Winnemucca\u2019s wife was shot, and his youngest child was thrown into the fire* \u2026\u201d Adam sipped his drink and shook his head \u201cHer grand father, Truckee, \u00a0only wanted to have peace with the white men, but that sure shook his confidence in them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He threw the coffee away as though the conversation had turned it too bitter to drink, he looked up at Joe \u201cLet\u2019s get on, there\u2019s a way to go yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel deQuille set the journal down upon his desk and just stared at the cover.\u00a0 He thought of all those other journals nestled back to back, \u00a0and wondered if he had picked out an adventure that he could use as a story for his readers. \u00a0 He gently brushed with his fingers the words written upon the fly leaf and then turned the page\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJack Lawson<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Josef Rostrov<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Irena Pestchouroff<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Inuit \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Yu\u2019pik \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Valentina Pestchouroff<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It\u2019s supposed to be spring. \u00a0 Back home there would be flowers blooming and blossoms on the trees. \u00a0 There are no trees here.\u00a0 Ice and snow. \u00a0 Snow falls from the skies and freezes into ice pellets that strike the skin and brings pain with it.\u00a0 The sound of wind is constant, it shifts the snow underfoot. \u00a0 There is the constant howl of dogs. \u00a0 Ice moves in floes upon a black surging sea.\u00a0 Seals stare at us with luminous wet eyes before diving under cover of the waves. \u00a0 The cold bites into one\u2019s flesh until there is no longer any feeling.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPoetry \u2026 words spin like music against the wind \u2026 Tennyson, \u00a0Yeats, Longfellow\u2026I will never forget during the hardest storms Adam, Lawson, Rostov and myself huddled behind the sledges and reciting poetry.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTreachery \u2026 Adam left in a two manned kayak with Lawson\u2026 I fear that he will not return safely, Lawson is a proven traitor and has the ardour of youth for his cause. Fool though he is, but if he harms the Captain I shall personally see him strung from the yard arm and left to freeze in the wind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand how Adam can \u00a0be so calm, paddling off into the freezing waters with Jack Lawson seated just \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMr deQuille?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel jumped, startled, he shut the pages of the journal and looked up as his clerk stepped into the office \u201cJust wanted to check on the by line for to morrows issue.\u00a0 We had a bit of a problem setting up the type earlier, best if you come and check it out.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel nodded, took a deep breath and slipped the journal into a drawer of his desk, he turned the key in the lock and pocketed it. \u00a0 His mind was still on seals and ice floes, \u00a0a two manned kayak being paddled out into icy waters as he followed his clerk out into the printing room.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the evening the fire was lit and the rabbits skewered securely over the flames.\u00a0 Reuben watched the fat dripping and splattering, making the flames flare up higher for a moment before settling back again.\u00a0 Hoss was making coffee and Joe was seeing to the horses.\u00a0 Adam was setting out the bedrolls for himself and Reuben, their saddles at the head. \u00a0 Reuben wondered if he was getting used to all the riding now, his backside didn\u2019t feel so sore, and his legs didn\u2019t ache so much.\u00a0 He looked around the camp and then up at the stars.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The vastness of the heavens stretched above their heads reminded him of the boy his father had tutored, Albert somebody or other.\u00a0 Had he really thought it was possible for man to actually get to the stars. \u00a0 He turned to his father as Adam came closer to him \u201cPa, \u00a0did Albert really think we could fly to the stars?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe thought it was possible, \u00a0he may think it more probable now as he\u2019s studied more on the subject.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think it will happen?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam smiled and shrugged \u201cWell, \u00a0I don\u2019t know.\u201d \u00a0he settled down on one of the many fallen logs in the area they had now reached, and stretched out his long legs \u201cI guess the way things are progressing in this world of ours nothing can be said to be impossible any more.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI wonder what it will be like.\u201d \u00a0Reuben sighed and narrowed his eyes to get \u00a0the stars more into focus.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe came and checked on the meat before joining them, bringing with him a mug of cool water for Reuben and weak coffee for Adam \u201cAlbert Michaelson \u2026 had a head full of triangles and logarithms, never could make out a word he was talking about\u2026\u201d \u00a0he smiled and looked at Adam who was smiling himself at the memory of the boy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa, did you fight the Indians when they went to war?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam raised his eyebrows, and looked over at Hoss who shrugged and turned his attention to his own bed roll, \u00a0\u201cWell, when we first settled on the Ponderosa Pa made sure we befriended the Paiute. \u00a0 We got along fine with Winnemucca, \u00a0I made friends with some of the young ones and they taught me their language and how to hunt.\u00a0 So for a long time we were able to maintain a peace with them. Joe and Sarah were good friends, being more or less the same age\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, \u00a0then things changed, didn\u2019t they?\u201d Hoss muttered, \u201cLots of things change over time, some things don\u2019t never git put right either.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReuben,\u201d Joe leaned forward now, \u00a0seated on a log opposite Hoss and the fire glowing ruddy over his handsome face, \u201cWe had to fight hard to keep the Ponderosa in those days. \u00a0 Wasn\u2019t just Indians we had to fight, there were white men too\u2026 there was a lot of blood spilt to keep the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of blood spilt and a lot of hearts broken.\u201d Adam murmured, and stared into the flames as though he could see within them the faces of some of those lost, perhaps loved.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss was about to speak when Joe jumped up with a chortle of a laugh, some meat was burning having fallen into the fire \u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 10<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia went to school the next day quite content and without causing her mother any anxiety by protesting too much about going. \u00a0 As she walked to the porch way where the big school bell awaited Miss Brandon’s attention, Sofia looked around at the children playing, \u00a0or just talking together, \u00a0and looked for the one person who just by being there, could cause her grief.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Annie Sales ran up to her \u201cSofia, \u00a0is Reuben coming into school today?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, he\u2019s still with my Pa.\u201d \u00a0she looked at Annie, \u00a0who blinked behind her glasses and sighed, \u201cThey\u2019ve gone away\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAway?\u00a0 Will they be back?\u201d Annie asked and Sofia shrugged, her shoulders almost reaching her ears as she did so.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Before she could say any more Miss Brandon was there, smiled her good mornings to every one and began to ring the bell.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia followed the other children into the class room and took her seat at her desk.\u00a0 She once again looked around the class room to make sure Jimmy wasn\u2019t there and sighed with relief at his absence.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A door at the back of the school room opened and there was the sound of foot steps.\u00a0 A tall man appeared with his hand on the shoulder of a girl, \u201cSorry to be late, Ma\u2019am,\u201d \u00a0he pulled off his hat and gave the girl a slight shove forwards<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh of course, our new student.\u201d \u00a0Miss Brandon smiled her welcoming smile and the girl reluctantly stepped forward, head down \u00a0and long straggles of red hair obscuring her face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The man had gone, almost as quickly as he had come, and nothing was heard, not even the sound of the door closing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cChildren,\u201d Miss Brandon looked at them \u201cOur new student is Charlotte – please make her welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia frowned as she watched Charlotte slouch to her seat, it seemed to her that this girl looked just how she herself felt about school, but while she was unable to express it this girl did with every fibre of her being.\u00a0 Sofia couldn\u2019t imagine Charlotte liking Jimmy Carstairs and putting up with his games of tag, no, not in a million years!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Despite the day being quite cold there was no wind creating further discomfort so the children pulled on their outdoor clothing and ran out to the yard to eat what they had brought from home and then play in order to run off their energy and keep warm.\u00a0 Sofia watched as Rose and Annie tried to establish some acquaintance with the new girl and, from what she could see, not establishing much as they finally gave up and ran off together.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From her corner of the playground Sofia noticed as the girl stood very still watching everyone.\u00a0 Her red hair seemed to have a life of its own, blown here and there even when there was no wind blowing. \u00a0 Finally her eyes swivelled round and met Sofia\u2019s.\u00a0 Sofia didn\u2019t move, she stood her ground and stared back until Tommy Conway ran up with David Riley, tapped her on the shoulder and yelled \u201cYou\u2019re it!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m not.\u201d she shouted and turned her back on them in order to walk away to where there were some \u00a0logs \u00a0close to the area where a school teacher long ago had set up some swings.\u00a0 David ran up and stood in front of her \u201cCome on, Sofia.\u00a0 Don\u2019t spoil the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not playing the game, go away, leave me alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

David looked at Tommy, \u00a0Rosie ran up \u201cCome on, Sofia, we\u2019re needing you to join in.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But Sofia just shook her head and looked away from them so that even Rosie gave up on her and ran off, yelling and shrieking with the two boys.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you like playing with the kids?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia looked up and frowned at the other girl who had suddenly supplanted herself right before her feet.\u00a0 Rather hostile blue eyes stared at her, \u00a0and a defiant toss of the head indicated that the girl didn\u2019t care if she answered or not, but she still stared at her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes.\u00a0 Not today.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Charlotte nodded and pushed her hands into the pockets of her coat which Sofia noticed was rather threadbare and had a button hanging by a thread.\u00a0 Sofia knew that her mother would have sewn that button on before it dropped off and got lost, she looked up at Charlotte \u201cWhere do you come from?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWisconsin.\u201d \u00a0she didn\u2019t move from where she stood, \u00a0but for a slight puckering of her brow \u00a0she appeared totally immobile<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you here?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Charlotte said nothing to that, she just stared at Sofia as though the girl had no right to question her and then turned her back on her.\u00a0 Sofia shrugged, \u00a0she didn\u2019t care one way or the other either. \u00a0 She stayed sitting on the log and watched the girls straight back and stick thin legs take her off to the other side of the playground.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The bell tolled and Miss Brandon ushered them all in, paused as the new girl stopped to whisper something to her, and nodded before continuing on to her desk.\u00a0 Sofia \u00a0was getting her slate ready for her work when she realised that someone was sitting at the empty desk beside her.\u00a0 Charlotte nodded \u201cI asked to sit here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia said nothing except \u201cOh!\u201d, blinked her blue eyes and turned her attention back to her work.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere do you live?\u201d Charlotte asked as the children began to put on their outdoor clothes and collect their lunch pails, books and anything else they had brought along with them.\u00a0 Sofia paused in the act of pulling on her hat that Olivia had knitted to keep her head warm during the colder weather<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOn the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPonder-what?\u00a0 That\u2019s a girls name innit?\u201d \u00a0Charlotte wrinkled her nose and shrugged \u201cI live in town.\u00a0 My Pa\u2019s working for the railroad.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia nodded, she really didn\u2019t care, the comment about the Ponderosa had rankled and she just buttoned up her coat and pretended she wasn\u2019t interested in the other girl. \u00a0 She got caught up in the crowd of children pushing and shoving to leave the school building and \u00a0hoped that Hank would be waiting for her with the wagon.\u00a0 As it happened it was Cheng Ho Lee who looked down at the crowd of children \u00a0and waited for Sofia\u2019s distinctive red hat to be seen.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

79<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou can call me Charlie if you like ..\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Sofia turned and looked at the other girl who was running close beside her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t call me Charlotte, that\u2019s what my aunt and Pa call me\u2026you can call me Charlie.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d \u00a0Sofia \u00a0pulled on her gloves and tried to pretend she wasn\u2019t really interested<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I said so.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia blinked, \u00a0frowned and then watched as Charlotte ran out of the school grounds and along with the other towns children streamed out on to the streets.\u00a0 She herself turned to the wagon and clambered aboard.\u00a0 Cheng Ho Lee nodded, smiled and greeted her in Cantonese to which she gave a polite Cantonese response.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben accompanied by Hank rode down the escarpment and made his way towards the small group of horsemen who greeted him with smiles and a warm shake of the hands.\u00a0 He \u00a0looked at Reuben and slapped him gently on the shoulder \u201cWell, lad, enjoy your trip?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI nearly got bit by a snake, Grandpa, Uncle Joe shot him and I got to keep the rattle.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d Ben raised his dark eyebrows and looked enquiringly over at Adam \u201cAnd what was your father doing at the time?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReading a book I think.\u201d Reuben replied innocently<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHmm, \u00a0some things never change.\u201d Ben muttered and shook his head before riding up close to his eldest son, \u00a0the nod of his head was an indication for Hoss and Joe to ride closer, \u201cDid you know that you\u2019re being followed.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss glanced at his brothers, \u00a0all three nodded \u201cReckon they caught up with us just before we made camp last night, Pa.\u201d Hoss said quietly, \u201cWe didn\u2019t say anything in case it scared the boy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTwo white men, one riding a black mustang and the other a pinto \u2026 anyone you know?\u201d \u00a0Ben shot an enquiring look at each of the men who shook their heads, \u201cThey seem to be keeping their distance, \u00a0not rushing to catch up at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was Joe who suddenly exclaimed \u201cI think I can guess who it is\u2026 two of Rinehart\u2019s men.\u00a0 They were there with him when we delivered the cattle.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019s Rinehart?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe new agent on the reservation.\u201d Adam said quietly and glanced over at Reuben who was chatting animatedly to Hank who always had a soft spot for the children.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened to Parrish?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGot moved on \u2026\u201d came the short response and from the way Adam\u2019s lips thinned Ben could guess that the move didn\u2019t meet with his sons approval.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe nodded \u201cYeah, and seems things have gotten real bad since, Pa.\u00a0 We managed to get the cattle delivered, but I have the distinct feeling that the people will suffer as a result.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat has Winnemucca to say about this?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWal,\u201d Hoss thumbed \u00a0back his hat and shook his head \u201cSeems he got himself a new young wife to distract him.\u00a0 Anyhow, \u00a0we heard tell he was going to ride on out to the mountains with anyone who wants to go with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded and looked around him, they were on Ponderosa land now, \u00a0if the two men continued to follow them \u00a0it would be easy enough to pick them off and send them packing on a charge of trespass. \u00a0\u201cRemember what it was like when we got here?\u00a0 The Paiute numbered into the thousands.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTrue enough, leastways, \u201c Ben murmured \u201cIt appeared as though there were several thousand living hereabouts at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI reckon there\u2019s less than 600 now.\u00a0 Conditions are bad, \u00a0and as a result the people look \u2026\u201d he passed a \u00a0hand over his mouth and looked over at Joe who nodded and said quietly \u201cThey look like they\u2019ve lost hope.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben said nothing for a while as he knew only too well that his sons felt strongly about these issues.\u00a0 Politics, justice and injustice, they were just words for when it came down to a people suffering, that really was the bottom line, that was what it was all about\u2026 people suffering.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDid you see Sarah ?\u00a0 Natchez?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe did,\u201d Adam nodded, \u201cThey\u2019re on their way to Washington to put the matter to the President.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben rolled his dark eyes, obviously he didn\u2019t think much success would come of that idea, but he said nothing but chose to ride closer to Reuben in order to share the boys experiences rather than dwell on the matters that made for such morbid telling.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe looked over at his brothers \u201cWhat do we do about our followers?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIf they\u2019ve had any sense they\u2019ll have stopped at our borders and gone back to where they belong.\u201d Hoss growled.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe that\u2019s all they were ordered to do,\u201d Adam said quietly, \u201cJust make sure that we reached our borders and left their territory alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe thought about that and nodded \u201cCould be.\u00a0 I guess time will tell\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam smiled just slightly \u201cIt usually does.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss grinned \u201cTold you my head was itching, didn\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe and Adam said nothing to that, they merely rolled their eyes and continued on in silence.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Seated cross legged on her bed Sofia Cartwright watched as Reuben showed off his treasures\u2026 the rattle from the snake which she declared \u2018disgusting\u2019, some beads nestled in the palm of \u00a0his hand which she said were pretty and took into her own hands to claim as her own.\u00a0 There was an eagle\u2019s feather which Reuben told her his friend had given him \u201cWhat was his name?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, \u00a0I didn\u2019t understand what he said.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe can\u2019t be a friend of \u00a0yours then if you don\u2019t know his name.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI gave him the cookies that Hop Sing had wrapped up in my saddle bag.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause they don\u2019t have anything to eat there\u2026\u201d \u00a0Reuben heaved a sigh, girls knew nothing, \u00a0he shook his head in exasperation \u201cYou should have seen \u2018em, \u00a0Sofee.\u00a0 The girls didn\u2019t have dolls like you and Hannah got, \u00a0they just have dried up corn cobs or sticks of wood \u00a0wrapped in bits of blanket.\u00a0 Some don\u2019t even have any shoes to wear.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause they\u2019re poor.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t they work?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know\u2026I think so\u2026I think the bad man there takes all their money.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa won\u2019t let them do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben swallowed his words, \u00a0he stared at his sister and realised for the first time that, perhaps, after all, there really were some things that Adam Cartwright and his Uncles and his Grandfather all combined, could not put right. \u00a0 Sofia put the beads carefully into a small glass bowl and set it in her lap. \u00a0\u201cThere\u2019s a new girl at school.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs she nice?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s called Charlotte. \u00a0 She has red hair like Aunty Hester, only Aunty Hester\u2019s is prettier.\u201d \u00a0she counted the \u00a0beads, \u00a0\u201cThere\u2019s two red ones, two blue ones, and a green one.\u00a0 There\u2019s a black one and a white one.\u201d she smiled and leaned over to \u00a0give her brother a kiss on the cheek.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI said – is she nice?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not really.\u201d \u00a0Sofia wrinkled her nose \u201cBut I like her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Odds were against Adam if he thought he would see his wife in her new silk chemise and dressing gown that night as it happened to be her time of the month. \u00a0 Nathaniel decided to \u00a0be sick over his bedding which had to be cleared away while he was set down in the big bed to climb over his father and keep him awake while mother cleaned out the \u00a0crib.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 11<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sound of gunfire rippled over the valley and for a moment Adam froze in order to listen and get the location of the shots firmly in his mind. When there was a pause and then a staccato burst of six shots yet again, he relaxed and mounted his horse before turning its head towards the main house.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As he had suspected he found his youngest brother Joe, standing beside Hoss, waiting for Ezra to set up the tin cans and bottles along the fence for target practice. He slowly edged his horse around to the hitching rail before dismounting and after watching his two brothers loading their pistols made his way into the house.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester was brushing Hope\u2019s blonde curls while Hannah sat very sedately in one of the chairs reading a book, or rather, looking at the pictures. She held the book up for her Uncle\u2019s inspection \u201cLook, Uncle Adam\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam made the appropriate sounds and nodded over to his sister in law before asking for the whereabouts of his father, Hester looked momentarily blank as though the fact that Ben had disappeared without her knowledge had totally escaped her attention \u201cI think he\u2019s somewhere about.\u201d came the murmured response.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Before Adam could say another word Ben came from the kitchen area wiping his hands on a cloth, he nodded to Adam, offered no explanation but asked him what he intended to do for the day, to which his son looked at him rather blankly before offering to go and see McManus at the timber yard.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood idea, I wanted to know how that order for Jacobson was getting on.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt went off a few days before we took the cattle down to the reservation, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben stared at nothing in particular for a moment and then nodded, \u201cThat\u2019s right, I remember now. Slipped my mind because he hasn\u2019t contacted me yet about payment. Mind you, he doesn\u2019t usually pay until he\u2019s written in to complain about something, and I haven\u2019t had that in writing yet either.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gunshots rattled once again and Hannah put her hands over her ears and squeezed her eyes shut while Hope clung closer to her mother. Adam sighed \u201cWhy the target practice?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2019s worried about that agent. He thinks there\u2019s going to be trouble and he wants to make sure he can remember how to use a gun when the time comes.\u201d Ben replied and led the way to the door with Adam close behind him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After closing the door in order to muffle the sounds a little so that the little girls would not be too frightened the two men stood on the porch and watched Hoss and Joe as they aimed and fired at the targets. Joe would hit the target every time while Hoss missed at least two but as he said the targets he would be firing against usually came larger than a tin can.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGonna try Adam?\u201d Hoss nodded over to the fence as his brother stepped down into the yard, \u201cSeeing how you ain\u2019t been used to firing a gun for so long, might be a good idea to get some practice now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, that\u2019s alright, boys, I\u2019ve work to do.\u201d Adam replied with a wave of the hand as he strolled towards his horse.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReally? Where to? What for?\u201d Joe asked concentrating more on reloading his gun than his brother<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTimber yard.\u201d Adam muttered and with a nod of the head, mounted his horse and turned it out of the yard.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss frowned, his nose wrinkled \u201cHey, Pa, how come you let Adam go off on his own?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYour brothers a big boy now, Hoss. I think he can take care of himself\u2026\u201d Ben drawled<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, and I thought you said at breakfast that none of us should be alone while that thar Agent has his men hanging around.\u201d Hoss put his hands on his hips and looked like an angry bull as he lowered his head<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI said, if you can prove those men are hanging around.\u201d Ben replied curtly, \u201cAnd as no one has seen hide nor hair of them since you all got home, I really don\u2019t see what there is to worry about\u2026if they were around then, yes, I\u2019d rather you didn\u2019t go alone. That goes for your wives too.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe shook his head and with a twirl of his revolver slipped it into its holster. \u201cWell, it\u2019s best to be prepared, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI agree, when there is something to really worry about.\u201d came the immediate reply \u201cNow, if you two nit wits don\u2019t mind, there\u2019s work to be done\u2026Hoss, you and Joe go and check out the lowlands, make sure the rains haven\u2019t turned it to bog. You could check out that stream by Jessops while you\u2019re there\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSure, Pa.\u201d Joe grinned, and looked over at Hoss who was keeping his head down although there was something of a smile lurking around his face \u201cWhere are you going Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI just remembered – I need to remind McManus about something and forgot to mention it to Adam. I\u2019ll chase after him and see if I can catch him up,\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood idea Pa.\u201d Hoss nodded and slapped his father on the back \u201cMake sure you catch up with him soon, then you can both ride in together.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, s\u2019right, Pa. Both of you\u2026together.\u201d Joe smirked and ducked when his father playfully swung his fist at him.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Riding through the Ponderosa always had a calming effect on both Ben and his son. The height of the trees towering above them, the dappling of the sunlight through their branches so that patches of gloom would suddenly burst into a spangle of gold was a reminder to the smallness of man in comparison. The horses tread was dulled by the thickness of the damp dead pines beneath their feet, and the clouds in the sky, whatever colour it happened to be, always seemed to be moving more slowly than usual.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But it was winter time, even though just the edge of the season, the cold chill of snow on the wind could now be felt and it keened lazily between the trees causing the two men to raise the collars of their coats around their ears and bend their heads a little lower. Ben began to hum \u201cIn the pines \u2026\u201d as Cinnamon matched his stride to the older horse, Sport.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWorried about something?\u201d Ben suddenly asked, as he glanced over at his son\u2019s anxious face \u201cYou\u2019ve not looked too happy with life since returning from seeing Sarah.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt left me feeling uneasy.\u201d Adam admitted and nodded \u201cI didn\u2019t like Rinehart.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I got the impression last year that he was going to be a hard character to handle. It\u2019s hard to imagine such a swift transformation in the people as Hoss and Joe described.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd fewer in number too. \u201c Adam coughed, and glanced about him uneasily, \u201cRemember how we would have to ride through these woods fully armed, rifle in hand, constantly on the look out for Paiutes?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI can.\u201d Ben nodded, \u201cThat wasn\u2019t really so very long ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cUsed to get the odd hunting party even as recent as 6 years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, there got to be less game available for hunting, and they got used to having regular food from the Indian Bureau. Guess that\u2019s all changed now. \u201cBen sighed, \u201cI can recall expecting a Pauite, or Bannock, to appear from behind every tree I rode past.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa, do you -\u201d he stopped talking, both men halted their horses and stared as though they couldn\u2019t believe what they were seeing as two Indians rode their horses towards them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Johnny Tall Bear drew his horse up and the other man did likewise, both waited for the Cartwrights to speak and it was Ben who said sternly \u201cYou\u2019re on Ponderosa land, what are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Johnny nodded \u201cIt is I, Tall Bear. My brother \u2026 Musk Elk.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam smiled, and rode Sport a little closer so that the gap was closed and he was able to shake hands with the Bannock, and his brother. \u201cWhat brings you here, Tall Bear?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI was coming to you.\u201d the Bannock replied as though surprised to have been asked, \u201cI came to speak with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re more than welcome, any time, you know that\u2026\u201d Ben now said, having shaken the outstretched hands. \u201cWe\u2018re headed back that way if you want to ride along with us.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tall Bear shook his head \u201cNo need. I speak now. Musk Elk and Tall Bear – we were to see our sister married to Paiute but -\u201d he shook his head as though in amazement \u201cThere are no Paiute.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you mean? There were Paiute a few days ago. We were there, we saw them\u201d Adam protested, and looked at his father as though needing confirmation for his sanity<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo more. The agent Rinehart has moved them onto the reservation at Malheur in Oregon. They have all gone there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you know this? Who told you?\u201d Ben demanded, after all if there were no Paiute there who could have told him and Tall Bear shrugged and looked from Ben to Adam before nodding<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cA white man, the one who sells things\u2026Colby\u201d his black eyes seemed to drain of colour now as he shook his head \u201cHe was loading his wagon and moving out to join them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Musk Elk glanced at his brother, he was tired of sitting just talking to more white men, he was restless and wanted to continue the journey, Tall Bear nodded again, and turned his horse away from the Cartwrights and onto the track through the trees that would lead them to their own homes on yet another reservation far away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201c I find that hard to believe,\u201d Ben muttered \u201cA whole tribe of people, uprooted like that and -\u201d he paused and shook his head \u201cWho am I fooling? If he said so, then it must be so.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t exactly a full tribe, Pa.\u201d Adam said quietly, \u201cHardly that at all.\u201d and he lapsed into melancholy as he wondered what Sarah would say to it all when she returned.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He thought also of President Hayes, sitting there behind the grand President\u2019s desk where Grant had customarily sat, and he recalled to mind the promise Hayes had made him, about caring for all Americans, regardless of colour or creed. The assurance that he had been given to ensure the Native American Peoples would have protection by the Government, and an end to their wars and broken treaties. That time, that kind of thing, would not be tolerated \u2026 and Adam knew, yet again, that it was yet another promise broken.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben didn\u2019t like Charlie, as the girl preferred to be called. He found himself forever telling Sofia that her friend was a naughty girl, who would get her into trouble. But it was the spirit of the girl that fascinated Sofia who found in her a freeness that quite unknowingly she longed for herself. She drew the line at some of her friend\u2019s conduct for it seemed wrong to her to push smaller ones over, or snatch away their lunch pails, or toss their books in the air. She was one of the new children herself, one of these smaller ones and felt for them when they found their slates broken, or their food taken, and she didn\u2019t understand why Charlie couldn\u2019t see that such unkindness was wrong.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s because you\u2019re just a kid yourself.\u201d Charlie grumbled as she huddled into her coat and stared over the scarf she wore at the younger girl.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t like it if you did it to me\u2026\u201d Sofia said as her defence and Charlie shrugged and said she wouldn\u2019t because Sofia was her friend.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jimmy Carstairs was back at school, he was pale and listless with dark shadows under his eyes. He trailed around behind David Riley and the other town boys, and avoided Sofia when she was with Charlie. It seemed to Sofia that the best thing she could do was to stay as close to her red headed free spirit of a friend as possible, even if she was trouble.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That day just as recess was ending Charlie managed to wedge a wooden stake against the outhouse door while Jimmy Carstairs was inside \u2018doing his business\u2019. She told Sofia, who was aghast, but at the same time awed by her friends audacity but as it was Jimmy she laughed and giggled about it and ran into the school room without thinking any further about the matter.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was tired and weary, irritable and anxious when he arrived home that evening. He smiled and kissed Olivia, who knew instantly that her husband was not in the best of moods, and after he had washed up and sat down she wondered what would be the outcome of their daughters latest misdeed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben was subdued, he looked at his mother with big eyes as though he could tell from just looking what she was thinking and when that didn\u2019t work he looked at his father. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d Adam asked immediately, his napkin only half open and his hand frozen in mid air.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSofia -\u201d Reuben paused and looked over at his sister for he knew that Pa preferred everyone to speak up for themselves \u201cSofia has something to tell you, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I don\u2019t\u2026\u201d came a timid quiet little voice as Sofia tried to shrink in her seat<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam sighed, a release of a long drawn out breath, he frowned and shook his head \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNothing.\u201d she shook her head and looked down at her plate<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIf it was nothing then what are you looking so worried about?\u201d he smiled, although it<\/p>\n

was rather a grim smile, and she wilted a little more, \u201cSofia?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

No answer, she bowed her head and stared at the plate, but she could feel his eyes still on her and slowly raised her left hand to display the welts upon it. \u201cMiss Brandon hit me with the ruler.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia now lowered her eyes, she didn\u2019t like to see the welts on her daughters little hand, she didn\u2019t want to imagine the pain her daughter had suffered, and she didn\u2019t like to recall to mind the reasons for it. She looked at Adam and saw his lips twitch, before becoming stern again \u201cWhat did you do?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI – didn\u2019t do anything – I truly didn\u2019t Pa.\u201d she looked at him, big eyes and innocence framed by her pale gold ringlets.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou must have done something, Miss Brandon wouldn\u2019t have punished you unless there was some reason. If you don\u2019t tell me, Sofia, we\u2019ll be taking a walk to the barn anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cheng Ho Lee hovered, food was getting cold, he didn\u2019t know whether to serve it or leave it. Olivia decided to concentrate on Nathaniel who was thumping on the table for some food and wasn\u2019t understanding the \u2019politics\u2019 of this around the table discussion. Sofia still remained silent, so Adam turned to Reuben and raised an eyebrow<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe didn\u2019t do it, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re saying that Miss Brandon was wrong in punishing your sister?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sir. Just that Sofia didn\u2019t do it, but she knew about it and laughed.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam heaved in a deep breath and lowered his head. Years ago he had got used to hearing about Joe\u2019s misdeeds, punishments, detentions\u2026 but he had never expected to have to relive it all again with his own daughter. He rubbed his jaw \u201cGo on\u2026 Sofia, what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She opened her mouth but nothing came out, so Adam pushed his chair back, stood up and lifted her out of her chair, \u201cRight, no more nonsense.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia squealed and wriggled but once her feet were on the floor she started to cry, and begged him not to punish her just because she laughed at Charlie having stopped the door being open for when Jimmy went into the outhouse. Adam looked at Reuben for a translation which he received with a stony face, after which he shook his head, wished he had stayed away from home and then gently led his daughter out of the house.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They returned five minutes later, the food was not as hot as would have been preferred, and Sofia tried not to cry. It was a silent miserable meal.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDid Pa give you a tanning?\u201d Reuben whispered later.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He had crept from his room to hers, and was sitting on the edge of her bed while she hugged Clarabelle and Jessie (eyes now intact).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo. Just talked. Said I was not nice.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t a kind thing to do to Jimmy, Pa was right, so was Miss Brandon.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia sniffed, wiped wet eyes and squeezed them shut. She would have preferred a tanning, she knew that, even if she couldn\u2019t put it into words, she hated the thought of having upset her Pa. That her own Pa had said she wasn\u2019t a nice girl quite broke her heart.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was Charlie\u2019s fault, Sofia. You got to stop being her friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Having pronounced his opinion, Reuben got to his feet, and padded lightly across to his room. Before he fell asleep he lay there wondering how he could help his little sister before she got into really serious trouble.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 12<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The murmur of voices from the main room \u00a0drifted up the stairs where Olivia was dressing her youngest son.\u00a0 She wondered if Sofia had got herself ready for school and paused for a moment to listen but could only hear Adams distinct voice and the softer tones of Reuben.\u00a0 As she forced Nathaniel to sit still while she buttoned on various garments she thought over \u00a0the previous evenings debacle and shook her head, who would have thought that it would be her little girl who was the cause of so much trouble.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Going down stairs with Nathaniel in her arms she smiled at the sight of her husband and eldest son as they sat around the low table.\u00a0 Although she detested guns and weaponry of any kind she knew that in this territory they were almost an essential item, for a man to go unarmed was an invitation to disaster.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She found Sofia seated at the piano, \u00a0reading her sheet music or appearing to, and beckoned her over to her side in order to re-button her dress. for Sofia had missed several buttons and everything was lop sided.\u00a0 Her braids needed tidying too, \u00a0and as she quickly attended to her daughters dress Olivia listened and watched as her husband explained how to clean a revolver.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben took the bore brush and was carefully following Adam\u2019s instructions on how to \u00a0push it through the barrel.\u00a0 The smell of oil on the rags \u00a0to be used was common in the house for Adam was careful to clean all rifles and guns regularly, but this was the first occasion where he had any time to show Reuben how to do it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cRight, now, \u00a0clean around the muzzle\u2026\u201d Adam said and placed a hand on Reubens to show how it was done, then afterwards reminded the boy to clean out the rear cylinder opening.\u00a0 Reuben\u2019s mouth was a tight button of concentration as he followed Adam\u2019s instructions.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a few moments they shared that time together, while Olivia finished with Sofia\u2019s hair, set Nathaniel down in his chair and brought the coffee pot to the table, \u00a0 when she called out that breakfast was ready Reuben gave a groan of protest to which Olivia reminded him that if he didn\u2019t eat now, he would go to school hungry.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They hadn\u2019t long started when there was \u00a0a knock on the door and Joe stepped into the room, followed by Hoss. \u00a0 Both of them grinned \u201cSorry to be so early, thought you\u2019d be ready by now, \u00a0big brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded and glanced at Olivia, smiled and then turned to them \u201cHave some coffee, \u00a0plenty of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The brothers nodded and Joe kissed Olivia on the cheek, pulled Sofia\u2019s braids and ruffled Reuben\u2019s hair while Hoss \u00a0just pulled up two chairs to the table and helped himself to a flapjack<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa\u2019s been teaching me how to clean his revolver.\u201d Reuben said after smoothing down his hair<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHas he indeed?\u201d Joe nodded, winked over at Adam \u201cThought I could smell something other than bacon.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia smiled as she poured out the coffee for her brothers in law \u201cHe\u2019ll be teaching the boy how to use it next.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe wasn\u2019t sure whether this was some kind of rebuke from her, but Hoss nodded and looked thoughtful \u201cWell, \u00a0he\u2019s a mite young yet. \u00a0 But it\u2019s always useful having someone around the house who knows how to look after the things. \u00a0 If you don\u2019t keep your weapons clean and in good working order you could end up dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia sighed and rolled her eyes, but smiled over at Adam who was concentrating on his food and listening to what was being said while Sofia was sipping her milk and looking quite angelic.\u00a0 Nathaniel was waving his spoon about and poked himself in the eye with it so creating a little hiatus of mayhem which prompted Adam to get up and drop his napkin beside his plate.\u00a0 Hoss and Joe gulped down their coffee and pushed away from the table.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019re \u00a0you getting on at school, \u00a0pumpkin?\u201d Hoss asked his niece who glanced at her daddy before muttering that she hated it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe laughed \u201cA girl after my own heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThanks for that, Joe.\u201d \u00a0Adam murmured, \u201cYou don\u2019t know how true that is\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He went to the table, and checked his gun, spun the cylinder and reloaded the chambers before carrying it over to where his holster was hanging.\u00a0 Olivia was there to hand him his hat, and kiss him goodbye, \u00a0and after calling his farewells to the children Adam left the house in the company of his brothers. \u00a0\u201cDid Pa tell you about our visit from Tall Bear?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe sure did, \u201c Joe sighed, \u201cHe\u2019s writing to the Indian Affairs Bureau in protest.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss picked some bacon from between his teeth and spat on the ground, \u201cI get the feeling that this is going to lead to trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you know about the \u00a0Malheur Reservation?\u00a0 Apart from being in Oregon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam asked and noticed how both his brothers immediately looked concerned, \u201cBad is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be if Rinehart is in charge as the agent.\u201d Hoss muttered and Joe nodded,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShoshone, \u00a0Bannock \u2026they\u2019re there already mostly. \u00a0 Won\u2019t do them any favours having the Paiute move in on them.\u201d \u00a0Joe frowned, \u201cWon\u2019t help the Paiute either, they won\u2019t want to share what little they have with the Snake people.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They were in the stables now and Joe grinned as he saw Kamille in her stall, \u201cWhen are you going to start riding her, Adam?\u00a0 Sport deserves his retirement now, he\u2019s getting to be an old man.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s still got a lot of years in him,\u201d Adam replied as he carried the saddle over to where Sport waited with stoic patience, \u00a0\u201cTo be honest, Joe, \u00a0Pa keeps on so much about Kamille being a hay burner and not much use for anything, that I\u2019m feeling a mite self conscious about owning her. \u00a0 She won\u2019t never make a good cow pony\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe stroked his chin and looked at Hoss who nodded, \u201cWal, she ain\u2019t equipped to be one is she?\u00a0 What do you intend to do with her?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shrugged, and shook his head as he buckled up the cinch, then brought over the bridle and bit \u201cHave \u00a0you named the colt yet, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0thought I\u2019d leave that to \u00a0you, after all\u2026\u201d Joe frowned \u00a0\u201cWell, \u00a0he\u2019s a beauty that\u2019s for sure, \u00a0but I\u2019ve not thought of a name yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sound of the children running into the yard could be heard and as Adam walked with his brothers and Sport \u00a0out of the stable they watched as Reuben and Sofia clambered onto the wagon.\u00a0 They were bundled up warmly for the air was cold, \u00a0Sofia wore her woolly red hat and matching gloves, Reuben the same but in a striped pattern, it was a long drive to the school house, they needed to be kept as warm as possible. Ezra, turning the wagon carefully, was sporting a warm hat beneath his stetson, \u00a0being as bald as he was, he needed all the help he could get, and it wasn\u2019t even the middle of winter yet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The children waved and Adam called out \u201cDon\u2019t be getting into any trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss grinned and shook his heads \u201cWon\u2019t be long before Hannah will be going along with \u2018em. \u00a0 Time sure flies.\u00a0 Sofia looks like a little angel, don\u2019t she, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe sure does.\u201d Joe smiled and looked at Adam, \u201cYou must be very proud of them, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam heaved a deep sigh and rolled his \u00a0eyes, \u00a0glanced over to his wife and raised a hand in farewell.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a while they rode along in silence before Joe asked Adam if Tall Bear had any other news for them, but his brother shook his head \u201cHe seemed in a hurry to leave, his brother was with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, so Pa said.\u201d \u00a0Hoss nodded, and again they lapsed into silence before Hoss changed the subject by asking Adam how he had found things at the timber yard.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They \u00a0talked as they rode together, Joe telling them about how well Jenny was getting on, \u00a0under Mary Ann\u2019s careful patient guidance the girl seemed to be emerging from some kind of dream world.\u00a0 He told them how little Constance was gaining weight and how besotted with his sister young \u00a0Daniel was now.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss mentioned that he needed to collect some things from town and place an order for more barbed wire, explaining how the north boundaries had come down when the cattle had stampeded earlier that month. \u00a0\u201cDang Hank and Zeke, never told us until it was too late and them fool cows halfway to Tuscon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel de Quille put his cigar to one side and unlocked the drawer where he had his private note book and the journal relating to Daniel O\u2019Brien\u2019s expeditions with Adam Cartwright.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was a quiet time during the working day, the printing presses were being set up, the machinery idling as the typesetters arranged the metal letters that would eventually form the next edition of the Territorial Enterprise.\u00a0 DeQuille knew he would not be disturbed for an hour and having \u00a0a large hot coffee at his elbow he slowly drew out the journal and flicked over some of the pages\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLebedev<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dimitri Doestov<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jack Lawson<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The names of these individuals haunt me. \u00a0 I am sure they must also do likewise for the Commodore as we both came closer to death than I ever thought possible \u2026 Lebedev, walking across that snow laden tundra in that long fur lined coat and with his face set like, well, it would not be an exaggeration to say when I remember his face he made me think of Lucifer.\u00a0 Vengeful, hateful man.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJack Lawson died that day.\u00a0 Reckless, fool hardy, misled.\u00a0 Poor boy, \u00a0when I think back to those last weeks with him out there, in his own way he was brave, he was facing those same hazards as we were, and all for a purposeless reason, for a long lost cause.\u00a0 At least I could reassure his family that he died bravely.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cRostov fell by my side and I know Adam will never forget him, he was oh, I don\u2019t know, a character, rough and ready, grateful to have become an American citizen and he died to prove it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then Adam fell \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel paused there, \u00a0the writer had obviously done so also, perhaps to recall that moment in time, perhaps to reconsider his feelings and wonder how to put them into words that would explain exactly all his feelings, there was a thickening of the ink as though O\u2019Brien had rewritten over the words before proceeding on<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then Adam fell and the snow seemed to part to gather him into itself.\u00a0 Slow motion.\u00a0 Almost graceful.\u00a0 Unbelievable. I never could never conceive of the fact that Adam would die, could die. I \u00a0couldn\u2019t let Lebedev think he would just saunter away as casually as he was doing. \u00a0 I couldn\u2019t, couldn\u2019t\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sharp rapping on \u00a0the glass of the door intruded upon him and he was startled into movement, the cigar rolled and fell upon the journal and as deQuille went to see what was requiring his attention in the outer room, the cigar slowly burned the pages a dark smouldering brown.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jimmy Carstairs was standing on the stairs leading to the school house and stared hostilely at Charlotte who poked her tongue out at him and tossed her head before flouncing in to the building.\u00a0 Sofia followed behind Annie and Betty Sales and when Jimmy put his hand on her arm she flinched away from him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSofia, I\u2019m sorry you got into trouble yesterday.\u00a0 Is your hand alright now?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She stared at him, blinked and felt her face reddening.\u00a0 She had laughed at him, \u00a0been as her father said \u2018not very nice\u2019 and here he was, \u00a0being kind, being thoughtful.\u00a0 She lowered her head and nodded, \u201cYes, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m \u00a0glad. \u201c he didn\u2019t say anything else, but waited for her to get to her seat and then followed with David and Reuben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia couldn\u2019t hear what Miss Brandon was saying, her mind was too full of what Jimmy had said, \u00a0the kind way he had said it, and the gentle look on his face.\u00a0 He was thinner now since his illness, and seemed taller as well.\u00a0 When Charlie jogged her elbow and made a face to prove her dislike of whatever Miss Brandon was saying, Sofia shook her head and concentrated on her slate.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The errands in town took very little time and t he three brothers decided that a drink at the Silver Dollar would \u00a0be a good idea. \u00a0 This particular saloon would serve up a good strong hot coffee on a day like this, \u00a0and as the day was getting colder by the minute that, they all agreed, was just so much better than a beer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They were hit by warm air as soon as the batwing doors swung shut behind them.\u00a0 The bar keep nodded over and took their orders, and as they made their way to the table they unbuttoned their coats and shrugged them off, along with their hats.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I\u2019d go and see Roy later.\u201d Adam said, easing his shoulders a little to get the kinks out of them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah, see how his romance is going with Miss Tennant.\u201d Joe grinned and winked over at Hoss who was rubbing the back of his neck and scratching his head \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with you, Hoss, got fleas?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNope, \u00a0and you just button your lip, young feller, you ain\u2019t too old yet for a -\u201d he thumped one clenched fist into the palm of his hand with a grin on his face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think he\u2019ll marry her?\u201d Joe leaned across to Adam who frowned, shrugged and was about to speak when a shadow fell over them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam turned round as the look on Joe\u2019s face indicated that it wasn\u2019t old Thad bringing over the coffee\u2019s they had ordered.\u00a0 Hoss had narrowed his eyes and his mouth had set into a stubborn line as he half rose from his seat, only to be pushed down again \u00a0by the man facing him<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, this is cosy.\u201d \u00a0one of the men said and looked at his partner \u00a0\u201cWhat do you say, Mick?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, real cosy.\u201d \u00a0Mick replied and stepped back for Thad to bring in the coffee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t want no trouble in here,\u201d Thad muttered as he moved away from the table, \u201cBest leave now, boys, \u00a0and keep it peaceable for folks in here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe ain\u2019t gonna cause no trouble, are we, \u00a0Zeke?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no trouble at all.\u00a0 We\u2019re peace loving folk, real peace loving.\u00a0 More than can be said for these Cartwrights.\u00a0 You know they\u2019re Indian lovers, don\u2019t\u2019cha?\u201d \u00a0Zeke swung round to address the few customers there, \u201cBleeding hearts, that\u2019s what they are?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam , Joe and Hoss said nothing\u2026 Hoss ladled in some sugar into his coffee and Joe \u00a0did likewise, Adam was about to reach for a spoon when Zeke turned to see what they were doing, their silence having irritated him for it fell short of the Cartwright reputation he had heard so much about in town.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHey, you want some sugar\u2026\u201d \u00a0Zeke said and picked up the bowl, \u201cYou know, them thar Indians love their sugar, they\u2019d do anything to get their hands on some sugar. Here \u2026\u201d and with a grin he upturned the bowl and the sugar poured into the cup, spilled over into the saucer, along with the coffee. \u00a0\u201cwhoops, guess I put in too much.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mick laughed, and slapped Hoss on the back as though he should be laughing too, but Hoss only drew in a deep breath \u201cLook, fellers, we ain;t looking for trouble, why not just leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam pushed his cup and saucer away from him, at the counter Thad was wondering whether or not to get the sheriff, \u00a0in Virginia City people got shot for doing less than what these men had done.\u00a0 Joe eased away from the table but then Mick\u2019s eyes fell on him, cold, steel grey and the threat in them was very clear.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cwhy don\u2019t you do what my brother said, \u00a0Mister, just leave while you can.\u201d Joe said quietly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adams long fingers tapped on his chin, \u00a0his eyes watched as coffee trickled into a bigger puddle on the table. \u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re Rinehart\u2019s boys, aren\u2019t you?\u201d he finally said and Mick and Zeke found that really amusing, they almost doubled over laughing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSure took \u00a0your time to work that one out.\u201d Mick said and then stepped closer, \u00a0smiles and laughter gone from his face \u201cAnd you had better remember us for a long time, Cartwright, because Mr Rinehart doesn\u2019t want you interfering with our business.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat exactly is your business, Mr \u2026\u201d Adam shrugged, \u00a0and raised his eyebrows<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOur business is protecting Mr Rinehart\u2019s interests and just now he\u2019s interested in you three, and he wants to make sure you don\u2019t interfere in what he does, you hear?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was about to speak when Mick leaned forward, picked \u00a0up Hoss\u2019 cup of coffee and upturned it onto the floor.\u00a0 It was an act of total stupidity, and bad timing, \u00a0for there was no need to push the matter quite so far.\u00a0 Their point had been made and it would have been more sensible for them to have walked away and left well alone; but Mick was too stupid to have considered that and as he walked away with a smirk on his face and about to make some sarcastic quip to Zeke, \u00a0he found his progress stopped by a hand on his shoulder.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was spun round so fast that his hat fell off, \u00a0then Hoss\u2019 fist connected with his chin and he was rocking back on his heels before he fell upon the neighbouring table.\u00a0 Within minutes Joe and Adam had joined in the fight, not that it was much of one as the two men were no match for Hoss alone, \u00a0and being up against all three brothers was more than Mick and Zeke were capable of handling.\u00a0 In less than five minutes they were out of \u00a0 the saloon and making tracks for their horses.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thad came scurrying up to them cloth in hand to mop up the mess Sorry about that\u2026 more coffee, Mr Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Adam picked up his coat and hat, \u201cI think I\u2019ll go and see Roy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He shrugged himself into his coat and slipped his hat on, nodded to his brothers and left the building, the bat wings swung too and fro as he passed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s rattled,\u201d Hoss said and called over to Thad for fresh coffee for himself and Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 13<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy greeted Adam like a man who had just found his long lost brother, or in his case, his son. \u00a0\u201cCome on in, Adam.\u00a0 Take a seat.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam flipped his hat onto a table and removed his coat before settling into one of the comfortable chairs placed close to the fire.\u00a0 He looked around the room and nodded, then smiled over at Roy \u00a0\u201cEverything alright with you, Roy?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI guess it is, Adam.\u00a0 Want some coffee?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam paused a moment, then decided the stuff Roy brewed at \u00a0home couldn\u2019t be as bad as that he used to pour out in his office, he nodded \u201cSure, that\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy \u00a0took himself off to the small kitchen area and returned with coffee steaming hot from the cup.\u00a0 He placed it on the low table and nodded \u201cWhat brings you this way, young man?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou know anything about the Paiute reservation close to our borders?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy\u2019s eyes narrowed, his back straightened and he nodded slowly \u201cThe one they\u2019ve just moved on to Malheur?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou know about that?\u201d Adam looked surprised, \u201cHow\u2019d you get to know?\u00a0 We just found out for ourselves yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI have my contacts.\u201d Roy replied but his voice was lower, \u00a0he shook his head \u201cThat Rinehart is a bad lot, Adam.\u00a0 Those folks have been dwindling in number since he became the Agent there.\u00a0 I can\u2019t see many of them getting to Oregon, they\u2019ll either die on the way or scuttle off to where they think they\u2019ll be safer.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIn to the mountains?\u201d Adam raised an eyebrow and looked at the older man who nodded. \u00a0\u201cGames low, it\u2019s not good hunting nowadays.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBetter than the plains Indians, son. \u00a0 I hear just about all the buffalo have gone now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, most of the Souix and Cheyenne have as well, they\u2019ve crossed the border into Canada.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They sipped their coffee and stared into the flames of the fire, each lost in their own thoughts.\u00a0 Roy \u00a0finally got round to asking how Ben was and the families, and smiled as Adam told him how well everyone was doing. \u00a0\u201cHow about yourself, Roy?\u00a0 Any advances on your plans to marry Dorothy Tennant?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy heaved a sigh and shook his head \u201cI reckon not,\u201d \u00a0he leaned back in his chair and stroked his moustache with the back of his hand, \u201cSeems I got competition.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFor Dorothy?\u00a0 Who?\u00a0 I thought it was practically a foregone conclusion between the two of you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah well, a real case of counting chickens before they were hatched\u2026\u201d Roy heaved a sigh and shook his head, emptied his cup and set it down \u00a0on the saucer. He leaned forward \u201cShe still works here as my housekeeper, still is a good friend.\u00a0 But it kinda cooled off what with all that business – you know – with McGarthy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded and sipped his coffee, \u00a0it was strong and hot and as disgusting as any he had ever tasted, after a while he had to leave it and just put the cup down. \u201cRoy, \u00a0who is the other man?\u00a0 Anyone I know?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cProbably. \u00a0 Victor Ford.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam whistled softly and shook his head \u201cVictor Ford,\u201d \u00a0he echoed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cKnown Dorothy a long time, she helped him with his wife apparently, when she was ill.\u00a0 Victor tried to cover for her when it looked like she was a suspect in that thar murder.\u00a0 Seems that kinda rekindled something she had felt for him years back.\u201d \u00a0he sighed and shrugged \u201cGuess I was being a mite hopeful, and more than a mite foolish to think she would want to settle down with an old curmudgeon like me, Adam, but I had hopes.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded in sympathy and stared into the flames of the fire, \u00a0Roy turned his head and sighed again, so that for a few moments the two men just sat together looking in silence at the fire.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After a short while Roy got to talking about some of their past adventures, \u00a0they shared a little laughter about some, \u00a0talked gravely about others until Adam realised he needed to get back to meet his brothers.\u00a0 Roy watched as Adam picked up his hat and pulled on his coat \u201cWere you going to ask me something, about the Paiute?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAh, yes\u2026\u201d Adam paused, buttoned his coat more slowly as he looked at the ex-sheriff \u201cThe men Rinehart employs there, would you know any of them?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy frowned \u201cOnly one I know of, \u00a0recognised him from an old poster \u2026 and seen him in town.\u00a0 Rides a pinto. \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know him.. Met him again earlier.\u00a0 Zeke ?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cS\u2019right, Zedekiah Murray.\u00a0 Wanted in several states for manslaughter and horse stealing and sundry other matters.\u00a0 Mind you, Adam, I\u2019m reckoning that some of those manslaughter charges should be murders, he\u2019s a mean cuss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would the Indian Affairs Bureau allow Rinehart to hire him on the reservation?\u201d Adam \u00a0muttered as he headed for the door, \u00a0which opened seemingly of its own accord forcing him to step back and admitting Dorothy Tennant who looked at him in surprise and then gave him a big smile \u00a0\u201cGood morning, Miss Tennant.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood morning, Mr Cartwright.\u201d she passed on by, giving Roy a smile as she continued on into the other room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Both men looked at one another, Roy shook his head and sighed while Adam raised his eyebrows and also shook his head in sympathy for his old friend before leaving the house.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss and Joe had left the saloon and found their way over to the Telegraph and Mail Office where Eddy passed them over the pouch containing a variety of letters and packages.\u00a0 It was then their intention to see Candy so headed towards the sheriff\u2019s office.\u00a0 Hoss nudged Joe and nodded over to where he had seen Adam walking on the opposite side of the road, \u00a0but by the time Joe had turned to see for himself Adam had simply disappeared from view.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019d he go?\u201d Joe \u00a0looked enquiringly of Hoss who was staring wide eyed at where Adam had been \u201cYou sure it was Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI do know my own brother,\u201c Hoss snorted derisively, \u201cBut that ain\u2019t right, him jest disappearing like that,\u201c and began to walk faster before breaking into a run, closely followed by Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They reached the alley that ran alongside the barbers shop and paused just long enough to hear the sounds of a fight that was taking place in the shadows between the buildings and both turned immediately without slowing their pace to come across Adam slugging it out with the two men who had accosted them earlier in the saloon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDadburn it, if that don\u2019t beat all.\u201d Hoss growled and pulled out his gun, fired a shot in the air while Joe continued running towards his \u00a0brother and his attackers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The shot had the desired effect in drawing attention away from Adam who was able to throw a punch just as the men stepped back, looked over at Joe and Hoss, \u00a0gave a last kick and punch at Adam before running to the rear exit of the alley, turning to take a pot shot before disappearing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now that he no longer had to put up a fight Adam slumped against the wall of the building and struggled to get his breath, \u00a0he bent over double and was grateful when Hoss\u2019 arm reached out to give him some support while his brother muttered words that he couldn\u2019t hear for the ringing in his ears.\u00a0 Joe had ran to the end of the alley and fired off another shot at the two men who had saddled up and taken the way out of town.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou alright, Adam?\u201d \u00a0Joe now asked as he joined Hoss in an attempt to support his brother. \u00a0 \u201cAdam? \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, waved his hand at nothing in particular and struggled to stand up, but then had to double over again, Hoss was about to speak when Candy and Clem arrived, \u00a0both with guns in their hand \u201cWhat happened?\u201d Candy demanded which was rather an obvious question to an obvious event, \u201cAdam, are you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam hissed something between his teeth which prompted Hoss to say \u201cI\u2019ll get him to Paul Martins.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know who it was?\u201d Candy now asked, \u201dHow many?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTwo.\u201d Joe said and leaned forward in an attempt to prevent Adam from sagging down \u00a0to the ground. \u00a0 \u201cThey rode off, a black mustang and a pinto\u2026headed out of town.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDid you know them?\u201d \u00a0came the next question to which Hoss said \u2018yes, but not intimately,\u2019 before he half carried half dragged his brother out of the alley with Joe trailing behind holding Adam\u2019s hat in his hand.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Paul rolled his eyes and shook his head when Adam was hauled into the surgery.\u00a0 He indicated the bed upon which Hoss carefully arranged his brothers body for \u00a0Adam had passed out during the time it took to reach the doctors. \u00a0 The damage caused \u00a0during the fight had certainly doubled due to his brothers hauling him along and putting pressure on his ribs, \u00a0which, in turn caused pain in his lungs and chest.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI thought as you boys got older you would have grown out of this kind of thing,\u201d Paul muttered \u201cYou two had better get out and answer Candy\u2019s questions, if you can, while I attend to Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ushered out in such an unceremonious manner Joe and Hoss dithered around for a few minutes and then did as Paul had advised; \u00a0they found Candy patiently waiting for them in his office.\u00a0 Clem filled two cups with coffee and placed them on the desk for the Cartwright\u2019s to \u2019wet their whistles\u2019 while they disclosed what information they could.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo you know the men involved? \u00a0 Seen them before?\u201d Candy looked from one to the other of them and accepted their nods as an affirmative ..\u201dWhereabouts?\u00a0 I mean, where had you seen them before and when?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was Joe who acted as spokesman and told Candy about the visit to the Paiutes and having seen them there, \u00a0working for the Agent, William Rinehart.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWere they the same men?\u201d \u00a0Candy asked, he looked at them both with a frown and his blue eyes darker than usual \u201cI need to be sure, if they\u2019re employed by the Agent that means they\u2019re Government employees, and it can get messy tangling with that kind of personnel.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShucks, Candy, they ain\u2019t personnel, they\u2019re just thugs. \u00a0 If we didn\u2019t recognise them, which we did, we would recognise their horses. \u00a0 One rides a pinto and the other a black mustang.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOne\u2019s called Mike and the other is Zeke\u2026.\u201d Joe rubbed his chin, and shook his head \u201cMakes it kind of personal when they can ride into town and beat up on one of \u00a0us. \u00a0 What are \u00a0you going to do about it, Candy?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy released his breath and pulled out a wad of Wanted posters which he slapped down on the desk \u201cLook through those and let me know if you recognise any of them.\u00a0 In the meantime I\u2019ll go over and see how Adam is,\u201d he raised a hand as both Cartwrights jumped to their feet \u201cI\u2019ll go.\u00a0 You stay put here and look through them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss and Joe said nothing, slumped back into their chairs and glared at Candy as he strode out of the building. \u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s our brother over there, Clem.\u201d Joe hissed between clenched teeth<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know that, Joe, \u00a0but sooner you can put a finger on those men the sooner we can git a posse organised and go look for \u2019em before they reach Oregon.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou know about Oregon?\u201d Hoss widened his eyes, \u201cShucks, \u00a0didn\u2019t take long for that to get known around town.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCame through the official line, in case the Agent needed the law to assist them.\u201d Clem explained and poured himself some coffee before taking a seat at the other desk.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was on his feet when Candy stepped into the surgery, his cheekbone had a bruise that was swelling rapidly and his bottom lip was split, \u00a0but was no longer bleeding.\u00a0 Paul had just finished bandaging his ribs as the sheriff closed the door behind him, \u201cI understand \u00a0you know who did it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMick Howell and Zedekiah Murray.\u201d Adam replied and stretched a little just to make sure that everything other than his ribs was functioning as normal.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cStand still\u201d Paul growled and continued with his bandaging.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoe says they work for the Agent, Rinehart?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cS\u2019right, \u00a0they were there when we took some cattle to the camp.\u00a0 Then when we left they followed us.\u201d \u00a0Adam winced, \u00a0he could feel his bottom lip swelling and there was a pain over his left eye.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Paul pinned the bandage in place and then handed Adam his clothes, \u00a0\u201cGet some ice on that cheekbone as soon as you get home, and your knuckles as well.\u00a0 I\u2019ve cleaned them but they still look quite bloody to me, you must have knocked some teeth out.\u00a0 How\u2019s \u00a0your leg?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMy leg?\u201d \u00a0Adam scowled, then nodded, straightened his leg and then bent it a little, \u201cIt\u2019s alright.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThank goodness for that, I know it\u2019s healed well and truly now, but it\u2019ll always be a sensitive area. \u201c \u00a0Paul stepped back and nodded \u201cWell, so far as I can tell, no concussion, \u00a0two broken ribs, bruises to the upper torso and his back, facial bruising you can see, sheriff.\u00a0 He\u2019ll live\u2026\u201d and he smiled and patted Adam on the shoulder as though he were a two year old who had just grazed his knee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe and Hoss were waiting less than patiently for their brother\u2019s return, \u00a0and both breathed a sigh of relief when Adam stepped into the sheriff\u2019s office behind Candy, nodded at them both and accepted the coffee Clem handed over to him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The posters of Murray and Howell peered up at them from the desk, Candy looked at the brothers \u201cHoss, Joe, want to come along? \u00a0 Can\u2019t include you, Adam, you\u2019re under doctors orders to get home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam pulled a wry face of protest and scratched his neck while Joe paused and looked from his brother to Candy to the posters, \u00a0he frowned \u201cI think I\u2019d best ride home with Adam, make sure he doesn\u2019t fall from his horse on the way there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll ride along with \u00a0ya, Candy.\u201d Hoss said, \u201cIt\u2019ll give me a lot of pleasure to see them two buzzards in your cell.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s settled then,\u201d Candy nodded and looked at Clem \u201cGo and get Watts and some more men, just in case those two happen to find themselves some friends on the way to Oregon.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss picked up his hat, then pinned on the deputy\u2019s badge that Candy handed him, he nodded over to his brothers and left them to stare at the closed door. \u00a0 Adam shrugged \u201cWell, \u00a0I guess we had better head for home, little brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou sure you\u2019re well enough, big brother?\u00a0 I don\u2019t want you falling off your horse half way there \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t.\u201d \u00a0 and Adam attempted a rather lop sided painful grin as he limped across to the door.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel deQuille had jotted down several eye witness accounts of the incident and was stepping into the Enterprise office when Adam and Joe rode slowly out of town.\u00a0 He watched them go with some considerable feeling as the memory of a partially burned journal instantly came to mind.\u00a0 He closed the door sharply and looked guiltily at the drawer where the evidence of his crime lingered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 14<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The posse, headed by Candy with Hoss close by his side and a group of six men along with them, galloped from town \u00a0sending the townspeople scattering out of the way. \u00a0 \u00a0Deputy Watts had been left in charge of the office and available should any situation arise in town that would warrant a lawful presence.\u00a0 He was studying the posters when the door opened and Dan deQuille stepped inside, gave the young man a familiar nod of the head and smile \u201cJust came to ask about what\u2019s going on, \u00a0deputy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mark Watts was eager and ambitious, and being referred to as deputy by one of the leading men in the town went slightly to his head, he expanded visibly and indicated the chair for the journalist to sit down in order to take notes more comfortably<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSome coffee, Mr deQuille?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dan nodded his head and pulled out his note book and pencil, he leaned back a little and surveyed the deputy and then wrote a few words, pausing to say very politely \u201cIt is Mark Watts, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mark was putty in Dan\u2019s hands, answering the questions at length and providing enough material for the newspapermen to spin a good tale for the citizens of Virginia City.\u00a0 After drinking the coffee, \u00a0copying details of the miscreants from the posters to his note book, Dan stood up, shook Mark\u2019s hand and then left the office.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It helped to be kept busy, then he didn\u2019t have to worry about the journal or how to return it, or what would happen when Adam Cartwright discovered the burn mark that obscured several pages of Daniel O\u2019Brien\u2019s writing. \u00a0 He could still recall Sam Clemens telling him what it was like to be on the other end of Adam Cartwright’s fist when it collided, forcibly, against his jaw.<\/p>\n

……………..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cheng Ho Lee was in the yard when Joe and Adam entered but he dropped the bucket he was carrying when he saw his master listing dangerously sideways out of the saddle.\u00a0 The haste in which Joe dismounted added to Cheng Ho Lee\u2019s fears that something had happened and had reached the brothers just as Adam attempted to dismount the normal way but failed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s alright, I\u2019m alright\u201d he insisted as he fell into Joe\u2019s arms and felt Cheng Ho Lee grabbing his jacket in his efforts to prevent him from falling to the ground<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re far from alright,\u201d Joe hissed between clenched teeth, \u201cStop arguing, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFor \u00a0goodness sake, Joe\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShut up, Adam.\u201d \u00a0Joe looked over at Cheng Ho Lee and nodded, together they managed to get Adam upright again and onto his feet just as the door of the house opened and Olivia appeared wiping her hands on her apron and looking anxiously over at them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Something about the way the three men were clustered together brought a chill of alarm trickling through Olivia\u2019s nerves, she paused, stepped back and then forwards, then began to run from the front door to where she could now see her husband being supported by Joe and Cheng \u00a0\u201cWhat happened?\u00a0 Is it bad?\u00a0 How bad is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m alright,\u201d Adam insisted as he tried to push Joe away from his ministrations, \u201cI keep telling them I\u2019m alright.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a fight in town,\u201d Joe said as he turned to Olivia, one hand pressed against Adam\u2019s chest as though that would prevent the man falling down. \u201cAdam got bushwhacked.\u00a0 Then he fell off his horse on the way here\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI did not -\u201dAdam protested indignantly, and then frowned \u201cDid I?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou did, now, shut up and let us get you inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI can walk.\u201d Adam shrugged his shoulders in an attempt to push his helpers aside, \u201cThank you very much.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe can\u2019t -\u201d Joe said to Olivia with an anxious look on his face which made the poor woman \u00a0more worried than ever. \u00a0\u201cHere, Cheng Ho lee, \u00a0let\u2019s get him inside, he needs to \u00a0lie down.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam rolled his eyes, shook his head and insisted that he did not need to lie down, he was perfectly capable of walking on his own and would they just please leave him alone.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow much damage is there? \u00a0 Has he seen a doctor?\u201d Olivia asked as she hovered close to her brother in law, watching carefully as the two men \u2018helped\u2019 Adam to the house<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDr Paul said he had some broken ribs, \u00a0bruises and the normal kind of things you get when you\u2019re in a fight, and then fall off a horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam scowled but said nothing, he couldn\u2019t recall falling off his horse but that was due to having blacked out and not knowing anything until he was back in the saddle again and wondering why they had stopped. \u00a0 He was, however, extremely grateful when allowed to sink down into one of the chairs, he closed his eyes for a moment to stop the room spinning and gingerly felt around his cheekbone which was beginning to feel more painful.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSome brandy\u201d Joe said and Olivia hurried to pour out a small glass which Adam pushed away with a shake of the head<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s alright, I feel drunk enough already.\u201d her husband groaned and closed his eyes again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe drank the brandy and licked his lips and nodded, \u201cRight, \u00a0best get you upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, thank you.\u201d Adam raised a hand, \u201cNo, \u00a0I\u2019d rather just stay here. \u00a0 Hoss will be back soon anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is Hoss?\u201d \u00a0Olivia asked after thanking Cheng Ho Lee for his help, she looked at her husbands hands and shook her head \u201cAdam, \u00a0you need those knuckles \u00a0attended to, \u00a0I\u2019ll get some ice for your face.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss went with Candy, \u00a0there\u2019s a posse out looking for the men who bushwhacked Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d Olivia asked anxiously \u201cWhy did they do it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood question, \u00a0no doubt we\u2019ll find out when Hoss gets back.\u201d Adam sighed and accepted the ice pack from Cheng Ho Lee with a grateful nod of the head, \u201cBut I don\u2019t think it was to pick my pocket, \u00a0more likely something to do with Rinehart.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe perched himself on the arm of the settee and frowned \u201cYou reckon so? \u00a0 Candy said that if they\u2019ve been hired by the Agent that makes them Government Personnel.\u00a0 That means we may have trouble getting any charges to stick\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d Olivia asked as she helped her husband out of his coat and hugged it to herself as she looked at his poor bruised face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe shrugged and looked at his brother \u201cPa won\u2019t be too pleased when he see\u2019s you looking like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I didn\u2019t exactly intend to come home looking like this.\u201d Adam growled<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia began to laugh, more from relief than anything, \u00a0she shook her head \u201cAnd you told the children to stay out of trouble. \u00a0 How are you going to explain to them the trouble you managed to get yourself into, \u00a0Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mike Howell spat out blood and several bits of tooth before wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve, he shook his head \u201cShould have left well alone, Zeke.\u00a0 Just ridden out and left \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cRinehart wanted them to be warned off, didn\u2019t he?\u00a0 You think we achieved anything in that saloon?\u00a0 All we did was make them curious, and I wasn\u2019t prepared to take on the big feller.\u201d \u00a0Zeke rubbed his knuckles and stared thoughtfully down at the road that snaked back to town, \u00a0\u201cLooks like they got a posse, see there?\u201d he pointed to where a dust cloud indicated that some horsemen were on their way and out of the dust cloud could be seen a number of men<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReckon we can be tracked up here?\u201d \u00a0Mike muttered as he leaned over to see for himself, \u201cI can see the big feller, the one with the big hat.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo what?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey reckon he\u2019s the best tracker in the territory.\u00a0 He\u2019ll work out where we are sooner than you can sing Dixie\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe won\u2019t find us here.\u201d \u00a0Zeke said confidently and looked up to the rocks that towered ahead of them, \u00a0\u201cLet\u2019s get moving.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI think it best we just stay where we are,\u201d Mike replied, \u201cLeastways we can see what they\u2019re doing from here, and they won\u2019t notice any movement that just might catch their eye and make \u2018em want to investigate.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This was greeted with a cautious nod of the head so that they both dismounted and after hiding the horses behind some boulders returned to where they could see the track. \u00a0 Watching from the rocks they followed the posse until they had galloped out of sight as they took a curve in the road that led away from them.\u00a0 Both men remained where they were for a while, \u00a0waiting, just in case the posse realised their error and returned back on themselves.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like they fell for it, \u00a0must think we\u2019re stupid to stay out on the open road like that.\u201d Zeke whispered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, \u00a0real stupid.\u201d \u00a0 Mike nodded and stood up, \u201cLet\u2019s move on out.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think they\u2019ll give up or keep trying to find our trail?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care one way or the other, but now\u2019s the best time to get out of here and lose \u2018em altogether.\u201d came the irritated reply to that question.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss drew Chubb to a halt, pushed his hat back and then shook his head, when Candy came to ask him what was wrong he had to admit that he wasn\u2019t sure except that something didn\u2019t feel right.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201c I reckon we\u2019re riding away from them, going in the wrong direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy frowned and looked around him, he stared up at the high boulder strewn rock face and then back to the way they had come, \u201cThey could be ahead of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0more than likely turned back and took a route through that away.\u201d \u00a0Hoss pointed to \u00a0the high rock strewn terrain \u201cI kin almost feel their eyes watching us.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy shook his head \u201cI can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWal, then you jest go ahead like you are and I\u2019ll go back and see what I can find back there. \u00a0 If I find any tracks I\u2019ll fire off three shots.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy nodded and told Clem to go with him, while the other five men rode along with himself.\u00a0 Clem edged his horse closer to Hoss \u201cYou sure about this?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGut instinct sometimes is more reliable than any track left in the sand, and, let me just add, Clem, I ain\u2019t see no tracks of any strange hoss around here for a while, have you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clem shook his head and admitted he hadn\u2019t been looking, he just followed the leader. \u00a0\u201cIn that case,\u201d Hoss said, \u201cYou\u2019d best follow me and stick close.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It took an hour to find where the two men had broken away from the track to thread a way through the rocks and edge up higher as they went.\u00a0 The wind was getting keener as a result and both Clem and Hoss pulled the collars of their jackets tighter.\u00a0 Hoss dismounted at one stage and nodded, he beckoned to Clem \u201cLook at that, Clem?\u00a0 Better than any sign post, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A neat pile of horse droppings could be said to be as good a sign post as any, and Hoss passed his hand over them, nodded and grinned \u201cQuite fresh too, and look here \u2026\u201d \u00a0he hunched on over and stepped carefully to where the imprints of two bodies could be seen, very faintly in the dust among the rocks, \u201cThey must have been looking out to see if they were being followed.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReckon they know that we\u2019re on their tail?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe, \u00a0but from what I can see, \u00a0they\u2019ve moved on from here some hours back, maybe they didn\u2019t see us leave the others. \u00a0 Best loosen your rifle and keep \u00a0your gun handy just in case.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Both men remounted and checked their rifles in their scabbards, then took the loop from the gun so that it would come out of the holster easily.\u00a0 With greater caution now they began to thread their way through the rocks following Howell and Murray.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t Clem say something about firing off three shots?\u201d \u00a0 Clem whispered only to see Hoss shrug and pretend that he hadn\u2019t heard. \u00a0 \u201cDo you think -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0we keep quiet.\u00a0 Candy will hear gun shots when we git to find \u2018em.\u00a0 Not before.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They rode on in silence, with Hoss in the lead with his eyes fixed on the trail that the other men had left.\u00a0 Their confidence in not being followed was coupled with their ignorance of just how capable Hoss was as a tracker, for he seized on every disturbed stone, \u00a0every sign of a metal hoof having struck rock, \u00a0he was as convinced that they were riding not far ahead of them as they were that no one would pick up their trail.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The day was shortening, Hoss stomach was rumbling and he was getting distracted by the thought of food when he saw the two men riding ahead of them.\u00a0 He nodded to Clem, pointed in the direction of Howell and Murray, and both of them slowly withdrew their weapons.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou men,\u201d Clem shouted, \u201cYou stop right there, put your hands up and dismount from your horses.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Moving their own horses forwards Clem and Hoss watched as the horsemen ahead drew up, but instead of dismounting \u00a0and complying with Clems orders they turned their horses heads around and with guns blazing came at a fast gallop towards them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss felt his hat sail from off his head even as he dived for cover behind a boulder, close behind him came Clem cursing as he landed heavily but managed to roll \u00a0and duck down by some rocks.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They fired at random, so that the two other men had no choice but to dismount and try to find shelter while they reloaded. \u00a0 Hoss and Clem checked out their own guns, waited a moment and then began to blast away at the area where the men had hidden themselves.<\/p>\n

Chapter 15<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Murray was the first to start whining when chips from a rock cut across his cheek and drew blood, \u201cThis ain\u2019t no good, we\u2019re sitting ducks here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cQuit jawing and keep firing, we need to get out of here, and fast.\u201d Howell fired off several bullets in quick succession which left him with an empty chamber.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy\u2019d you stop fer?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019cos I\u2019m outa bullets, ain\u2019t I? Hand me your gun?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAre you crazy? Why don\u2019t you use the rifle?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The two men cowered for some moments behind the boulders and then Howell nudged Murray \u201cBest thing is to make a run for the horses, then git out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Murray shook his head \u201cBy my reckoning there\u2019s only two men down there firing at us, that leaves the rest of the posse ahead of us. We\u2019ll just ride slap bang right into them\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t intend to go the way they expect, now, come on, follow me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With grave misgivings Murray did as his partner suggested and scurrying along on all fours and keeping close to the rocks they soon came upon their horses, mounted into their saddles and pulled out the rifles \u201cThis way\u2026\u201d Howell yelled and turned the horse round while discharging his rifle at where Hoss and Clem had been located.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This move hadn\u2019t been anticipated by either of the deputies, and Hoss was somewhat mortified to find himself confronted by a mad horseman bearing down on him firing his rifle in all directions. Indiscriminate firing could at times be more dangerous and more successful than when actually aiming at a target, so both he and Clem shrunk back into the rocks to let the men pass by, before re-emerging to fire at their retreating backs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As Howell and Murray disappeared in a dust cloud Clem and Hoss lowered their guns, looked at one another and shook their heads \u201cWell, we did our best,\u201d Clem said<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWould have been better if Candy had backed us up and come with us,\u201d Hoss muttered rather darkly as he slipped his gun into its holster.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They remounted their horses with a despondent air, and headed back the way they had come only to have to draw up when gun shots from near by were sounded and before they could think as to the cause they saw Murray and Howell galloping back towards them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Even before they had time to withdraw their guns or the rifles both of the other men realised that there was little point in trying to fight it out any more. They were boxed in with Candy and his posse behind them and Hoss with Clem before them \u2026 with much cursing they stopped their horses and raised their arms as they waited for the sheriff to approach them.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe Cartwright tip toed into the room where Mary Ann was feeding little Constance while Daniel was playing quietly with some bricks, piling them up high and then toppling over. He had removed his outer coat and hat, placed the gun belt safely away and now enjoyed this moment looking at his family.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Who would have thought it, Little Joe – breaker of hearts and mischief maker – now a father himself. He drew in a deep breath and approached his wife, who had turned at the sound of his approach and smiled at him \u201cHow are you, sweetheart?\u201d he whispered and kissed the top of her head, while looking down at the blue eyes of his daughter as they stared up at him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re early, I didn\u2019t expect you home so soon. Is everything alright?\u201d she spoke softly as though afraid to spoil the harmony created in the room , \u201cDid you ask Jenny to make you some coffee?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSure, she\u2019s making me something now.\u201d he smiled and then leaned over her to stroke back the blonde hair of the infant \u201cMary Ann, she\u2019s so beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe is,\u201d Mary Ann nodded and smiled up at him, \u201cYour Pa says she reminds him of Marie. Do you think so?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI can barely remember her,\u201d he said truthfully, \u201cJust vague memories but from the picture I have, yes, there is a likeness.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel came running up now and tugged at his father\u2019s trouser leg, \u201cPa, Pa\u2026 come play and see?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe laughed, left his wife and swooped down on the little boy, tossed him high to the ceiling and caught him again. It was a game Daniel loved and he laughed and chuckled every time until Joe finally deposited him on the ground \u201cWe had a bit of trouble in town,\u201d he said quietly while he followed Daniel to where the bricks were scattered on the floor.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPick up, Pa.\u201d the child insisted and handed a bright red brick to his father with a beaming dimpled smile.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kind of trouble? No one was hurt were they?\u201d Mary Ann turned to look at her husband anxiously \u201cYou\u2019re alright, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes. I\u2019m fine, but Adam got quite a beating.\u201d he placed a blue brick on the red one and smiled at his son who placed a yellow brick very carefully on the other, \u201cBroken ribs, and some bad bruising.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh no, who did it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So he told her all about the two men, the incident in the saloon and what happened afterwards all the while building up the tower of bricks so that his little boy could happily knock them all over again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jenny tapped on the door and came into the room with a big smile and bearing a tray of coffee, biscuits and milk for the child. Joe stood up to take the tray from her and thanked her for the cookies, so that she blushed a little and then asked Mary Ann what else she needed to do, \u201cI\u2019ll be down soon, Jenny. We can prepare the meal together.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Jenny nodded, \u201c I shall read a book until then.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s good, I won\u2019t be long.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The door closed and they could hear her footsteps leading away from the room, Mary Ann cuddled her daughter, winded her and then wrapped her in her shawl before she was placed carefully in her crib. Daniel went to peek over the top and pat his little sister on her head, thankfully without a brick in his hand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam will be alright, won\u2019t he?\u201d Mary Ann asked as she poured out their coffee while making sure Daniel had sat down to drink his milk<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so, he fell off his horse on the way home, I\u2019ve not known him do that before.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat must have hurt some more\u2026\u201d she observed and frowned \u201cOlivia will be worried about him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI told Pa, on the way here. Hoss went with the posse to see if they could catch the men who did it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He paused then, nibbled a biscuit and thought of his two brothers, he wasn\u2019t sure which of the two he was more worried about, and allowed his mind to wander just a little.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam refused the whole idea of going to bed and resting, and had stayed seated by the fire. When his father arrived and demanded to know what had happened Adam\u2019s replies were short and to the point, which didn\u2019t lessen the anxiety in the older man who felt that Adam had sustained worse injuries than Paul had thought.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m alright, Pa. A few broken ribs, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoe said you fell off your horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t remember doing that,\u201d Adam shrugged and winced, \u201cHoss went with the posse, no doubt he\u2019ll be home soon with some news.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben was not to be mollified he looked over at Olivia who had just come in from the other room \u201cOlivia, he needs to get to his bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve told him, Pa, but he won\u2019t listen to me.\u201d she smiled fondly at her husband and shook her head as though to admonish him further. \u201cAre you going to stay for supper? The children will be home soon. Nathaniel, go and see Gran’pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nathaniel didn\u2019t want to see Gran\u2019pa, he was more interested in investigating the wood pile so that Ben had to quickly grab him by the leg and haul him back, then bounce him on his knee to stop him from crying. He was about to speak when the sound of the children coming into the room prevented him, he looked over at Adam who sat straighter as though just perhaps he wouldn\u2019t look as beat up as he was and therefore would not have so many questions thrown at him by Reuben and Sofia.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Both of the children yelled in delight at seeing Ben there, \u201cGranpa, Granpa\u201d Sofia shrieked and ran at him with her arms wide so that Ben had to swing Nathaniel onto the settee in order to catch hold of her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou staying with us for supper, Gran pa?\u201d Reuben asked with pink glowing cheeks and bright eyes and then he saw his father and his smile slipped \u201cAw Pa, what happened to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia stopped laughing and hugging Ben and turned to look at Adam, her eyes went round and her mouth opened wide, \u201cOh Daddy, Daddy\u2026\u201d she wriggled down from Ben’s arms and ran to Adam\u2019s side \u201cYour poor face\u2026\u201d she reached out to touch his cheek bone but he leaned away from her \u201cDoes it hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI bet it does hurt.\u201d Reuben observed as he approached Adam as he would a rare specimen of animal life that had suddenly appeared in the yard \u201cDid you get into a fight?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI did, and yes, it does hurt.\u201d Adam said honestly, and he sighed \u201cIt was none of my doing, but -\u201d he shrugged<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou said not to fight,\u201d Sofia scolded \u201cIt\u2018s norty.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIndeed it is, but as I said -\u201d Adam paused and sighed \u201cI didn\u2019t start it, and when someone decides to beat up on you, then -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, you have to fight \u2019em back.\u201d Reuben nodded, he quite understood and he put his arms around his fathers neck \u201cOh Pa,-\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s alright, Reuben -\u201d Adam winced, the pain in his ribs caused by the pressure of the boys body was intense \u201cJust – step back will you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben stepped back and regarded his father solemnly \u201cWho did it, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSome men, Uncle Hoss has gone on the posse with Candy, they\u2019ll catch them and no doubt they\u2019ll be in the cells soon.\u201d Adam assured them and leaned forward in an attempt to get to his feet, it was a difficult task, and Ben had to put his arm under his in order to help.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou won\u2019t die, will you, Daddy?\u201d Sofia whispered, her voice wobbling and tears trickling down her cheeks \u201cOh Pa, don\u2019t die\u2026 please don\u2019t die.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam felt deeply touched while at the same time rather irritated at the fact that he obviously looked so battered and bruised that he was scaring his children, he sighed \u201cI promise, Sofia, I won\u2019t die, now\u2026 come along, let\u2019s see what Ma has for supper.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia hurried forward and grabbed hold of one of his hands so that with Ben supporting him and Sofia leading him by the hand, the invalid was able to reach the table without falling down, not that he intended to do so, but he was beginning to think that everyone else felt convinced that he would\u2026. Reuben drew out his chair and patiently waited to make sure he managed to sit down in it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia passed him to her own chair and kissed him gently, then smiled over at Ben who was looking rather sombre as he took his seat, and Cheng Ho Lee proceeded to place the various dishes upon the table.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel deQuille was jotting down some names in his note pad that he fully intended to check on in the morning. There was a familiar ring to some he had read in the journal\u2026Lebedev, and Doestov \u2026 something that he was sure had involved some men of that name, perhaps the same men, not so very long ago.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He leaned forward to turn up the flame in the lamp and only looked up when one of the clerks opened the door, saw him and apologised for disturbing him \u201cWorking late, Mr deQuille?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, just a while longer. I\u2019ll lock up.\u201d Daniel replied and nodded over to the other man who quickly closed the door behind him and left the building.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel sighed and leaned back, stared at the ceiling and narrowed his eyes. He was more than sure that he had actually seen those names in print, in the Territorial Enterprise. It was after the fire, and certainly some time after the cholera outbreak. He jotted down those dates as a starting point to his enquiries next day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His hand lingered over the key in the drawer, just another peek? He paused in the act of doing so and resisted it. There was always another day. He still felt guilty about the scorch marks on the pages where his cigar had landed the previous day. Had he been away from the office a moment longer the lot would have gone up in flames. He felt sick at the thought of it, not only because there was still so much he had to read, but also because there would be no way of returning it to the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He stroked his chin thoughtfully, there were so many other names to think about\u2026Rostov, Lawson, and Irena Pestchouroff. The connection to the Alaskan sale was too obvious, had he stumbled upon some state secret? Something involving the Russian sale of the Alaska\u2019s which no one else knew about? His heart beat faster just at the thought of the possibility. It was just too wonderful for words, just too wonderful\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And no one else knew, not really.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter `16<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia didn\u2019t like to see her Pa so beaten up and when Olivia told her not to hug him because of his \u2018poor broken ribs\u2019 the little girl thought she was going to burst out crying right there and then.\u00a0 She leaned against him as he sat in his chair and kissed his \u2018poorly hand\u2019 \u00a0 \u201cDid you bash him hard, daddy?\u201d she whispered in a sweet little voice that \u00a0left Adam \u00a0unsure whether to laugh or cry<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHard enough, I think I knocked some teeth out.\u201d he replied as calmly as possible.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben raised his eyebrows \u201cWow, Pa, that must have been some punch.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam raised his fist and observed his knuckles, from the indentations and grazing he had to nod and accept that his son was correct, it had been quite some punch.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you reckon Uncle Hoss will have caught them by now?\u201d Reuben leaned against his fathers leg jostling Sofia a little out of the way.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, guess it depends whereabouts they run to.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re norty.\u201d Sofia asserted and gently dropped a kiss on her fathers hand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Such an action caught at Adam\u2019s throat, he had long been without such spontaneous tender affection from any other than his wife..and looking down at Sofia\u2019s blonde head remembered when long ago \u00a0a golden haired woman had tenderly kissed his grazed hand, from a fall or something, he couldn\u2019t recall that only the way she had kissed the hurt and said softly \u00a0\u201cThere now, all better, my darling.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia noticed the look that had passed \u00a0over his face, momentarily though it was and asked him if he were alright to which he nodded \u201cI was reminded of Inger for a moment\u2026\u201d \u00a0and then he lapsed into silence, turning his head to look into the fire.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDaddy, \u00a0shall I read \u00a0you a story?\u00a0 Will it make you feel all better?\u201d Sofia asked and he smiled and looked at Reuben who settled himself on the arm of the chair and leaned his head \u00a0upon his father\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia ran quickly to find her McGuffey\u2019s Eclectic First Reader and turned to the very first page which she gave to her daddy \u201cSee, daddy\u2026 that\u2019s John, and Ann, and Jane. \u00a0 Do you want to read it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam smiled and took the book from her, it seemed as though he had seen this book and all the collection of them for many years.\u00a0 He could remember Joe coming home with his first primer and tossing it on the table with a snort of disgust \u201cDon\u2019t wanna read.\u00a0 Don\u2019t wanna read sloppy girls books.\u201d \u00a0 He smiled and turned to the first page which he read as well as he could …<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\ufffc\u201cSee,\u201d Sofia beamed and kissed his bruised cheek \u201cYou read that real good,<\/p>\n

Reuben shook his head \u201cYou were supposed to read it, you dimwit.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI – I wanted daddy to read it, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded and smiled,gave his son a reproving look before he glanced at the cover of the book, which was bright and new.\u00a0 He recalled to mind the battered editions he had seen over the years and after closing it gave the book back to his daughter.\u00a0 Olivia smiled at the sight of Sofia\u2019s furrowed brow as she turned to page 2, \u201cMy mother taught my brothers and myself from all those books, \u00a0Reverend McGuffey was a remarkable man.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe was,\u201d \u00a0Adam nodded \u201cI forgot that you had been home schooled, Livvy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, \u00a0Pa didn\u2019t want us to have any contact with the towns, as you know.\u201d she sighed and looked down at her sewing, \u00a0\u201cShe had been a teacher once, \u00a0a one roomed school house and gave it all up to marry \u00a0my Pa. \u00a0 That\u2019s the law nowadays still, isn\u2019t it?\u00a0 If you love teaching it must be a hard thing to do, \u00a0to give it all \u00a0up for the love of a man.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam smiled more broadly \u201cIs love of a man such a little thing then, my dear?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0I would give up anything for the love of MY man.\u201d she looked at him and laughed a little, \u201cI suppose I was thinking more about the kind of man for whom my mother gave up her career.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d \u00a0Reuben tugged at his father\u2019s sleeve knowing from experience that there were times when his Ma and Pa tended to get a bit soppy in their conversations, \u201cPa, tell us a story before Ma chases us up to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI want Pa to chase us up to bed tonight.\u201d Sofia protested, \u00a0and scrambled up onto the other arm of the chair so that she could \u2018share\u2019 her fathers attention equally as much as her brother.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I will be able to do any chasing up stairs or anywhere else tonight,\u201d Adam said with a slight furrow on his brow \u201cBut I shall tell you a story.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The children shared a conspiratorial smile and settled down by their \u00a0father\u2019s side, \u00a0while he himself inched himself a little higher in the chair in order to be more comfortable.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cA small boy was travelling a long way in a wagon with his Pa,\u201d he began and Reuben said \u201cIs that you, and Gran\u2019pa?\u201d \u00a0to which Adam nodded, \u00a0\u201cSometimes they would stop at settlements or Forts and Pa would get a small amount of work, just enough to pay for food and the necessaries to get by\u2026 there was the wagon to be maintained and perhaps new parts to be bought, \u00a0the horse had to be cared for and perhaps re\u2019shoed.\u00a0 There was clothing and food, all sorts of things that had to be stowed away for the next leg of the journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy a leg?\u00a0 Why not an arm?\u201d Sofia wanted to know and Reuben hissed \u00a0\u201cShush\u201d right in Adam\u2019s ear<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, \u00a0more than anything the little boy wanted a book to read.\u00a0 Sometimes he would go to what passed as a school, \u00a0usually a room in some woman\u2019s cabin, \u00a0and he would see her reading from a book, teaching the children how to read, how to do math\u2026 some of the children even possessed their very own book. \u00a0 More than anything he longed for one of them for his very self.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDid he get one?\u201d Sofia breathed softly, her breath like warm air drifting past Adams nose.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, \u00a0he knew his Pa would never be able to buy him a book like that, it was a luxury, something that wouldn\u2019t feed them, or keep them warm, or care for the horse and wagon. \u00a0 And Pa worked hard, really hard, for what he could get. \u00a0 Some days when the \u00a0travelling seemed to go on forever, the little boy would think of those books with the pictures and words in them. \u00a0 His pa had a bible, \u00a0and some books that had lots of words and no pictures, \u00a0but he wasn\u2019t allowed to touch them. \u00a0 \u00a0Each evening by the fire light his Pa would scratch out words in the dust to teach him, but he could only think of those books.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOne day they reached a settlement and he was sent off to the school house, \u00a0there were only two other children there, each with a book of their very own.\u00a0 He could see that they were brand new and he just longed to have one. \u00a0 The teacher was a man, \u00a0not old, \u00a0probably the same age as Pa, \u00a0and his voice was kindly.\u00a0 He looked at the boy and said \u201cAre you staying, boy, or moving on?\u201d \u00a0and the boy replied \u201cMoving on, sir, but I sure would like a book like that to move on with\u2026\u201d \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he gave you one?\u201d Reuben said \u201cDidn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, as happens he did not. \u00a0 I was there for a few days before Pa said this wasn\u2019t the place we were going to settle in, so \u00a0I .. I mean \u2026 the little boy got ready to move on. \u00a0 As pa was loading up the wagon a woman came to him and introduced herself, \u00a0and after shaking \u00a0hands with Pa she passed over a small package, then looked over at the boy and smiled, \u201cMake good use of them, child.\u201d she said, \u00a0\u201cYou may be surprised how what you learn will put food in your belly, \u00a0and keep your clothes on your back.\u201d \u00a0I didn\u2019t understand then what she meant of course but I took the books from Pa and there they were McGuffeys Eclectic Readers the first three \u2026 \u00a0Pa told me that they had been her own little boys, but he had died recently and she had seen the look on my face \u2026\u201d \u00a0he paused then and turned to look at the fire, \u00a0\u201cWell, that\u2019s the end of the story, so, off you get now and give me room to breathe. \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a good story, Pa, did you ever see the lady again?\u201d Reuben asked<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0in fact, it wasn\u2019t long after that we saw smoke coming up from the settlement, and later learned that it had been destroyed in an Indian raid.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben frowned \u201cAre Indians wicked, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam glanced now over at his wife who said \u201cWhen I was taken by the Bannocks as a child I thought all Indians were wicked, Reuben, but I learned that they were just like everyone else, some do what seem to be very wicked things, and some do not.\u00a0 Just as white folk do \u2026 \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey never hurt you, did they, Ma?\u201d Reuben asked leaning now against her skirts and slipping his hand into hers<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0none of us were hurt.\u00a0 Uncle Luke will tell you about \u00a0what it was like, he has a better memory of those times than I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOff to bed now,\u201d Adam said briskly, \u201cSchool tomorrow, \u00a0we don\u2019t want you sleepy in the morning do we?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m always sleepy in the mornings,\u201d Sofia declared as she stood on tiptoe now to kiss her father goodnight.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know, \u00a0so – off to bed. \u00a0 Now ..!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben had not been returned home long from Adam and Olivia\u2019s when Hoss pushed the door open and entered the house.\u00a0 Hester greeted him with a big smile, and hurried to give him a hug and kiss as well as assist him in getting his coat removed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow did you get on, son?\u00a0 Any success?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss nodded \u201cYeah, we got \u2018em both.\u201d \u00a0he rubbed both hands together and headed for the fire \u201cSure is beginning to get cold out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve your supper waiting for you,\u201d Hester said fondly and hurried into the kitchen to get her husband\u2019s meal for him, while Hoss settled himself by the fire and stretched out his legs<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo one hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0only \u00a0Murray from where his teeth got knocked out by Adam in that fight.\u00a0 No, they\u2019re alright, \u00a0Candy\u2019s got them locked up and charging them for causing an affray.\u00a0 I reckon that means for ambushing and beating up on Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded and frowned thoughtfully over at his son \u201cIt was the two men from the reservation then?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, \u00a0and not happy either.\u00a0 They\u2019re keeping pretty close mouthed just now, but Candy said they\u2019ll talk, \u00a0he has posters for both of them, \u00a0they\u2019re wanted in several states so he\u2019s going to wire the law over there and arrange for them to come collect them for trial.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood. \u00a0 A mans known by the kind of men he employs and seems to me that Agent is pretty suspect to my way of thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMine too, Pa.\u201d \u00a0Hoss sighed and shook his head \u201cHave you seen Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI have,\u201d Ben nodded, \u201cHe\u2019ll be alright in a week or so.\u00a0 Got worse injuries than that breaking horses.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester came in then and called her husband over to the table where the smell alone was tempting the big man to leave his comfortable seat by the fire.\u00a0 Ben smiled and watched as Hoss kissed his wife again, and sat down to eat.\u00a0 Sometimes it seemed the blessings poured down in an abundance and he sighed contentedly as he reached for his pipe and tobacco.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 17<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pain and discomfort brought about a restless night for Adam Cartwright, so much so that he eventually abandoned the bed and made his way downstairs to pour a little brandy into a glass and then wander out into the yard.\u00a0 It was cold, \u00a0the first frosts of winter were decorating the surfaces of the buildings and yet everything was completely still. \u00a0 \u00a0 For a few moments he looked up at the moon and thought of the countless nights he had done the same, wondering if his family were looking \u00a0up into the sky and thinking about him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With a sigh he returned to the house, hugging one arm close to the ribs that had been broken.\u00a0 He closed the door gently behind him and made his way to the chair by the fire, eased himself into a comfortable position and sipped the brandy slowly.\u00a0 Odd how often his thoughts turned back to those times on board ship, \u00a0the faces of old friends flashed across his memory .. Hathaway and Gibbs, \u00a0O\u2019Brien and Myers.\u00a0 All those days spent in the company of so many men, loyal men, \u00a0some of whom had faced death alongside himself many a time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The cover of the McGuffey book that Sofia had taken out of her bag to read to him brought back memories too, \u00a0of Inger and how she would hold him close to her side while reading through the words and how she had laughed and said \u201cOh Adam, I am learning to speak English too.\u201d in that lovely lilting voice of hers\u2026 no wonder his father had loved her so much.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2018Getting maudlin,\u2019 he thought to himself and swallowed down the last of the brandy, \u2018Must be a sign of old age.\u201d but he smiled at the thought, because memories had often flashed forward to torment and taunt him, \u00a0or to refresh and enlighten him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was tired, but his mind refused to shut down and he knew if he returned to his bed he would disturb Olivia. \u00a0 He sighed and leaned back to stare up at the ceiling, \u00a0and wondered now what sort of life his children would have in the future.\u00a0 So many changes were taking place, progress \u2026 \u00a0he smiled to himself, memories of conversations about progress with O\u2019Brien came to mind, of steam ships and their benefits as opposed to the dignity and beauty of the clipper ships.\u00a0 He could hear O\u2019Brien\u2018s voice now \u201cJust remember how many men lost their fingers trying to unleash the sails when they had frozen to the yardarm.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a moment he was tempted to go and read through O\u2019Brien\u2019s journal but even as he thought of doing so he knew it would be best not to, \u00a0at times like this it was better to let the ghosts of the past stay there rather than read their words and begin to put flesh and bone back on them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He \u00a0fell asleep after having rebuilt up the fire and seen in the flames the Ainola in her dying embrace with the fire ship\u2026 brandy, he realised, had never been the best of things for him to drink at this time of night.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He awoke to the sounds of Olivia calling his name, a gentle hand on his shoulder as she looked anxiously into his face \u00a0 \u201cWhy aren\u2019t you in bed? Are you feeling worse?\u00a0 Are you in pain?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCouldn\u2019t sleep.\u201d \u00a0he rubbed his face and yawned, groaned as the pain trickled through him, \u201cBed makes it more painful.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She stepped back and shook her head \u201cYou\u2019ve removed the bandages \u2026oh, Adam, no wonder you\u2019re in pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He frowned slightly and risked a slight shrug of the shoulders \u201cCan\u2019t breathe with them on, Joe took them off when I -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you fell off \u00a0your horse?\u201d she snapped and brought both hands down on her hips to indicate her impatience with him \u201cPaul knows what he\u2019s doing, Adam\u2026 he strapped your ribs for a reason.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course he did, but -\u201d \u00a0he sighed and raised a hand in order to seize hold of one of hers, but she refused to give way to him \u201che doesn\u2019t know everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd YOU do?\u201d \u00a0she shook her head again \u201cAre you a doctor now?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but I do know that with those bandages on I couldn\u2019t breathe, that\u2019s why I fell off my horse\u2026if Joe is to be believed because I can\u2019t recall doing so \u2026 just being unable to breathe and everything going black for a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou – you really are impossible, you know that, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLivvy, I haven\u2019t got broken ribs, just a bit bruised and battered ones is all\u2026\u201d he tried to look hard done by, after all it worked for Joe, and sometimes, occasionally, worked for him but she was too concerned about his health to fall for that trick and slapped his hand aside \u201cLivvy, I\u2019m an engineer and \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAn engineer \u2026what on earth has that to do with your broken ribs!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, a good engineer knows that you have to have some lee-way in a building, and -?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, \u00a0if -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd not only that, I\u2019ve been tossed off a lot of horses in my time and banged up my ribs often enough without having to be bound up like an Egyptian mummy!\u00a0 And -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd \u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI had a very good doctor on board the Shenandoah, and he said ..\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you\u2019d have to bring in your wretched ship somehow or other. \u00a0 This has nothing to do with horses, ships or -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he said that if you bind up ribs it prevents the lungs from working properly.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe knows more than Dr Martin?\u201d she turned away now, refusing to look at him as her temper cooled, instead she distracted herself by picking up a log and placing it carefully on the fire.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIn this case, yes, he does\u2026did \u2026 come and sit beside me, Livvy, and let me tell you a story.\u201d \u00a0he grinned, knowing he was slowly wearing her down and when she raised her nose in the air and pretended to be engrossed in replacing the log his grin only widened \u00a0\u201cEuan explained all about ribs and lungs, you know. \u00a0 And if you stop \u00a0breathing you know what happens, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFor heavens sake, I\u2019ve enough to think about without imagining you dead\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhich is why I took off the bandages.\u00a0 So\u2019s my ribs could allow my lungs to breath and then I was in less pain and able to get home.\u00a0 But, they still hurt a lot\u2026\u201d he pursed his lips and frowned \u201cCome and sit down, Livvy, come and hold my hand.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, why not?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause, that\u2019s why.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of what? \u00a0 Are you worried about what happens when a girl sits beside a boy and holds his hand?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t talk rubbish.\u201d \u00a0she tossed her head and the curls around her face fluttered, \u201cNo, I\u2019m going to bed.\u00a0 Are you staying here \u2026on your own?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYep.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSure?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m still breathing but it hurts to lie down, thought I\u2019d already explained about that, but as you want to go to bed anyway, and not sit here and give me a little comfort \u2026well, \u00a0go to bed then, good night. \u00a0 Sleep well.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou are a grump.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou are a very unfeeling wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI love you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHuh.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She laughed then and leaned down to kiss him, \u201cI wish your ribs were a whole lot better, Adam, I really do.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo do I.\u201d \u00a0he sighed, winced and kissed her again \u201cSure you don\u2019t want to sit here with me, look into the fire, and just day dream a little?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes of course I do, \u00a0Mr Cartwright,\u201d she laughed again, \u201cBut with your ribs all banged up as they are, I\u2019ll have \u00a0you and Nathaniel to look after for the next few days.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCould be weeks\u2026\u201d he sighed and held her hand more tightly<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMmm, \u00a0I doubt it, knowing how stubborn you are.\u00a0 Joe needs a slap on the side of the head for taking those bandages off you like that, Paul would be mortified.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI would have been dead ..\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t – \u00a0 \u00a0talk \u00a0– \u00a0 like \u00a0 – \u00a0 that\u2026\u201d she leaned in to kiss him again \u201cSee you in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReally.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He must have fallen back into sleep, and opened his eyes to see the children up from their beds, fresh logs burning on the fire and he could smell food cooking. \u00a0 By the time the children had prepared themselves for school \u00a0he had returned to the bed room, fallen asleep in the chair by the window.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss and Joe arrived just as Olivia was clearing away the breakfast things and the children were on the wagon with Ezra, muffled up warm against the cold.\u00a0 Warm breath steamed into the cold air as the two brothers knocked and entered the house to be given a warm welcome by their sister in law.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s Adam?\u201d Hoss asked looking suspiciously around the room as though his big brother would pounce out at him from somewhere and Joe frowned and grimaced<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs he alright, Livvy?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAsleep. \u00a0 He had a bad night.\u201d \u00a0 she smiled at them and offered coffee which they agreed would be a good idea.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was Hoss who lifted his nephew from his high chair and walked around the room with him while Joe slumped into a chair \u00a0and bit his finger nails for a few moments until Olivia reappeared with coffee pot steaming and cups ready.\u00a0 She smiled over at Hoss<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow did you get on yesterday?\u00a0 Did you catch the men who were responsible for Adams broken ribs?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYep, we got \u2019em alrighty\u201d \u00a0Hoss said and deposited Nathaniel on the floor to crawl around as he wished. \u00a0\u201cCandy\u2019s going to deal with them now.\u00a0 They\u2019re wanted in several states.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo Adam \u00a0said, Roy told him yesterday.\u201d \u00a0she frowned \u201cDos this mean more trouble for you all now?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI doubt it, Rinehart has moved the Paiute to Oregon, that\u2019s way out of our territory\u201d Joe muttered and took his cup from her, \u201cWe just came by to check on Adam.\u00a0 Didn\u2019t expect him to be well enough to join with us on checking out the cattle down \u00a0in the low pasture.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss nodded and watched as Nathaniel clambered to his feet and despite swaying too and fro a little, stood awhile chewing on the corner of a book which Livvy with an exclamation of dismay realised was Sofia\u2019s McGuffey.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSeems to have the same appreciation for literature that I had,\u201d Joe laughed and stretched out his legs \u201cI guess we should be moving, Hoss, stay too long and we\u2019ll get a mite too comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss sighed and nodded, \u201cTell Adam we were asking for him\u2026\u201d \u00a0he paused \u201cAnd tell him we got them thar men.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They both kissed her cheek as they left the house and waved as they rode out of the yard, \u00a0for a moment she watched them until they disappeared around the corner of the \u00a0barn and then closed the door upon them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Having rescued the McGuffey from Nathaniel and preventing him squalling by giving him a biscuit to chew on inside, Olivia collected up the coffee fixings and took them into the kitchen. \u00a0 From the window she could see the sun shining brilliantly through a mist laden sky, soon it would be burned up and a pretty golden autumnal day would begin.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam came slowly down the stairs with his hair tousled and his eyes heavy \u201cDid I hear Hoss earlier?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou did.\u201d \u00a0she smiled and told him the message that his brothers had conveyed to her, \u00a0\u201cDo you feel well enough for some breakfast?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded, \u00a0smiled rather sleepily and tightened the belt of his dressing gown.\u00a0 Nathaniel held out his arms to him for a cuddle, something that Adam would have been tempted to do but knew the ribs would complain if he gave way.\u00a0 He played a little game of peek a boo for a few minutes before taking a seat at the table.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019ll be walking soon.\u201d \u00a0she came and put a hand on his arm \u201cYou will be alright, won\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t intend going anywhere until these ribs are a lot better than they are just now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood, I don\u2019t want to find you\u2019ve been down to the low pasture checking out the cattle there with your brothers.\u201d \u00a0she laughed and leaned forward to kiss his cheek, rough stubble prickled her lips and she wrinkled her nose.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you have planned for today, sweetheart?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI had thought to go and see Marcy.\u00a0 She hasn\u2019t seen Nathaniel for a while, and – to be honest – I\u2019ve not been near the Double D in such a long time.\u201d \u00a0she frowned, \u00a0and then smiled \u201cBut it can wait, \u00a0I\u2019ll go when you are feeling better.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he shook his head and took bread from the platter which he slowly began to pick into pieces, \u00a0\u201cNo, don\u2019t change your plans because of me.\u00a0 The weather\u2019s holding good just now, \u00a0it won\u2019t for much longer.\u00a0 Anyway, I\u2019m a bad patient, \u00a0it\u2019s best you go.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She looked at him doubtfully but turned to attend to cooking some bacon and eggs while her husband shared out the pieces of bread with Nathaniel, \u201cAre you sure? I don\u2019t like the thought of you being on your own here, not when you\u2019re not well.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He smiled and leaned towards Nathaniel \u201cD\u2019you hear that, your Ma thinks I\u2019m sick.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She laughed at the sound of Nathaniel\u2019s giggle, and shook her head \u201cWell, I wouldn\u2019t say staggering about the house with broken ribs a sign of good health, Mr Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps not, but I\u2019m alright, Cheng Ho Lee will get anything I need, but mostly I find that plenty of sleep is sufficient for me.\u00a0 Honestly, Livvy, do go and see Marcy, \u00a0the fresh air will do you good, blow away cobwebs and all that kind of thing.\u201d he smiled at her as she placed the hot food in front of him \u201cThank you, Mrs Cartrwight.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re welcome,\u201d and she leaned down to accept his kiss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMe too\u2026Me too.\u201d \u00a0Nathaniel wriggled his fingers and toes as he waited for his mother to drop a kiss on his chubby dimpled cheek and then clapped his hands when she had done so.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As Adam ate his meal and thought over his wife\u2019s plans for the day it made him realise that since Roberts death which left her a widow with two young children to care for, and himself at sea for weeks, perhaps months, she had become proficient in the art of caring for herself. \u00a0 He watched her as she busied herself around the kitchen, humming a tune to herself, \u00a0or clearing away the dishes, pouring out more coffee, kissing her little boy, \u00a0and realised that she didn\u2019t even need Cheng Ho Lee, not really<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you thinking about, darling?\u201d she sat down close to him and slipped her hand across the table to take hold of his, looked deep into his dark eyes, \u201cYou seemed miles away\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI was thinking of a scripture\u2026 \u2018a capable wife who can find?\u00a0 She is more precious than corals.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She laughed a little then, and squeezed his hand, \u201cAnd what do you intend to do today, Mr Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhile you\u2019re at Marcy\u2019s?\u201d He raised his eyebrows and she shook her head and leaned forward again to kiss him<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam Cartwright, do you really think I can go off to visit Marcy when you\u2019re at home?\u00a0 All those times you have been away at sea, away from home\u2026\u201d \u00a0her voice caught in her throat and for a moment he wondered if she were going to cry, \u201cI would imagine days when we would be together just the two of us \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nathaniel burped and Adam laughed \u201cHe has excellent timing, \u00a0hasn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know, he takes after a man I know\u2026\u201d \u00a0and she didn\u2019t blush when he took her hand and raised it to his lips in order to kiss her fingers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She found him a sunny spot in which to sit, asked if he wanted a book, \u00a0wanted more coffee? \u00a0 He sat and watched her, his eyes grew heavy, \u00a0he was aware of her being near him, close by, her perfume smelled so good, the sound of her skirts drifting over the floor \u2026 he hadn\u2019t realised he was so tired.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

.\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The back editions of the Territorial Enterprise were surprisingly sparse on the information for which Daniel was searching. \u00a0 If he had anticipated the names Lebedev and Doestov to leap out at him from the printed page he was to \u00a0be disappointed for no such thing happened.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He did discover a small paragraph referring to the shooting of Candy Canaday by three perhaps four men one of whom was killed. \u00a0 The dead man was identified as a Peter White, from Bedrock. \u00a0 After lingering a while over that \u00a0he thought over \u00a0the occurrence and began to remember several other things that had happened at that time. \u00a0 He began to methodically examine yet another edition of the paper.\u00a0 There he was informed about the deaths, by shooting, of several men, \u00a0and one man brought back by the militia, to \u00a0be buried with his companions.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSome mystery surrounds these men as it is known that they are not Americans and all information about them has been with held by the authorities.\u00a0 There is no doubt that they were involved in the attempted murder of Candy Canaday and were brought to account by Commodore Adam Cartwright, and his brothers Hoss and Joseph Cartwright in a shoot out some \u00a0way out of town.\u00a0 It has been circulating around town that the man brought in by the militia committed suicide by poison but no clarification as to why has been given.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel spent a further hour searching through the papers for information but found nothing to enlighten him about the deaths of those men, or of the two Russians.\u00a0 But the lack of information did not worry him unduly, \u00a0if he had stumbled upon a secret, then he would not have expected too much information to be scattered about for just anyone to find.\u00a0 He felt a degree of satisfaction as he put the old editions to \u2018rest\u2019 and jotted the details of what he had in his notebook.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The men had been buried in town, \u00a0so the next task was to locate the undertaker who had been involved.\u00a0 There were several, Jenkins, Riley, Conor \u2026 he stroked his beard thoughtfully and after he had informed his secretary that he was going to be out for a while, he left the building.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Riley the Undertaker listened to what Daniel had to say and shook his head, no he had had no dealings with anything like that, \u00a0but from what he could remember Jenkins did, \u00a0for the older man had been a little too free with his tongue after some drinks and \u00a0the sheriff had warned him he needed to keep his mouth shut.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat was sheriff Armitage, \u00a0the one that caused all that trouble with the Indians that time \u2026 he was a bad \u2018un and no mistake.\u00a0 Roy took over the reins again for a while after that, let things cool down a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel nodded and smiled, \u00a0thanked him and left the premises. \u00a0 Everyone had cause to remember Armitage and he shook his head with a grim smile, remembering how he himself had been fooled enough by him to write an account of a stolen black stallion when it had been nothing of the kind.\u00a0 Ah well, he sighed, one can\u2019t get everything right all the time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mr Jenkins the undertaker listened \u00a0as he worked, \u00a0he nodded every so often and thought about what to say in reply after all Daniel was more than likely to slip something one said into the following days newspaper and then where would one find oneself? \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cI remember the incident all very well,\u201d he said as he set aside his tools of the trade and led the journalist out of the work shop, through the chapel of rest where, thankfully, no one was actually \u2018resting\u2019 and into the \u00a0\u2018shop front\u2019. \u00a0 He pulled out a ledger and turned over some pages running his stubby finger down through the lists until eventually he came to the date he sought<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThis was the first to \u00a0be brought here, they said he was Peter White from Bedrock.\u00a0 He was shot when there was an attempt on Candy Canaday, nearly killed him they did.\u00a0 He only had one visitor, \u00a0a chap called Lorimor who had been at the same boarding house at him. \u201c he pushed his spectacles further up his nose \u00a0 \u201cThey weren\u2019t American, you know.\u201d he fixed Daniel with a sharp eye that sparkled through the lenses of his spectacles.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo I understand, Russian I believe?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMostly, \u00a0I think one was Polish \u2026 anyway the man Lorimor, was brought in later with another man, both shot by the Cartwright boys.\u201d \u00a0he pursed his lips and then leaned upon the counter where he had set down the ledger, he indicated with a jerk of the head that Daniel draw closer to him, even though the only person who could possibly\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 over hear anything they could say was, already, dead. \u00a0\u201cNow then, you may know this already anyway, so I wont be telling you anything new, but there were three men went after the Cartwrights that day.\u00a0 Two returned tied over the back of their horses but the third one they put in prison.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI remember that -\u201d Daniel nodded and narrowed his eyes, \u201cThe militia came and took him away.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFor a while, next thing they brung him back didn\u2019t they?\u00a0 He -\u201d Jenkins heaved in a deep breath \u201cHe took poison, killed himself.\u00a0 Now, what do you say to that?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel refrained from comment, he remembered only too well asking Adam Cartwright for a story and getting that cold blank stare he usually received from \u00a0the man.\u00a0 Jenkins nodded and scratched the back of his neck,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey were all buried in Boot Hill.\u201d \u00a0he tapped his forefinger at several figures \u201cThat\u2019s where you may find them?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMay?\u201d \u00a0Daniel frowned<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, \u00a0that\u2019s the mystery.\u201d \u00a0Jenkins removed his spectacles, folded them and then tapped the side of his nose with them, \u201cThere were two others that died\u2026got shot \u2026 \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHad to put those two on ice until the authorities took them away, said they were noblemen, Russian, and would be buried where they came from, \u00a0some fancy big estate back in Russia I daresay.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat were their names?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAh, now that\u2019s something I can\u2019t tell you.\u00a0 Never got to know.\u00a0 I did ask mind you,\u201d he nodded his head as though to \u00a0prevent Daniel commenting on his lack of procedure \u201cBut I was told that it was \u2018classified\u2019 business.\u00a0 That means the Governments involved you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI realised \u2026\u201d Daniel nodded and frowned \u201cSo no idea who they were?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo. \u00a0 Can tell you this though, it had something to do with Adam Cartwright.\u00a0 It was about the time when he was still at sea, \u00a0an officer wasn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel nodded, everyone knew that much and he stroked his beard and looked at the list of names thoughtfully \u201cNothing more you can tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Government man was called Dutton.\u00a0 Sheriff Armitage didn\u2019t like him very much, \u00a0they sparked off each other that\u2019s for sure.\u00a0 Not a very pleasant man, that Armitage, although its not for me to speak ill of the dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBad for business is it?\u201d Daniel grinned and the undertaker frowned and shook his head as though that comment needed some thinking about it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When Daniel checked out where the graves of the four men should have been he found nothing. \u00a0 The soil had been flattened over and grass grew sufficiently to indicate that nothing had been touched there for some time.\u00a0 He shook his head, and stood there staring before reminding himself that dead men couldn\u2019t talk anyway, so no point in getting bothered by the fact that some time or other the four bodies had been removed.\u00a0 He wondered where they had been taken and shook his head, \u00a0he\u2019ll probably never know.\u00a0 Perhaps the only one who could tell him was Adam Cartwright.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As he passed the grave of the late Sheriff Armitage a small bunch of flowers at its \u00a0headstone caught his eye.\u00a0 Well now, another mystery, someone actually still cared about a man who had caused so many problems and so much heartache to the town over which he was custodian.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 18<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The first frosts arrived and with them came beautiful sunsets and sunrises. It prompted early risers to leave their beds and get on with their chores as fast as they could so that they could enjoy the fresh crispness of pink and orange dyed frost as the white hoar reflected the colours of the rising sun.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If early enough Adam would let Reuben mount Kamille and ride her around the corral, watching him with approval from the fence as he continued his work. At Joe\u2019s house little Daniel was getting used to feeding and currying Kamille\u2019s son, standing on a box in order to reach some parts that were just a little out of his reach. The little colt was not quite so little now and more than once had toppled the child from the box with a nudge of his handsome head.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Miss Brandon had wisely separated Charlotte from Sofia, putting steady and reliable Annie Sales beside her instead. Sofia had Betty Sales seated next to her, she was more Sofia\u2019s age and as steady and placid as her sister. This new arrangement had not suited Charlotte one bit and she had displayed shocking insolence and been forced to stand in the corner more than once each day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia was beginning to realise the wisdom of her brothers words, Charlie was naughty, and disobedient. She was everything that Sofia knew her parents would not want their daughter to be but even so, she was as drawn to the girl as a moth is to a flame.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go into town,\u201d Charlotte suggested one lunch recess, \u201cMy ma has had a baby, you can come and see it if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo thank you.\u201d Sofia said politely, \u201cI\u2019ve a baby of my own at home.\u201d she paused a moment \u201cI didn\u2019t know you had a Ma, I thought you just had an aunt.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Charlie looked at the younger girl scornfully and raised her eyebrows, the freckles on her face stood out against the pale skin with equal scorn \u201cDon\u2019t you know anything? She is my aunt, but now she has a baby so she\u2019s my Ma.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia blinked rather at that, it made no sense to her whatsoever and she stared at Charlie long enough for the other girl to realise that this was a child with no idea about birds, bee\u2019s or what happens in \u2018real life\u2019. She shrugged and looked around her, \u201cWell, we can go down to town anyway. Nothing to stop us.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia frowned and remembered what had happened the last time she has skipped school to go to town, she murmured that she didn\u2019t think they should even though the idea was really exciting. Reuben was playing with the boys, kicking some ball about the yard, girls were in groups and gossiping, or playing together. Charlie was already walking out of the playground, and before she knew it, Sofia was running after her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When they returned no one said a word about it, even Reuben didn\u2019t seem to have missed her. Sofia looked over at Charlie and smiled at the wink her friend gave her, it had gone just so well. No one noticed, no one said anything, no one cared.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Despite the fact that his ribs were still tender and ached if he overworked himself, Adam and Hoss chose the weekend to take Reuben hunting, or, if not successful, to show them how hunting was done whether one brought back anything or not. Olivia was a little doubtful as to the wisdom of going as the weather was getting colder, Adams ribs were still not as good as she would have liked them, and she was concerned about her boy going out into the wilds.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe isn\u2019t going without anyone with him\u201d Adam said for probably the tenth time that morning, \u201cHoss has been looking forward to this, Livvy. I can\u2019t let him down.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, you can -\u201d she said as she watched him fill his saddle bags with some staples, \u201cIt\u2019s getting colder, Adam, what if it snows?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSnows?\u201d he said as if the thought had been a million miles from his mind, \u201cWell, it will be much easier to track something if it snows.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut, Adam, what if -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He interrupted her by kissing her, smiled and shook his head \u201cI promised Reuben, Livvy. This is the first opportunity where we can all get together and take him out with us. \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy isn\u2019t Joe going too?\u201d she asked as she noticed her son now loitering by the door, watching and listening in order to find out the outcome of this particular family discussion<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause he doesn\u2019t want to,\u201d he shrugged \u201cHe\u2019s teaching his son how to take care of a horse. I want to teach my son how to hunt and provide for himself should he ever need to.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia came and wrapped her arms around his neck and looked anxiously up into his face \u201cYou won\u2019t go too far?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJust far enough, my dear.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if it snows\u2026.you will come home?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDear Livvy, you are such a city girl, seems you\u2019ve forgotten all about how your folk managed survive so long before there were stores and such.\u201d he teased her sweetly, and then gently turned her away as he buckled down his saddlebags and looked over to the door \u201cReady, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSure thing, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYour ma wants to make sure you\u2019re really dressed for the cold weather.\u201d he beckoned Reuben over and watched as Olivia fussed a little and then nodded at the boy, \u201cRight, let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia came and stood on tiptoe to kiss her father goodbye, and just as Adam put his hand to the latch the door itself opened and Hoss stepped into the room with a wide beaming smile on his face \u201cAll ready then?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAll ready, Uncle Hoss.\u201d Reuben beamed a huge smile up at his Uncle, kissed his mother and nodded to his sister \u201csee you soon, Ma. Sofia.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam had decided to take Kamille on this trip, he had toyed with the idea for a while, tossing it too and fro as to whether or not it were a wise thing to do, but the beast was eating its head off and doing so little that he felt it was time to test her mettle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He ignored Sports dark eyes following him out of the stable as he led Max and Kamille into the yard, Hoss was on Chubb II and already looking impatient as Adam waited for Reuben to mount. Within minutes they were trotting out of the yard and onto the track which would take them to the ponderosa laden hills beyond the houses.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben was excited, it had taken him some while to get to sleep the previous night for Adam had not mentioned the trek for some time, no doubt anxious about his ribs and not wanting to disappoint the lad. But now, here he was, jogging alongside his Pa and Uncle and all ready for his first major hunt.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss turned in the saddle and observed his nephew \u201cThere\u2019s a lot to learn, young\u2019un, so you behave yourself, you hear?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Their warm breath plumed out into the cold mists of the air around them, everywhere was quiet, not even a breeze disturbed the silence. He became aware now of the sound of their horses hooves upon the damp duff underfoot, of a sudden chirrup of some bird, the rustle of leaves as some small animal ran across them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa? Will it take long?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTo find a deer or whatever it is we\u2019re hunting.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam smiled faintly, looked over to his brother who grinned and gave a slight nod of the head \u201cWell,, Reuben, this isn\u2019t just a hunt. Your Uncle and I thought we\u2019d take the time to teach you how to track so that you\u2019d know what to look for, what kind of animal you\u2019re hunting, or what kind of animal could be hunting you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReally, Pa?\u201d Reuben frowned \u201cWhat would be hunting me?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a moment both men were silent, then Hoss said \u201cWell, guess the bears will be getting ready to hibernate by now, another week or so, especially if weather worsens.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAre there many bears around here?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOnly the black bear\u2026mind you, a black bear comes in all kind of colours, but they don\u2019t mean no harm, cept you get in between a mom and her cub, so you don\u2019t do that.\u201d Hoss frowned, \u201cNot that it\u2019s likely, seeing how it\u2019s winter. If you do see a bear, just stand still, try and look as big as you can and stare right at it. Don\u2019t run otherwise it\u2019ll chase ya.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHave you been chased by a bear, Uncle Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cEr — yeah – several times. That\u2019s why I\u2019m telling ya not to.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam smiled slightly, but it did make him realise yet again that while he had been away at sea he had lost valuable time with the boy. The questions Reuben was asking a child much younger would know, a youngster born and bred to the wilds.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa, did you get chased by a bear?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shook his head, \u201cNo, only your Uncle Hoss had that pleasure.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben nodded and thought about that for a while, he looked around him, they were entering the woods now, and it was getting darker, the natural light from the sky, even though so slight that early in the morning, was rapidly diminishing. \u201cPa, how did you learn hunting and tracking?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYour Gran\u2019pa taught me some, but mostly from the Paiute.\u201d Adam replied slowly, \u201cWhen we first came to this territory most of this land belonged to them, it was their natural right. I got friendly with some of the youths in the tribe and they taught me to track, they taught Hoss as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYep,\u201d Hoss scratched the back of his neck and smiled \u201cLots of weeks and months would go by before we ever got to see a white man around here. Adam was practically a wild Indian himself back them days.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Ma lived with Indians too, with Bannocks.\u201d Reuben said slowly, \u201cDid they teach her to track and hunt?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Adam shook his head \u201cNo, she was too young, and a girl, she was taught other things.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMa was real brave, she wasn\u2019t scared or nothing, was she?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I guess not.\u201d Adam smiled and thought of the little girl he had barely known, he glanced over at Hoss \u201cUncle Hoss liked your grandmother, Martha. She baked good cakes didn\u2019t she, Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe sure did. Pity what \u2026er \u2026 yeah, she did. Anyhow, let\u2019s just stop here and look around, see what we can see, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Both Adam and Hoss unsheathed their rifles and walked slowly, bent double to check the ground they were walking over, behind them Reuben trailed looking at the leaves, all damp and sodden and nothing by way of interest to him. Hoss paused, pointed \u201cWhat do you make of that?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam looked, nodded and glanced at Reuben who was leaning over his fathers shoulder to look at what just seemed a pile of dirty leaves \u201cWhat do you see, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss and Adam exchanged a glance, \u201cLook agin, Reuben, and use your nose.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSniff, son\u2026\u201d Adam muttered so thus encouraged Reuben sniffed, hard and long, then grimaced<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt smells like – the outhouse when it needs cleaning out.\u201d Reuben wrinkled his nose and wished now he hadn\u2019t sniffed so hard.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d Hoss nodded and began to explain how this was an indication of what animal had passed that way, when it had gone by, and what size it was, he explained how running a hand down the bark of a tree would tell a similar story.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo what came by here, Uncle Hoss?\u201d Reuben asked when it looked as though his Uncle was running out of steam in explaining about such a thing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh I\u2019d say a deer, a stag more than likely, probably seven horned antlers.\u201d Hoss replied and winked at Adam who smiled and looked up at the sky.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d Reuben\u2019s eyes went round and large, he had always been told his Uncle was the best tracker in the territory, but wow, that was just amazing!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAre we going to hunt it down?\u201d He asked as the two men turned to get back to their horses<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, we\u2019ll just ride along and see what else is out there. Something a bit smaller.\u201d Hoss said modestly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They made camp that night under the trees, Adam showed Reuben how to make a comfortable dry bed with the leaves, the importance of clearing the ground where the fire was, while Hoss prepared the food they had caught, and hung the carcases over the flames to cook.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cUncle Hoss, did you go to school like my Pa?\u201d Reuben asked as they sat around the fire later, nibbling on rabbit meat and bread.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShucks, no, I hated school. Sides which, thankfully, there weren\u2019t no school when we first came here. Like we said, only Paiute, Bannocks and a handful of homesteads.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t you want to get an educ\u2019shun?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNope, I only ever wanted to learn about the animals, and the trees around here on the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWho learned ya then?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTaught, Reuben, who taught your Uncle Hoss!\u201d Adam sighed and poured himself some coffee<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, your gran\u2019pa, and your Pa, and Joe\u2019s Ma, Marie.\u201d he frowned, \u201cYour Pa went to all the schools there were available during the trek to the Ponderosa. He loved book learning, but it wasn\u2019t for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t you never ever go to any school at all?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOnce .. Maybe twice\u2026in some settlement\u201d Hoss muttered and bit into his bread as though he no longer wanted to talk about it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nor did he, he could remember the one time he went, the first time. He could recall it to mind because it was the first time he realised that he was – different. He stared into the flames and his mouth set into a firm line, Adam came and put a hand on his shoulder \u201cAlright, Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, sure, Adam.\u201d he nodded, and poured out more coffee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReuben, get to bed now. Sleep well, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood night, Pa. Good night, Uncle Hoss. Thank you for learning \u2026teaching me I mean \u2026 all about tracking.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They heard the rustle of leaves as the child\u2019s body settled into his covers, Adam sat nearer to Hoss, his knee nudged that of his brother and for a while they sat in silence, staring into the flames, seeing memories.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He had not expected the laughter. He had not thought that anyone would laugh at him, but they did. He had stood there in front of them and smiled, listened to the teacher introducing him to the other children and they had laughed. He had worn his smile on his face while the pain of the laughter dripped into his heart the way acid drips onto metal and burns it away. So the pain swelled more and more until all the joy of the day had melted away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So much excitement and so much anticipation all evaporated and ran to nothing. He looked at the laughing faces and every bone in his body ached with misery. He had recognised them as boys and girls he had seen in the settlement when he had come on the wagon with Adam and Pa, he knew them, and they knew him, but still they laughed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It should have been Adam here, the one who love books and learning, but Pa had said ‘No, this was Hoss’ chance to find out about schooling, besides which they would leave within the next few days in order to finish building their own home on the Ponderosa. Adam could earn some nickels by doing a few tasks’ so, here he was, confused and miserable and wondering why he wasn’t enjoying it all the way Adam always seemed to do.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pa had explained that it wasn’t a real school, just a room in some cabin and a man willing to spend the time to teach what children were prepared to attend .. . and the man was old looking, and tired, too tired to exert himself and stop the ruckus.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He had sat down on the wooden bench, he heard the whispers, the giggles, he could see the sly looks, the smirks behind fingers to hide their mouths. He wanted to get up and get away but as he stood up his shirt button had got caught on the bench seat in front of him and had popped off, shot across the aisle and landed on Sid Murphys lap.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sid Murphy held it up for all to see and pointed at the boy who sat wedged between the two rows of bench seats. The children laughed again. Shrill giggles. Snortled snuffles behind grubby sweating hands. The pain surged through his whole being and without a word he eased his frame from the seat and ran out of the building.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss sipped his coffee and then glanced out of the corner of his eyes at his brother who was staring at the flames with an intensity that indicated he was in deep thought. He sighed \u201cI could never understand how you could tolerate them schools, Adam. Different buildings, different kids \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSame books, same things to learn.\u201d Adam smiled and looked over at his brother, \u201cI know, I remember \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you?\u201d Hoss sighed, after a pause he murmured \u201cRemember Arnie? They called him The Ape, because of his size, because he was – like me – different. They – they didn\u2019t like him, did they?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, they were frightened of him. He used his strength to hurt people, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think I could have been like that\u2026I mean, do you think people could have been afraid of me so much that I could have been like that?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re talking rubbish, Hoss.\u201d Adam tossed the dregs of his coffee away, the flames flickered and cast dancing shadows over their faces.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI just remembered that first time ever going to a school, you always were so excited about it an\u2019 I thought it was going to be such an adventure, but \u2026 it was the first time I realised I wasn\u2019t like them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, true enough, you were better than them. You would never have been like Arnie, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They sat together in silence, Adam picked up the coffee pot and poured out more of the stewed liquid into their tin cups.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe had been forking fresh hay into the mangers for the horses, then had filled a bucket with water to fill the troughs. He stopped once to glance upwards as something moved to cause straw and dust to sift down from between the boards. He moved to one side and watched the slowly descending dust mote drifting swirling downwards as they were caught in the shaft of light from the door.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a moment he had leaned against the wall with his arms folded across his chest while he thought of his brother going to the house where their Pa said some man was teaching school. Adam couldn\u2019t go, there was work to do, and he was old enough now to do some and earn a nickel or two. He remembered an excited little boy going away, running and waving his hand, he remembered feeling envious because he wanted to sit in a room with a book in his hand, being taught \u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He had slowly mounted the steps of the ladder to the hayloft and peered over the edge of the floor. Huddled in the corner he saw the boy who sat with his knees up to his chin and his arms hugging them close to his chest \u201cBad day, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He went and sat next to his brother, their knees touching, he put his arm around the boys shoulders.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGuess – guess so.\u201d came the quiet muffled response<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened, Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNuthin\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you want me to tell Pa to come and talk with you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you want me to go over there and thrash \u2018em good ?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe could go together\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss had only shaken his head and muttered something, while a shudder shook his body \u201cThey – they laughed at me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He had raised his head and looked at Adam, with his blue eyes lost in the red rimmed puffiness caused by many tears that had been shed since he had ran from that building and sought solace in the hay loft.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLaughed at you? Why?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause\u2026.\u201d Hoss had inhaled a deep breath and shuddered again, the humiliation seared through him once more, a hard heavy fist of self loathing clutched deep within his heart \u201cBecause I\u2019m big and I\u2019m ugly.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam had felt bewilderment, and pain for his brother, he had shaken his head and wondered why anyone would laugh at such a handsome boy. Sure, Hoss was bigger than the average child of his age, and he was strong too, but his face was genial, gentle, kindly. He had seen what years of love for Inger\u2019s son helped him to see and he had ached for him at other childrens lack of kindness<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSee, it\u2019s true, you agree with \u2018em. You ain\u2019t said nothing so you must agree with \u2018em. I\u2019m fat, I\u2019m plain fat and ugly and they laughed at me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Hoss, no, you ain\u2019t\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI am, Adam, I am. I ain\u2019t never going to go back there and be laughed at agin, never.\u201d he wiped his nose on his sleeve and sniffed hard, \u201cThere\u2019s a boy in there with ears that stick out like a mules and no one laughed at him. No one laughed when the other boy\u2019s pants fell down cos his Ma couldn\u2019t afford nothing better. It was jest me they laughed at. Then I got stuck between the seats cost the darn thing was too small and .. I felt an idjit, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He looked with wide eyed trust and pain into his brothers dark eyes, \u201cIt hurt, Addy, it hurt, right here.\u201d and he touched his heart and blinked tears.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHOss, you have to go back\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI ain\u2019t though, not never.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam had held his brother close, as he had done many times before, he sighed \u201cHoss, you got to go back, you got to get them to see you for who you really are\u2026 they won\u2019t laugh at you tomorrow, honest they won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey won\u2019t \u2026 why not?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He hadn\u2019t known what to say to that, he was, after all, only a child himself with limited experience of other children. He had tried to imagine what it was like with a small boys pants falling down, a boy with ears that stuck out \u201cI guess they were all scared about something today, I guess they won\u2019t be scared so much tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWould you – I mean – are you skeered when you go to them thar places?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019Course I am, after all, look at me? I got ears that stick out, freckles all over, crooked teeth and too big an opinion of myself, so they told me anyhow. But\u2026 we\u2019re all different Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss had nodded, leaned against his brother, listened to the beat of his brother\u2019s heart against his ear\u2026but he hadn\u2019t gone back, not there, not again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat made you think of Arnie?\u201d Adam asked, he picked up a stick and prodded the dying fire to create some flames for the wood he was going to place on it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSchool, what Reuben said\u2026\u201d Hoss frowned, \u201cSome things you don\u2019t never forget.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, but chose to say nothing, he glanced instead over to where his son slept and sighed, looked up through the boughs of the trees and thought how they were like the tall masts of the ships in which he had sailed. He put a hand on his brother\u2019s arm \u201cSome things aren\u2019t worth remembering though, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I know\u2026\u201d Hoss nodded and smiled, he watched as Adam leaned over to pick up the wood, \u201cHow\u2019re the ribs now?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh well, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss grinned \u201cOh yeah, sure, I know\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 19<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben heard the coyotes howling at the moon and peeked over the edge of his bedroll to look around him.\u00a0 He saw the dark form of his father placing more wood on the fire, he could see the rifle in Adam\u2019s hand and still \u00a0the spine chilling howl echoed through the woods.\u00a0 Another coyote gave voice and he pulled his blanket over his head and wriggled down further in order to smother the noise.<\/p>\n

He felt more vulnerable outside where there was no solid wood walls to protect him or heavy shutters to close against the glass windows. \u00a0 Here it was just him, his Uncle and Pa\u2026 he shivered and almost cried out aloud when a hand touched his shoulder<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Pa.\u00a0 Are they wolves?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWolves?\u201d \u00a0Adam frowned and glanced up at the sky, his ears listening to the sounds that trickled through the trees \u201cCoyotes, \u00a0they\u2019re a long way from here.\u00a0 They\u2019re singing to each other, don\u2019t mind them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReally singing, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo I was told a long time ago. \u00a0it\u2019s alright, don\u2019t worry, they haven\u2019t sniffed you out for their breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When he actually awoke the fire was hearty and breakfast was cooking.\u00a0 Uncle Hoss was frying bacon and it smelt good, \u00a0Reuben delighted in feeling such an edge to his stomach and hurried over to where the big man was busy forking the bacon over.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHurry on up and do your ablutions, Reuben, then we can all eat.\u201d Hoss muttered, and frowned as he watched the boy \u00a0hurry to do as \u00a0he was told.\u00a0 He sighed and looked over at Adam who was cleaning his rifle, \u201cI sure envy you, Adam, you got a good lad there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, he is,\u201d Adam said quietly and looked over at his brother with narrowed eyes \u201cWon\u2019t be long before Hannah goes to school.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTrue enough,\u201d Hoss smiled, and poured coffee into his cup \u201cI would have liked to have had a son though, \u00a0I ain\u2019t much good with girls.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSeems to me \u00a0you do well enough, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but cant take \u2018em tracking and hunting, \u00a0can I? \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve nephews though \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, guess so.\u00a0 Mind you, Joe will no doubt want to teach Danny himself, and \u2026\u201dhe paused, \u201cSorry, Adam, I guess I\u2019ve no right to complain, I\u2019ve been well blessed.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou have, Hoss, you have.\u201d Adam nodded, and regarded his brother anxiously, before turning back to cleaning his rifle. \u00a0\u201cLife doesn\u2019t always turn out just how we would like, brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAs I said, I ain\u2019t got no right to complain. \u00a0 My girls \u2026 \u00a0shucks, Adam, when I think of my girls I get so full of love for \u2018em\u2026\u201d he sighed, wiped his eyes and then insisted the darn bacon was burning.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The day slipped into one that Reuben would treasure for many years, perhaps his whole life time long.\u00a0 He learned more during the daylight hours about tracking and hunting down game, \u00a0to recognising different animals from their spores, from the other signs they left behind, than he ever thought possible.\u00a0 Around the camp fire his Uncle and Pa told him stories, and for the first time he learned more about their involvement with the Paiute.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYour Uncle Joe was born around the same time as Sarah Thoc\u2019metony\u201d Adam said as he stretched out his legs and folded his arms behind his head to stare up at the stars, \u201cSeeing how limited we were with any white companionship we had quite a lot to do with the Paiute.\u00a0 Marie wasn\u2019t too sure about the wild ways we were getting into and would lick us into shape every so often\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019d she do that, Pa?\u00a0 Did she beat you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShucks no,\u201d Hoss guffawed, \u201cShe didn\u2019t have to beat us, she got Pa to do that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOnly if we were really wild, really \u2018malcontent\u2019 as she would call it.\u201d \u00a0Adam chuckled, \u00a0\u201cShe was a lady from New Orleans, don\u2019t forget, \u00a0and she came to a wilderness with not so many fine ladies around at the time. \u00a0 But she helped nurse Sarah through some illness and that\u2019s how we got the land around Papoose Peak, as a gift from Winnemucca.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa, \u00a0were there lots of Paiute then?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAlmost everywhere,\u201d \u00a0Adam sighed \u201cGradually the diggers came to find gold, which they did, and \u2026\u201d he shrugged \u201cNow there\u2019s just a handful of Paiute left, being shunted \u00a0back and forth like so much garbage.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben nodded, he remembered his friends who had played happily with him, even though he was white, and didn\u2019t know what they were saying. \u00a0 He wondered where they were now, \u00a0if he would ever see them again.\u00a0 He turned to Hoss \u201cUncle Hoss, we didn\u2019t find that big stag you said you thought was hereabouts, do you think he\u2019s gone someplace else now?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss had to think about that and then said, very wisely, \u201cOh I guess so\u2026 probably gone to higher ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben nodded thoughtfully \u201cYeah, I guess he did too, \u00a0he probably knew you were out after him, Uncle Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss didn\u2019t, couldn\u2019t find anything to say to that \u2026 but looked over at Adam and rolled his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Work on a ranch during the gathering days of winter are long and hard. \u00a0 Extra hours needed to be put in as weather conditions hampered the horses, streams had to be cleared of debris, bridges reinforced and cattle moved on to where winter pasture could be more readily available.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It meant that bad rainfall loosened the posts that kept the fences up, so they had to be checked out, and on the Ponderosa that meant a lot of miles of fencing. \u00a0 There were evenings when the Cartwright brothers were glad to find a line shack and sleep over the night there.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was on a particularly cold night that they gratefully sought refuge in one line shack, and while Adam saw to making up a fire it was left to his brothers to check out the oil supply for the lamps as well as the food stocks.\u00a0 They were fortunate in this instance, it wasn\u2019t long before a fire was burning and coffee was brewing in the pot, while they removed their heavy coats and set them aside.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHey Adam, I\u2019ve been thinking..\u201d Hoss said as his brothers busied themselves with preparing something to eat<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHuh? \u00a0 What about?\u201d Adam said with a slight scowl, his ribs ached as much from the cold as anything, and he was hungry<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat horse of yours.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSport?\u201d Adam glanced over at him as though surprised that Sport would arouse that much interest in Hoss<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Kamille.\u00a0 When are you going to start training her to be a cowpony.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe gave a laugh, and shook his head \u201cI can\u2019t see Kamille ever being any good as a cowpony.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThen what\u2019s the point of her being there in the stables if\u2019n \u00a0you ain\u2019t gonna get her to do any work?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shook his head \u201cYou\u2019re getting as bad as Pa. \u00a0 Anyhow, we had this conversation already, why not just drop it \u2026alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNope, \u00a0I ain\u2019t.\u00a0 The fact is that Sport is getting old and near retiring age and you kept on about \u00a0training Kamille but the only time I ever seen her was on that hunting jaunt last weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded and flipped over some bacon, \u201cYou\u2019re right, Hoss.\u201d \u00a0he stood up with the skillet in his hand and \u00a0placed it on the table, \u201cI just can\u2019t bring myself to treat Kamille as a regular cow pony. \u00a0 I rode her down to the herd once and she was so skittish that I didn\u2019t dare to stay longer, had to come back and put her in her stall.\u00a0 She just isn\u2019t cut out for a working horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe shook his head even as he picked up some bacon, \u00a0blew on it a little \u201cA regular hay burner then.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah\u201d Adam nodded \u201cI hate to admit it, but I guess she is\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJust a show horse then?\u201d Hoss muttered as he took some of the bacon from the pan<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u00a0 I haven\u2019t even dared to ride her too often into town in case it raises the wrong thinking in folk\u2026 Hoss, you got enough bacon now?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re cooking some more?\u201d Hoss raised his eyebrows in hopeful anticipation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you intend to do with her then?\u201d Joe asked now as he poured coffee into three cups.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. \u00a0 The children are fond of her, \u00a0it\u2019s hard to explain to them that she just isn\u2019t profitable. \u00a0 How\u2019s the foal getting along?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGrowing fast, \u00a0he\u2019s handsome. \u00a0 Should give him a name really but keep leaving that to you to figure out.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded \u201cI\u2019ll ask Reuben, it can be his choice. \u00a0 I should imagine the horses we can \u00a0breed from him will be good solid stock with a dash of his pedigree\u2026whatever that may be on his father\u2019s side.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss laughed at that and nearly choked; \u00a0outside the wind howled eerily around the shack and blew smoke down the chimney.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was cold in her room, \u00a0even under her bedding Sofia shivered.\u00a0 She hugged Jessie and Clarabelle closer in the hope that they would provide some extra warmth. \u00a0 Every where in the room there were shadows, and she watched for a while as some lengthened and some shortened. \u00a0 She could hear her mother moving about in the next room, and listened as Olivia sang a little song very quietly to Nathaniel.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia was confused and worried.\u00a0 She didn\u2019t understand how things worked with the people at school, \u00a0she quite enjoyed the lessons and worked hard at them. Miss Brandon said she was a good student and had even told her how well she was doing at math.\u00a0 It was when she had to mix with the other children when everything seemed to go wrong.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She had always felt safe when she was home with her cousins, the only children she had ever previously known. \u00a0 She couldn\u2019t remember having anything to do with any children when they lived in the big house in San Francisco.\u00a0 There was just the funny old lady, and Aunt Morgan and Uncle Booth, and, of course, Reuben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She sighed and put her thumb in her mouth, and closed her eyes.\u00a0 Reuben didn\u2019t like Charlie, and he played with boys his own age, even Jimmy no longer pestered her and yelled and ran around with the boys.\u00a0 Charlie was older than herself, but liked her, \u00a0and even though Sofia knew that the girl was naughty it was fun to be with her.\u00a0 The other little girls of Sofia\u2019s age were not so much fun, they didn\u2019t understand Sofia and she didn\u2019t understand them. \u00a0 Sadly their antipathy towards the little girl actually pushed her closer to her association with Charlie, they were isolated from the rest, like animals sometimes would shove out the runt in the litter.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was no doubt that Charlie was badly behaved, and Sofia didn\u2019t like the things she did, but sometimes it was \u2026 \u00a0well, it made her laugh.\u00a0 Like the time she threw Martha\u2019s bag in \u00a0the air and the straps wrapped around the boughs of the old tree and so the bag had to stay there until one of the boys had climbed up to get it down.\u00a0 Although Sofia didn\u2019t like Charlie throwing the bag like that, it had been funny to watch how they had got it down afterwards.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She had ventured down to town with Charlie twice now, and each time she had been scared of being seen and getting into trouble with her daddy.\u00a0 Her heart had hammered away inside her little chest all the time, and it was only when she was back in her seat in the class room that she could calm down and view it all as an adventure.\u00a0 It seemed as if Reuben didn\u2019t even notice she was gone for he never said anything.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She tossed about a little, and hugged her dolls closer.\u00a0 Deep down inside herself she knew that Charlie was not a good friend, \u00a0that feeling that her daddy would have said was her gut (for want of a nicer word), was warning her to stay away. \u00a0 But \u2026 how could she when Charlie was the only friend she had, \u00a0or thought she had, in all the world.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel deQuille examined the scorch marks on the paper carefully and turned each page to ensure that there was no further damage done. \u00a0 There was little point in saying if only, \u00a0life was full of those, the fact of the matter was that the damage was done.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He turned up the flame in the lamp and looked more closely at the words that could be seen, very vaguely, through the charred sections.\u00a0 There were not many words lost, he stared at them thoughtfully and stroked his beard, the frown on his brow deepened as the idea in his mind wriggled like a worm on a hook \u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After some moments he picked up some paper and compared it to the size and colour of the ones that had been damaged.\u00a0 Well, the difference was slight, \u00a0very slight.\u00a0 The size was exact and if he could perfect the writing then the problem would be solved. \u00a0 He leaned forward for examine the paper and the writing upon it more carefully and nodded to himself, he was quite sure, quite positive, that Daniel O\u2019Brien\u2019s hand writing would be an easy task, it just required a little practice.\u00a0 He dipped his pen into the ink well and carefully began to copy from the top of the page exactly what O\u2019Brien had written.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As he attempted to copy the words down Daniel thought back to the first time he had met Adam Cartwright. \u00a0 He smiled now, \u00a0and paused in his writing in order to look up and stare at the poster on the wall. \u00a0 Sam Clemens had not long been hired and had written some story about a kind of monster frozen in ice in Lake Tahoe, \u00a0on Ponderosa land as it happened.\u00a0 What a prize for anyone who found it?\u00a0 What a handsome reward would be paid!\u00a0 And the Ponderosa was swamped with people seeking the monster out \u2026 so many in fact that Adam Cartwright had stormed into the offices and thumped Sam in the jaw and sent him flying.\u00a0 Not exactly true, \u00a0Daniel grinned, Sam just fell down, \u00a0and Adam had not stayed over long after that, \u00a0but it was then that Dan had told Sam \u201cThe reason I call my self Daniel deQuille is so that no one knows who I really am.\u201d \u00a0 and hence Mark Twain came into being.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He put down the pen now, and sat back.\u00a0 He and Sam had been good friends, they had similar tastes in humour and style of writing.\u00a0 They had both written books, and while Sam\u2019s had flown off the shelves, \u00a0his had not.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t understand it, and it was like a part of him had died upon realising that while Sam was touring Europe and money was pouring in, he was still the newspaperman writing articles for the Territorial Enterprise in Virginia City.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So why this?\u00a0 Why borrow these journals from Adam Cartwright?\u00a0 What drove him to such an action?\u00a0 Some would call it theft, some would perhaps accept it as borrowing but even so\u2026why had he done it?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He put down his pen and turned down the light. \u00a0 He didn\u2019t like to ask himself questions like that, he didn\u2019t want to be forced to answer them.\u00a0 He remained for some time a solitary figure staring at the dark shadows ahead of him, deeply immersed in his thoughts and not many of them were pleasant.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At Del Monico\u2019s restaurant Victor Ford rose from his chair and attended to the woman who was preparing to leave her seat.\u00a0 They shared a smile and he looked over to the Maitre d\u2019 who beckoned to the girl in the cloak room to get the required coats ready for their departing customers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As Victor escorted Dorothy from the restaurant the thought crossed his mind that just perhaps she was not ready for the question he was going to ask her.\u00a0 The thought also occurred to him that she could well have been harbouring fond feelings for Roy, a man whom Victor had respected and admired for many years.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful night, \u201c Dorothy said quietly and looked up at the stars before smiling at him, \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, Victor?\u00a0 You seem very subdued this evening.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I have something on my mind and I\u2019m not sure whether or not I have the timing right.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe timing for what?\u201d \u00a0she frowned, \u00a0and sighed \u201cIs this to do with Roy?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIn a small way, more to do with us \u2026\u201d \u00a0he smiled down at her for he was a tall man, which appealed to her as she was not short and preferred to be able to look up at a man.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Jenny?\u201d \u00a0she raised her eyebrows<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, even Jenny.\u201d \u00a0he nodded then, and looked into the distant shadows as though he could see his daughter standing there \u201cPerhaps her more than most.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, \u00a0a trouble shared is a trouble halved, so they say?\u201d \u00a0she squeezed his arm and hoped that would encourage him to speak his mind; \u00a0if nothing else it stopped him from walking for he paused in his stride and turned to her<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDorothy, I\u2019ve loved you for a v ery long time, you do know that, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI suspected it,\u201d she admitted with a slight frown appearing between her eyebrows, then she sighed \u201cYes, I think I was aware of it even back in the days when Liam and I were friendly.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded \u201cThe timing was definitely wrong back then, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She laughed quietly at his slight smile and nodded \u201cYes, it was.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I loved \u00a0you more than ever now, \u00a0and there really is no reason -\u201d he paused again, drew in his breath \u201cDorothy, will you marry me?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She didn\u2019t think about Roy, \u00a0nor of Jenny but looked into the attractive face of the man standing by her side and nodded \u201cYes, Victor. \u00a0 I would be honoured to accept your proposal.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a moment he was speechless, he had expected that she would say yes, had hoped very much that she would, but there was always that doubt in his mind, that concern over her feelings about Roy, even now he couldn\u2019t help but say \u201cWhat about Roy?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cRoy\u2019s already come to terms with the fact that I cannot accept him as a husband.\u00a0 He\u2019s a good man, a dear friend, but although I care about him very much, I don\u2019t love him enough to commit myself to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded, smiled and kissed her cheek \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They walked on a little distance until Widow Hawkins house suddenly loomed out of the shadows, very gently he took her into his arms and kissed her, \u00a0then released her \u201cWe\u2019ll talk more about everything tomorrow, \u00a0it\u2019s cold now, get inside and – sleep well.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded, felt her heart swell with pride and love.\u00a0 To be loved, truly loved, and to be married by a man who felt that way about her choked her with emotion, \u00a0she leaned forwards, kissed his cheek and then hurried through the little gate to the house where Clemmie Hawkins waited to learn the latest !<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 20<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Time ticks by as time does, with a relentless persistence which brings about changes in seasons and the shortening of days.\u00a0 In comparison to some years it was still a soft winter, and for the children from the homesteads and ranches, from the mining settlements that surrounded Virginia City it was still possible to reach school.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With the decline in population as the mines began to close, \u00a0the schools also lost \u00a0students as families made their way to what they hoped to become more prosperous towns. \u00a0 Some schools in various areas of the town closed down altogether and the<\/p>\n

few students remaining were drafted into the nearest school available.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Miss Brandon was more than pleased that her school remained unaffected by these changes.\u00a0 It was difficult enough to accommodate the various ages and intellects of the class she now supervised. \u00a0 With the threat of winter weather looming ever closer she had to accept, as the other schools did also, that soon \u00a0the only children able to attend would be those from the town.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As she watched the children clambering the steps into the school room, \u00a0muffled up with scarves and bonnets, mittens and gloves with red noses peeking and eyes bright from where the chill wind had struck them \u00a0she was more than grateful that the vast majority of them still arrived diligently each day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs everyone well this morning?\u201d she smiled at them all, her eyes lingered over those who had recently had sniffles and snotty noses, they smiled back at her<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, thank you, Miss Brandon.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The stove pumped out heat, \u00a0outside a chill wind blew old paper and straw across the yard, the swings swayed back and forth with a creaking groaning sound but inside was warm and comfortable, \u00a0heads were bent over papers, books or slates.\u00a0 The sound of the smaller children, including Sofia, recounting their times tables drifted over the heads of the older and more industrious students.\u00a0 Miss Brandon sighed with contentment and nodded approval as the little ones beamed back at her awaiting her commendation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At lunch recess Charlie came running over to Sofia who had eaten her food seated alongside Reuben.\u00a0 Once the food was gone Reuben had ran off to play with David and Tommy; Jimmy Carstairs was absorbed in a book which he was discussing with Annie Sales who nestled her McGuffey\u2019s on her knee and listened intently to the boy. \u00a0 Sofia pulled her scarf closer and watched as Charlie ran up to her and grabbed at her hand,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, \u00a0Sofia, let\u2019s get into town.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u00a0 It\u2019s cold ..\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt won\u2019t be if we run.\u201d \u00a0the older child laughed and her cheeks glowed rosy red, while the blue eyes gleamed with mischief and the joy of living.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Betty Sales and Rosie Canaday ran up \u201cSofia, come and play.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Charlie scooted them off, \u201cSofia\u2019s playing with me, \u00a0go away, \u00a0imps.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The two little girls looked at one another and Sofia realised that they were genuinely disappointed, she smiled and put several steps towards them only to have Charlie grab her arm again \u201cCome on, I want to show you something.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d \u00a0Sofia was immediately all attention \u201cNot that baby?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no\u2026 pooh, who cares about a baby.\u201d \u00a0and laughing Charlie turned and ran only too sure that Sofia would be running behind her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was hard for Sofia to keep up with Charlie who had long legs and several years more than the little girl, but she soon caught up to find Charlie standing outside Banners Mercantile.\u00a0 They both stood and stared at it, \u00a0the big glass window with all the different coloured glass \u00a0jars filled with candy and liquorice sticks and myriad other delights.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s your favourite?\u201d Charlie asked with her hands innocently behind her back and a smile on her face. \u00a0 Several people came out of the store and smiled back at her and Sofia.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d \u00a0Sofia looked around her, conscious that she was a long way from the school yard, this was the furthest they had come and it made her nervous<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you like best?\u201d \u00a0Charlie pointed to the glass jars and before Sofia could reply she had ran into the store leaving the little girl staring and wondering which were the ones she liked most of all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Within a moment Charlie was running back out of the store, several red and white striped candy bars in her hand which she thrust into Sofia\u2019s mittened fingers \u201cHere you are\u2026 hurry, run \u2026\u201d and with a laugh she disappeared<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia just stood there and looked bemusedly about her, then at the candy bars and wondered what she was supposed to do with them.\u00a0 She was about to turn and call out to Charlie when a hand clamped down on her shoulder, a very heavy hand \u201cGot you, you little thief.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia looked up into the red face of Mr Banner himself, looking very unlike his usual genial self when he served Mama or her aunts, \u00a0\u201cCaught you red handed,\u201d he shouted, and gave her a shake<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut I didn\u2019t – \u00a0didn\u2019t take them.\u00a0 My friend gave them to me.\u201d Sofia wailed and looked around for some sign of Charlie but it was a futile chance of her being any where in sight, \u00a0she had long gone, munching her candy that was stowed safely away in her pocket.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In no time at all Sofia was dragged over to the sheriff\u2019s office and much to her surprise, and Candy\u2019s also, found herself standing in front of the big desk behind which the sheriff sat looking \u00a0anxiously from her to Mr Banner<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on, \u00a0Mr Banner?\u201d \u00a0Candy asked and stood up to come around from behind the desk to sit on the chair where the public would sit to answer his questions.\u00a0 He looked \u00a0at Sofia who was still clutching the sticks of candy to her chest but with big tear filled eyes staring up at her Uncle Candy and wondering what to say, wondering what had happened, wondering oh just wondering what trouble this was all going to lead to now.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe stole this candy, caught her red handed, just standing there – look at her, no shame, none at all.\u201d Banner spluttered<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia shook her head, tears dripped from her eyes \u201cI didn\u2019t, I didn\u2019t\u2026\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI tell you she did\u2026\u201d Mr Banner shouted \u201cThere\u2019s too much pilfering going on around here, and I have to put up with more than most let me tell you. \u00a0 Just because I\u2019ve been here for a long time doesn\u2019t mean that I -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy raised a hand for silence and looked from the child to Banner \u201cThis is Sofia Cartwright, you do realise that?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo what?\u00a0 Just because she\u2019s from the Ponderosa doesn\u2019t mean she should be let off from stealing my goods.\u00a0 It\u2019s shameful, shameful \u2026 she deserves a good thrashing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Again Candy raised a hand for silence and heaved in a big sigh, \u00a0Sofia blinked and suddenly seemed aware of the candy in her hands, she stared at it, then at Candy and then turned to look at Mr Banner \u201cOh Mr Banner, these are yours.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She held them up to him and was about to speak when the store keeper erupted into a monologue about theft, children needing to be punished, \u2019put in the stocks, that\u2019s what they should be.\u2019<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A slight cough came from behind them and silenced Mr Banner who turned to find his wife standing with a patient look on her face, she stepped forward and looked at Sofia, smiled and nodded before she approached Candy<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe didn\u2019t steal the candy, she didn\u2019t even know what was going on .\u00a0 She was just standing there looking at the jars, I watched her from the store, \u00a0she was fascinated and -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFor goodness sake, woman,\u201d Mr Banner exploded again, \u201cShe had an accomplice\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a child.\u201d \u00a0Mrs Banner said and shook her head as though she just couldn\u2019t understand the vagaries of men, her husband in particular, \u201cSheriff, believe me, this child didn\u2019t know that the other girl was going to steal anything from the store.\u00a0 She was and is totally innocent.\u201d \u00a0and she turned to look at her husband once again \u201cAnd if a few sticks of that stuff is so important to you, then here\u2026\u201d she foraged about in her purse, and handed him some coins \u201cHere, take the money, it\u2019s paid for now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut I can\u2019t take this, you\u2019re condoning a crime\u2026\u201d Banner stammered and looked at Candy for support \u201cSheriff, it may seem a little thing, a few sticks of sweet stuff but before you know it her gang \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLook,\u201d Candy stood up, both hands raised in placation \u201cPlease, Mr Banner, Sofia is no more a thief than you are, and as for accusing her of being in a gang that\u2019s nonsense.\u201d \u00a0he looked at Mrs Banner \u201cPlease, ma\u2019am, take your husband home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Still blustering, still yelling Mr Banner was propelled out of the office by his wife, while Candy looked at Sofia and smiled \u201cwhy aren\u2019t you at school?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u00a0 I just followed Charlie.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yes, \u00a0I\u2019ve heard about Charlie.\u201d Candy sighed and straightened himself up, \u00a0Sofia had to crane her neck back to be able to see his face now for he was as tall as her Pa. \u00a0\u201cI think we had best get you \u00a0back to school before Miss Brandon realises you are missing.\u00a0 Shall I take those from you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia looked at the sticks of candy and nodded, \u00a0they were rather fluffy now from her mittens but she set them down upon the desk and then looked trustingly at him \u201cI didn\u2019t take them.\u00a0 I don\u2019t even like them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, \u00a0I think perhaps you should stop playing around with Charlie in future, she doesn\u2019t seem to be a very nice little girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia nodded, \u00a0she knew her father and mother would say just the same and in her heart of hearts she knew they were quite right.\u00a0 Charlotte really was not a very nice little girl.\u00a0 She took hold of Candy\u2019s hand and he didn\u2019t seem to mind that her mittens were rather sticky as he held it tightly in his own, \u00a0\u201cShe\u2019s older than me, she doesn\u2019t have any friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded, \u00a0he understood, \u00a0but it didn\u2019t change things, not really.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia was left in the playground by Candy just moments before the bell rang for recess to be over. \u00a0 Reuben ran up to her \u201cWhat are you doing?\u00a0 Where have you been?\u00a0 Why did Uncle Candy bring you here?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She couldn\u2019t speak, she didn\u2019t really know how to answer the questions and looked rather dazedly about her.\u00a0 Then she saw Charlie and felt herself shrinking inside, \u00a0she sidled closer to her brother and grabbed at his arm while Charlie came running over to her, stopped, put her hands on her hips and scowled \u00a0\u201cWhere\u2019s the candy?\u00a0 What have you done with it, you dope!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHey,\u201d Reuben protested, \u201cdon\u2019t you go calling my sister a dope.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s it with you, you just shut your mouth -\u201d the fiery little red head demanded and gave Reuben a shove.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The little scuffle caught the attention of the other children, and then of Miss Brandon who came hurrying over.\u00a0 She grabbed at Charlie\u2019s arm and pulled her away despite the girl flinging her arms about and kicking out.\u00a0 Reuben reached for Sofia\u2019s hand and held it tight, they stood side by side, wide eyed, non comprehending of what was happening as Miss Brandon hauled Charlie away into the classroom. \u00a0 Annie Sales came up and stood on the other side of Sofia and put her hand into the little girls. \u201cYou\u2019ll \u00a0be alright, Sofia.\u00a0 She\u2019s just a very naughty girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia, all big eyes and pale cheeked nodded, \u00a0yes, she could see that for herself now and without a word allowed her brother to lead her back into the class room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Charlie was standing facing the corner, her hands clasped behind her back, and her head held high with her freckled nose in the air. \u00a0 She stood there all afternoon until it was time to leave and as she passed Sofia she hissed \u201cI\u2019ll get you for this, you sneak.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia paused in wrapping her scarf around her neck and looked up at Reuben \u201cWhat did she mean, Boo?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNothing, take no notice.\u201d \u00a0Reuben said and smiled \u201cYou\u2019ll be alright, Sofee.\u00a0 I\u2019ll look after you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia nodded and tied her scarf neatly around her neck, she saw Jimmy and Rosie, Annie and Betty as they all filed past her and bade her good night.\u00a0 She had friends, that was a good feeling, a very good feeling.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 21<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The wagons and buggies that ferried the children to the outlying homes were always aligned up close to the playground and with it being shorter days many had their lamps twinkling like little stars to guide them along.\u00a0 One by one children were collected and even some neighbours children would be taken along to be dropped off along the way.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ezra blew on his hands and waited patiently along with the others as the children began to stream out of the school house.\u00a0 He knew that the weekend was coming and was glad of it, sitting and waiting around for the children was a thankless task, one he was glad he shared out with Hank.\u00a0 Of course there were the occasions when Cheng Ho Lee \u00a0would take the children into town, but that was not as often as Ezra would have liked it to have been.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lydia Brandon\u2019s attention was taken away from the children by the presence of a tall \u00a0young man who stood by the porch door with his hat in his hand and the wind ruffling his hair.\u00a0 Although her heart fluttered erratically at the sight of him, her mind prepared itself for battle as the two choices and the one decision that was hers to make once again yawned before her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ezra glanced down at the sound of a voice calling up to him, he listened to what was said and nodded, grunted and muttered beneath his breath and then slowly turned the horses back in the direction of the Ponderosa. \u00a0 He grumbled and cursed for a while, pulled his jacket closer and wished people would tell him what was going on instead of leaving a fella to find out when it was all arranged.\u00a0 It was getting colder, and darker, and a fella his age didn\u2019t need to be driving about for hours on end on fool errands. \u00a0 As he drove along the thought occurred to him that instead of going on to the Ponderosa he would head into town and stop for a beer at the Bucket of Blood.\u00a0 At least there he would be appreciated, and it was warm.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben held onto his sisters \u00a0hand as they walked from the playground to the sidewalk along side which the vehicles were usually lined up to pick up the children.\u00a0 He looked up and down \u00a0\u201cI guess Ezra\u2019s late.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia looked up as Reuben spoke, she had buried her nose into her scarf and kept her head down. \u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s Mr Conway\u2019s buggy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAlways first to arrive and last to leave, \u201d Reuben said nonchalantly<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWill Ezra be very late?\u00a0 Will he come in a minute?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI guess so.\u00a0 Something must have caused him to be delayed.\u201d \u00a0Reuben said in an effort to sound very grown up.\u00a0 He looked up and down the main track and noticed that the last twinkling star that meant a buggy driving away from the school was rapidly disappearing. \u00a0\u201cI bet a wheel has got loose.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWill he be able to mend it?\u201d \u00a0 Sofia looked up into her brother\u2019s face, confident that her brother knew exactly what to do \u201cWill he know how?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh sure, he knows just about everything to do with wagons and wheels and things.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd will he be very long?\u201d Sofia asked again and Reuben shrugged and stared out in the direction of the wagon that should be coming to collect them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It had never happened before, \u00a0Olivia had instructed the men who would collect the children to be always half an hour ahead of time just in case they were to be allowed out of school earlier.\u00a0 They were dropped off exactly on time, and they left always promptly to the hour. \u00a0 Half an hours lee-way gave what was considered sufficient time for unforeseen occurrence to be dealt with\u2026 usually.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The wind was getting keener and Sofia shivered, she tightened her grip on Reubens hand \u201cI need to go \u2026\u201d she whispered and Reuben dutifully led her back to the outhouse.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

While she groped around to find everything Reuben looked around him and wondered what had happened to Ezra.\u00a0 He looked back to the school house and saw Miss Brandon standing very close to a young man, they were holding hands.\u00a0 The school house windows glowed bright and warm from the lamps inside the building.\u00a0 He wondered if he and Sofia should ask Miss Brandon if they could sit in there a while until Ezra arrived. \u00a0 He could just imagine the scene\u2026they would be warm and cosy in the school house and Ezra would come stamping up to the porch and thumping on the door, \u00a0and no doubt would cuss and swear because they were late and he would, of course, blame them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAre you alright in there?\u201d he whispered loudly through the knot hole in the wood<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIts dark.\u201d \u00a0Sofia said with a slight whimper in her voice<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHurry up.\u00a0 It\u2019s cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The little girl stepped out and shivered, Miss Brandon stepped back into the school house and suddenly all the lights had gone out, one by one, \u00a0and then the door had been closed.\u00a0 Reuben watched as Miss Brandon slipped her arm through that of the young man and walked away, \u00a0in the opposite direction to where they stood by the outhouse.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHas he come?\u201d a little voice whispered near by and Reuben had to concentrate.,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cEzra.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0no one has \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s getting darker.\u00a0 Shall we wait some more, Boo?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, just a bit longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hand in hand they walked down to the main road which led out of town.\u00a0 A buggy came by, \u00a0but it wasn\u2019t the one they needed, and the people inside didn\u2019t even notice the two children in the shadows.\u00a0 A few vehicles trundled by, some going into town, \u00a0several leading out to the other direction.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Time seemed to slow down, not that they were aware of it, just that nothing happened for so long and it was getting darker and it was colder, the wind moaned and sighed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReuben? \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben nodded and squeezed her hand tighter \u201cSo\u2019m I.\u201d \u00a0he sighed \u201cMy toes feel like they dropped off.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia didn\u2019t say anything to that, she looked up at the sky, \u00a0the moon was out now, sliding between clouds \u201cMommy will be worried if we\u2019re late.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShall we go and see if Uncle Candy can help us?\u201d \u00a0Reuben suggested, and taking her silence as consent turned towards the town centre<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Deputy Watts looked at the two children and shook his head \u201cSheriff ain\u2019t here just now.\u00a0 He had to take some prisoners to Gold Hill so\u2019s the deputy there can take them to Yuma.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cEzra didn\u2019t come for us.\u201d Reuben said with wide hazel eyes and his nose beginning to thaw in the warm room,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs that so?\u201d \u00a0Mark frowned, \u00a0he was sure he had seen Ezra in the saloon just half an hour earlier, \u201cYou stay jest here and I\u2019ll go and look see if I can find him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia looked at the deputy and watched him as he left the office.\u00a0 She looked at her brother \u201cWill he find him?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Sofee.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat if he doesn\u2019t find him?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben sighed and frowned, he looked at his sister and noticed tears had streaked her cheeks and she was trying hard not to cry now.\u00a0 He leaned forward and wiped the tears away with his gloved hand \u201cIt\u2019ll be alright, \u00a0you\u2019ll see.\u00a0 We\u2019ll be at home again quicker than you can say Hoss Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia\u2019s eyes went round, \u00a0\u201cHow many times do I say it?\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mark Watts returned to the office with a frown, \u00a0there was now no sign of Ezra or the wagon. \u00a0 He looked at the two children and wondered what to do with them.\u00a0 He was in charge of the office and couldn\u2019t leave it empty, his instructions were that the office had to be manned at all times, and just checking to see if Ezra was in the saloon had already breached that order.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAin\u2019t you got any place \u00a0you can go and wait for someone to come fer \u00a0yer?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben looked at his sister, then at Mark \u201cI guess we could go and see if Aunt Ann were home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFlannel will be home.\u201d Sofia squeaked.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben relaxed, of course, Bridie.\u00a0 He smiled and nodded \u201cWe\u2019ll go and see Flannel.\u00a0 Thank you Mr Deputy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Their feet scampered along the sidewalk as they hurried hand in hand towards the Martins house. \u00a0 It was some distance down the street and several cross sections and alley ways had to negotiated along the way. \u00a0 A group of men suddenly came out of the saloon , \u00a0carousing and yelling together. \u00a0 Half drunk they seemed to fill the street, and didn\u2019t notice the two children who were swallowed up by them and whirled around.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben felt his hand slip away from Sofia\u2019s as the body of men pushed him into the road. \u00a0 He fell, landed on his back upon the mud packed ground, a wagon wheel trundled by and just missed his head.\u00a0 He felt fear and panic well up inside of him and he closed his eyes tightly because he was afraid to keep them open.\u00a0 Rough hands grabbed his jacket and pulled him onto his feet \u201cThere now, you\u2019re a right handsome little shaver, ain\u2019t\u2019cha.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Someone was leaning close to him, beer on his breath wafted into Reuben\u2019s face, and an unsteady hand slapped his \u00a0hat back onto his head \u201cThere, there, little man\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Someone laughed, the group of men turned, some rolled away arm in arm, singing and shouting as they went down the sidewalk. \u00a0 Dazed and a little confused Reuben adjusted his hat, blinked to clear his eyes and looked around him\u2026 he couldn\u2019t see any sign of Sofia.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia rubbed her eyes and stared at the ladies who surrounded her, they were laughing, pinching her cheeks, telling her what a cute little thing she was \u2026 she was perched up on the counter of the saloon, \u00a0and everywhere was very \u00a0bright and colourful, very noisy and strange. \u00a0 A man came and looked at her \u201cAin\u2019t that Cartwright\u2019s gel?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

One of the ladies looked and laughed \u201cWell, dearie, are you Cartwright\u2019s girl?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She shied back, \u00a0put her mittened hands over her face because she just didn\u2019t like being there, she didn\u2019t like seeing the women with so much of their bodies on display, and all that stuff on their faces; \u00a0the men were staring at her, \u00a0there was the noise of a roulette wheel spinning and people shouting. \u00a0 She bowed her head \u201cI want to go home.\u00a0 I want my mommy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPoor little lamb,\u201d one of the women said quietly, \u201cCome along, dear, I know a nice man who will take you home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReuben -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWho?\u201d \u00a0The young woman lifted her from the counter and set her down on the floor<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMy brother, Reuben.\u00a0 He\u2019s waiting for me outside.\u201d \u00a0she pointed to the batwing doors and the woman nodded<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose he wants a lift too?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Veronica took the child\u2019s hand in her own and led her away towards the door, a man shouted to her not to be too long accompanied by some ribald comment which made her laugh, but her fingers tightened around Sofia\u2019s as she pushed the bat wings open.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The relief Reuben felt at the sight of his sister was vast, he ran towards her \u201cI lost you.. Where did you go?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u00a0 Inside that place.\u201d \u00a0she looked up at Veronica who was smiling at them both \u201cThe lady said she would get us home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben looked at Veronica and was not too sure, \u00a0street lamps were being lit on the outside of the buildings now, \u00a0a fat man came and lit the lamps outside the saloon. \u00a0\u201cDon\u2019t take too long about it, Vron.\u201d he \u00a0yelled before going back inside.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Veronica nodded and called \u00a0back some smart answer before she leaned down to be level with the children \u201cAre you really Adam Cartwrights children?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes\u2019m\u2019\u201d Reuben nodded<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you really should be home by now, \u00a0what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cEzra didn\u2019t come for us.\u201d the boy replied and glanced anxiously around, noticing as he did so that a different kind of \u00a0people walked the dark streets of town to those he usually saw during the day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCome along, I know someone who will take you home.\u201d Veronica smiled and offered a hand to each child which was grabbed at with a trust that she found quite touching.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe can go to Flannels\u2026\u201d Reuben said after a few moments and upon realising that they were walking away from where Paul and Bridie Martin lived.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFlannels?\u201d \u00a0Veronica smiled and shook her head, \u201cwho is Flannel?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI mean – Mrs Martin.\u00a0 She\u2019s Dr Martins wife.\u201d \u00a0Reuben pronounced in his best grown up manner.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut I thought you wanted to get home?\u201d \u00a0Veronica said with a little laugh, \u201cAnd Dr Martin doesn\u2019t live on the Ponderosa does he?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know where we live?\u201d \u00a0Sofia asked in awed tones<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I do. Everyone knows where the Ponderosa is,\u201d \u00a0Veronica said smugly and tightened her grip on their hands. \u00a0\u201cCome along, \u00a0my friend will be only too happy to take you there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They walked briskly through town, \u00a0Sofia had to skip at times to keep up and was getting out of breath when Veronica stopped outside a rather dilapidated building.\u00a0 Reuben thought it looked rather lop sided but decided it would be bad manners to comment about that, \u00a0and waited for Veronica to open the door and lead them inside.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia immediately shrunk back, the smell wasn\u2019t pleasant nor one to which she was used to experiencing.\u00a0 Reuben also was unsure of what to do or say as he looked around him at the mess that littered the room in which they had been left standing while Veronica went to the door of another room and yelled for someone called \u201cFitz.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t like it here.\u201d Sofia whispered but Reuben just shook his head, put his finger to his lips and remained silent.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fitz came out of the other room struggling to get his shirt buttoned up, \u00a0and looking rather dishevelled.\u00a0 He looked from Veronica to the children and listened to what she was saying, nodding his head every so often before he said loudly enough for them to hear \u201cRight.\u00a0 The Ponderosa huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t take too long about it, Fitz.\u00a0 Their Ma will probably be getting anxious about now.\u201d \u00a0Veronica said, \u201cWhy on earth are you such a mess anyway?\u00a0 Look at you?\u00a0 Have \u00a0you been drinking?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLook, Vron, what else is there to do?\u00a0 There\u2019s no work around here is there?\u201d \u00a0he sighed and looked at the children, \u201cWell, \u00a0have you the money to pay for hiring a rig?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou can borrow Ma\u2019s, she said we could have it anytime we needed it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fitz nodded, \u00a0he buttoned up his shirt, and then pulled on a thick sweater over which he pulled on a worn old jacket. \u00a0\u201cAlright, kids, let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGo where?\u201d Reuben asked immediately and Fitz laughed \u201cGot to get a rig, fix up the horse and then we can take you home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben nodded, it all made perfect sense, he turned to Veronica \u201cThank you, Miss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Veronica smiled, her eyes twinkled and she had dimples. \u00a0 \u201cTake care, kid.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She left the house then, hurrying to get back to work while Fitz picked up a hat and led the children out of the house.\u00a0 The cold air was cleansing, both children drew in a deep breath of it to get the stench out of their noses.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The rig was not in the best of shape and the poor animal that was harnessed onto it was definitely not in peak condition.\u00a0 If Reuben had not been as polite as he was he would have commented about it, \u00a0but he said nothing but helped Sofia up onto the plank seat before turning to Fitz \u201cThank you very much for helping us, Mr Fitz.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAw, don\u2019t worry about it.\u00a0 Gives me something to do.\u201d \u00a0the young man grinned and led the horse out of the shed before clambering up beside the boy. \u00a0\u201cYour dad\u2019s a generous sort, no doubt he\u2019ll be more than glad to see you both home in one piece.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben nodded, he wasn\u2019t sure what his father\u2019s generosity had to do with them getting home, but decided to be grateful for small mercies.\u00a0 Sofia leaned against him and groped for his \u00a0hand, when she found it she held onto it tightly.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia looked at the clock and clasped her hands together as though by doing so she could better calculate the math involved in how much time it took usually for the children to return home after leaving school. \u00a0 She walked to the window and looked out at the darkness beyond, and then hurried to the kitchen where Cheng Ho lee was preparing supper \u201cHave you heard the wagon yet, Cheng Ho Lee?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo wagon, no sound ..only wind.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Only wind, yes, only the wind howling around the house.\u00a0 She looked at Nathaniel who was chewing on some bread that Cheng Ho Lee had given him, \u00a0and then returned to look at the clock.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was away, with his brothers, he wouldn\u2019t be home for another day yet.\u00a0 Ben would be home, \u00a0perhaps, she wasn\u2019t sure – she shook her head and released her breath, the children were late.\u00a0 They were never late.\u00a0 Why were they late now, after all, \u00a0anything could have happened, anything.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She went to the door and opened it, \u00a0and despite the wind pulling at her hair and her clothes she walked to the yard, to the corral but there was nothing unusual there.\u00a0 The horses were skittish, they didn\u2019t like the wind so it wouldn\u2019t be long before Jake and Hank would come and take them into the stables.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She returned to the house and found herself shivering, \u00a0her hair was straggling about her face, and she pushed it impatiently away behind her ears. \u00a0 She would give Ezra another half an hour, \u00a0by which time the children would be sure to be home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This, she told herself, was one of the reasons her father preferred them all to be home taught, \u00a0not just because he hated everyone in town, but because things happened, could happen -. \u00a0 She began to wring her hands, then tried to stop herself from doing so because it accomplished no purpose other than to make her feel more anxious than ever.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nathaniel was calling for her and she hurried to pick him up and hug him, \u00a0a grateful distraction. \u00a0 She carried him over to the big chair and sat down with him on her lap, began to sing to him a song he knew well, a song that meant every so often he had to clap his hands, touch his nose, say boo .<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The clock chimed the hour and she knew that she was not worrying for no reason, her children should be home now.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 22<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ezra turned his hat round and round between his fingers.\u00a0 He was cold, and miserable and as he stood in front of Mrs Olivia he wished he were standing in front of Ben and having a strip torn off him.\u00a0 Instead he had to answer the questions the mistress asked of him in a voice that was thin from anxiety and fear<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He felt extremely guilty and reprehensible for leaving town without checking and rechecking the situation with the children.\u00a0 He knew even as he stood there that the weather was worsening, and he also knew that he had no idea where the children were now.\u00a0 His mouth was dry and the memory of that beer in the saloon came back to haunt him as Mrs Olivia asked him to go and get Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When the door closed behind the wretched man Olivia turned to Cheng Ho Lee, who had stood deferentially some distance behind her but there to support her should the need arise. \u00a0\u201cCheng Ho Lee, \u00a0I don\u2019t know what to do\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a moment he thought she was going to faint for she swayed a little back and forth, then covered her face with her long fingers before beginning to pace the floor with such misery in her eyes that his heart went out to her, he stepped forward \u201cMissy, \u00a0perhaps good if I get horse and go, look for children now?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Her eyes were wide and tear filled when she looked at him \u201cNo, it\u2019s my responsibility to do that, Cheng Ho Lee.\u201d \u00a0she paused then and looked at Nathaniel who gave his Momma a big beaming smile and held out his arms to her. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll wait and see what Ben says then ride into town.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He shook his head \u201cMr Ben not let Missy go, \u00a0him go, \u00a0yes, and Cheng Ho Lee go also with him.\u00a0 Missy stay with child.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Her hands clenched and unclenched, \u00a0she shook her head, and approached the window that looked out into the blackness yonder, the glass now \u00a0awash with rain that was being hurled against it.\u00a0 She remembered the helpless feeling that she had experienced before, when Sofia and Hannah had got lost, but this was different, somehow she knew it was different.\u00a0 Both her children were somewhere, out there in the dark with the wind driven rain and once again she wrung her hands, covered her face with them, struggled to keep her emotions in check.\u00a0 Adam, if only Adam were home now\u2026 and she felt hysteria well up inside her for he was home, \u00a0home from the sea, but even so, he was not there by her side.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fitz drew up the horse which was not before time, the poor creature was about to stop anyway. \u00a0 He looked about him and shook his head, \u201cSorry, kids, I\u2019m lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not even on the Ponderosa yet.\u201d Reuben said and he felt his sister cringe even closer towards him, \u201cWe\u2019ve still some way to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fitz nodded, \u201cI know, but this old horse is finding it hard going against this wind.\u00a0 Look, tell you what we could do, we could go to my uncle\u2019s place, he isn\u2019t far from here.\u00a0 It will be warm and dry and then when it stops raining we can start all over again.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben said nothing, he was too tired, too cold and getting too wet to argue, he just held his sister\u2019s hand very tightly and sat still.\u00a0 Fitz clambered down and had to grab the harness to pull the horse round, \u00a0both he and Reuben were both wondering the same thing, whether or not the poor creature would survive another hundred yards let alone the trip to the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The cabin was in darkness but that didn\u2019t deter Fitz.\u00a0 He pushed open the door and yelled for his uncle, but when silence prevailed he turned to the children \u201cCome on, Uncle\u2019s not here but it\u2019s warm.\u00a0 He won\u2019t mind us staying here, \u00a0anyway, your Pa will make good for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben frowned, but helped Sofia down from the wagon and then took her hand to lead her into the cabin.\u00a0 Fitz obviously was familiar with the place for he was able to locate matches and started to light the lamps which gave the place a warm merry appearance.\u00a0 It was clean and neat, surprisingly so, and the children stood looking around them with a feeling of safety and relief finally taking away the awful feelings of fear and sickness they had been experiencing while swaying back and forth on the plank seat of the old wagon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll light the fire, then it will be much warmer.\u201d \u00a0Fitz smiled and knelt by the makings of the fire in the hearth, the flames ignited right away and he began to put more kindling on them, \u00a0\u201cYou probably know my Uncle Pete, he\u2019s one of the stage coach drivers.\u00a0 Has been for years.\u201d \u00a0 he coughed then, harsh and unpleasantly so, and his face contorted a little as though it caused him some pain.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAre you alright, Mr Fitz?\u201d Reuben asked politely but the young man nodded and began to balance some logs onto the little fire.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGot the cough some time back,\u201d \u00a0he said in a mumble, \u201cMy mother wrote to Uncle and asked if I could come stay with him. \u00a0 Thought the climate here would be good for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sick, Mr Fitz?\u201d Sofia asked now and approached the young man with such a gentle expression on her face that Fitz smiled and assured her with as much cheerfulness in his voice that he was just a little bit sick, but getting better all the time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thunder rolled overhead, it growled \u00a0over the roof of the building and the children looked up as though expecting rain to pour down upon them at any moment.\u00a0 Fitz frowned and got to his feet, \u201cLook, we need to get some food inside ourselves, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His grin was wide and infectious, \u00a0Reuben couldn\u2019t help but grin back, \u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cRight, let\u2019s see what my Uncle has in the way of staples.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

While Fitz rummaged around to get food organised Reuben quickly removed Sofia\u2019s wet clothing, then pulled off his coat and wet boots.\u00a0 The fire was positively roaring up the chimney now and the cabin was warming up very nicely. \u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s a nice cabin\u201d he observed very politely to Fitz who nodded and placed food down on the table.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t the food that they would have expected were they at home for there was no great cook here like Hop Sing or Cheng Ho Lee, \u00a0but the children were hungry and grateful for what was provided.\u00a0 They ate enough to get their tummies filled and drank down something \u00a0from a bottle that Fitz assured them was better than the water. \u00a0 Fitz told them more about his home back in Pennsylvania and his sisters, and how he got the cough from working in the coal mines. \u00a0\u201cI got a job working at the Yellow Jacket for a while, above ground, as a clerk. \u00a0 But I wasn\u2019t able to keep it with things getting so difficult and people being laid off.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He rambled on for a while and then noticed that Sofia was nearly falling off her chair she was so tired. \u00a0\u201cBest get to bed then\u2026it\u2019s over there.\u00a0 In the morning I\u2019ll get you home, if that old nag of Ma\u2019s hasn\u2019t keeled over and died before then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben dismounted outside the sheriff\u2019s office and shivered, the rain was fierce and had found every possible way of soaking him. \u00a0 He pushed open the door \u00a0and looked around for the sheriff, found Candy talking to Mark Watt both of whom turned to him and looked surprised at seeing him there, wet through and dripping water on the floor \u201cAnything wrong, Ben?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy\u2019s voice was sharp with apprehension, \u00a0and he stood up to walk a few strides towards the rancher who had removed his very limp and wet hat \u00a0\u201cI \u00a0– I – er – the children, Reuben and Sofia, they didn\u2019t get home from school.\u00a0 I just wondered if by any chance they had stayed at Ann\u2019s for some reason?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy shook his head and looked surprised at the thought while Mark nodded \u201cI think they went to Mrs Martins.\u00a0 The lady \u2026you know\u2026 the one they call Flannel.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou have seen them then?\u201d Ben said with relief in his voice and Mark nodded as he told about the children arriving at the office earlier<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSeems Ezra didn\u2019t pick them up, but I saw him in the Silver Dollar saloon having a drink about the time the children get collected.\u00a0 When I went to find him he had already gone.\u00a0 That\u2019s when the children decided to go to see Mrs Martin.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A flash of lightning lit up the room, \u00a0vanished almost immediately leaving them back to shadows and smoky lamps.\u00a0 Ben felt a tingle of fear touch the back of his mind, Sofia would be terrified if she were somewhere strange in this weather.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll go and see if they are still there.\u201d Ben said \u201cKnowing Bridie she wouldn\u2019t let them travel in this weather.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy frowned \u201cI would have thought she would have got a message to Olivia that the children were with her.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, \u00a0that\u2019s easier said than done,\u201d Ben smiled after all just who would want a long journey to the Ponderosa in this weather, \u00a0he sighed, nodded his head \u201cI\u2019ll let you know if they\u2019re there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDo that, Ben \u2026\u201d Candy nodded and watched as Ben quickly left the building accompanied by the clash of thunder immediately overhead.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bridie had gone to bed, she had had another long arduous day and was tired, her bones felt tired and she had a head ache that reached right down to her stomach.\u00a0 Ben could see the lamp light wobbling its way towards him as he stood on the threshold and waited for the door to open, and then was greeted by Bridie looking in amazement at him \u201cBen! \u00a0 What on earth \u2026!! \u00a0 Come in, why, man, you\u2019re soaked through.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs Paul home?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe is, and in his study at the back of the house.\u00a0 Go on through, Ben, I\u2019ll make a hot drink.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s alright, Bridie.\u00a0 I can see that you\u2019re tired and – and really all I need to know is if the children are alright.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe children? \u00a0 Which children do you mean, Ben?\u201d \u00a0she looked puzzled, her tired eyes were confused, anxious<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReuben and Sofia.\u00a0 They didn\u2019t get home today from school.\u00a0 The deputy said that they told him they would come and stay here with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey havent been here, Ben.\u201d \u00a0her voice trembled, and she set the lamp down on the hall table, \u201cI\u2019ve not seen them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben felt his throat constrict, he couldn\u2019t find the words to speak, he just stared at her while she looked at the clock and worked out the hours they had been missing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOlivia and Adam \u2026 they must be worried ..\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2019s not home.\u00a0 He and his brothers had work to do down at Papoose Peak.\u00a0 They won\u2019t be back until tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded, \u00a0lightning flashed and Ben could see how it lit up the parlour as the door was open to that room, \u00a0the hall was still in darkness save for the lamp.\u00a0 A noise from behind and there was Paul, rubbing his eyes and looking at Ben \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u00a0 Which one is it this time?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, nothing like that -\u201d Ben said hastily, \u201cReuben and Sofia haven\u2019t got home from school.\u00a0 Olivia\u2019s – we\u2019re – worried about them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a moment Paul just stood there beside Bridie although he put his hand on her shoulder, knowing how anxious she would be feeling about this news \u201cIt is possible they went to stay with Ann Canaday?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0they said they would come here.\u201d \u00a0Ben shook his head and for a moment they stood, \u00a0lost for words and mindless of suggestions.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat can we do to help, Ben?\u201d Paul said quietly and Bridie looked at their friend earnestly, \u00a0wanting him to suggest some activity that would keep her mind from working overtime on fearful things that could happen to little children<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNothing, there\u2019s nothing either of you can do just now.\u00a0 Thank you anyway.\u201d Ben sighed and turned to go but was prevented by Bridie grabbing at his arm<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBen, you need something hot inside you.\u00a0 And dry clothes.\u00a0 Come along, \u00a0another half an hour won\u2019t change a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded, he knew she was right, riding from home to town he had had that same thought, that whatever had happened, \u00a0well, it had already happened.\u00a0 There was more thunder, it crashed like cymbols overhead followed instantly by lightning.\u00a0 Bridie shivered \u201cSofia will be frightened.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It crossed Ben\u2019s mind that he would prefer her to be feeling frightened, \u00a0at least then it meant she was still alive.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the line shack at Papoose Peak the three brothers slept restlessly, the storm rumbled and growled overhead, and the rain thundered down upon the roof.\u00a0 At times the winds buffeted so hard against the cabin that the whole building shook. \u00a0 It had been a long miserable day and each one of them was feeling in need of a bath, a good meal, and a comfortable bed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The weather had delayed them, \u00a0the ground had been so sodden that holes they had dug out filled with water so quickly that it took twice as long to get the posts installed.\u00a0 It would be another two days before they would reach home.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cheng Ho Lee brought in another cup of hot coffee which he passed to Olivia.\u00a0 She sat very still now, after all the pacing around the room, \u00a0checking and rechecking that Nathaniel was safely asleep, and then opening the door just in case the children would be standing there on the porch waiting to come inside\u2026 it was as though all her energy had finally deserted her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She gave him a brief smile and nod of the head \u201cGo to bed, Cheng, you\u2019ll be tired tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He wanted to protest, to tell her that he would prefer to drop dead from exhaustion rather than to leave her on her own.\u00a0 It would have made \u00a0no difference, really, though. He knew whether he stayed or not it would be a lonely and long vigil, there would be nothing said, because all the words would be locked up in her head and unable to \u00a0be spoken until Adam returned home, or Ben walked through that door with the children.\u00a0 He bowed and left the room to retire to his own and to make his prayers for the safety of Reuben and Sofia.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia leaned against the chair back and closed her eyes, \u00a0she had cried hot tears of fear once Ben had left the house, her mind went over and over the information that Ezra had given her, that he had been assured that someone had already collected the children. \u00a0 If that were true, then who could it have been?\u00a0 Ben had confirmed that Hester had been home with the girls, and that Mary Ann had not left the house.\u00a0 Who else could it have \u00a0been?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She felt sick with worry, \u00a0the distance was so long, the weather so bad.\u00a0 Sofia would be frightened of the storm and Reuben would try his best to comfort his little sister, but just whereabouts would they have gone?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once again nervous energy prompted her to get back on to her feet and to walk to the clock.\u00a0 It was now 3 o\u2019clock in the morning, and still the storm raged, and still the darkness surrounded the house apart from the lightning streaks.\u00a0 How much longer could she wait? \u00a0 When would Ben come home?\u00a0 Would he have the children, would he bring them back safe and sound?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She prayed again, she had prayed so much already but nothing had happened. Nothing. \u00a0 Only the roar of the wind to create more turbulence to her tortured mind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nathaniel was crying now, that needy sob of a frightened baby and she turned to the stairs to mount them when the door opened.\u00a0 Her heart stopped as she turned, hope leapt and anticipation made the colour rush to her face \u201cBen? \u00a0 Are they with you?\u00a0 Are they safe?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben could only shake his head, remove his hat and drop it sodden and dripping. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m sorry, my dear, \u00a0I didn\u2019t find them.\u00a0 Candy is going to organise a house to house enquiry.\u00a0 I would have stayed in town but thought it best to come back to let you know.\u00a0 I – well – I had hoped that they would be home somehow.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She was in his arms, soaked through though his clothing was it didn\u2019t matter, she just needed strong arms and to be held while she wept tears that she thought no longer existed within her.\u00a0 Nathaniel stopped his crying, asleep in his cot and his troubles forgotten.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 23<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t like it here, I want to go home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben tried to close his ears to his sisters voice, after all, how many times did he have to be told that she wanted to go home?\u00a0 How many times did he have to reassure her that he wanted to go home as well?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fitz was coughing badly, hunched over in the chair by the fire and drinking something from a bottle.\u00a0 Reuben could see him from where he lay on the bed with Sofia curled beside him, and he wondered if the young man would ever be well enough to take them home after all the weather was bad out there, and there was a long way to go yet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They must have fallen to sleep at some time for when they woke up the storm had subsided and the sky was lighter, \u00a0that soft purpling before the dawn broke with its splendid array of colours. \u00a0 Reuben rolled from the bed and looked around the cabin before turning to his sister \u00a0\u201cI guess we had better get dressed and head for school.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSchool?\u201d \u00a0Sofia\u2019s eyes widened and tears immediately came to her eyes, \u201cBut I want to go home.\u00a0 Can\u2019t we go home first?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fitz coughed, \u00a0their voices had disturbed his sleep for he slept lightly due to his illness.\u00a0 He opened his eyes and looked at them both standing beside the bed \u201cAwake then?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.\u201d Reuben approached the young man and looked at him before glancing at the fire which was nearly dead, just a few red embers glowed through the white ash.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLook, kid, I\u2019m sorry, I just feel too ill to go any place soon.\u00a0 Do you reckon on giving me a few hours?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben sighed and looked at his sister before venturing to say that he thought it would be better to get back to the school.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t want to go home?\u201d Fitz frowned, \u00a0he felt too muzzy headed to think straight and had to rub his eyes, scratch through his greasy hair and think a while.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u00a0Reuben said<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI want to go home\u201d Sofia cried and ran up to Fitz, \u201cPlease take me home, I want to see Mommy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fitz \u00a0looked at Reuben, \u201cYour Ma won\u2019t know where you\u2019ve been, she\u2019ll be worried about you.\u00a0 Its best you get home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben nodded, \u00a0he looked at Sofia and knew she was scared, he was also but it didn\u2019t do to cry in front of his little sister because that would frighten her even more so. \u00a0 He swallowed the lump in his throat \u201cI guess so, Mr Fitz.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTell \u2018em I did my best, won\u2019t \u00a0you?\u201d \u00a0Fitz leaned down and groped for the bottle which he picked up and looked at intently, \u201cYou had best get something to eat first.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d \u00a0Reuben looked at Sofia and nodded so that she whispered a thank you as well, before they approached the table to survey the remains of their supper.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t look very appealing, \u00a0but they nibbled on what they could digest, and then drank some water. \u00a0 As quickly as they could they pulled on their outer clothes, grateful to find them dry and warm, even their boots were dry. \u00a0 After adjusting their scarves the two children quietly left the building.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do we do now?\u201d Sofia asked as she reached out to take Reuben\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe go home, \u00a0of course.\u00a0 After all, that\u2019s what you wanted, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded but remained silent for she knew by the tone of his voice that he was cross with her .\u00a0 What she didn\u2019t know was that her little brother was frightened, \u00a0he had stepped out of the cabin expecting to see familiar sights, or perhaps the town just ahead of them, but everywhere was unfamiliar.\u00a0 He had never seen the place before and felt as though he and his sister \u00a0had been picked up and dropped in the middle of nowhere.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia had decided to ride Kamille into town rather than hitch the buggy. \u00a0 She was a capable horsewoman and she knew that the horse was fast on her feet, \u00a0and as far as Olivia was concerned time couldn\u2019t be wasted pacing the floor and worrying.\u00a0 Ben had returned home and promised to be back by the crack of dawn, \u00a0but Olivia couldn\u2019t wait that long for as soon as Cheng Ho Lee had presented himself for the days duties she had told him to look after Nathaniel, \u00a0to take the child to Hester or Mary Ann\u2019s and to tell Ben she was going to town.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy had not long stepped into his office when Olivia was pushing the door of the building open. \u00a0 The mud splattered woman looked so different to the one Candy was accustomed to seeing that for a while he wasn\u2019t sure that he was actually looking at Olivia Cartwright but as soon as she asked – no, demanded – if there was news of the children he walked towards her, took her hand and led her towards the stove, to where the heat could warm her bones.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe did a search of all the saloons, asked questions there last night.\u00a0 Seems the children were seen in the vicinity of the Bucket of Blood,.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does that mean exactly, Candy?\u00a0 Were they seen or not?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey were seen, and a woman took Sofia with her, at least, some reports say she was seen with a little girl leaving the saloon.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat woman? \u00a0 Where was Reuben? \u00a0 Weren\u2019t they together?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She was struggling to stay composed, \u00a0too many questions were crowding her mind and too many worries coming as a result of so few answers. \u00a0 He almost forced her to sit down, \u00a0\u201cOlivia, I don\u2019t know where Reuben was at the time, but as soon as I can locate the woman involved I\u2019ll be able to tell you more. \u00a0 I\u2019ve got my deputies to do a house to house enquiry today.\u201d he glanced up to the clock \u201cThey\u2019ll have started already. \u00a0 They\u2019ll ask everybody in town if the children have been seen.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe school.\u201d \u00a0Olivia jumped up as an idea struck her \u201cIf they missed Ezra, they may have stayed in the school. \u00a0 The teacher usually stays behind a little while to clear away, they would have realised they would have been warm and safe there\u2026perhaps Miss Brandon took them home with her because of the storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy nodded, smiled placatingly \u201cYes, I had thought so as well.\u00a0 I called in on Miss Brandon on the way here, she hasn\u2019t seen them.\u00a0 Last time was when they left with the other children.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia nodded, bowed her head as she realised another straw had floated out of reach, \u00a0she frowned and clasped her hands together before looking back up at Candy \u201cThe little girl – there was a little girl who told Ezra that they had been collected by someone earlier. \u00a0 May be she would know where they were?\u00a0 Perhaps it was a game and -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it wasn\u2019t a game, Olivia.\u00a0 From what I can make out from the things that happened yesterday, I think someone deliberately lied to Ezra to make him think the children were safe, \u00a0so that he would go off without them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut who would do a thing like that?\u201d Olivia leaned back, the ridges in the chair dug into her spine and the fact that she could feel the discomfort was almost a relief, some kind of penance for being a neglectful mother perhaps?\u00a0 She accepted a cup of coffee, warm and steaming and looked into Candy\u2019s blue eyes \u201cWhat do you mean, from the things that happened yesterday? \u00a0 What things?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment as he looked at her, \u201cWhen\u2019s Adam due home?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u00a0 Sometime today, tomorrow perhaps\u2026 he doesn\u2019t know about this, \u00a0he\u2019s at Papoose Peak.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy winced, \u00a0that was annoying, too far to send anyone to deliver a message that would mean \u2026 he calculated distances and times and dismissed the thought, then he looked at \u00a0her again \u201cWould you not rather go and rest awhile at \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat things, Candy?\u00a0 What happened yesterday?\u00a0 Was it to do with that Jimmy Carstairs? \u00a0 Did he have something to do with it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He shook his head \u201cNo, \u00a0it was a girl, Charlotte -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCharlotte – you mean, Charlie?\u00a0 Sofia\u2019s friend?\u201d \u00a0she looked puzzled, pushed back a strand of mud caked hair from her forehead and then wondered what had happened to her hat. \u00a0\u201cCharlie – what happened to her?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNothing happened to her, Olivia.\u201d Candy said quietly and as quickly as possible he told her about the shop lifting and how Charlie had ran off to leave Sofia facing Mr Banner.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As Olivia listened to the facts that Candy presented to her, she sipped more coffee, felt exhaustion trickle through her bones, wondered if she were going mad and then thought of her little girl being so confused, frightened about what had happened.\u00a0 She wanted to cry, but somehow she couldn\u2019t manufacture any more tears instead she sipped the coffee and let the words pour over her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019ll be at the school, won\u2019t she?\u00a0 This Charlie?\u00a0 She\u2019ll be sitting there in that class room with the other children. \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPossibly, she\u2019s a wild child, Olivia.\u00a0 I\u2019m surprised that Sofia got so friendly with her, my Rose was concerned about it but Sofia didn\u2019t take any notice of what she was told, \u00a0I believe Reuben was worried about it too.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey never said -\u201d \u00a0Olivia murmured and felt guilt on top of all the other layers of guilt and reproach that she was suffering right then, \u00a0she should have known, asked more questions, \u00a0but Reuben had never mentioned anything about Charlie being a wild child<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean, about her being a wild child?\u201d \u00a0she asked as though it meant something important and Candy shrugged<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJust that, \u00a0she\u2019s wilful, disobedient, skips school whenever she can.\u00a0 Her father works for the railroad so he\u2019s not often at home, \u00a0he has a woman living with \u00a0him, just had a baby, I don\u2019t think she\u2019s Charlotte\u2019s mother -.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia nodded and rose to her feet \u201cI think I\u2019ll go and visit Miss Brandon, and \u00a0the school.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I don\u2019t think so, Olivia, I think you should go and stay with Ann for a while, or Bridie\u2019s. \u00a0 You\u2019re in no fit state to go asking questions, and besides, \u00a0it\u2019s a matter for the law now, so – why not leave it to us, please?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel deQuille had heard of the missing children and already written in a small paragraph referring to it for the days editorial.\u00a0 He watched as Olivia stepped from the sheriff\u2019s office and then approached her \u201cMrs Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d she spoke eagerly, hopeful that there was some positive news from him, after all, who better but a man who poked and pried to find out some lead?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really sorry about the children, has there been any further news?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, nothing.\u201d \u00a0she approached Kamille and placed her hand on the bridle, some people had gathered, mostly men, admiring the horse\u2019s finer points and speculating on whom she belonged, seeing Olivia they nodded and walked away, better to say nothing, they theorised, than embarrass her by asking awkward questions.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDoes Adam know?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s at Papoose Peak, he wont be home until tomorrow, perhaps later today.\u00a0 No, he doesn\u2019t know.\u201d \u00a0 she took the reins and began to walk with Kamille pacing behind her, Daniel walked for a while by her side in silence.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMrs Cartwright?\u201d \u00a0he sighed and shook his head, such a lovely woman, wretchedly unhappy, capable though, he admired the fact that she hadn\u2019t been weeping and wailing at home while her husband was away but had acted independently to come into town. \u201cWhat are you going to do now?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d there was a slight note of hysteria in her voice and she stopped walking, pulling the reins down to get Kamille to stop as well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve a beautiful animal there?\u201d \u00a0He nodded towards the horse \u201cArab strain?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, pure Arabian \u2026.\u201d \u00a0she muttered distractedly and shook her head, \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Mr deQuille, I have – I have to go and see someone about the children\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you want me to come with you?\u201d \u00a0he volunteered kindly, \u201cIs there anything at all that I can do for you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She frowned and shook her head \u201cNo, thank you for asking.\u00a0 Oh yes, you could find out some information about a family, I think they are called Beckett .. There\u2019s a little girl, Charlotte Beckett.\u00a0 And – and ask people you meet if they know anything, \u00a0seen anything of Reuben and Sofia.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded and touched the brim of his hat, then stepped back to let her walk by with the horse on the leading rein ambling along behind her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As he turned back towards his office he noticed Ben Cartwright dismounting outside Candy\u2019s office and stopped in his tracks as he thought over the facts he knew ..not about the Becketts or the children, but that Adam was not home, Ben was not on the Ponderosa and Olivia was also here in town.\u00a0 Without a moments hesitation he hurried into the offices to reappear minutes later dressed warmly against the weather.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bridie opened the door to the light tapping, and gave a mingled cry of misery and sympathy at the sight of Olivia on her doorstep.\u00a0 Opening her arms wide she embraced the woman and urged her indoors while Tilly hurried into the kitchen to prepare something hot to drink, something that would put heart into the poor woman who looked as though ready to collapse<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAny news?\u201d Bridie asked as she ushered Olivia into the parlour and when her guest just shook her head and buried her face in her hands, Bridie ushered her into a chair and sat beside her \u00a0\u201cNothing?\u00a0 Nothing at all?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCandy\u2019s set up a door to door search, asking everyone \u2026 \u00a0oh Bridie, what could have happened to them? \u00a0 He said they were seen at the Bucket of Blood saloon, that a woman there took Sofia home\u2026 or \u2026took her somewhere\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Reuben?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, he didn\u2019t mention Reuben.\u00a0 I can\u2019t think straight, Bridie, I\u2019m sorry, my head is just going round and round.\u201d \u00a0she grasped at Bridie\u2019s hands now, \u201cWhere could they have gone, Bridie? \u00a0 Why would anyone tell Ezra such a terrible lie and leave my children all alone?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSurely they would have come here, \u00a0they would have known they could have come here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReuben told \u00a0the deputy they were going to come here \u2026 that must have been before \u2026they must \u00a0have been coming here and passing the saloon, \u00a0perhaps got separated?\u201d \u00a0she paused, shook her head \u201cBut \u2026 why didn\u2019t they just keep coming here?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 24<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia shivered, big shivers ran up and down her back and little shivers trickled around her head.\u00a0 She had to stop walking, \u00a0and tugged at Reuben\u2019s sleeve \u201cBoo\u2026 my feet are cold, my hands are cold, my tummy\u2019s wiggling. \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben stopped walking, he was glad to stop, his legs ached and his feet had stopped having any feeling in them for some time.\u00a0 He turned to his little sister and could see from her swollen eye lids that she had been crying.\u00a0 He looked up at the sky and then at her again, \u201cAlright, we\u2019ll stop here.\u00a0 There are some trees up ahead we can make a little camp if you like?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cA camp? A real camp?\u201d \u00a0she opened her eyes as wide as she could and then yawned, the cold made her weary to her bones, \u00a0and walking so far, for so long, \u201cA real camp, Boo?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded and took her hand to lead her up the little incline to where the trees were grouped. \u00a0 \u201cNow, look, you pick up some wood, make sure it\u2019s dry \u2026can you do that?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She looked doubtful, then nodded, anything was better than just walking. \u00a0\u201cWill daddy see the fire and come for us?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe may do just that, Sofee.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He watched her walk away, called after her \u00a0not to go too far, and then cleared away the damp leaves that had gathered on the ground.\u00a0 He had to think about what Pa had done next, \u00a0and after a while found a few fir cones, dry and nestling together at the foot of the tree.\u00a0 He unbuckled the strap that kept all his books together and then tore off several blank pages from his tablet, which he screwed \u00a0up and placed at the base of the fir cones, then he drew from his pocket the matches he had taken from the cabin, while Fitz was coughing and spluttering beside the fire and wouldn\u2019t notice. \u00a0|t was stealing, he knew that Ma would tell him so, but he would buy Fitz more out of his own pocket money so it was really, only like borrowing.\u00a0 He struck a match but the wind blew it out.\u00a0 After several attempts and realising his store of matches were dwindling one actually caught on the paper and a small flame burst open like a blossoming flower.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs this enough wood?\u201d Sofia asked staggering to wards him with several bits of fallen tree in her arms and he nodded and watched the flame ignite a fir cone, then the other, so he was able to put the wood around it and reached for her hand which she grasped tightly<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThere, see\u2026 \u00a0you can get a little warmer now.\u201d \u00a0he looked up at the sky and squeezed her hand \u201cIt isn\u2019t raining, and it isn\u2019t too cold and windy here is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t see our house from here though.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

No, of course not, no house, in fact, no houses.\u00a0 No town, nothing but the occasional scattered copse of trees. \u00a0 The road had looked familiar at first when he had led her along it, but not now.\u00a0 Nothing looked familiar, he was lost.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t even sure if this was Ponderosa land.\u00a0 He pushed her closer to the fire \u201cGet warm, Sofia, while I get some more wood.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWill daddy see the fire?\u201d she cried as her brother scrambled off and Reuben paused to look at the feeble flames and mustered up a smile, assuring her that their Pa would be sure to see it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The wood he collected was enough to keep the fire burning for an hour or more, and big enough to cook something on it except that there was nothing to cook.\u00a0 There was nothing to drink either and both children looked at one another, at the fire, and then tried to think of what to do next.\u00a0 Sofia had limited imagination for such a situation, she was still very young, and the last time she had got lost was close to home.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t long before her eyes closed and she slumped down on to the ground and fell asleep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben tried to work out how to set a snare.\u00a0 Pa and Hoss had shown him how to make the loop but he had no string.\u00a0 He wondered if the strap he used to keep his books together would be workable but soon realised it was too thick. \u00a0 He knew how to tell the time by the sun though, and knew that it was reaching noon, \u00a0and his stomach was rumbling to prove that it was time to eat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When Sofia opened her eyes the fire was still burning and there was the smell of something cooking, she wasn\u2019t sure what it was but it looked like something that had once had legs.\u00a0 She looked at Reuben and then back at the charring corpse \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSomething to eat, I \u00a0caught it myself.\u00a0 I remembered how Pa and Uncle Hoss showed me how to set a snare and I did it, \u00a0with my boot laces.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was proud of himself, she could tell that and offered him a smile.\u00a0 The fire was spitting and spluttering as the fat dripped onto it and she sat closer, holding her hands out \u201cDid it cry?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe little animal, did it cry when you caught it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course not, animals don\u2019t cry.\u201d \u00a0he shrugged and turned his head away, he didn\u2019t like to admit the little creature had squealed, and he hadn\u2019t expected that to happen and had gone away to hide until it was all over.\u00a0 Then, of course, he had had to skin the poor little thing\u2026 \u00a0he shivered now at the memory, but Uncle Hoss had said Hop Sing never cooked a chicken \u00a0with its feathers on, so why eat a rabbit still wearing its fur coat?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an adventure, Sofee. \u00a0 We can tell the kids at school about it, bet they never ever had an adventure like this.\u201d \u00a0he smiled at her, knowing as he said it that it was a lie because quite a few of the lads on the homesteads had to survive their parents frugality by going out snaring rabbits and catching fish, but it as all new to them and so he tried to cajole her into some sense of excitement to make the burden less.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The both nibbled at the meat when it was cooler, \u00a0and Sofia said her brother was very clever but she didn\u2019t sound convinced, not really. \u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019ll be dark soon,\u201d Reuben said as he licked his fingers \u201cShall we stay here or walk on a bit further?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She cuddled in closer to him, there was comfort in his body, warmth and solidity, and the fire was still bright.\u00a0 She didn\u2019t want to walk any more, she was thirsty and tired.\u00a0 She shivered, and reached for his hand \u201cCan we stay here until daddy comes?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSure, Sofee, if that\u2019s what you want.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bridie opened the door to the abrupt knocking and stepped aside for Candy to enter the house. \u00a0 He followed her into the parlour where Olivia and Ben were seated talking in low tones to Roy Coffee.\u00a0 They all looked up expectantly as Candy stepped inside, removing his hat as he did so.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAny news?\u201d Ben asked, getting immediately to his feet as though whatever was said meant he would have to propel himself from the house as fast as possible.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe traced the woman who took the children from the saloon. \u00a0 Veronica Fawcett.\u00a0 She\u2019s a good hearted girl and meant well, she took them home with her and a friend there agreed to bring them home to the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo?\u00a0 What happened?\u201d \u00a0Ben queried \u201cWe\u2019ve seen no one\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0well, according to Veronica her friend, \u00a0Fitz, has tuberculosis, it\u2019s quite bad, the cough I mean.\u00a0 He took Ma Cooper\u2019s horse and wagon and they left town during the deluge we had yesterday \u2026 she\u2019s worried about him as well, seems he never returned to town.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to find him then,\u201d Roy muttered and reached out a consoling hand to Olivia who had sat still and said nothing, only hung her head and stared into the fire.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a posse out looking.\u201d Candy said and before Ben could protest about not being kept informed he raised a hand for silence \u201cWe just wanted to get on with it and find them as soon as possible, before more time was wasted.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd -?\u201d \u00a0Ben snapped abruptly<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe found Fitz, he\u2019s in a bad state.\u00a0 The rain and cold didn\u2019t do him any favours I can assure you. \u00a0 He doesn\u2019t know where the children are, he can\u2019t even remember having any children in the cabin with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo?\u201d \u00a0Ben growled and shook his head in frustration while Olivia clutched her hands together in her lap and willed herself not to give way to tears.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe posse are out looking for them, but it\u2019s getting dark now.\u00a0 We may have to start again tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy stood up and reached for his hat \u201cWhere was this cabin where you found the lad?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPete Riley\u2019s cabin north of town, way off the Ponderosa trail.\u201d Candy replied looking at the older man with a slight furrowing of the brow, \u201cWhat\u2019s on your mind?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBen and me\u2026 we\u2019ll pick up from where your boys left off.\u00a0 That way we get an earlier start when first light comes tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded, \u201cSeems good to me, I\u2019ll get some provisions arranged.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll come too.\u201d \u00a0Olivia said quietly as she rose to her feet, \u201cI\u2019ve sat around too long as it is doing nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, my dear,\u201d Ben smiled gently, and put his hand upon her arm \u201cIts best you stay here, with Bridie.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t, Ben.\u201d she shook his hand from her, \u201cDon\u2019t patronise me, not now.\u00a0 They;\u2019re my children and I need to do something about finding them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy looked from one to the other of them and nodded \u201cWell, I\u2019ll leave you just now.\u00a0 I\u2019ll meet you in the cabin \u2026 we can start the search from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded and then turned his attention to Olivia who was about to leave the room to talk to Bridie about preparing for the journey, \u201cOlivia\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going, Ben.\u201d was all she said as she quickly made her way to where Bridie and Tilly were standing, waiting, with baited breath to know what was going on.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy nodded and picked up his hat \u201cOnly natural, Ben.\u00a0 She\u2019s their mother after all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben said nothing to that, he thought a lot though and more than once wished that his son was there to keep his wife in order, but Roy was right, he knew that, he knew that a woman would want to be with her children and would risk anything to accomplish that fact.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Within less than half an hour they were leaving the comfort of Bridie\u2019s home and riding towards old Pete\u2019s cabin.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel deQuille stoked up the fire in his study and turned up the flame in the lamp.\u00a0 He very carefully opened the slim volume that he had taken from among those that made up the journal of O\u2019Briens Memoirs. \u00a0 Everything had gone well, the house had been empty, even the fire had been banked down. \u00a0 He had replaced the other \u2018loaned\u2019 book and made sure that it was in the exact place where he had taken it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He had hesitated to take another but \u2026 well, temptation was there to be avoided or enjoyed and he chose the latter.\u00a0 He had made sure that there was no sign of his activity, no evidence of his presence.\u00a0 The rain had washed away any sign of his horse and buggy having been in the yard.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He leaned back in his chair and settled down to read.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 25<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The day dawned laden with fog within which dew hung so heavily that it created rims of diamonds around everything it touched.\u00a0 Reuben had made up a little bed among the leaves for them both and promised his sister that there were no spiders, that snakes like the warm weather and that nothing \u2018scarey\u2019 would come and eat them during the night.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Of course he spent a long time worrying about that even when Sofia had fallen into a deep sleep.\u00a0 Whenever he found himself awake he would look over at the fire and creep out to put more wood \u00a0onto it.\u00a0 He had prayed hard that in the morning everything would look different and he would know where he was so that he could take them both home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But in the morning everything was the same, only worse because the fog concealed what lay beyond a 20 foot boundary<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Charlotte walked into the class room with her head held defiantly high and her nose in the air.\u00a0 The sheriff had visited them that morning and asked a lot of questions to which she had answered with a sweet and tearful response,.\u00a0 How well she knew how to play the innocent.\u00a0 She fluttered her eyelashes, sobbed when told the children were missing and insisted that she hadn\u2019t meant to get Sofia into trouble just that she knew her little friend liked those particular candies and wanted to please her.\u00a0 Such a dear friend was Sofia Cartwright.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Had she told Ezra that the children had already been taken home?\u00a0 Oh no! \u00a0 How could he think it?\u00a0 That was a lie, a downright lie\u2026 \u00a0the children at school didn\u2019t like her, that was why she was so fond of Sofia, but to tell Ezra such a lie?\u00a0 People went to hell if they told lies, didn\u2019t they?\u00a0 And she had looked up into his blue eyes and blinked tears from out of her own.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now she had to face the children and they were not so easy to fool as the sheriff and his deputy for children have an uncanny knack of sniffing out those that were unwholesome and cruel.\u00a0 Jimmy Carstairs was first to tackle her head on \u201cWhy\u2019d you tell that Ezra to leave without Sofia and Reuben, Carrot top?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWho said I did?\u00a0 And who are you to call me Carrot Top, you runt?\u201d she stood her ground, hands on her hips and her nose just an inch from his but Jimmy was riled up and his mouth became a pinched button of protest<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

David Riley came and stood beside Jimmy and looked at her as though she were something he had found on the bottom of his shoe after walking through a cow pat \u201cThe sheriff was at our place this morning, \u00a0he said Sofia and Reuben hadn\u2019t got home.\u00a0 What have you to say to that, Beckett?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI ain\u2019t got nothing to say, not to you anyhow, \u00a0Riley\u201d she tossed her head and turned to go but Jimmy grabbed at her arm and pulled her back<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou told Ezra they had gone home.\u00a0 I saw you talking to him.\u00a0 I saw you, Carrots.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t see anything, you\u2019re too dumb to see anything, leggo of my arm.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Other children arrived, paused to stand and stare, some knew what had happened having had a visit from one of the deputies at their home and having to answer questions as to when they had left and if they had seen the Cartwright children. Some children knew nothing about it but listened to the whispered story in horror, living so far from town and being lost was indeed enough to make every child there think \u2018It could be me\u2026lost \u2026what would I do\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Miss Brandon ran the bell and looked anxiously at the children as they filed into the classroom.\u00a0 The two she most wanted to see were not present and her heart sunk.\u00a0 She felt her own guilt, knowing that those moments with her young man may well have contributed to the children\u2019s loss.\u00a0 Had she known how true that was she would have resigned immediately.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia rubbed her eyes and looked around her, she had slept as close to her brother as she could have done but morning had come and a new day beckoned. \u00a0\u201cReuben?\u00a0 Reuben?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Her brother sighed, and turned to look at her \u201cAre you alright, Sofee?\u00a0 You seemed to sleep well.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDid I?\u201d \u00a0she frowned and looked around her \u201cI can\u2019t see our house? \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d \u00a0he sighed again, even if the house was right there a 100 yards away they wouldn\u2019t have seen it. \u00a0\u201cAre you alright, Sofee?\u201d \u00a0he asked this in an anxious voice for he was more than afraid that upon realising what kind of day lay ahead of them she would start to cry.\u00a0 Reuben hated it when his sister cried as he never really knew what to say to placate her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m thirsty.\u201d \u00a0she paused and frowned \u201cAnd hungry\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s some meat left and I still got some biscuits from Fitz\u2019s \u2026\u201d he groped in his bag and produced some which Sofia pounced on in delight \u201cWe\u2019ll get something to drink later.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe can get milk out of a cow,\u201d Sofia suggested and looked around her as though she \u00a0expectated a cow to come strolling towards them through the mist.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not home, Sofee, \u00a0there ain\u2019t no cows around hereabouts.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They walked together towards the dying embers of the fire, and Reuben felt suddenly very tired, very young.\u00a0 He felt tears prickling his eyelids, filling his nose, he wanted the fire to be burning bright so that they could get warm and feel safe, but this dying relic of what once was, just reminded him that they would need to move on.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He tried to think of what to do, what direction to go in, whereabouts had they walked from?\u00a0 The fog obscured everything and there were no landmarks, nothing he recognised at all.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can drink out of that puddle\u2026\u201d Sofia exclaimed suddenly and pulled away from him but he grabbed at her hand immediately even though she protested and lost her mitten as a result<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t drink out of puddles, Sofee.\u00a0 Pa told me that people can get sick if they drink out of puddles.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy? \u00a0it\u2019s water?\u00a0 I\u2019m thirsty.\u201d \u00a0her face puckered up, her lip protruded and she blinked fast, tears were threatening.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa said we have to find a stream.\u00a0 He said always drink water where it\u2019s moving \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWater always moves, silly.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, he didn\u2019t mean that.\u201d Reuben frowned and tried to remember what exactly Adam had meant when he had been explaining about the dangers of drinking dirty water and best to find a stream, or river<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI want a drink. I want \u00a0a drink. I\u2019m thirsty. \u00a0 I want \u2026\u201d she paused and hic coughed \u201cI want daddy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLets eat some meat and our biscuits and then we can walk until we find a stream.\u00a0 I can hear one near by, Sofee.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCan you?\u201d \u00a0she turned her head, this way and that, but the fog hemmed them in, \u201cI can\u2019t hear anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben heaved yet another sigh, \u00a0to be honest nor could he.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The cabin was warm and Pete had been more than surprised to find Ben, Olivia and Roy Coffee on his doorstep when he had opened the door to a hefty thumping. \u00a0\u201cWell, best come on in, \u00a0now you\u2019re here.\u201d he had muttered and watched them as they came in one by one, each of them looking weary and the woman looking as if she were about to fall down.\u00a0 He promptly pulled up a chair and offered it to her \u201cSit down, ma\u2019am. \u00a0 \u00a0Mrs Cartwright, ain\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, \u00a0Pete.\u201d Ben muttered as he helped Olivia to the chair for she was exhausted, totally spent. \u00a0\u201cHave you any coffee?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJust brewed.\u00a0 Not long got in myself.\u00a0 You know my nephew Fitz was here ?\u00a0 Took ill he was, had to get him to the doc in town.\u201d he \u00a0paused to hand some coffee to Olivia and then rummage for cups and mugs for his other guests \u201cThe sheriff came with a posse, they took him into town with them.\u00a0 I heard in town about some missing children, they said Fitz had something to do with them being lost\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d Roy nodded and took the mug which warmed his fingers enough to make them tingle \u201cSofia and Reuben Cartwright.\u00a0 They – er – they didn\u2019t come home from school..\u00a0 Your nephew kindly offered to take them home but -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI see, \u00a0he took ill.\u00a0 Full of good intentions is that lad, but not well enough to carry most of them out.\u00a0 Poor boy.\u00a0 They don\u2019t give him much longer, you know.\u00a0 Not sure how I\u2019m going to tell Cissie. That\u2019s my sister, he\u2019s her boy you see.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They nodded and although it reminded Olivia that others had their own grief it did little to ease her own.\u00a0 She heaved in a deep gulp of air, closed her eyes and fought off sleep.\u00a0 If she slept she was wasting time. Time. \u00a0 She didn\u2019t have enough time and her children \u2026 she shook her head and forced herself to drink some coffee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFogs coming down.\u201d \u00a0Pete was saying, \u201cI was late with the Placerville stage last night, due to the rain, there was a rock slide as a result and I had to clear that away.\u00a0 Now this here fog will mean a delay this morning as well. \u00a0 What do you folks intend to be doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben looked at Olivia and then at Roy, \u201cWe had hoped to find some trace of the children here.\u00a0 I know Candy\u2019s already been and checked but \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pete shook his head \u201cAin\u2019t no chance of you finding any tracks around here.\u00a0 The rain would have cleared most away, and now this fog \u2026 \u00a0 but to be honest, I think you would be wiser to get that little lady home so she can get some sleep.\u00a0 She looks just about dead on her feet.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded and saw a flash of grim indignation on Olivia\u2019s face so sipped his coffee but it was Roy who said in his quiet but brusque manner \u201cP\u2019raps if Mrs Cartwright could sleep here for an hour or so, Pete? \u00a0 We\u2019ll go scout around and perhaps you could rustle up something to eat?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pete nodded, \u201cThe bed\u2019s over there\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In a no nonsense manner Ben took Olivia by the hand and led her to the bed, \u201cOlivia, you need to sleep.\u00a0 Promise me you\u2019ll try?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded, said nothing and lay down, \u00a0her head touched the pillow where hours earlier her little girl had rested her own and the smell of her children touched her nostrils, touched her heart and as the door closed upon her she broke into silent sobs.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As far as Hoss was concerned the subject of Kamille was not going to go away, and as the three brothers rode their way homewards he brought her back into their conversation.\u00a0 Adam listened with a slight smile as he waited for Joe to chip in and say his nickels worth and finally said \u201cI\u2019ve decided to keep her.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, and what for?\u201d Hoss said, \u201cYou been saying she ain\u2019t no good as a cow pony.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u00a0 But she can breed good cow ponies, \u00a0she could even breed riding horses for ladies, you know how they like to look good riding side saddle on a fine horse?\u00a0 I reckon Kamille would breed beautiful creatures.\u00a0 Just look at her son?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, \u00a0I get your point.\u201d Hoss nodded and stroked his chin. \u201cCould sell the colt \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0you can\u2019t\u201d Joe protested \u201cDaniel loves that colt \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This elicited a guffaw of laughter from Hoss and a smile from Adam.\u00a0 There was no fog where they were, the sun shone in a sombre apologetic manner and they were on their way home.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy felt at the end of his rope, he was physically tired, and mentally worn out.\u00a0 The responsibilities of being the sheriff of his area of Virginia City were onerous but manageable, until they affected those nearest and dearest. \u00a0 When the situation involved children it created raw nerves and it seemed that everyone in town suddenly had something to hide, some hidden agenda they didn\u2019t want revealed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He pushed aside his half empty cup of coffee and was about to make a suggestion to Clem about whether or not to go back to the saloons and stores to question them when the door opened and a young black haired woman stepped inside. \u00a0 She was an attractive woman, with dark eyes, slim build and a wide generous mouth and with her style of dress could have passed for a wandering gypsy<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy stood up \u00a0and then indicated the chair on the other side of the desk, \u201cSit down, Miss Veronica. \u00a0 Have you any thing more you want to tell us\u2026 could perhaps remember from your previous statement?\u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She shook her head and knew from the look of disappointment on their faces that they had hoped she\u2019d have remembered something that would have solved the problem of the missing children like some kind of magic.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I – I just saw Fitz.\u00a0 He\u2019s in hospital.\u00a0 He did try to get the kids home but – but he wasn\u2019t well, and the old horse is just about ready to go to the glue factory. \u201c \u00a0she spoke all in a rush, pulling her shawl around her thin shoulders and trying to appear much older than she was, she looked at the two men and then returned to look more directly at Candy \u00a0\u201cAnd I wanted to know if you had found them, but -\u201d \u00a0she shrugged, a waste of breath asking \u201cI\u2019m sorry, I should have taken them to that Mrs Martin like they asked, but Fitz so wanted to help, to feel \u00a0useful.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy smiled in a kindly \u201cYou both did what you could, you\u2019ve nothing to blame yourselves for\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGot caught in all that rain didn\u2019t he?\u00a0 Coughing something awful, and a high fever.\u00a0 He was – is – a kind lad,\u201d \u00a0she stood up and stared at Candy rather disconcertedly, then with a nod of the head asked if she could leave.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once the door had closed behind her Candy grabbed for his hat, \u201cClem, I\u2019m going home for a while.\u00a0 If I don\u2019t get some sleep now I\u2019ll fall off my horse \u2026 \u00a0you do the same, as soon as Watt gets here tell him to stay put.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a while he stood outside, watching the fog swirl about the buildings and making them appear like something from a fairy story instead of the old clapboard stores and saloons that had been there for years.\u00a0 He bowed his head and thought of Olivia, and the children.\u00a0 The thought came to mind that when Adam found out \u2026 \u00a0he shivered, he didn\u2019t want to even think about what it would be like when Adam found out.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 26<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel deQuille walked slowly towards the Telegraph Office noting as he went the difference fog makes to a place.\u00a0 Sounds came from long distances away, the jingle of a horses harness caught one\u2019s ear by surprise and the clop clop of their hooves boomed with a odd resonance. \u00a0 Buildings wrapped in threads of fog and mist took on a strangely ethereal appearance while the lamps that had been lit inside shimmered like glow worms through the murk.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His own footsteps sounded dull to his ear, and there were fewer people on the streets, despite it being usually a busy time of day.\u00a0 He raised his hat to the woman he bumped into and apologised before continuing on his way.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Some while back Hoss Cartwright had referred to deQuille\u2019s contacts as weasels ferreting out information to the journalist, and in some ways that was more accurate than he would ever had realised. \u00a0 Information and news meant money to a journalist like deQuille. \u00a0 What he had read in the latest of O\u2019Brien\u2019s journals made him realise that there was no sensible way in which he could write a book based on those memoirs but the information within them could be put to good use and provide him with money \u2026 if the price was right, if the interest were there.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Eddy nodded and took the slip of paper from the newspaperman and glanced down at it.\u00a0 Just a series of names and dates, and to be sent to the \u2018usual\u2019 contacts.\u00a0 He accepted the money and wrote out the receipt, once deQuille was satisfied that the message was being sent on its various ways he left the building.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was, of course, a gamble. Commodore Adam Cartwright may have faded out of public interest now, but how was he to know being so far from where everything was happening? \u00a0 It was difficult to keep one\u2019s finger on the pulse of what was big news while rotting in a town that was slowly dying by inches as the mines dried up.\u00a0 He pulled a cigar from his pocket and struck a match, he would have to wait and see what fish nibbled at the bait and gauge the interest from thereon.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy and Ben stood on the track and said nothing.\u00a0 They didn\u2019t say much either as the fog crept wisps of mist about their heads and bodies. \u00a0\u201cWhat are we supposed to find?\u201d \u00a0Roy finally muttered<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHope.\u201d Ben murmured and shook his head \u201cAnything that will give us some idea as to where the children could have gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHope?\u00a0 In this?\u201d \u00a0Roy stepped forward some paces looking as best he could at the ground beneath his feet that had been churned up into mud by the hooves of the horses that had belonged to the posse., He straightened himself and returned to Ben\u2019s side \u201cYou can tell the posse came here, \u00a0that\u2019s about all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow far do \u00a0you think the children could have got, Roy? \u00a0 Little legs can\u2019t travel much of a distance, can they? \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0no, they can\u2019t.\u201d \u00a0 Roys voice sounded like the voice of doom, if Ben was looking for some hope, \u00a0he wasn\u2019t going to find it with Roy at his side. \u00a0\u201cThey would be tired, scared \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps we\u2019re looking in the wrong direction\u2026.\u201d Ben suggested and turned around to face the direction in which they had come<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t pass them on the way here, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

True enough, the big rancher\u2019s shoulders drooped and he shook his head again. \u00a0\u201cIt may be better if we wait for the fog to lift. We could be wasting more time following our noses and getting misdirected as a result than if we stay inside and wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy nodded but drew out his gun and after looking significantly at Ben, raised his arm and fired three shots.\u00a0 The plainsmans signal for distress or reassurance that help was on its way \u201cLet\u2019s hope they hear it, Ben. \u00a0 Let\u2019s hope that they\u2019ll know we\u2019re here looking for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Inside the cabin Pete had food cooking, Olivia still slept the sleep of the exhausted that when aroused would have given her little respite.\u00a0 The two men sat down by the fire and slipped their hats onto the floor \u00a0 \u201cA pity young Fitz can\u2019t remember anything about what happened.\u201d Roy sighed as he accepted a mug of coffee \u00a0\u201cThis cabin is some distance from town, Pete\u2026I always thought you lived closer?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI did once, when I had a woman\u2026 then realised I liked peace and quiet so bought this piece of land and settled here for when I\u2019m in town between trips.\u00a0 I like being away from folk, see too much of \u2018em in my job.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben raised his eyebrows and wondered about that, after all perched on top of a stage coach didn\u2019t exactly bring a man into much contact with people, Pete obviously disliked humankind more than even he realised.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere does this road lead to, Pete?\u201d Roy now asked \u201cNorth of here is the road into town, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cS\u2019right, that\u2019s the way you came by to get here. \u00a0 Go east and you get onto Ponderosa land, same as south.\u00a0 If you go west there\u2019s the river, well, ain\u2019t so much a river, a stream \u2026 \u00a0gets mighty high in the winter with the rains and snows, that\u2019s a fact.\u00a0 If you keep on the road you get to no where in particular, although I did hear tell that there\u2019s a small town growing there.\u00a0 Mind you, that\u2019s some days ride from hereabouts, the children would never have gone that far as yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re slap bang in the middle of nowhere, Pete.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYep., that\u2019s how I like it too.\u201d he eased himself into a chair and glanced over at the bed where Olivia still slept \u00a0\u201cI sure hope those kids of hers are safe, no knowing what kind of critter lurks around out there, and I ain\u2019t talking about the four legged kind either, wal, not jest them anyhow. \u00a0 You can get the occasional renegade creeping around and it\u2019s a haven for outlaws, as you know \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben raised a hand for silence \u201cThanks, Pete.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t mind, I\u2019d prefer not to have to think about them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI can see it, I can see it\u201d \u00a0Sofia clapped her hands and then clasped them together \u00a0beneath her chin. \u00a0 There it was, the little brook bubbling away over the rocks and pebbles, and as clean and cheerful as could be.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI told \u00a0you, didn\u2019t I?\u201d \u00a0Reuben felt a surge of relief reach from head to foot at the sight of the water and looked at his sister \u201cCome on, \u00a0Sofia, come on \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was running, and behind him Sofia ran with glee for she had been so thirsty for so long that she had been surprised at being able to open her mouth at all. \u00a0 Now she ran behind him, skidded and slipped to land on her bottom and to get mud on her coat, but what did that matter? \u00a0 She crouched down beside him and scooped up water in her cupped hands, slurping it up just as her brother did. \u00a0 It was cold, really cold and it made her stomach ache, even her teeth ached but it was good to have moisture in her mouth again even though she couldn\u2019t bear her hands in the water for too long. She shook her fingers \u201cIt\u2019s cold, Boo.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He sighed and nodded, and stepped away from the water to look at her \u00a0 \u201cWe could walk along here a bit, just follow the stream then later on I\u2019ll catch a fish, maybe two, and we can have a fire and eat it here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHere?\u00a0 Right here?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, \u00a0may be further along.\u00a0 I think the waters too fast for fish here.\u00a0 If we walk a bit more we can find a real good place for our camp.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThen daddy will find us won\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know \u2026\u201d some doubt crept into his voice, the fog was thinning he was sure of it, but he remembered that his Pa was with his Uncles some days distance away \u201cI don\u2019t think he knows we aren\u2019t home, Sofia.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think he\u2019ll come for ages yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe will, he will.\u201d \u00a0Sofia cried and scrambled to her feet \u201cDaddy said we were to stay just where we are and not wander off\u2026and we did\u2026 and now daddy will be angry with us.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo he won\u2019t.\u00a0 He\u2019ll find us, that is, if we don\u2019t find him first.\u201d he struck out his chest, so far things had worked out hadn\u2019t they? \u201cLook , we had a good camp last night, I caught that rabbit didn\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI want to go home, Boo.\u00a0 I want mommy and \u2026\u201d \u00a0she started to snivel, and bowed her head in an effort not to let him see her tears for she wanted to be brave, like he was being for her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a moment he felt like crying too, and came to her side and hugged her.\u00a0 His little sister.\u00a0 He could remember when she had been born, and how important and precious she had been then.\u00a0 Perhaps it had been because father had died only months earlier, or because mother had been so ill, \u00a0but he had cuddled her as a baby, \u00a0comforted and loved her. \u00a0 He hated seeing her cry, but her words stung him just a little too, because in his heart of hearts he had realised long ago that they would have been wiser to have stayed in the cabin.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe won\u2019t get home if we just stay here bawling, now, come on, cry baby, let\u2019s go.\u201d and he put out a hand to take hold of hers \u201cCome on, \u00a0Sofia, don\u2019t be a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not, I just want to stay here and wait for daddy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut daddy\u2019s with Uncle Hoss and Uncle Joe, \u00a0he\u2019s a long ways off, \u00a0it\u2019ll take ages for him to find us.\u00a0 Better for us to keep walking \u2026look, Sofee, we can walk alongside the stream and make a camp further up. \u00a0 Wouldn\u2019t you like that?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She shook her head, folded her arms across her chest and pouted \u201cNo, I want to stay here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Reuben squared his shoulders and stuck out his chin \u201cyou can stay here if you like, but I\u2019m going to walk on a bit further. \u00a0 Are you coming?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m staying here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He hesitated, dare he say it?\u00a0 Dare he? \u201cWell, I\u2019m not, so you can stay here by yourself for all I care \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t wait to see the effect of his words but turned around and marched off.\u00a0 Soon the mist would clear away, he would know exactly where they were and he\u2019d get home.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t look behind him but was satisfied by the crunch of her footsteps on the pebbles and stones to know that she was close behind him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They walked for some distance, keeping close to the stream, occasionally stopping to drink some water which slaked their thirst but did nothing to quell the hunger pangs.\u00a0 The fog was lifting and ahead he could see a bend in the direction of the stream, he stopped for a moment to observe it.\u00a0 Had he seen it \u00a0before? \u00a0 Was it familiar or was it just one of many others, similar but not the same?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia was dragging behind, \u00a0she was very tired and hunger was making her feel light headed. \u00a0 She sat down on a rock and shivered, \u00a0looked over at Reuben and called to him to stop, but resolutely he continued on, so deep in thought that he didn\u2019t even hear her voice.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia cupped her mouth with her hands and called out again as loudly as she could \u201cReuben \u2026 Sofia \u2026 \u00a0 Reu – ben \u00a0 \u2026. \u00a0 \u00a0Soo – fia\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The words bounced back as the fog swirled around them.\u00a0 Ben came and put his hand on her shoulder \u201cCome along, Olivia, I think we should head for home before this fog gets any thicker.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She felt a strange tightness in her chest, and for a second her throat seemed to close up altogether making it difficult to breathe.\u00a0 Leave, how could she possibly leave? She shook her head \u201cI can\u2019t leave here, Ben.\u00a0 How can I?\u00a0 The fog will clear, \u00a0it cleared earlier on didn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a few hours ago, \u00a0and all we\u2019ve done is ride and waste time.\u201d \u00a0Ben sighed, \u201cWe went in the wrong direction and if we carry on like this we\u2019re going to be riding further away from them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know that for sure.\u00a0 We could be getting closer to them all the time now.\u201d her words were a vain protest, she knew that, she had known and felt it ever since they took this fork in the road.\u00a0 She couldn\u2019t even remember now why they had turned into it, there was certainly no indication that the children had passed that way.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the fog.\u201d Ben muttered, \u201cIt makes familiar landmarks look in the wrong place, \u00a0you need to really know your territory around here to know exactly where to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She rubbed the back of her neck where the pain was, she ached all over and yet, and yet, she could not possibly stop, not now. \u00a0 \u201cBen, can\u2019t we try just a little longer?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy joined them now, he had ridden on further into a copse of trees where he had thought that perhaps the children would have taken shelter but there was nothing to report back to them.\u00a0 He looked at them both sadly, \u00a0obstinacy on both their faces.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI reckon we took a false trail back along,\u201d \u00a0he nodded towards the way they had come, \u201cEasy to do in this weather, it tricks the eyes.\u201d \u00a0he leaned forward, resting his folded arms on the saddle horn \u201cLook, Ben, Miz Cartwright, you\u2019re both exhausted.\u00a0 You should head for home, get some rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia opened her mouth to protest but Ben\u2019s hand on her arm stopped her and Roy nodded \u201cI know it\u2019s hard to accept, but we need to get \u00a0better prepared for tomorrow.\u00a0 This fog will clear, we\u2019ll be able to get a clearer lead, you\u2019ll see.\u00a0 We already lost time with no results today, \u00a0ain\u2019t no point pushing on in the wrong direction and this clearly was the wrong direction.\u00a0 Tomorrow the weather will brighten, \u00a0I\u2019m going to stay at the cabin so that I can get \u00a0a good start.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThen I\u2019ll stay too, \u00a0I can rest overnight and -\u201d she paused as the pressure on her arm from Ben tightened and she turned to look at him<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam will be home tomorrow,\u201d he said quietly, \u201cHe\u2019ll need to know what\u2019s happened, Olivia.\u00a0 You\u2019ll \u00a0have to be there to tell him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia couldn\u2019t go any further, she just curled up into a tight little ball and waited for Reuben to make a fire like he promised he would. \u00a0 She felt strange, she felt light and heavy all at the same time and her throat hurt her so \u00a0much, and her tummy was really very strange.\u00a0 She closed her eyes, perhaps if she went to sleep then when she woke up Mommy or daddy would be there, they would pick her up, and hold her close, and tell her how much they missed her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben \u00a0built up his little fire and struck the matches. \u00a0 Pages of his book were sacrificed willingly because he was so cold, \u00a0his fingers were numb and he dropped some matches on the ground as a result.\u00a0 When the paper ignited he was even too tired and weary to feel glad about it.\u00a0 The smoke rose and was gathered up into the fog. \u00a0 He watched it as it spiralled up and disappeared. \u00a0 He collected more wood, \u00a0made a good fire and then went to sit beside Sofia.\u00a0 He should catch a fish, he should, he knew that he should \u2026 somehow he was too tired, he just wanted to sleep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The damp moist air of the fog had seeped into their already damp clothing, \u00a0his feet and hands were so cold and he knew that his sisters were just as \u00a0bad. \u00a0 He lay down \u00a0by her side, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer to him.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t cry, but the tears came anyway, silently trickling down his face as he thought over all the mistakes he had made\u2026 \u00a0he thought them over, \u00a0one by one, and realised he had failed, he had not kept his sister safe, he had forgotten the basic rules Adam had taught him, \u00a0his father would be so ashamed of him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the distance he heard what he thought was thunder, \u00a0it boomed three times but his head was reeling and he just buried his face into his sister\u2019s neck, feeling the damp wool of her bonnet against his cheek, the smell of it reminded him that he needed to get her home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy slipped the gun back into his holster and the three of them waited, \u00a0as though somewhere out of the fog two little figures would come running towards them, smiles on their faces, relief bright in their eyes.\u00a0 Olivia strained her eyes into the fog willing her son and daughter to appear, \u00a0and when nothing happened she turned to Roy and asked him what good had that done.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ll know we\u2019re looking for them\u2026\u201d he said, once again, and nodded his craggy head, his moustache dewed by the mist, his eyes dewed with something other that that, and with a sigh he looked at Ben \u201cYou\u2019d best take the lady home, Ben\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 27<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy buckled his gun belt securely around his waist and then pulled on his thick winter coat. \u00a0 The situation with the missing children was tearing at him in every way, \u00a0and his responsibilities as a lawman seemed to be hindering rather than helping in his finding them.\u00a0 Rules and procedures, teeming rain and then the fog, everything combined together to prevent him just riding on out and looking for them without any hindrance. \u00a0 He had met Dorothy Tennant earlier who had told him that Roy had ridden off with Ben and Olivia to look for the children, and it had rankled sourly that an old man would be able to do mor e than he had done.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ann, his wife, had assured him that he was doing the best he could after all he had located the cabin as a result of the saloon and store search he had conducted so promptly after the report of them missing.\u00a0 He had taken a posse out despite the pouring rain because it had been assumed that the children could never have got so far away from the cabin as to be lost.\u00a0 He had found Fitz and provided the necessary help for him, thereby saving his life.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was all well and good telling him that, but the fact remained that he had not found the children.\u00a0 He knew that Adam Cartwright would demand reasons and answers as to why they had been allowed to wander off for so long, \u00a0and he knew he would not be able to give an answer.\u00a0 Well, he could, but \u00a0he didn\u2019t think it would go down very well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Charlotte Beckett had admitted, upon a further visit, that she had told Ezra that the Cartwrights had gone ahead, \u00a0it had been told him begrudgingly and only because the girl knew that Jimmy and Billy and several others were going to tell the sheriff anyway.\u00a0 At the end of the day, Candy had concluded, the blame lay at Ezra\u2019s door, the man should never have accepted the word of a child and just ridden off, \u00a0leaving Reuben and Sofia alone.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Then Miss Brandon had admitted that she had neglected her duties by not checking all her pupils had been safely collected for their respective homes.\u00a0 Had she made her customary check she would have found the children and taken them into the school house, until she had found a means of getting them home.\u00a0 Blushing she had told Candy about her young man coming to see her, and that had caused her negligence.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It had eaten into time listening to them, taking down their statements.\u00a0 But basically all he had wanted to do was get his horse, ride out to that cabin and go looking \u2026 all he wanted more than anything was to find those two children and bring them home, hopefully, before Adam returned and found them gone.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

Ben had insisted that Olivia return with him to the main house and she had said nothing, \u00a0too tired to resist because emotionally and mentally everything she felt or thought was bound up with her missing children. \u00a0 He had to help her from the horse she was so stiff and as a result had to be half carried across the yard as she seemed to sleep walk along side him.\u00a0 Hank hurried out to take care of the horses and lead them into the stable.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester had opened the door wide as soon as she had heard the sound of horses, she said nothing, for her eyes told her all she needed to know.\u00a0 There were no children, Olivia was in a state of near collapse and both she and Ben looked exhausted.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary Ann rose from the chair in which she had been seated by the fire, \u00a0and glanced over at Hop Sing who promptly disappeared into the kitchen. \u00a0 Her eyes then turned to Hester who, standing behind Ben and Olivia in order to close the door, shook her head slightly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gentle hands led Olivia to the settee and helped her to sit before she actually fell down. \u00a0 She struggled within herself to be strong, not to give way to tears, not to sob and wail when within her everything was screaming and being pulled apart.\u00a0 She looked up at her sisters in law and sighed, leaned back and closed her eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester was rubbing her hands, Mary Ann pulled off her wet muddy boots and began to massage her feet, Ben added another log to the fire before going to the bureau and pulling out a thick blanket which he draped carefully over her once the wet coat had been removed, while Hop Sing came and the rattle of crockery heralded coffee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what I\u2019m going to tell Adam.\u201d Olivia whispered suddenly as though aware that they were waiting for her to speak, \u00a0prepared to take their cue from her before speaking and saying the wrong thing. \u00a0\u201cHow am I going to tell him that they didn\u2019t come back from school.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDrink the coffee, it\u2019ll warm you.\u201d Hester murmured<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDid you find no sign of them at all?\u201d Mary Ann asked and Ben shook \u00a0his head, took his seat by the fire and bowed his head which he rested in his hand \u201cNothing,\u201d he said, \u201cIf we didn\u2019t know from the saloon girl that her friend Fitz had taken them \u2026 we would have been none the wiser as to where they had been.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019s Fitz?\u201d Hester wanted to know and so Ben explained all that had happened during their absence while the two women did their best to pay attention while at the same time making sure that Olivia was being cared for, whether she wanted it or not.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She wasn\u2019t listening but stared into the flames of the fire while her mind went over and over the events of the past 24 hours, the futile waste of time. \u00a0 Suddenly she sat upright and the cup rattled down upon the saucer \u201cNathaniel \u2026where\u2019s Nathaniel?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What if he was lost too? What if he were at the other house, alone, in the cold and without food? \u00a0 She wondered, momentarily, \u00a0if she were going mad, whether it was exhaustion or fear or something worst that had triggered this sudden panic and she rose to her feet, the blanket puddling around her feet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was Cheng Ho Lee who appeared from the kitchen with the infant in his arms, and Nathaniel bouncing up and down with glee with his finger in his mouth and eyes wide.\u00a0 He saw his mother and gave a crowing cry of delight \u201cMommom\u201d \u00a0and both arms were stretched out towards her while dimples appeared in his cheeks and his mouth widened into a smile that exposed his little white teeth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He laughed, \u00a0a gurgle of sound that showed his pleasure at seeing this one person he loved more than anything on earth. \u00a0 He loved his brother and sister, and his father, but mother was different, mother fed him, kept him warm and dry, cuddled him and sang to him.\u00a0 Even her smell was precious to this little bundle of mischief and when she held out her arms to him he wrapped dimpled arms around her neck and buried his face against her neck. \u00a0\u201cMommom\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHey, my boy, my Nathaniel\u2026.\u201d she whispered and kissed him gently, looked into his face and wondered how would she survive if he also had been taken from her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been a good boy,\u201d Mary Ann assured her and smiled her gentle smile, \u201cHe missed you though.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia nodded and kissed the chubby cheek and Nathaniels fat little fingers stroked her face, played with her lips and he giggled as wisps of her hair tickled his nose, as he held her tightly and wondered in his baby way why she held him so close to her, so close in fact that he could barely breathe.\u00a0 He wriggled a little and she relaxed her hold, \u00a0then sat down with him on her knee so that he clapped his hands and dimpled more smiles up at her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOlivia, have something to eat now,\u201d Hester said quietly. \u00a0\u201cYou need to build up your strength.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded, but she didn\u2019t move.\u00a0 She just wanted the warmth of the fire to thaw out her bones, \u00a0help her relax; \u00a0 she just wanted to hold her baby and enjoy the sight of his chuckles, \u00a0his bright eyes and wide smile.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy opened the door to the abrupt rapping and nodded when he saw Candy on the other side, \u201cWondered if you\u2019d find yourself hereabouts.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t stay in town, \u00a0not knowing that those children were still \u2026\u201d he paused \u201cUnless you\u2019ve found them and Ben \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0no sign of them.\u00a0 The fog messed us up, \u00a0couldn\u2019t read or find any sign of them being in the area.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey must be hereabouts, Roy.\u00a0 Where else could they have gone?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy sat down again and stretched out his legs, he pulled several hairs out of his moustache and shook his head \u201cDepends on whereabouts they thought they were going, I guess. \u00a0 We know they didn\u2019t \u00a0head for town, \u00a0they headed in quite the opposite direction, but that\u2019s as much of a guess as anything because we ain\u2019t seen no clue of it.\u00a0 It\u2019s as though they left this cabin and just walked into — thin air!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo one walks into thin air, Roy. \u00a0 Look, the fogs thinning out.\u00a0 It\u2019ll be dark soon, \u00a0but we could still go looking, \u00a0if Pete has some lamps?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pete inclined his head to indicate he had been listening and that he had some storm lamps. \u00a0\u201cGood, \u00a0let\u2019s go and see what we can find before it gets too dark to find anything at all.\u00a0 We don\u2019t want to waste more time than we already have.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They walked alongside the horses holding the lamps low so that the light could pick up any sign, any small clue of the children\u2019s whereabouts\u2026 a small foot print, a thread of wool from their clothing, anything at all. \u00a0 \u201cSeems that rain washed out most sign near the cabin.\u201d Roy muttered after a while and he raised the lamp he was holding up a little higher \u201cWe took that route there, seemed the kind of track they would take but we didn\u2019t find anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy nodded, he was impatient to get on, \u00a0impatient to find something, anything.\u00a0 He walked on pulling at his horse\u2019s reins as the animal walked behind him. \u00a0 He swung the lamp back and forth over each patch of ground he paused at before he moved on to another patch. \u00a0\u201cThe posse made a mess here, didn\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAll that rain, what did you expect?\u201d \u00a0Roy shrugged<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTo be honest I expected to find them in the cabin, waiting for us.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t think that they would decide to walk home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy nodded, it was logical after all, \u00a0he said nothing but held the lamp low by his feet and continued walking onwards. \u00a0 After an hour they had to replenish the candles in the shutter lamps and then Candy said \u201cWhats that up there?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was something white, even now the breeze caught at it so that it drifted further down the slope towards them. \u00a0 Candy hurried to pick it up and both men leaned closer with the lamps providing greater light upon the paper in Candy\u2019s hand \u2026it was a scorched corner from a page taken from a McGuffey exercise book. \u00a0 Both men looked at one another \u201cThey came this way\u2026\u201d Candy whispered almost reverentally.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now they stepped up the slope scanning around them for further clues and it was Roy who found the remnants of the first fire that Reuben had made, evidence of a rabbits carcase was also found, and once again the two men stood together, heads close as they examined what they had come upon. \u00a0 \u201cThe boy did well, the best he could anyhow.\u201d Candy murmured.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy nodded \u00a0\u201cSeems so \u2026 \u201c \u00a0he paused and turned around, then looked up at the sky \u201cNights closing in, we won\u2019t find much more now, \u00a0we need to get back.\u00a0 At least we now have a new starting point and tomorrow, if there\u2019s no more fog, we should find them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAmen to that,\u201d Candy whispered and with an abrupt nod of the head he turned to mount his horse \u201cConsidering how small they are, they made quite a good distance.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cS\u2019right, they did, \u00a0and in the right direction too.\u00a0 That is, if they were heading for the Ponderosa. \u00a0 Would have taken \u2026let me see \u2026 about two days walking to get to the ranch house from here though.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy said nothing to that, with the weather conditions as they were, he didn\u2019t think the children would have lasted two more days walking across the boulder strewn harsher route to the Ponderosa, even less chance had it been undertaken during the summer. \u00a0 He turned his horse towards the way they had come and felt a slight lightening of heart at the thought that they had found something, not a lot, but enough to keep that flicker of hope burning bright.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 28<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was miserably cold, miserably so. The fog rolled away into the clouds and revealed a black and purple sky with pinpricks of light, a hazy moon shrouded by clouds. Reuben opened his eyes and wondered why he had felt so cold, why it was that his body was shaking so much. He could see the glimmer of the fire close by and instinct told him that it needed to be fed, more fuel had to be placed upon the embers so that they could be warmed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was stiff as he stood up and swayed a moment on his feet, swayed and shivered. How glad he was that he had gathered up a stack of wood by his little fire, meagre though it was it gave some warmth. Sticks and twigs and little branches, bits of drift wood from the banks washed up by the waters were all piled there and carefully he placed them upon the glowing embers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His hand shook and he remembered a time when he had made a snowman, it was bitterly cold but he wanted to finish making the snowman and had remained outside until he could not feel his fingers, his toes or his nose. It was the same now and some of the twigs he dropped because he was shaking so much.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReuben \u2026 Mommy, mommy\u2026I want my daddy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s alright, Sofee, it\u2019s alright, I\u2019m here by the fire. Come on, come and get warm.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She could see him silhouetted by the flames and rubbed her eyes to try to see him better. She was wet through, during her slumbers her bladder had emptied after all when all one had taken into ones stomach was water then no matter how small, it had to go somewhere. Her mouth felt dry and so did her tongue but she managed to get up and totter over to the fire which had livened up enough to throw out some heat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s pretty, Boo\u201d she smiled and nodded, blinked her eyes as smoke drifted into her face \u201cIt\u2019s warm\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou can get closer, Sofee, then you\u2019ll feel warmer.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded and stepped nearer, he was beside her, his hand on her arm and both of them stood close together as though transfixed by the sight of the flames eating up the fuel Reuben had so carefully gathered up earlier<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was common to take a short cut across the Ponderosa if one knew where it was and Clifton Reid, anxious to get to Bodie as soon as possible chose to do just that in order to avoid the longer public roadway. He had lived in the area many years and had once scouted with the army during the Pyramid Lake affray in the \u201960\u2019s. He knew the Cartwrights by reputation, and he knew this area of the Ponderosa in which they were travelling now very well, having ridden through it many times in the past. The Ponderosa was a big place, and no one could keep track of exactly who came and went on the various back tracks throughout such a vast territory.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was later than he would have chosen for the journey back to Bodie, but when they had left for the homeward journey there had been no indication that the weather would turn so unpleasant. There had been little he could do or say about it, after all, he had been taking orders from the Royale’s for years now, ever since he had signed on to serve under Colonel Royale.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The two women in the closed carriage didn\u2019t really know where they were, but had trusted Clifton for several years now and had no reason to doubt his ability to get them back safely this evening. It had been a nuisance having the fog come down as it had, but as usual Clifton had prepared well for the delay and apart from some little discomfort in being caught out in the open in what they would consider, wilderness, the ladies were quite pleased with how things had gone.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mrs Rosemarie Royale was a wealthy woman, a widow, and had travelled around the west for many years with her husband who had been a military Officer, and upon retirement had decided to settle in Bodie. Their daughter, Katherine, had been engaged to marry a young officer who had died in Montana during the Indian troubles, so the younger woman had joined them at their new home. Colonel Royale with all his authority and money had soon been established as the Mayor of the prosperous town that was mushrooming when other towns were declining. Of course, it was his nature to assume it was always due to his \u2019magic touch\u2019. Sadly, he didn’t live long enough to enjoy everything that he would have felt rightly due to him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine Royale was more than aware of the passing years, the lack of a husband and family. They were returning now from visiting her sister, \u00a0who lacked neither and had rather enjoyed seeing the yearning that Katherine had been unable to hide, upon seeing her sister\u2019s new born son, and the little neice, Alice. \u00a0 Throughout the return trip she had spoken little which had only caused the older woman to be bad tempered and sharper tongued as a result.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The fog had not dampened Rosemarie Royale\u2019s temper and now as the carriage bumped its way homewards she began to talk about her disappointment in her daughter, in the lack of a son in law, the disadvantage of having no grand children to continue the family name and fortune.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine listened, as she always did until she could stand it no more, then, without a word, she half rose from her seat and rapped at the thin wall that divided them from their driver and said very loudly \u201cStop!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Whether the word was meant to be for her mother\u2019s benefit or Cliftons she was not sure, but the carriage stopped almost toppling Mrs Royale onto the floor, while Katherine opened the door and stepped out onto the track.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are you going? Katherine, what are you doing?\u201d Mrs Royale\u2019s voice vibrated through the cold night air, \u201cGet back inside, girl, before you catch cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was dark, but standing a short way from the coach made Katherine feel isolated from anyone else in the world. She could hear the sound of the horses as they shook their heads, stamped their feet, the jingle of their harnesses. She could hear her mother\u2019s strident tones, but as though from far away. All she wanted was this few moments of isolation, to take some deep breaths in order to restore her equilibrium.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When she looked up above her the sky was all shades of black and purple with clouds still visibly grey while stars twinkled and shone.<\/p>\n

The cold air touched her cheek and she closed her eyes and thought how one day she would be alone, actually alone, to live her own life, to enjoy living. She imagined herself with a loving husband, children around her, surrounded by love and never a cross word to be heard again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Opening her eyes again she noticed what appeared to be a small fire just ahead of her. Who, she wondered, would light a fire here, of all places?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cClifton, is that a fire?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhereabouts, Miss Katherine?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When he realised she was going to walk across the stones and boulders to reach the fire he followed close behind her, just in case she fell and broke an ankle or slipped and needed a helping hand. Neither of them expected to see what they found though, and both of them just stood there and stared in amazement at the sight of the child fast asleep and as close to the fire as possible.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia woke to find herself in a bed that was somehow familiar but which she knew was not her own. She lay very still and kept her eyes closed so that she could go over and over in her mind what had happened. Perhaps it had been a dream, all a ghastly nightmare of a dream. Perhaps any moment now she would be able to get up and walk to where Reuben and Sofia were sleeping.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reality came crashing with full force and her heart beat quickened so rapidly that she felt sick, dizzy. She had to half raise herself up on her elbow to try and stop the pounding in her ears, and to still the thudding of her heart by placing her hand against her chest.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A sound close by startled her and made her heart beat faster as she asked herself if she were really alone, who was in the room, who was there? Adam? Was Adam home? How was she going to tell him that the two children were missing?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clasping her hands together she pressed them close over her beating heart and forced herself to take shallow breaths, and the sound came again and a voice close by said \u201cMommom Mommom\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She bowed her head and buried her face within the chalice of her hands, tears trickled slowly from her eyes as though in protest at being shed at all. Had she not wept enough? \u201cMommom Mommom\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The lamp beside the bed suddenly flared brighter and a deep voice said \u201cOlivia?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Just for a moment hope soared, only to falter as she realised it was Ben, dear Ben, sitting guard over her as he had done countless times over one or other of his sons. She brushed away tears and turned to him \u201cHow long have you been there, dear ?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSince you fell asleep.\u201d he leaned forward and looked into her face, saw the tears and nodded \u201cYou have a little boy who wants a hug?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She didn\u2019t know if it was a rebuke, a reminder that there was still one child who needed her and who was demanding her attention from close by but she was grateful for it. She turned towards where Nathaniel was standing in the cot, a smile on his lips, dimples in his cheeks and his hair a mass of black curls. \u201cOh Pa, thank goodness for Nathaniel.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She had whispered the words, but he heard them, nodded and lifted the child from the cot and into her arms. She held him close, smelled the warmth of his body, the scent of his hair and he put his arms around her neck and settled his head upon her shoulder, put two fingers into his mouth and closed his eyes \u2026 mother was near, all was well with his world.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is the time, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He glanced at the clock on the wall and said that it was 4 o\u2019clock in the morning, and to that she said nothing but continued to stroke her little boys back, running her fingers up and down his spine, feeling his nearness so that she couldn\u2019t remember just how far away her other babies were now.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam pushed away the blanket and scrambled to his feet, yawned and stretched. Hoss\u2019 snoring was loud enough to remind him that his brother slept near by, while Joe lay as still as a log close to the fire.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam flexed his back and stretched out his weaker leg, which he then rubbed for a few moments. The cold affected it more than he had realised or wanted, a reminder of something he would much rather forget. Looking up at the sky he watched as a shooting star fell to the earth and he smiled as he remembered the first time Sofia had seen one and he had said \u201cMake a wish, pudding\u201d and she had looked at him with a puzzled expression on her face and just said \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was smiling to himself as he built up the fire, yes, how do you make a wish \u2026 how do you explain to a little girl what a wish was? How do you explain when a wish doesn\u2019t come true? He rubbed his face, feeling the prickles of stubble beneath his fingers. He put the coffee pot onto the flames once he had poured water onto the coffee grounds and having done that he found the log upon which to sit and think awhile, in peace, before his brothers woke up.?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Life had been different since returning home. From being an officer in command of several hundreds of men, making decisions that they were to obey, without question, he was back to taking orders from his father, some of which he disagreed with and didn\u2019t follow through on.; back to giving orders to his brothers most of which they ignored, and it was hard to constantly bite his tongue and to turn the other cheek.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was good to have a wife like Olivia, a woman who was intelligent but didn\u2019t flaunt it, who could be quiet, and he smiled at that thought as words of a song trickled through his mind \u201cI love a quiet girl \u2026\u201d and he did love her, even now thinking of her gave him goose bumps. He hummed the tune of the song beneath his breath as he found his mug and filled it with the coffee, and then began to sip it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Well, he was no longer an officer in command of a ship or ships full of men who obeyed his every order, but he was a father now, and he smiled again at the memory of children who wanted stories, needed discipline, played games and laughed with him. His smile softened at the thought of the baby, who had now got round to calling him daddy just like Sofia, and clapping his hands when he saw him first thing in the morning.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He glanced up at the sky and sighed, if they kept up the speed at which they had been riding they would be home soon. He cleared his throat at the sound of Hoss, mid snort, muttering about coffee and bacon and the noise his big brother made on getting out of his bed roll. Opposite them Joe remained sleeping, but small movements indicated that he also would soon be awake.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once awake, breakfasted, washed and shaved, they could head for home. He was so looking forward to seeing Livvy again, and, of course, the children.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 29<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy was the proverbial early bird that catches the worm, only this particular morning he was hoping to catch two little lost children. He shook Candy awake and after eating the breakfast that Pete had prepared for them, washing it down with coffee they left the cabin and took to their horses.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Neither of them spoke much, they prepared their horses, mounted up and departed.\u00a0 It was as though even the danger of speech could rob them of time and both felt that time was of the essence, lives depended on prompt action.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They headed immediately to the spot where the remains of the rabbit had been found and from there they walked the horses while they kept their eyes firmly on the ground, scouring the rain soaked mud, the rocks and scrubby shrubs that grew in the area. \u00a0 It seemed to take some time before they came across the next sign of the childrens whereabouts and after getting down from the horses in order to be closer to the ground they made a scrupulous search once again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They separated, hoping by doing so that one of them at least would find some sign of them. \u00a0 When Roy located the dead ash of a small fire he immediately called over to Candy \u201cThey\u2019ve done well,\u201d the sheriff murmured as he glanced around for more evidence of their presence and raised his head to look around him \u201cI would think they would be heading for the stream.\u00a0 It\u2019s just a trickle in the summer, but there should be quite a good flow just now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat fog certainly messed up their sense of direction, this here has taken \u2018em miles from the way home.\u201d \u00a0Roy scratched the back of his neck \u201cI guess young Fitz taking them to that cabin would have done it, \u00a0it\u2019s on the wrong side for them, Reuben would not have had a clue where he was when he came out of there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe should have stayed where he was, until someone found him\u2026\u201d Candy sighed and shook his head, a strand of black hair fell across his brow which he impatiently brushed away<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to remember, son, that Reuben\u2019s a city boy, and Adam ain\u2019t been around that long to teach him all the things we take for granted around here. \u00a0 Sides which he would have wanted to get his sister home, thought he was doing the right thing at the time.\u00a0 We all fall prone to doing that now, ain\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy nodded thoughtfully, but it still stuck in his head that all this would have been avoided had the children stayed at Pete\u2019s with Fitz or, better still, insisted on being taken to Bridie\u2019s<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They walked along with their horses on leading reins and soon came across the stream burbling away as merrily as ever, a silent witness to what had passed but certainly not a forthcoming one. \u00a0 It was Candy this time who noticed the prints of small feet, even the impression of Sofia\u2019s body from where she had slid and slipped onto her bottom. \u00a0\u201cThey stopped here to get a drink I should imagine.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWater\u2019s cold\u201d \u00a0Roy frowned, and looked up at the skies with a shake of his head \u201cCandy, if we don\u2019t find them soon, \u00a0we\u2019re going to have real problems.\u00a0 Look -\u201d \u00a0he pointed upwards to where the sky was burgeoning darker clouds and he pouted so that his moustache stuck out in a fierce bristling ridge above his upper lip \u201cReckon snows on the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cEarly this year.\u201d Candy muttered and shivered, then looked down again at the clues that they had found \u201cBest get moving along, seems they followed the stream from here \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Within less than an hour they located the last of the fires, dead and dormant now. \u00a0 Both men stared down at it, and at the small heap of wood still ready to be piled onto what had been a decent little fire.\u00a0 Roy squatted down with a scowl on his face and pushed his hat back \u201cWhat do you make of these here, Candy?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was Candy\u2019s turn to squat and stare, \u00a0his fingers traced the marks he saw \u2026\u201dA child\u2026children\u2026 seems they slept here, or lay here by the fire awhile.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOne of them slept here\u2026 look\u2026over there, footprints leading off.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere to?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy didn\u2019t say a word but followed the track of disturbed soil, \u00a0broken down blades of strubby grass, then he paused, turned and looked back \u201cSeems to me these here tracks seem to go back and forwards, like as if \u2026\u201d again he stopped and muttered something beneath his breath. \u00a0\u201cIf Hoss were here he\u2019d know what this would mean\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy said nothing but only tugged at Roys sleeve and pointed to where the river bank sloped quite steeply just ahead of them. \u00a0 It was easy to see, even without his glasses on, the small pile of books and the lunch pail toppled upon the ridge top.\u00a0 Both men began to run, until they had reached where the items had been cast and then glanced over to look downwards where a small body lay crumpled close to the edge of the stream.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDoesn\u2019t look good,\u201d Roy said with a lump in his throat, and he swallowed hard before scrabbling his way down the slope to where the child lay. \u00a0 Candy came close behind him but was the first to reach Reuben, \u00a0touched his face, his throat for a pulse and then looked up<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s alive, Roy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The old man nodded, cleared his throat again and passed a hand over his eyes in order to wipe away evidence of tears.\u00a0 Relief made his heart flutter wildly, and he nodded again before approaching the man and boy \u201cLooks like a bad bump on the head\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy nodded \u201cHe\u2019s soaked through, \u00a0but he\u2019s got a good steady pulse.\u00a0 The way he fell \u2026\u201d he heaved in a deep breath \u201cJust a few more inches and he would have smashed his skull, as it is, he fell between these boulders and they protected him from the worst of the weather last night.\u00a0 Thank goodness for that, Roy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His blue eyes, unashamedly awash with tears looked into Roys faded denim and he bowed his head for a moment as though unable to speak.\u00a0 Roy put a hand on his shoulder, \u201cWhere do \u00a0you think Sophia is?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReuben wouldn\u2019t leave her, \u00a0she must be near by.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy nodded and stood \u00a0up while Candy scooped the boy up into his arms and held him close against his chest, when the boy stirred and opened his eyes he found a kindly face smiling down at him \u201cYou\u2019re alright, Reuben.\u00a0 You\u2019re quite safe now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSofia?\u201d Reuben croaked through dry parched lips \u201cSofia \u2026gone \u2026 \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGone?\u00a0 How\u2019d you mean, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s Pa?\u201d Reuben whispered, his eyelids fluttered and closed, \u00a0\u201cWhere\u2019s Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReuben?\u00a0 Where\u2019s Sofia?\u201d Candy insisted as he trudged up the slope holding the boy tightly, feeling the wet clothes seeping into his own, \u201cDo you know where your sister is?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben sighed heavily and forced his eyes open \u201cShe\u2019s gone.\u00a0 I looked and looked.\u00a0 Fell down. She\u2019s gone. They took her\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWho? \u00a0 Who took her?\u201d \u00a0Candy now asked but Reuben had slipped back into that comfortable blackness that protected him from thinking anymore about running for his sister, trying to find the little girl, blocking out the sound of voices that rattled about in his head.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy was standing by the horses and took the weight of the boy while Candy mounted up, then passed the child back into the sheriff\u2019s arms. \u00a0 Candy quickly told Roy what Reuben had said and the old ex-sheriff listened attentively before suggesting that Candy took the boy to the cabin. \u00a0\u201cGet him warm, something warm in his stomach.\u00a0 I\u2019ll get back to you as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t take too long, Roy. \u00a0 I intend to get this child back to his mother as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roys face gentled into a smile and he placed a kindly hand upon Candy\u2019s leg \u201cOf course you do, but first of all, he needs a little warmth back into his body, then you can take him home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben was quickly stripped off his clothing and wrapped in a dry thick blanket then placed upon the bed. \u00a0 Pete built up the fire so that even he was worried about the cabin burning down, \u00a0but the wet clothes steamed dry as a result and it wasn\u2019t long before Candy was spoon feeding some broth into the boys mouth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben\u2019s eyes were rather glassy, and he seemed to want to go back to sleep more than Candy would have liked, he said no word about his misadventure but swallowed dutifully as the broth touched his lips. \u00a0 \u201cCan you remember what happened to Sofia?\u201d \u00a0 Candy asked several times as he fed the boy but Reuben shook his head and frowned, looked worried and finally closed his eyes and turned his away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He fell asleep again almost immediately and Candy was checking to see just how dry the clothing was when Roy stepped back inside \u201cThere\u2019s some snow now.\u00a0 Very slight but we need to get the boy back to his mother.\u201d \u00a0he grabbed at the bowl of broth Pete handed him and ladled in a few mouthfuls as he watched Candy carefully dressing the boy again \u201cNo sign of the girl, none at all.\u00a0 There were signs of some one having been there though, by the fire.\u00a0 Far as I could make out a man\u2019s foot prints and smaller ones, perhaps a woman. \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNothing else?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHorses, \u00a0stood awhile and dumped some on the track. \u00a0 But it\u2019s all rock and boulders and hard to read sign there. \u00a0 At one point I thought there had been a coach or buggy there, some wheel prints, but no sign of how long they had been there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019d they come from? What direction?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo idea.\u201d Roy shook his head and put down the bowl, \u00a0\u201cPete, you said there was a new town being built nearby\u2026 how far away?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pete sucked at his moustache and shook his head \u201cReckon quite a distance from here, \u00a0I ain\u2019t been there mind. \u00a0 Only hear reports of it from some folk.\u00a0 It ain\u2019t on the scheduled route for the Overland that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy and Candy looked at one another, and then without a word began to pull on their own outer clothing, Roy slapped his old hat onto his bald head \u201cTake the boy back home, Candy. I\u2019ll head for town and get Paul Martin to ride on out and check on him.\u00a0 His mother needs to know he\u2019s safe and we have some idea of where the girl may be \u2026 hopefully.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Everything hung upon that word, Candy thought as he carried Reuben away, hopefully!!<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam had separated from his brothers at the fork to his home, a mile further along Hoss would deflect to the left to make his way to the old Ponderosa ranch and Joe would take the turning up to his own house further up into the hills. \u00a0 Each one had raised a hand, \u00a0called out a cheery farewell and mentally thought of the pleasures of home, wife, children that awaited them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As soon as he looked on the house Adam felt a niggle of apprehension, \u00a0there was no smoke coiling up from the chimneys. \u00a0 He knew the time was past breakfast, food would have been cooked and now being prepared for the mid day meal and supper later. \u00a0 He dismounted and paused a moment beside his horse, stared at the silent building and tried to work out where Olivia could be, \u00a0and Cheng Ho Lee\u2026what were their schedules for this particular day that would take them from home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He shook his head, decided he was worrying about nothing, \u00a0irritated at not getting a warm welcome and patted his horse\u2019s neck as he passed to reach the house. He was tired, bone weary, his injured leg had ached throughout the hours of the journey this morning and he was cold.\u00a0 He hated being cold.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Having pulled off his gloves he ran his fingers across his jaw, none of them had bothered to shave that morning, preferring to get home as soon as possible and soak in the tub, shave then. \u00a0 He paused again at the door and then pushed it open.\u00a0 It was very quiet. \u00a0 He entered the main room and found the dead ash in the hearth, no fire, no warmth.\u00a0 Alarm bells began to trickle through his head and when a sound \u00a0came from behind him he spun round, the gun in his hand \u2026. \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cEzra?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary Ann almost fell into her husband\u2019s arms as Joe stepped into the large room, and for a moment he was momentarily panic stricken.\u00a0 What had happened to her?\u00a0 Where were the children?\u00a0 The baby?\u00a0 He held her close for a moment and forced a smile as he then gently held her away from him \u201cThat was quite a welcome, honey? \u00a0 Anything wrong?\u00a0 You are alright, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, of course, we\u2019re alright, it\u2019s just that -\u201d \u00a0she pulled at his hand to draw him closer to the fire, \u201cYou\u2019re cold, is it raining?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cEr – no, it\u2019s just started to snow.\u00a0 Couldn\u2019t wait to get home \u2026 where\u2019s Danny and \u2026 the baby?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded and tightened her fingers around his hand \u201cThey\u2019re alright, Joe.\u00a0 It\u2019s just that something awful has happened, the children\u2026\u201d she drew in a deep breath for emotion was getting the better of her, she shivered and struggled a moment before saying \u201cReuben and Sofia are missing, they didn\u2019t get home from school.\u00a0 There\u2019s been no sign of them\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He stood there and just stared, frowned \u201cWhat?\u00a0 Slow down, sweetheart, you\u2019re not making sense. \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cEzra didn\u2019t bring them home.\u00a0 They\u2019ve been missing two nights now. \u00a0 We can\u2019t find them, and Ben went, with Olivia, to find them, but couldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He just stared harder, looked into her face, saw the misery in her grey eyes and pale cheeks, \u201cTwo nights?\u00a0 Where – \u00a0what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He led her to the big chair and together sat down, side by side \u201cEzra was told they had been collected earlier, but they hadn\u2019t been.\u00a0 He believed what he had been told and came home without them.\u00a0 Olivia is – is distraught.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe nodded slowly, \u00a0so she would be, \u00a0he knew that were he to lose his children he would be more than distraught, \u00a0he\u2019d be tearing the town apart.\u00a0 He thought then of his brother, Adam, and rose to his feet \u201cI have to see if – if Adam is alright, \u00a0where is Olivia now?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAt Pa\u2019s.\u00a0 At the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded, looked thoughtfully at her and then gently kissed her cheek \u201cDon\u2019t worry, I\u2019ll just go and see what\u2019s going on, Pa should – might – know something more by now.\u00a0 Adam will no doubt go there to see Livvy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll come with you \u2026 Jenny has the children, she\u2019ll take good care of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a moment Joe hesitated, nodded and then waited until she had her coat on, before leaving the house together.\u00a0 The snow fall was slight, more sleet than anything, but it indicated the weather was taking a turn for the worst.\u00a0 He shivered, not just from the cold.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At the sound of a horse entering the yard, both Hester and Olivia got to their feet, and it was Hester who ran to the door and threw it open to see Hoss\u2019 beaming face as he strode across to greet her. \u00a0 As usual she ran to meet him, to hug him close and feel his arms around her.\u00a0 Safe and secure, she always felt safe and secure when Hoss was home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By the time Hoss had stepped into the house Ben had left the study area and was standing beside Olivia. \u00a0 Hannah and Hope were shouting with glee as they saw their Pa and were instantly in his arms and hugging him \u201cI lubs you, Pa.\u201d Hope declared and tightened her grip around his neck to prove it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia felt her heart tug at the sight of the two girls being bounced in the arms of their father, being lavished with kisses and cuddles.\u00a0 Nathaniel bounced a bit as well, as though bouncing was contagious and he laughed, a happy laugh of a little child who was ignorant of the misery and horror that lay ahead in his future.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHey, this is a great warm welcome home.\u201d Hoss exclaimed, \u201cHi Pa, Hi Olivia\u2026\u201d \u00a0he nodded and tossed his hat onto the bureau, paused and frowned \u201cAnything wrong?<\/p>\n

We ain\u2019t lost the Ponderosa have we?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam could feel his clothing shrinking as he seemed to swell with so many different emotions as he listened to Ezra\u2019s bumbling explanation of what had happened during his absence. \u00a0 He had inclined his head a little as though if he didn\u2019t he may have missed an important word, something that mattered, in the things he was being told. When Ezra finally stopped, twisting his hat round and round between his fingers, there was silence.\u00a0 A long silence as though Adam had to mentally process what he had been told before he trusted himself to speak. \u00a0 Finally he gulped a little, blinked and then stared at the man in front of him<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t think to wait?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThere weren\u2019t no other person near, Mr Cartwright.\u00a0 They\u2019d all gone.\u00a0 I – I just thought -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThought?\u00a0 You just thought?\u201d \u00a0Adam hissed the words, it was almost impossible to get the words past his lips his chest felt so constrained by the knowledge that the children had gone missing. \u00a0\u201cAnd how long ago?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTwo nights they bin missing, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTwo nights?\u00a0 In this weather?\u201d \u00a0 he clenched his fists, Ezra stepped back, he had seen and felt the damage those fists could do in the past, but Adam didn\u2019t move he just stared ahead of him \u201cTwo nights?\u00a0 Has anyone been looking for them?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir, there\u2019s been searches \u2026\u201d \u00a0and Ezra stammered out what he had heard when he went to town, about the posse finding Fitz and the cabin; \u00a0how Ben and Olivia had gone looking for the children and returned home late but without any sign of them<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is my wife now?\u201d \u00a0he scowled and grabbed for his hat, of course she would be at the main house, he retied the thong of leather around his thigh and without a word pushed past Ezra as he hurried to make his way out of the door, his shoulder knocking the other man to one side as though he didn\u2019t exist.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Outside his head spun with the information and he forced himself to concentrate on what he had been told, \u00a0stood for a moment to steady himself and not let emotion take over before he vaulted back into the saddle and set Sports head in the direction of the Ponderosa ranch house.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 30<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam barely noticed his family gathered in the big room of the Ponderosa, he asked where his wife was and when Ben said that she was upstairs with Nathaniel he mounted them two at a time. \u00a0 Everyone downstairs watched with wide eyes, saddened hearts and wondered what would take place behind the door that they heard click with a sharp closure.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia had expected to burst into tears the moment she saw her husband but seeing him standing with the door at his back looking at her with such sadness and misery on his face gave her a curious sense of protection and love.\u00a0 She had just got the baby to sleep so settled him onto the bed, put a finger to her lips to indicate to her husband to keep his voice low and then walked quickly into his arms.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What a haven, what a joy, to feel his arms around her, and his hand gently cup her head while his lips kissed her cheek.\u00a0 She couldn\u2019t weep, not that there wasn\u2019t a fountain of tears left for there were, but just his presence was so reassuring, so strengthening that she just wanted to sink into him, and stay there until everything had blown over and he could tell her it was alright.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After some moments where Adam wasn\u2019t sure if she were supporting him or vice versa, he led her to a chair further away from the bed whereupon Nathaniel slept, and once settling her there he sat opposite her on the wide window ledge, \u00a0holding both her hands in his and looking into her face, before nodding slightly and asking her to tell him exactly what had happened.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She held his hands and if every so often her grip tightened it didn\u2019t matter to him; \u00a0 if every so often her voice wobbled and she had to stop for \u00a0breath, to close her eyes and force the tears back, he said nothing just gently squeezed her hands in sympathy and tender love.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He would nod occasionally, here and there he would ask a question to which she would answer if she knew what the answer was or shake her head bleakly when she didn\u2019t. \u00a0 He waited until she had finished and then sat there as though he had to think over everything again and again until it was fixed in his head.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, \u00a0Candy\u2019s done all he can, and more \u2026 \u00a0so has Roy \u2026\u201d her voice faltered, and her shoulders slumped \u201cAdam, \u00a0I don\u2019t know what to do now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you mean?\u00a0 What do you expect that you have to do, sweetheart?\u00a0 You have already done more than many women would have done.\u201d he kissed her fingers and sighed, then leaned forward to gently stroke her face while his dark eyes lingered over the way her eyes had darkened with tears, still unshed. \u00a0\u201cYou don\u2019t think that I\u2019d leave them out there, do you?\u00a0 You must know that I\u2019ll be leaving here in a moment to go for them?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut -\u201d she paused, \u00a0she wanted to mention that he had just returned from a long trip away, that he would be tired, he needed to rest, he was dirty and weary and countless other things besides, while at the same time she also wanted to ask him why it was he was still sitting there, doing nothing when the children were out there \u2026lost, needing him, needing them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAs soon as I\u2019ve got a fresh horse saddled up and some food ready.\u00a0 I\u2019ll pick up the trail from the cabin and find them, I promise you, Livvy, I\u2019ll find them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut, Adam, you can\u2019t go on your own\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He frowned, scratched his brow as though the thought hadn\u2019t occurred to him and then nodded \u201cI guess Hoss and Joe may want to come along too, although\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no, I\u2019m coming too, I can\u2019t stay here wondering what\u2019s happening while you\u2019re away. I must come too.\u201d \u00a0her voice rose, she checked herself in order to lower her tone and glanced over to the bed where Nathaniel had stirred, then leaned in towards her husband \u201cI can\u2019t stay here, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you can\u2019t come with me, Livvy.\u00a0 That\u2019s impossible.\u201d \u00a0the hold on her hands tightened as he sensed that she was about to pull them free from his grasp \u201cLivvy, you have to stay here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0no, I can\u2019t.\u201d \u00a0she did manage to pull her hands away now and rose to her feet, immediately \u00a0he was standing upright beside her \u201cAdam, they are my children.\u00a0 I have to go and find them. I can\u2019t just stay here and \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a fraction of a second she saw the gleam of something in his eyes, anger?\u00a0 Dismay?\u00a0 She shook her head \u201cYou have to understand, Adam, \u00a0please understand?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He seemed to be struggling with himself, trying to find the right words to say to a mother who was heart \u00a0broken, \u00a0to a woman who was plainly exhausted, to a wife whom he adored and treasured but her words had hurt something inside himself, perhaps his pride, his ego?\u00a0 He cleared his throat and shook his head \u201cNo, you have our son here, he needs you, Livvy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut he\u2019s a baby, he won\u2019t miss me for a few hours, a few days even.\u00a0 Mary Ann and Hester will care for him\u2026\u201d she stopped, \u00a0there was that look on his face, the one that warned her that she had overstepped herself, had said too much, but what of it?\u00a0 She had to think of her children, and she shook her head \u201cYou don\u2019t understand, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI do.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She stopped from turning away from him, those two words so profoundly said, so deeply meant, caused her to pause a moment to look at him and then hopefully say \u201cThen let me come with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He shook his head and then came nearer, taking hold of her arms in his hands he held her tightly against him, \u00a0\u201cLivvy, I do understand how you feel.\u00a0 They are my children too. \u00a0 \u00a0How do you think I feel knowing that you, that my Pa, my children were going all through this while I was absent from home?\u00a0 How do you think I feel when you remind me that they are not my children \u2026 or that Nathaniel can be set aside so casually because you don\u2019t think I will find them or care about them enough without you being with us?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t mean that you didn\u2019t care, Adam\u2026 no, you misunderstood me.\u201d she took in a deep breath, shook her head, closed her eyes and tried to reassemble her thoughts \u201cI – I just feel so – so inadequate, so useless.\u00a0 I can\u2019t just stay here and do nothing\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou wont be doing \u2019nothing\u2019 as you call it. \u00a0 You\u2019ll be making sure our son is safe, and well.\u00a0 You can stay with Hester and Mary Ann, if you wish, if you prefer.\u00a0 But you are not coming with me.\u00a0 Livvy\u2026\u201d he pulled her closer again as she had stepped back as though no longer wanting to be near him \u201cLivvy, I shall find them, I swear to you I shall.\u00a0 I shall bring them home and -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut I -\u201d \u00a0 now the tears spilled over and she sobbed before leaning into him and resting her head upon his chest \u201cAdam, they\u2019re my babies, and – and I need to know they\u2019re safe. \u00a0 Don\u2019t you see?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I can see, I do understand how you feel, Livvy, but try and understand how it is \u2026 the weather is worsening out there, I need to find them soon, and God willing, I shall do. \u00a0 But I can\u2019t do it if you are with me too, \u00a0I can\u2019t worry about your safety, \u00a0as well as look for our children.\u201d \u00a0he gave her a gentle shake and forced her to look into his eyes \u201cLivvy, I love you so much, and I love OUR children, I promise you I\u2019ll bring them safely home but Nathaniel needs you here with him, and I need to know that you are both safe, here. \u00a0 Try and understand, my love, that things can get very unpleasant out there, and I don\u2019t want you to have to endure more than what you are already. \u00a0 It is going to be hard for you waiting here, I know, I understand that, \u00a0but it will help me, \u00a0help me very much, if I can think of you both here, cared for and safe. Please\u2026 try and understand it from that point of view. \u00a0 Will you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She bowed her head, her body relaxed and rested against his while she fought for words that now made no sense because she could see the logic in what he was saying.\u00a0 She was tired, exhausted, yes, she knew that\u2026 \u00a0she knew all about that\u2026 \u00a0his arms were warm around her, she felt as though she could have fallen asleep and slept quite happily within that embrace it was so comforting, so reassuring.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat if they\u2019re \u2026\u201d she caught her breath, no, don\u2019t even think it, don\u2019t even dare whisper it to yourself, because it couldn\u2019t be possible, it just couldn\u2019t be.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll bring them home, Livvy.\u201d he kissed her brow, her nose and then her lips. \u00a0\u201cI will.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Before he left the room Adam paused by the bed and looked down at his sleeping son, a gentle smile came to the previously anxious features, he glanced over at his wife, \u201cHe looks like Joe at that age.\u00a0 I used to stand and watch him sleeping back along, \u00a0he was such a handsome little tyke.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He closed the door upon her, and she heard his footsteps as he went down the stairs. \u00a0 Once she had ensured that her little boy wouldn\u2019t fall out of the bed and harm himself, Olivia left the room and followed her husband to the room below.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I\u2019m coming with you\u201d Hoss was saying, his hands on his hips and legs apart just in case his brother was about to oppose the idea and prepared to do battle in order to change his mind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo am I.\u201d \u00a0Joe said as he squeezed Mary Ann\u2019s fingers gently and then stepped forwards, \u201cPa\u2019s given us the details of where the cabin is\u2026 Pete Riley\u2019s cabin that is\u2026<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll take it from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss nodded, \u201cIt\u2019s already snowing, not heavy yet, perhaps just a passing shower, but we need to get on with it as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSooner we start the sooner we get home.\u201d Joe agreed, a nod of his tousled head and a grim smile.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben had the maps out, spread over the big table and he pointed to Riley\u2019s cabin, the three brothers nodded \u201cI never knew he had a cabin there.\u201d Joe whistled, \u201cThat\u2019s close to our borders but \u00a0a long way from here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe lad, Fitz, was taken ill.\u201d Ben explained patiently, \u201cHe had the best of intentions to bring them home, but the horse was half dead, and so was he\u2026 \u00a0 poor lad, he was near collapse when the posse found him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head \u201cSouth east of here, \u00a0it could lead to anywhere \u2026 depending on which direction they took. \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey aint\u2019 walked far before now, either.\u201d Hoss muttered, \u201cThings look different when you\u2019re walking and being so small an\u2019 all, with the fog \u2026\u201d \u00a0he glanced over at Olivia, and then wished he hadn\u2019t because he immediately turned back to look at the maps \u00a0\u201cRight, we have the direction we need, we\u2019ll get some fresh horses.\u00a0 Hop Sing and Cheng are already sorting out food for the trip.\u00a0 Not that we\u2019ll need it as I doubt if we\u2019ll be gone long.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe nodded and smiled gently at Mary Ann, \u201cCome along, sweetheart, I\u2019ll get you settled back home and get into some dry warmer clothing.\u00a0 I\u2019ll see you two later.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben immediately stepped forward \u201cTwo?\u00a0 Don\u2019t you mean \u2026 three?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam said nothing to that but gave a slight shrug of his shoulders, looked at Hoss and then walked to his wife, kissed her gently on the cheek and then kissed her fingers \u201cI\u2019ll go and change my clothes, get something warmer\u2026 \u00a0 are \u00a0you staying here?\u00a0 I\u2019d prefer that you did, so that I know you\u2019re \u2026 safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded at that, and was about to lean forward to kiss him when the door burst open and Candy walked in with Reuben in his arms.\u00a0 Covered in a scattering of snow he coughed, shook himself like a dog so that the snow went everywhere and then announced \u201cReuben \u2026 found him \u2026 \u00a0he\u2019s safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia gave a muffled sob and then ran towards her son, grabbing him from Candy and lifting him into her arms, regardless of the snow that covered his clothes. \u00a0 Ben came and took the boy from her and rushed him to the big chair near the fire, \u00a0while Mary Ann rushed into the kitchen to get something hot for Candy to drink and something for the boy. \u00a0 By the time Reuben\u2019s eyes fluttered open he found himself looking up into his mother\u2019s face, her big green eyes moist with tears and a slight, hesitant smile on her lips.\u00a0 He sighed contentedly \u201cI told Sofee I would get her home.\u201d<\/p>\n

His eyes closed and he fell into a deep sleep with his mother holding one hand and stroking back the wet hair with the other.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam turned to Candy \u201cAny sign of Sofia?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy shook his head and indicated the maps which he had noted were on the table, together the men made their way over to look at them and where it was that Candy pointed to \u201cWe found Reuben here, he\u2019d fallen between some rocks which protected him from the worst of the wind, but we didn\u2019t find Sofia.\u201d \u00a0he paused to drink some of the coffee generously laced with brandy \u201cBefore he passed out Reuben said something about someone taking Sofia, but when we asked him later he didn\u2019t seem to know what we were talking about, just seemed to have blanked it out of his mind. We could see that she had been sleeping by a fire and we found signs of horsemen on the track\u2026\u201d he pointed to the boundaries of the Ponderosa, \u201cthey must have come from here, or were returning there \u2026 \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cEast – southeast of the Ponderosa.\u201d Adam murmured, and shook his head \u201cRough territory.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy nodded \u201cRoy thought he had seen footprints by the place Sofia had been sleeping, but I cant guarantee when they were made, or even if they were significant.\u00a0 I\u2019d have thought if anyone was going to take the child, they would have taken both of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cUnless Reuben had already left for some reason\u2026.\u201d Hoss murmured.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNothing else?\u201d Ben asked in an undertone and an anxious glance at Olivia whom he knew may look as though she were paying attention to her son, but would be listening as closely as possible to what was being said at the table.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy shook his head \u201cIt was getting bad \u2026 and darkening by the minute.\u00a0 We needed to get Reuben some part dry and warm, check him for injuries before we got him home. \u00a0 We wanted him here more than anything, we know how much worry any extra time caused you all.\u201d \u00a0he paused again and sipped the hot brew, \u201cRoy went on to town, to get Paul Martin, but the snow is falling heavier now. \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReuben will be well looked after here, Candy\u201d \u00a0Adam said quietly, \u201cNow that he\u2019s back with his mother he\u2019ll do well, Hop Sing will know what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He walked over to Olivia and Reuben, placed a hand on her shoulder and leaned down to kiss her head, then gently he stroked the damp hair from Reuben\u2019s brow, smiled \u201cHe\u2019ll have quite a bump there in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She smiled up at him and nodded, then rose to her feet for she had been kneeling beside her son, \u00a0\u201cAdam, \u00a0be careful.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI will, \u00a0Livvy.\u00a0 I\u2019ll bring Sofia home, as long as it takes me, I will.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She shivered, then kissed his cheek.\u00a0 Joe had already left now with Mary Ann, \u00a0and Candy finished his drink and walked to the door slightly ahead of Adam.\u00a0 He stopped and turned, smiled at Olivia then looked at Adam \u201cI feel guilty that I didn\u2019t do as much as I should have done, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam clamped his mouth shut, Candy had echoed his own thoughts earlier, but how does a man show ingratitude to the person who had just brought his son home safely.\u00a0 He nodded and put a hand on Candy\u2019s shoulder and decided to say nothing at all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 31<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester looked at those left in the room, Ben hovering by the fire close to Olivia who was seated beside her son, gently rubbing his hands in hers as though \u00a0by doing so it would reassure the lad that he was home and safe.\u00a0 Hannah and Hope were standing close together looking confusededly at the sight of their cousin who was lying so still upon the settee. \u00a0 Hoss came now and put his arm around her shoulders \u201cI gotta go, \u00a0honey. \u00a0 Adam will need all the help he can get.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know that, Hoss.\u201d \u00a0she nodded, quite accepting of his decision after all these<\/p>\n

brothers had a long history to doing things together and she wasn\u2019t about to step in and change things now. \u00a0\u201cJust go upstairs, change into dry warmer clothes \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He dropped a kiss on the top of her hair and then stooped down to pinch the cheeks of his little girls.\u00a0 How grateful he was that he had come home to find them safe and well, he couldn\u2019t even bear to think about how he could handle his feelings if anything had \u00a0happened to them. \u00a0 Ben stepped forward with a nod of the head and was about to speak when Hester approached him and put a hand on his arm<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa, please don\u2019t go with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was startled at that request, his eyes widened and his face went blank from surprise, then he shook his head \u201cWhat do you mean, Hester?\u00a0 You can\u2019t mean for me to stay home while my sons are out there looking for the child?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI do mean that, Pa.\u00a0 I want you to stay here with us, please, Pa.\u201d \u00a0her fingers tightened around his arm, he could feel them trembling through the material of his shirt and he shook his head again<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHester, are you telling me that I\u2019m too old to go with the boys?\u201d \u00a0 he said it quietly, slightly teasing but mostly not.\u00a0 His vanity was piqued, his confidence in his abilities checked, \u201cI\u2019m not in my dotage yet, young lady.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know that,\u201d she replied and looked over to Olivia who was listening and paying attention, \u201cBut, Pa, you haven\u2019t slept all night, you \u00a0were too-ing and fro-ing to town the previous night, and you had no sleep yesterday at all. \u00a0 You can\u2019t go on like that, \u00a0you have to take care of yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Seeing the stubborn set of his mouth Olivia now rose to her feet, \u201cPa, she\u2019s right.\u00a0 There\u2019s no point in your going out there with the boys if half way through they have to turn back and bring you home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, thank you, Olivia, for your support but let me tell you \u2026\u201d Ben snapped and his voice slightly raised so that Hope ran for cover behind her mother\u2019s skirts and Hannah disappeared to find Hop Sing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa, it\u2019s for your own good,\u201d Hester wheedled as best as she could, \u201cPlease try and consider our feelings?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYour feelings!\u201d!\u00a0 Ben promptly snapped and shook his head in the way an old frazzled lion may have done when taunted by a whipper snapper cub.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, our feelings.\u201d Hester repeated, \u201cwe\u2019ve enough to worry about with our husbands going out there, and – and not knowing where Sofia is, besides which Reuben needs you here, he needs to know there\u2019s a strong male presence here that he can turn to for help.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia nodded \u201cHester\u2019s right, Pa. \u00a0 Reuben will talk to you about things he may feel he needs to protect us from knowing.\u00a0 Boys talk to their grandfathers, you know that they do, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He shook his head \u201cActually no I don\u2019t – never had one myself -\u201d \u00a0he scowled and then glanced up at the stairs as Hoss appeared wearing dry thicker clothing and pulling on a warm vest. \u00a0\u201cSeems like I\u2019m being sweet talked into staying here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood. \u00a0 Glad you decided to stay, Pa.\u00a0 I\u2019ll feel a whole lot happier knowing you\u2019re home right now keeping an eye out for the girls.\u00a0 If this weather worsens I\u2019d want to know you\u2019re here and they\u2019re safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Somewhat mollified by his sons comment Ben nodded, sighed and shook his head, glared at the two women and then put a hand on Hoss\u2019 shoulder \u201cDon\u2019t take unnecessary risks, son, make sure Adam keeps a cool head.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSure, Pa.\u201d \u00a0 Hoss felt slightly embarrassed, the thought of trying to get his elder brother to keep a cool head when he may not have one or chose not to want one, was a hard undertaking.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hop Sing came to tell them that everything was ready for \u00a0Hoss to take, and then he stood with his hands clasped together silently waiting for directions.\u00a0 After kissing his wife good bye, giving \u00a0both girls a cuddle and then nodding over to Olivia he walked to the door, \u00a0followed by Ben who stood beside him and watched as the big man strode over to the stable. \u00a0 From the kitchen door Cheng Ho Lee appeared with several saddle bags stuffed with provisions, which he passed over to Hoss before stepping back to watch him enter the stable.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chubb was being rubbed down by Hank, and as he passed Hoss gave the big black horse a slap on the neck, a nod at Hank \u201cGive him extra oats today, Hank.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSure, Hoss. \u00a0 What horse you taking now?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss sighed, \u00a0and looked at the stalls then nodded \u201cI\u2019ll take Sam, he\u2019s a good animal.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hank nodded, and said nothing more but continued to attend to Chubb who looked rather surprised and resentful as Hoss saddled up Sam, and then, without a word, rode out of the stable,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He waited for barely ten minutes before he was joined by Joe who was mounted on Navejo. \u00a0 \u201cAdam with you?\u201d \u00a0Joe asked<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDoes it look like it?\u201d Hoss growled and then apologised \u201cGuess I\u2019m hungry, and tired, and – and dad blamed worried about that little gel, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Without another word the two men turned their horses in the direction of Adams house, their minds too full of the task ahead to think of anything to say.\u00a0 Black clouds were gathering in the skies above them, blotting out what little sun happened to struggle through, and a little rain with snow began to gently fall<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When Adam had changed his clothing and checked out his saddle bags he found Michaelsons book still folded among one of his shirts.\u00a0 It took no time to pull it out and with a sigh he strode over to the study in order to put it on his desk.\u00a0 As he stepped inside the room he paused a moment, \u00a0just for a moment and raised his head.\u00a0 Something was wrong. \u00a0 Something wasn\u2019t right.\u00a0 He could smell – what was it he could smell? \u00a0 He took a deep breath and half closed his eyes, but the memory was too flitting, and the smell was too vague, too \u00a0thin and light to stay in his mind.\u00a0 He half turned, expecting someone else to be in the room, but there was no one.\u00a0 But yet \u2026 \u00a0he shook his head \u2026 but yet someone had been there.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He put the book on the desk and glanced around him, everything was as he could remember leaving it. \u00a0 He rubbed his jaw, shook his head, what was the point of fretting over \u00a0nothing when there was so much more to worry about and without another thought on the matter he walked away, closed the door and left the house.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He chose to take a good strong animal who had proven himself in the past as sure footed and reliable, glared at Ezra who was busy seeing to Sport and was only too happy to saddle the other horse for Adam. \u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m real sorry, Adam.\u201d \u00a0he managed to say as the other man mounted into the saddle, but he only received a snarl of a grunt in reply as Adam rode his horse out of the stable and into the yard.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By the time he reached the road his brothers were already waiting for him.\u00a0 Joe nodded \u201cWe should reach Riley\u2019s cabin before nightfall,\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam raised his eyebrows, said not a word and turned his horse into the direction of town, \u00a0at the junction some miles before reaching Virginia City would be the turning that Fitz should have taken but had ignored as he sought the refuge of his uncles cabin miles from anywhere.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He wanted to talk, he wanted to be able to put into words all that he was feeling but there were too many feelings and too few words to express them. \u00a0 He envied his brothers for the fact that they rode home to find wife and children safe, and he wished that he had found the same comfort. \u00a0 He wanted to go back over the conversation he had had with Olivia before leaving, \u00a0and he wished that his leaving had been more conciliatory, \u00a0warmer, more loving. \u00a0 He shook his head over some of the things he was thinking, knowing that he shouldn\u2019t be thinking them, and wishing that he didn\u2019t have to.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Beside him Joe and Hoss rode by his side, flanking him right and left.\u00a0 They also were caught up iin their own thoughts.\u00a0 This was no time for banter, \u00a0and niether of them felt that they could indulge in such frivolity anyway. \u00a0 Hoss looked up at the sky and wrinkled his nose, his bunions hurt, his back was sore, \u00a0he\u2019d ridden hard to get home earlier and the kinks were still there.\u00a0 On top of that the snow was coming down heavier.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe \u00a0pulled his muffler closer around his neck and narrowed his eyes in order to view his brother, Adam, more closely.\u00a0 He tried to imagine what the other man would be thinking, feeling, \u00a0and was grateful that he didn\u2019t have to suffer the same agony, the same sense of loss and need to fill it as soon as possible.\u00a0 Snow drifted down his neck and he knew without a doubt that the wretched stuff was going to make a hard task even harder.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 32<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was Ben who opened the door to the sharp rapping upon it, and was not surprised to find Paul, with Bridie by his side standing on the threshold with the snow gently falling upon them. He was soon ushering them in and helping them remove their outer clothing while Hester left her chair to encourage Bridie to draw closer to the fire.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t think you would come in this weather,\u201d Hester said as she rubbed Bridie\u2019s hands between her own, \u201cYou look exhausted.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a busy time in town, Paul and I, and the others have been back and forth like headless chickens. So many babies being born, and there is an outbreak of influenza too. But we couldn\u2019t just stay home after Roy came and told us what had happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is the patient?\u201d Paul demanded to know and when Ben indicated the stairs he muttered that he knew the way and hurried across with Ben close at his heels.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow is Reuben? How is Olivia? I\u2019ve been so worried about them.\u201d Bridie whispered, and Hester placed a gentle hand on her arm and said \u201cI\u2019ll tell you in a moment, let me go and get you a hot drink.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a moment Bridie was prepared to stop Hester from leaving her but then realised how desperate she was for that warmth, it had been a long ride from town and the snow had been falling steadily. She held her hands to the fire and closed her eyes as the heat slowly nibbled into her fingers and when Hester did return with a tray laden with coffee fixings she was nearly asleep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe met Candy on the way, \u201d she accepted the pink patterned cup and held it gently within her hands enjoying the rich aroma of the coffee \u201cHe\u2019s very worried about the fact that Sofia wasn\u2019t anywhere near where they found Reuben, and Roy told us that he thought someone had been by the fire, by where she had been sleeping apparently?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester sat down opposite the other woman and nodded, \u201cIt leaves a lot of questions unanswered, Bridie, but Reuben is home, he may be able to tell us more of what happened.\u201d she sipped her coffee and shook her head \u201cThis weather! It frightens me to think about what could be happening to Sofia, and how are the men going to find her? Then I think\u2026\u201d she put a hand to her face as tears spilled over \u201cI can\u2019t help but think how Olivia must be feeling right now. Oh Bridie, it\u2019s all such a mess\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia was sitting beside her son when Paul and Ben entered the room so she immediately left her seat to allow Paul closer access to the sleeping boy. Together she and Ben moved to where Nathaniel slept in the little cot close by.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a long moment Paul just looked down at Reuben, he made no attempt to touch him but turned to Olivia \u201cHas he woken up at all? Said anything?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She couldn\u2019t speak, only shook her head and blinked hard to stop tears falling. Now that Paul was there she felt frightened at what he would find, at what he would have to say about her boy, and whether or not she would be strong enough to bear it on her own if it were bad news.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Paul rubbed his hands together and then leaned over the bed to start his examination, despite cold hands touching his flesh the child made no move, no murmur. Paul took out his stethoscope, but there was no reaction to that cold instrument touching Reuben either, not even a flinch. He tested reflexes, eye movement, vital signs and then gently felt around the body with probing fingers, experienced wise fingers while he looked at the far wall and thought over what they were telling him. A final check on the lad\u2019s skull and then a sigh as he drew the covers back over him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben was the first to step over to him, Olivia would have been but her legs were shaking too much, she waited with fearful anticipation for the worst possible news.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell?\u201d Ben\u2019s voice was taut, tense, but Paul had heard that same question many times over and merely put his instruments away in the bag and clicked it shut. He nodded at Ben and then looked at Olivia before walking towards them both<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe has a concussion, I won\u2019t know how serious that is until he wakes up. It\u2019s very possible he won\u2019t remember much about what has happened, the mind – well, quite often the mind blocks out the things that may be too upsetting to remember, it could well be that he may not know anything about Sofia\u2019s whereabouts.\u201d he nodded, seeing their blank expressions \u201cRoy told us that he thought someone had been near where Sofia had been sleeping. He is assuming, and it is only an assumption, that whoever it was may have taken her. If that is so, we can only hope that she is safe and warm.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He looked now at Olivia and shook his head while he put a kindly hand on her arm \u201cMy dear, you need to sleep. I\u2019ll leave some sedatives to help you because you are going to need your rest for – well – for whatever happens in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t sleep,\u201d she replied honestly, and clasped her hands together tightly, \u201cI don\u2019t want to sleep. Reuben may wake up and need me, he may be taken ill \u2026 you are telling us everything, aren\u2019t you, Paul?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAbout Reuben? Yes, I am. To be honest I\u2019m amazed at how strong his pulse is, and there is no sign of congestion of the lungs, or anything that would lead me to think he could have a fever, or pneumonia \u2026 he\u2019s sleeping, healing, and apart from the concussion \u2026 I don\u2019t think you have anything to worry about regarding his health.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded and released her breath before walking back to the bedside and resuming her seat by Reuben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben and Paul regarded her for a moment with some anxiety, before Ben said quietly \u201cA change from seeing you at the bedside, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben merely nodded and indicated that they should leave Olivia with her children, when the door closed behind them she didn\u2019t even turn her head.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester and Bridie listened to what Paul had to say regarding Reuben with rapt attention, Hester poured out coffee and ventured to suggest that they stayed overnight, \u201cIt\u2019s far too bad now for you to even think of travelling back to town.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bridie nodded, \u201cThat\u2019s kind of you, Hester. Will your men think of seeing to the horses?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll check them out for you, Bridie.\u201d Ben said and smiled, \u201cit\u2019ll put Olivia’s mind at rest too, knowing that you are both here in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He pulled on his jacket and hat as he left the house, the shock of the snow on his face as he stepped onto the porch took his breath away but he made it to the stable and got a nod from Hank, \u201cI saw the doc\u2019s buggy and animals out there, Ben. Didn\u2019t think they would be travelling back in this weather.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Hank. Don\u2019t stay here too long, the snow\u2019s thickening all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hank gave a nod of the head and then, before Ben left the stable asked him if they had thought about Ezra \u201cFeeling real bad about what happened, boss. You know how we feel about the children, he would never have left them alone had he thought for a moment he had been told a lie.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that, Hank. Ezra\u2019s a good hearted man, we won\u2019t be kicking him off the Ponderosa just yet.\u201d he gave a slight grin, a shrug of the shoulders.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Boss. That\u2019ll go a long way to reassuring him \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben said nothing more, he knew Ezra well enough to conclude there had been no malice involved, but at the end of the day, it wasn\u2019t his daughter still out there \u2026 he shook his head as he made his way back to the house. He couldn\u2019t speak for Adam, nor for Olivia, and with that thought in mind he pushed open the door and was more than grateful to be greeted by the warmth within<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At the time Ben stepped into the big room of the Ponderosa his three sons were dismounting outside Riley\u2019s cabin and leading their horses into the stable. After dealing with them they made their way to the cabin door, heads bowed beneath the wind driven snow. Riley opened the door himself \u201cHeard you coming, best get in right away, snow has a stubborn way about it of gitting inside a house when you least want it to.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSorry to be so late\u2026\u201d Hoss mumbled, and rubbed his hands still in their gloves but not benefiting by them<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOr too early,\u201d Riley muttered and went to the fire which he prodded back to life with a poker, while telling them to take a seat, \u201cI got some food on the stove, git yourself something hot, nothing worse than a cold empty belly on a night like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They didn\u2019t speak, they removed their snow covered coats and tossed their hats along with them onto the floor by the door. It was Hoss who ladled the stew into the bowls and handed the food to his brothers, Riley looked over at them \u201cSorry about what\u2019s happened. Fitz did his best for the kids, you know. He just didn\u2019t realise he was so ill.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Hoss sighed and sat down, the bowl of stew in his hands, \u201cWe\u2019re mighty grateful for what he tried to do, Pete.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe ain\u2019t used to things out here, still raw from the big city you know.\u201d Riley piled on some logs and stepped back, surveyed the fire a moment and then settled down into his chair, \u201cDon\u2019t know how he is now, can\u2019t get into town to find out \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we really appreciate all he did to help\u201d Joe said and glanced over to Adam who was sitting beside him on the bed, stony faced and staring down at the stew as though he wasn\u2019t sure what it was, but realising his brother was encouraging him to speak he nodded and mumbled a thanks.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The stew stuck in Adams throat and he found it hard to swallow even though it was tasty and nourishing. He knew he needed to eat, he knew that his brothers needed it as well and glanced over at Hoss who was spooning it into his mouth hungrily. Perhaps he should have told them to stay home, it was only hours ago that they were heading home with high expectations of comfort and family and now, here they were, stuck in a ricketty old shack eating stew for – well – practically breakfast \u2026 he could hear Joe chomping on the food, they were sitting so close to one another every sound seemed louder than usual.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Odd how emotions affected a person. When he thought back over the years to the things he had faced and yet his brain had never seemed so unable to function, or his stomach knot so tightly, as now, with the thought of his little girl out there in the snow. He raised a forkful of food to his mouth and forced himself to eat it, then caught Hoss looking over at him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWal, at least we know Reuben\u2019s safe, and well.\u201d Hoss said in a soft voice, he even smiled \u201cOlivia will be comforted by that thought, knowing he\u2019s there with her.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, forced more stew into his mouth, sighed and chewed it slowly. Reuben was home, Olivia was home, Nathaniel was home \u2026 he looked at Hoss, at Joe, they should be home too, not here like this. Sofia was his daughter, his responsibility – not theirs. He swallowed the food with a gulp \u201cLook, in the morning, you both should go back home. You don\u2019t need to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTrue enough, ain\u2019t that right, Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, guess so.\u201d Hoss put his empty bowl down \u201c\u2019Ceptin\u2019 you need us here with you, Adam. In a matter like this, we need one another.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam frowned, firmed his lips, scowled over at Hoss but Joe plucked at his sleeve \u201cAdam, before you start lecturing us, stop and think about it\u2026if it were any one of our children, where would you be right now?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam looked from one to the other of them, he wanted to snap out \u201cWell, it isn\u2019t one of your children is it?\u201d but that would have been ungracious, selfish. He nodded, looked at the stew and nodded again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGuess we had better get some sleep now, while we can.\u201d he mumbled<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, you finish eating that and then we can all get some sleep \u2026 can\u2019t we?\u201d Hoss lectured, and sounded so like Ben that Adam actually smiled.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 33<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A gentle touch on her shoulder and immediately Olivia was awake, startled and then panic stricken at the thought that she had actually slept and that something had happened to her son. \u00a0 She relaxed at the sight of Bridie who was looking down at her with a smile on her kindly face \u201cI fell asleep?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, you would have had to have been superhuman not to have done, Olivia.\u201d \u00a0Bridie replied and put a tray down on the table containing food and drink, \u201cBreakfast, \u00a0it\u2019s morning, now eat up, you\u2018ll need your strength.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReuben?\u201d \u00a0she turned towards the bed but Reuben was still asleep, the rise and fall of his chest beneath the covers indicating how deep and peaceful that sleep actually was so that she closed her eyes in thanks before looking back at Bridie \u201cDid you get any sleep, Bridie?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSome.\u00a0 More than I would have done if I had been in town. \u201c \u00a0Bridie smiled and sat down on the chair she had spent most of the night in, \u00a0a cup of tea in one hand \u201cPaul will be up soon to check on Reuben.\u00a0 Nathaniel is downstairs with his grandfather and cousins.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs it still snowing?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0it\u2019 stopped for now.\u201d Bridie sipped her tea and nodded towards the tray in an effort to draw Olivia\u2019s attention to the meal<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt worries me that Adam and the boys are out in this weather\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re big boys, they know what they\u2019re doing.\u201d \u00a0Bridie nodded and took another sip of tea \u201cEat while it\u2019s hot, Olivia.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t stop thinking of Sofia, \u00a0where could she be?\u00a0 Bridie, do you think she could have wandered off and fallen into that river?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe could have done though\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe could have done a lot of things, dear. \u00a0 We don\u2019t know so there is no point in worrying yourself to death about what we don\u2019t know.\u00a0 It\u2019s enough knowing she\u2019s not home with us.\u00a0 Now \u2026 eat up that food, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou are very bossy, Bridie.\u201d Olivia said but with a slight smile on her face and took the tray of food onto her lap, \u201cReuben looks so peaceful, doesn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it\u2019s a good sign.\u201d Bridie replied and held her cup carefully between her fingers as she watched Olivia eating the food, \u201cDo you ever wish you were still back in San Francisco, Olivia?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She paused in her eating and looked at the other woman in surprise, then shook her head \u201cNo, why do you ask?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI just wondered, there has been so much happen since you came here\u2026 what with Hammond, \u00a0and poor Reuben getting shot by that Downing boy.\u00a0 Now this \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI have all I want here, and things \u00a0happen \u2026 it\u2019s life, isn\u2019t it?\u00a0 Are you unhappy being here, Bridie?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, how could I be?\u00a0 Paul is \u00a0wonderful, perhaps I wish I were not so busy but it can\u2019t be helped, people need doctors and care, don\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia nodded and set down the tray, she had eaten enough and was now quite happy to just drink the coffee, \u201cI often think of how it was back in the city, how different life would have been had Robert not died.\u00a0 But then that would have meant life without Adam, \u00a0without being here \u2026 \u00a0 there\u2019s little point in dwelling on the past when what I have right now is so much better.\u201d she gulped then, blinked and shook her head, then in a whisper said \u201cIt will be alright, it will. \u00a0 \u00a0Adam said he\u2019d bring Sofia home, and then everything will \u00a0be just how it was before\u2026before this \u00a0happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bridie reached out her hand and rested it lightly upon Olivia\u2019s arm \u201cIt will be, \u00a0dear.\u00a0 Your husband is one stubborn man, and I know for sure he will go through hell and high water to find Sofia, I know he will\u2026.\u201d \u00a0she smiled slightly, her pale blue eyes twinkled \u201cHoss is the best tracker this side of the Sierra\u2019s and Joe is no fool.\u00a0 They\u2019ll \u00a0be home soon, with Sofia.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia nodded, of course they would be, of course they would be.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The wind had scoured quite a large amount of the snow clear from the ground leaving a muddy boulder strewn track visible for them to follow quite easily. \u00a0 They could just about discern the hoof prints of various animals, and once or twice Hoss had actually detected a small footprint the sight of which sent hope soaring in each of their hearts.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The futileness of their search had been foremost on their minds when they had started out from the cabin that morning, although not one of them ventured to say so much.\u00a0 The hunt for a needle in a haystack would have been easier, something that Hoss and Joe would have mentioned had it not been for fear of Adam punching them had they done so, or worse, retreated further into the black hole he had sunk into. \u00a0 Emotions were tricky things and Adam could prove very tricky when his were involved.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They located the first little camp site with no difficulty at all and Adams face had softened with a slight smile at the thought of his son having provided so well for them both. \u00a0 Hoss even mentioned the fact himself which Adam had acknowledged by slapping him warmly on the back as though he had said something very profound indeed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They toiled on, at times the track was obscured by the snow which was now icing over, but where it had been blown away some of the tracks were frozen into place and Hoss followed them as closely as a bloodhound. \u00a0 No one spoke, \u00a0they didn\u2019t really \u00a0know what to say that hadn\u2019t been said already, several times over.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Finally they reached the area where the last fire had been burning and for a while the three of them wandered back and forth, squatting down to stare more closely at something, \u00a0until finally they gathered together at the sad remains of the rudimentary camp.\u00a0 Hoss pushed his hat from his forehead and shook his head<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSeems to me they went right off the track way back there. \u00a0 I guess the fog didn\u2019t help but then they would have needed water, \u00a0I reckon as soon as they heard the sound of this stream they just went off the track altogether \u00a0and came here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe nodded and glanced up and down as though some sight or \u00a0sign of the children would magically appear from nowhere \u201cThey travelled quite a distance for two small children.\u00a0 Sofia must have been exhausted by the time they got here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you see any sign of anyone else being here, Hoss?\u201d \u00a0Adam asked with his eyes slightly screwed up but Hoss shook his head which caused his brother to release a deep sigh \u201cRoy \u00a0seemed quite sure that there were footprints near where Sofia had been sleeping.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t see how he worked that out, no sign of \u2026\u201d he paused and squatted down on his haunches, brushed aside snow and ice to reveal a slight indentation of where a little body may have curled up close to the fire \u201cUnless this is it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam felt his throat tighten at the sight, he could so clearly see the shape of his little girl curled up there, fast asleep, so cold.\u00a0 He nodded \u201cAnything else.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss brushed aside more snow and then shook his head \u201cNope, nothing. \u00a0 I can see where Roy stood, recognise that patch on his boot \u2026 he must have stood here awhile trying to make out what he was seeing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam and Joe now imitated their brothers example in brushing away any snow from the area but only occasionally came across Roy\u2019s boot marks and Candy\u2019s, especially around the area where they had located Reuben. \u00a0 They stood for a while, a small group close to the rocks and looked \u00a0up at the incline from where Reuben had fallen<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSome distance.\u201d Hoss observed<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo one would have noticed him here. \u00a0 If anyone had come, that is \u2026\u201d Joe pursed his lips and tugged at his chin \u201cIt was night time, dark\u2026. Wonder why he walked over here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe sleep walks.\u201d Adam said quietly, \u201cPerhaps that happened, or perhaps he came to relieve himself.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss nodded \u201cGood thing Roy and Candy noticed his books and lunch pail\u2026 \u201c he pointed to a mark on one of the rocks \u201cBlood \u2026 not much\u2026 must have been where he banged his head.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t much at all, \u00a0less keen eyes would not have noticed it, but eyes of those who love a lost one must rate as the most keen of all. \u00a0 Adam bowed his head and thought of his son, the mark on the rock and then remaining among the boulders for who knew how long \u2026 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cHe told Candy he saw someone take Sofia. \u00a0 I don\u2019t know how he could have done from here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe shook his head \u201cNo, \u00a0not from here.\u00a0 No point in trying to guess what he saw or didn\u2019t, \u00a0it doesn\u2019t confirm what actually happened.\u00a0 Doesn\u2019t give us anything solid to work on.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded \u201cLet\u2019s see what else we can find on the track.\u00a0 Roy said some horses must have been there, they dumped on the road \u2026 \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They followed him up the slope, edging past the boulders and getting back to level ground. \u00a0 \u00a0Hoss raised his head and frowned at the sight of blackening clouds, so far the day had \u00a0been reasonably bright, what sun existed bounced light from the snow that still remained, but now the shadows were lengthening again and the wind was blowing colder.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHere it is\u2026\u201d Adam pointed to a pile of horse dung, then a little further on another pile \u201cSeems like two horses\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss \u00a0observed the ground more closely, the dung was frozen indicating how cold the night had been and he released his breath a little in gratitude at the thought that Reuben had been home by then, and Sofia, if she had been taken \u2026 perhaps some good soul was keeping her warm.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe was looking at the stream, it was much fuller, swifter and angrier than the stream that Reuben and Sofia had found, he bit his bottom lip and placed a hand on Adams arm \u201cYou don\u2019t think its possible that she may have -\u201d \u00a0he paused and nodded towards the river.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI thought of it, Joe.\u201d \u00a0Adam replied with his words as taut as a bow string, \u201cI don\u2019t think so, \u00a0there\u2019s been no indication of that having happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cRoy and Candy were only assuming from what they found, Adam.\u00a0 Just as we are \u2026\u201d \u00a0he turned away from the look on his brothers face and shook his head, \u201cI\u2019m \u00a0only \u00a0thinking aloud.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAs I said, I already thought the same.\u201d his brother intoned and looked away from the river and across to where the vague outline of the road could be seen \u201cWhereabouts does that lead to, Hoss?\u00a0 You ever been this way before?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot for a very long time, Adam.\u201d \u00a0Hoss replied, and squinted his eyes a little in order to observe the direction of the track \u201cNever even knew Riley had a cabin so close to Ponderosa land before.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHmm,\u201d Adam sniffed and shrugged \u201cLet\u2019s see what\u2019s over there \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They followed the direction of his finger and nodded, fell into line and walked slowly back to where they had left the horses. \u00a0 Keeping the horses on leading reins they walked to where the ground was flat, quite clear of boulders and rock, with clumps of wild grass shivering in the wind.\u00a0 Snow lay in pools of white and it was beside one of these that Joe stopped and beckoned his brothers over \u201cHorses have been here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His brothers nodded and with heads down followed what now appeared a very faint wheel track until it finally petered out beneath a blanket of snow. \u00a0\u201cSeems someone has been using this as a cut through \u2026\u201d Hoss muttered<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Ponderosa land though,\u201d Adam said slowly, and nodded as though to himself \u201cPonderosa land, right at the very borders with the salt flats to the east and, of course, if you follow along here \u2026 \u00a0where would it be a short cut to though? \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot to home, miles off \u2026\u201d Hoss snorted and rubbed his hands together \u201cLook, I hate to mention it but it\u2019s getting a tad cold around here. I reckon we need to make camp soon, before we git hit by something not too pleasant.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam agreed, although he wished with all his heart for the search to be over and done with right here and now, he was pragmatic enough to know that wishing achieved nothing, but patience could work miracles.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They located an area close to some shrubs and high boulders, gathered up enough fuel to make a fire and hunched themselves close together to provide body heat.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t long before they had something to drink and eat, and then the wind decided enough playing, \u00a0time to be really nasty.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The knocking on the door came late in the evening at the Ponderosa, \u00a0late enough for the darkness to fall and stars to be sharp pinpricks in black velvet. \u00a0 Bridie and Paul had left the ranch house at mid day after Paul had examined Reuben and assured them all that there was nothing about which to be unduly concerned.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI trust Hop Sing and Cheng well enough to know he will be well cared for, which is more than can be said for some other patients I have in town just now.\u201d he had said as he left the boys room, \u00a0\u201cWhen he wakes up, don\u2019t frighten him by asking questions.\u00a0 Let him tell you what he can remember in his own time. Concussion is a funny thing, \u00a0and fear can close the door to memory faster than anything.\u00a0 I\u2019m not talking about fear of any of you, but fear of what he has experienced.\u00a0 He may be blaming himself for Sofia\u2019s disappearance, anything \u2026 \u00a0 on the other hand he may have a very clear recall of all that happened and want to talk about it, \u00a0he may talk about it a lot so don\u2019t be impatient, just let him spill it all out.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut he is alright, apart from that?\u201d Ben had asked, his arm around Olivia\u2019s shoulders while Hester and Bridie hovered nearby.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe has bruises, lumps and bumps, as would be expected from a bad fall.\u00a0 The cut on his head will heal, didn\u2019t even need stitching. He came out of this ordeal well.\u00a0 Physically exhausted, a concussion \u2026but not serious enough to warrant me staying here any longer.\u201d \u00a0he had looked at Olivia then and taken hold of \u00a0both her hands in his, \u201cBut, if you feel there is anything about which to be concerned, let me know immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now there was this persistent knocking and Ben muttered that it could be Candy, or Roy, come to see if there was any further news or perhaps to give them something that they had gleaned from town. \u00a0 \u00a0It was with some delight and surprise that he opened the door to Luke Dent who hurried inside holding hard to his coat with one hand and his hat with the other.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI came as soon as I heard.\u201d \u00a0he declared not bothering with any pleasantries, and looking around for his sister who had just put Nathaniel to bed and was half way down the stairs, \u201cLivvy?\u00a0 What\u2019s been going on?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you know?\u201d Ben asked, gesturing to a chair close to the fire upon which Luke sat immediately.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMatt came back from town and told me that the children were missing, hadn\u2019t been home for a few days.\u00a0 He saw the newspaperman, deQuille, who told him that Reuben had been found though, \u00a0but Sofia is still missing.\u201d \u00a0 he drew in his breath and nodded his thanks when a glass of brandy was pushed into his hands \u201cThanks. \u00a0 I\u2019m sorry, Olivia, I should have been here for you, but as soon as I heard I saddled up and came.\u00a0 What can I do? \u00a0 How is Reuben? Have they found Sofia?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia took a seat close to her brother and gripped hold of his free hand in hers, never was she so pleased to see anyone, other than Adam of course, but her own brother. \u00a0 She could have kissed him but Luke wasn\u2019t an overly demonstrative man that way, so she just squeezed his hand in hers \u201cReuben woke up earlier.\u00a0 He was hungry, had a little bit to eat and then went back to sleep.\u00a0 He\u2019s going to be alright.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Sofia?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, Hoss and Joe have gone looking for her.\u00a0 They have some idea of the last place they were at, where Roy and Candy found Reuben \u2026 then they\u2019ll take it from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded and looked at her, at the anxiety in her eyes, the way her voice was strained and wobbled a little in places.\u00a0 He would have spoken more but Hop Sing appeared with a tray laden with something for him to eat and drink, ever mindful of his family\u2019s guests needs, ever attentive, he placed the tray down beside Luke and hurried back to the kitchen.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI was away for a few days myself ..bought fifty square acres of land, prime grazing land.\u00a0 Only got back a few days ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh Luke, that\u2019s good, very good.\u201d she smiled, she meant well, she was pleased for him he knew that, but there was sadness behind the smile and he nodded after which she asked about Marcy<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe wanted to come, she\u2019s that worried about the children, and yourself.\u00a0 But the weather isn\u2019t good, \u00a0I didn\u2019t want her out in this.\u00a0 She isn\u2019t the most robust of persons as you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo who did you buy the land from?\u201d Ben asked<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJack Hills, from Colfax.\u201d \u00a0 Luke said with his mouth full of sandwich, \u201cHe used to live hereabouts.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I remember him well. \u00a0 Colfax?\u00a0 The name sounds familiar but blamed me if I can think whereabouts it is\u2026\u201d Ben muttered<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s one of the new towns up south east of the Ponderosa, \u00a0there\u2019s several new settlements and towns sprung up thereabouts because of the railways.\u00a0 There\u2019s Brodie, Colfax and Monroe.\u00a0 They\u2019re all pretty close strung together.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben frowned, he looked \u00a0thoughtfully at Luke and then stood up \u201cCome and show me on the map.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke finished his sandwich, stretched to get some kinks out of his back and followed Ben to where the maps were still spread out on the table, he picked up a pencil and marked the towns off \u00a0 \u201cColfax is the nearest one to the Ponderosa borders, but still about 50 miiles away.\u00a0 I cut across your land to get home quicker, hope you didn\u2019t mind, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot at all, trying to avoid 1000 square miles of territory adds a lot to a mans journey.\u201d \u00a0Ben muttered although his eyes were fixed to the map \u201cSee here -\u201d he tapped a small cross that had been marked off \u201cThat\u2019s where the children were taken by a \u00a0young man, a cabin owned by his uncle, Pete Riley. \u00a0 From what Roy and Candy tell us the children left the cabin and took the wrong route, heading southeast \u2026 Reuben was found here by this river.\u201d he tapped the map with the pencil and Luke stared at it and shook his head<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHad I been a day later I may have ridden into them, \u00a0I got home just the day before the fog came down.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia bowed her head, co-incidences\u2026they either worked for or against one, and this time\u2026 definitely against.\u00a0 She could have wept but she didn\u2019t, instead she stared at the flames in the fire and thought of her little girl.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCo-incidences,\u201d Luke continued as he returned to the chair by the fire, and the word, being in Olivia\u2019s thoughts rang loud in her head so that she turned to look at him, \u201cI was delayed in Colfax, \u00a0what with all the legal things involved in buying land, and was in a hurry to get home.\u00a0 Had I only delayed a little more\u2026\u201d \u00a0he shook his head and bit down on his bottom lip, \u201cOddly enough I met an old scouting friend of mine, \u00a0from when I had scouted for the army back along, after my wife had died? \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou never mentioned that before, Luke\u2026\u201d Olivia looked at him with the kind of smile a sister would bestow upon a brother who was loved and had shown some initiative in his life, a hard life for sure, she had known that and now this information revealed just how little she had really known about that time when they were apart.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201c Well, I was hired by a unit in Indian Territory, the man in charge was a Colonel Royale.\u00a0 He was a good officer, rather arrogant and full of himself, but fair enough to the men.\u00a0 His wife and two daughters were with him. \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester and Olivia listened politely, their own lives were too full of horrors at that moment for them to be really that interested Ben had filled his pipe and was puffing as he was thinking, not about army units but about new towns, \u00a0and his grand daughter.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnyway, the co-incidence is that Mrs Royale and Katy, now called Katherine, live in Bodie.\u00a0 Seems there was a bit of scandal, when Katy … The \u00a0youngest of his daughters, had a child out of wedlock, so afterwards the Colonel retired, with his family to Bodie. So \u2026 \u00a0had I been just a day or so longer at Colfax, \u00a0I may have met up with the children and been able to bring them safely home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia smiled thinly \u201cCo-incidences don\u2019t always favour the brave.\u201d she murmured and wondered why she had said such a thing herself, she stood up \u201cI\u2019ll just go and see how Reuben is now.\u00a0 I am glad you came, Luke.\u00a0 Thank you so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester stood up too, \u00a0murmuring something about seeing to her daughters and leaving the two men together. \u00a0 Ben frowned, \u00a0nodded and asked Luke to tell him again about Colonel Royale and his daughters \u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 34<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When Reuben opened his eyes sunlight was streaming in through the windows and the fire was burning cheerily.\u00a0 He turned his head slightly in order to see the fire more clearly and the thought occurred to him that he needed to get more firewood otherwise it would die out and then they would be very cold again. \u00a0 It was important to keep the fire alight or they would freeze, and Sofia was cold and wet already.\u00a0 He closed his eyes and immediately drifted back to sleep.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It had been a miserable night but once the wind had dropped the three brothers were able to build up the fire and keep warm.\u00a0 Through the hours one or other of them would wake, stumble over to the fire to heap on more fuel and fall back into some kind of slumber.\u00a0 The fire was still burning bright when Adam roused his two brothers and suggested they made an early start.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss rubbed his face and shivered, \u00a0scowled over at the fire and suggested that they had breakfast first which received a curt nod from Adam who pointed to the coffee pot already spitting onto the hot stones, and the bacon sizzling in the pan.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do we do once we\u2019ve eaten? \u00a0 Go back to Rileys?\u201d Joe asked innocently.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou can if you want to.\u201d \u00a0Adam muttered as walked over to stand clear of the little camp, staring along the route they had already taken.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did I say wrong this time?\u201d Joe muttered and Hoss shook his head and ate his bacon faster than usual before he walked over to his elder brother<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t imagine how anyone going across Ponderosa land would keep Sofia, Adam.\u00a0 They\u2019d know to bring her home.\u201d \u00a0he wiped his greasy hands on the back of his pants, and tried to get his brother to look at him but Adam just kept staring out across the land which now resembled a patchwork quilt of colours where the snow had melted and where it had frozen.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe came and pushed a mug of coffee into Adams hands, he nodded over at the vague indentations in the ground that indicated that this was obviously a route more often used than they had realised. \u201cCould have come from over yonder -\u201d \u00a0he swept the hand with which he was holding his mug in the direction directly opposite the one where the children had been, \u201cPerhaps ridden down and onto the track where they would have seen the fire.\u201d \u00a0he looked at Adam who was nodding and looking less uptight, \u201cWell, if it were me I\u2019d be curious as to why there was a fire burning in the middle of nowhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His brother inclined his head slowly and swallowed down some of the coffee, he turned his body towards where the children would have settled down by their fire, he looked at Hoss \u201cWhat do you think, Hoss.? \u00a0 Do you read it that way at all?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss frowned, looking down at the ground and rubbed along his jaw line, \u201cThere\u2019s been quite a bit of traffic along here, Adam.\u00a0 Wouldn\u2019t mind betting that folk use this as a short cut across to Genoa and such.\u201d \u00a0he sniffed and wrinkled his nose \u201cMost recent tracks seem to indicate that they followed along that away, and possibly seeing a fire \u2026 wal, could arouse curiosity, wouldn\u2019t mean that they would stop though, after all, could be just about any kind of person camping out for all they\u2019d know.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhoever they are of course.\u201d Joe chipped in with a shrug of the shoulders.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just assuming\u2026\u201d Hoss added quickly, \u201cBut sometimes assumptions can be right.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes.\u201d Adam agreed and nodded again, \u201cwell, we have little else to work on, so lets go along with that idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Both Joe and Hoss relaxed a little now, feeling a trifle more confident that answers would come, plucked from the air as easily as apples from trees.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling. \u00a0 He was in a room, and in a bed, a fire was burning in the grate and everything was so warm, so comfortable.\u00a0 It was a dream, surely, a very bad dream.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Turning his head he saw his Ma dressing Nathaniel.\u00a0 So, it was morning and soon Ma would be telling him to get up for school. \u00a0 He sighed and closed his eyes.\u00a0 It would be much nicer to stay in this comfortable warm bed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReuben, \u00a0wake up, dear.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There, he knew it, \u00a0time to get up for school. \u00a0 He yawned and turned over, then frowned a little\u2026 the room was darker, the bright sunlight that had been shining earlier through the windows had gone.\u00a0 There was the soft patter of rain upon windows now.\u00a0 He opened his eyes and looked up to see Olivia smiling down at him, a tray in her hands.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDo I have to go to school today, Ma?\u201d \u00a0he whispered<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not to today, Reuben.\u201d \u00a0 she smiled at him then set the tray down and put her arms around him so that she could help him sit up, then she plumped up the pillows and watched as he settled back into them \u201cHere\u2019s your breakfast. \u00a0 Eat it all up.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s busy just now, Reuben.\u00a0 He\u2019ll come and see you as soon as he can.\u201d \u00a0she sat down on a chair beside him and settled the tray across his lap \u201cCome on now, ,eat up.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMa?\u00a0 Is something wrong?\u00a0 Am I sick?\u201d \u00a0he looked at her anxiously, he could remember when that Downing boy had shot him, he had been sick then and Ma would bring up a tray just like this, and sit beside the bed just as she was doing now. \u00a0 \u201cAm I, Ma?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou had a fall, \u00a0you\u2019ve bumped your head.\u201d \u00a0she looked at him intensely then, very seriously and it made him feel uncomfortable.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean, \u00a0Reuben?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow did I fall?\u201d \u00a0he frowned \u201cDid I fall off Max?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0you didn\u2019t. \u00a0 I don\u2019t know how you fell, Reuben. \u00a0 Candy and Roy found you and brought you \u00a0here. \u00a0 You\u2019re at Grandpa\u2019s house.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh.\u201d \u00a0he didn\u2019t say anything else, just \u2019Oh\u2019 and then looked at the food on the tray, and began to pick at it.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t really hungry, \u00a0he looked around the room \u201cI thought the room looked different to mine.\u00a0 Where\u2019s Sofia?\u00a0 Is she at school?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not just now.\u201d \u00a0Olivia said quietly and then smiled, an odd smile, one that Reuben thought wasn\u2019t \u2019real\u2019, not like her usual ones when her whole face seemed to light up and her eyes shone darker.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs she sick too?\u201d \u00a0he chewed on some ham, slowly and methodically.\u00a0 He was aware of a pain niggling away at the nape of his neck, and then behind his eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0she isn\u2019t sick. \u00a0 Come along, you can eat more than that, surely.\u00a0 Hop Sing won\u2019t be very happy if you don\u2019t eat more.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He pushed the tray away, and then shook his head \u201cI can\u2019t eat anymore, Ma.\u00a0 I feel a bit sick.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded and stood up, removed the tray and gently helped him to lay back down again smoothing out the pillows as she did so. \u00a0\u201cTry and sleep a bit more then, Reuben.\u00a0 You may feel a lot better later.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s Sofia?\u201d \u00a0he yawned, and looked up into her face with a trusting smile, it was so warm, so reassuring to snuggle down in that bed and see Ma there looking down at him like she always did \u201cIs she at school?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0not today.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He sighed and closed his eyes.\u00a0 Olivia stepped back from the bed and stood there in silence for a while, her hands clasped as she observed her son slipping now into sleep.\u00a0 When there came a sound close by she turned to see Mary Ann stepping into the room<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe were wondering if he was alright?\u201d \u00a0the younger girl whispered and came to stand beside Olivia, she slipped an arm around her friends waist \u201cHow is he?\u00a0 Has he said anything?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0he\u2019s confused, he feels unwell but doesn\u2019t know why. \u00a0 He thought he was going to school.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe never mentioned anything then?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The two women drew closer, as though their contact consolidated their mutual distress and sadness at the situation. \u00a0 In the bed Reuben had slipped into a comforting sleep, his body eased into a healing and he had no nightmares to jolt him into the \u00a0sudden horror of what he had so recently experienced.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben scanned the map for the third time since breakfast, before looking over at Luke who had stayed overnight rather than take the long journey home in the dark and cold.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo, these new towns, are they very large?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot the same size as Virginia City or Carson City, but good enough. \u00a0 I should say Monroe is the smallest, about 800 inhabitants, but most of them are employed by the railway and they don\u2019t need to subsist on the surrounding area which is quite barren.\u00a0 You couldn\u2019t graze cattle there, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo steaks available then?\u201d \u00a0Ben grinned and Luke laughed a little before he nodded and said he hadn\u2019t noticed, he couldn\u2019t afford hotel prices.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou got a good deal on the land though?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI did. \u00a0 Can\u2019t think why he moved on from there to go to Colfax, but he was always a restless kind of man.\u00a0 Its good pasture land, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad you managed to get a bargain, Luke.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAh well, as for that, I think Jack\u2019s the one who got the bargain.\u00a0 Thankfully my old scouting friend provided bed and board for me \u2026 \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLuke, \u00a0do \u00a0you think it could be possible for someone to have come across the children, hereabouts.\u201d \u00a0he pointed to the area he assumed Roy had found Reuben, \u201cand taken them on to one of those towns?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke became immediately serious, for a moment he said nothing at all but stared down at the map, then shook his head \u201cI can\u2019t see why anyone would do that, Ben. \u00a0 If Sofia was taken by anyone she would tell them her name, right? \u00a0 Well, everyone knows about the Cartwrights of the Ponderosa\u2026 \u00a0 no one in their right minds would take her all the way to Colfax or wherever without thinking first of returning her to her family.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey may not know \u2026 \u00a0it\u2019s possible Sofia couldn\u2019t tell them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke shook his head, the thought Ben had put into his mind was that Sofia would have had to be dead if she couldn\u2019 speak, \u201cNo, no, I can\u2019t believe that\u2026Sofia would have told them if \u2026\u201d \u00a0he paused and gulped, looked at Ben \u201cShe may not have been able to tell them if she were ill.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cExactly my point.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke glanced over at the stairs and forced a smile at Olivia and Mary Ann as they came down them, Olivia bearing the tray. \u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t like to think that anyone would keep her against her will. \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIf she were ill, they may well think Colfax would be the best place to take her.\u00a0 I presume there\u2019s a doctor there?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke frowned and tried to recall the layout of the main street.\u00a0 He had met Jack Hills at the lawyers office, and then they had gone to the Land Registry, he tried to picture the sign of a doctor swaying from some building then shrugged \u201cI don\u2019t know, Ben.\u00a0 I can\u2019t recall seeing one.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about Monroe \u2026 did you go to Monroe?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, had no reason to go there, nor to Bodie.\u201d \u00a0Luke sighed and wished now that he had gone to both towns and taken down the names and addresses of all the doctors there, plus riding back a few days later and meeting up with his nephew and niece.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI recall Bodie \u2026vaguely. \u00a0 It was one of those settlements that got under way when there were rumours of gold there, but the Comstock drew folk to Virginia City \u2026 \u00a0so it\u2019s still there?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt is, and still claiming to have the next bonanza waiting to \u00a0be found, I should think that there could be several thousand people there.\u201d Luke frowned and after staring down at the map for a few moments asked Ben what exactly it was he was getting at.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t help but think that if Roy is right, and someone came along and found Sofia by that fire \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia came towards them, both men stopped talking when they heard the rustle of her skirts, but she was aware of some tension between them, and after a sharp look at their faces and then down at the map she asked them exactly what was going on. \u00a0\u201cIf you have any idea then you should share them, give – give me – us – something to think about instead of just sitting here hoping and wondering.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke put a gentle hand on Olivia\u2019s arm now, and gently led her back to the fire \u201cWe were just speculating on where anyone could have taken Sofia, if they had found her.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIf?\u201d \u00a0her voice quavered as she spoke the word, and she looked fearfully at Hester who was seated nearby with Hope on her lap, \u201cwhat is the alternative, Luke?\u00a0 If Sofia wasn\u2019t found by someone \u2026 where would she be now?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOlivia\u2026\u201d Hester said softly, \u201cOlivia, don\u2019t ask questions like that, we have to hope that she\u2019s alright, that someone did find her.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThen why haven\u2019t they brought her home here?\u00a0 Or taken her to town?\u201d \u00a0 Olivia pressed a hand against her heart and shook her head \u201cI can\u2019t bear to think that there could be any alternative, \u00a0someone knows where she is\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThen Adam and the boys will find her, Olivia. \u00a0 They will.\u201d \u00a0Mary Ann cried and looked helplessly over at Ben who was staring very fixedly at his daughter in law \u201cwon\u2019t they, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben could only nod, but he returned to looking at the map, his head lowered and his black brows furrowed over his dark eyes.\u00a0 He turned slightly at realising that Luke was standing by his side again \u201cWhat\u2019s on your mind, Ben?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know \u2026 yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke nodded and pursed his lips, \u201cLook, I have to get back to Marcy and let her know what has happened here. \u00a0 If you have plans -\u201d he lowered his voice after a swift glance over his shoulder \u201cabout going for a ride, it won\u2019t take you too far out of your road to skip past the Double D. \u00a0 I\u2019ll be there \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben permitted a half smile to flit across his mouth, then slapped the man on the arm and nodded. \u00a0\u201cI want to go into town tomorrow, check with Candy and see if there could be any news first\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Satisfied with that Luke turned towards his sister, placed a hand upon her arm and leaned in to kiss her cheek. \u00a0 They looked briefly into each others eyes and then he walked away, pulled on his coat and hat before leaving the house.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 35<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel deQuille took the cables from Eddy at the Telegraph Depot with a nod of the head before turning back to his offices. \u00a0 As he did so Ben Cartwright rode past \u00a0and for a moment Daniel stopped to observe the other man noting as he did so the way the broad shoulders drooped, the generous mouth was clamped into a sullen line. There was misery stamped upon the mans features and Dan heaved in a sigh, knowing only too well \u00a0from personal experience how the loss of little ones, whether in death or in the manner of Ben\u2019s grandchildren, could affect a person.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He closed his mind to the fact of his own losses, and hurried to the office, closing the door upon the winds and cold from outside, and retreating to the smoky security of his private domain.\u00a0 Here he ripped open the cables and stood as though transfixed by what he read in each one.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCould get no information Stop \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo one willing to provide information Stop all contacts closed Stop\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cContact re Baltimore refused to provide information Stop contact re names blocked Stop shall keep trying Stop\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTold to halt any enquiries re Baltimore Stop \u00a0no information forthcoming from usual sources Stop\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHave had warning to lay off from certain quarters Stop be careful how to proceed Stop\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He dropped the cables onto his desk and stared down at them as though hidden in the words were some clues that he had yet to decipher. \u00a0 Then he re-read them, shook his head and with a growl of incomprehension slipped them into his desk drawer, locked it and quickly left his office. \u00a0 \u00a0His one thought was that he needed a drink, even though he had vowed to stay off the liquor, needs must\u2026and he really had a need, a desperate one.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy stood up so promptly the chair behind him rolled back against the wall \u201cBen?\u00a0 Any news?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben removed his hat and shook his head, upon which sight Candy\u2019s shoulders sagged and he settled himself back into his chair \u201cNothing at all?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo. \u00a0 \u00a0Nothing.\u201d \u00a0Ben grimaced \u201cI had hoped, vaguely, that you would have had some news, or \u00a0– \u00a0or \u00a0some clue.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBen.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry.\u201d \u00a0Candy shook his head, \u00a0sighed and shuffled some papers about on the desk, \u201cYoung Fitz died a few hours ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFitz?\u201d \u00a0Ben\u2019s mind blanked, and then he recalled the young man who had tried to get the children home, it all seemed such a long time ago and now he felt ashamed that he had so promptly forgotten.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe tried his best, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben didn\u2019t deny that fact, he just nodded and stared at the papers on Candy\u2019s desk, and wished he were with his sons, \u00a0or, better still, that when he returned home he would find them there, with Sofia. \u00a0 He sighed \u201cWhat do you know about some towns south east of here \u2026 Monroe, Bodie\u2026Colfax \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cColfax?\u201d \u00a0Candy frowned, \u201cI know of a Colfax* \u00a0north of here, not far from Sacremento. \u00a0 Not one south east of you though. \u00a0 Are they important?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI just had a feeling, nothing – well – nothing more than if people were travelling along the route the children were taking, \u00a0and they were not going to Virginia City or Carson City, it seemed only logical to assume that they would be going to those towns further south, \u00a0south-east of the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou reckon someone has taken Sofia ?\u201d Candy sighed \u201cWell, to be honest with you, Ben, I was thinking much along the same lines myself.\u201d \u00a0 he straightened his shoulders and got to his feet, both men naturally migrated over to the map of the territory \u201cSee here, that\u2019s where we found Reuben.\u00a0 Now, you\u2019re assuming that some one came along and took Sofia on up to that area, but isn\u2019t it possible that they were actually coming down from there, and planning to cut across the Ponderosa at that point going eastwards?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOne thing we do know, and that is that they didn\u2019t bring her \u00a0hereabouts, \u00a0look, Candy, is it possible that if you contacted the law in \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI have \u2026 I\u2019ve got the sheriffs alerted in every town within fifty miles of the Ponderosa.\u201d \u00a0Candy nodded, \u201cSo far I\u2019ve heard nothing back from any of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about those towns I\u2019ve mentioned \u2026 Monroe, Bodie and Colfax \u2026\u201d Ben muttered<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re beyond the 50 mile perimeter I\u2019ve contacted but I shall get onto it right away, Ben.\u201d \u00a0he paused \u201cBen, I was thinking of organising another posse.\u00a0 I know some of the townsfolk are more than a little anxious about Sofia, so \u2026\u201d he looked at the rancher who had narrowed his eyes to survey the sheriff in a rather disconcerting manner \u201cWhat if I check out this area \u2026.\u201d he tapped his pencil on the map, \u201cIt will take us on to Ponderosa land towards Genoa and several other towns hereabouts.\u00a0 It\u2019s possible that if Sofia was found, the people involved could have continued on their way to any of those.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a moment there was silence and then Ben sighed \u201cIt\u2019s a lot of territory and the weather doesn\u2019t promise to be improving, rather the reverse. \u00a0 I still got a feeling that they were coming from that short cut across the Ponderosa and heading up southwards. \u00a0 Can\u2019t explain why, but I never ignore what instinct tells me, it hasn\u2019t failed me yet, Candy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy pursed his lips, frowned and shook his head doubtfully, \u201cI\u2019d still like to give my idea a try, Ben.\u00a0 Let\u2019s face it, it could be either way, couldn\u2019t it?\u00a0 We know for sure they didn\u2019t come down this away, and they wouldn\u2019t be travelling to the salt flats \u2026 there\u2019s only two ways they could have gone, and around about where we found Reuben seems to be some kind of turn off, a junction, for traffic going either way.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded \u201cTo \u00a0be honest I appreciate any help you give, and more than grateful for the posses\u2019 help.\u00a0 Thank you.\u201d \u00a0he shook Candy\u2019s hand and picked up his hat, \u201cI\u2019ll see you soon \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully with some good news, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben said nothing to that, but inclined his head as he reached the door.\u00a0 Clem came in and acknowledged Ben with a gruff greeting before the rancher had stepped onto the sidewalk and returned to where he had left his horse.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Several townsfolk stopped him as he walked towards Cinnamon, each one conveying his or her concerns for Sofia, for Olivia and the family. \u00a0 At the same time they expressed their pleasure at the fact that Reuben had been found, David Walkers parents shook Bens hand until it ached, they were so glad that the little chap had survived the ordeal and was now back home with his family.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was just one itch that needed to be scratched now\u2026. Ben walked his horse to where the Becketts lived and dismounted outside the house.\u00a0 It was a clean neat property and for a moment Ben was wondering if he had arrived at the wrong address for he had pigeon holed Charlotte\u2019s home to reflect her personality\u2026disorderly, chaotic, a dirty mess.\u00a0 This attractive building seemed to shout \u201cThat\u2019ll teach you\u2026wrong again.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A woman with sallow features and large anxious eyes came to the door, \u00a0and when Ben announced who he was, stepped aside to let him in. \u00a0 After removing his hat, Ben glanced around the clean sparsely furnished room, \u00a0a baby slept in a crib by the fire, \u00a0and the woman cleared her throat \u201cMy – our – son, Patrick\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot very old\u2026\u201d Ben said with a quieter voice and the woman flushed a little and nodded \u201cIs Charlotte home?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIn her room. \u00a0 She don\u2019t go to school now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re her mother?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, thank goodness.\u201d \u00a0she walked to a door and flung it open \u201cCharlie, someone here to see you.\u201d \u00a0a pause \u201cCharlie, git out here right of this moment, you hear?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was a comment from the room, \u00a0and then the girl appeared and glared sullenly at her step mother before looking over at Ben \u201cWhat do you want?\u00a0 You one of them deputies?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m Ben Cartwright, I\u2019m Sofia\u2019s grand father.\u201d Ben forced a smile in the words, an attempt to soften them and not sound in any way judgemental. \u00a0 It was hard to do though, as he looked at this child, for that was who she was, just a child. \u00a0 \u201cI just wanted to -\u201d his voice floundered and he shook his head, what had he wanted to do?\u00a0 See who could have said what had been said, who could have done what had been done?\u00a0 Just to see what kind of devil existed in a the shape of a child?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Charlotte shrugged \u201cI told the deputies what happened. \u00a0 Wasn\u2019t my fault that stupid old man went drinking in the saloon instead of staying where he should have been.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t mean for it to end up like it did.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThen what did you mean to happen Charlie?\u00a0 You must have thought something could happen?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She sighed, rolled her eyes and shrugged again, \u201cSo? \u00a0 Something could have happened and something might not \u2026 \u00a0 if Miss Brandon hadn\u2019t been mooning over her boyfriend and paying attention she would have made sure the kids were safe.\u00a0 Sofia and Reuben would have been alright, it wasn\u2019t my fault they went and got lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut you were the one who caused it, my dear.\u00a0 You were the one who started the whole thing rolling..\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLook, if you want to blame anyone why not blame that girl from the saloon.\u00a0 She could have taken them to the sheriff, or to that Mrs Martin \u2026 but she didn\u2019t, instead she got her friend to take them home, only \u2026\u201d she rolled her eyes dramatically again, tossed her unruly red hair over her shoulder \u201che goes and dies doesn\u2019t he?\u00a0 So she\u2019s to blame for killing \u00a0him as well as taking the kids out of town.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWho else are you going to blame, Charlotte?\u00a0 It still comes back to you.\u201d \u00a0Ben\u2019s deep voice seemed to resonate in the room and the girl lowered her head and said nothing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The woman looked stone faced at the girl before turning to Ben, \u201cThat\u2019s all you\u2019ll get out of her, Mister, she won\u2019t say no more. I know that way she has, all you\u2019ll get from her, if she opens her mouth again, is something you\u2019d expect out of the gutter.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben didn\u2019t deign to respond to that, he merely thanked the woman and turned away, back to the streets where the wind blew cold. \u00a0 He stood on the sidewalk and looked around him, he knew the town so well, and yet, he realised, he knew so little about the people living in it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy raised a hand to stop \u00a0him from passing his house, he was clad in his winter coat and screwed up his eyes to look up at Ben \u201cYou hear Candys got a posse organised to look for Sofia?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cS\u2019right, Roy, he told me just now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou gitting yourself involved in it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNope, \u00a0I reckon they\u2019ll be looking in the wrong direction. \u00a0 Roy, I want to find my sons, and then head down south where I think Sofia will be.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSouth huh?\u201d Roy narrowed his eyes and nodded \u201cBodie?\u00a0 Monroe?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the direction I\u2019ll be taking.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBodie ain;t the best place to live, kinda wild. \u00a0 Monroe\u2019s small, and there\u2019s the other town, Colfax\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the one I thought I\u2019d aim for first.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGoing alone?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, young Luke Dents coming along with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy rubbed his chin thoughtfully \u201cMind if I tag along with you both?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIf \u00a0you\u2019ve a mind to, Roy, be pleased to have your company.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy looked up the street and then nodded \u201cI\u2019ll meet you at the junction in an hour.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded and turned Cinnamon back along the main road, before putting her into an easy lope. \u00a0 Roy Coffee, he smiled, would no more settle down to being an old man anymore than he would, and why should they \u2026what did years matter really when there was so much at stake now?<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tears streamed down Reuben\u2019s face and sobs shook his body, soft moans and sighs, and a cry for his sister brought Olivia running to his bedside. \u00a0 He was still asleep but even as she was about to take her chair he sat up, pushed aside the covers and began to walk away from the bed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReuben, \u00a0where are you going, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Her voice was soft, \u00a0downstairs Hester and Mary Ann were talking together the murmur of their voices floated upwards, she could hear Nathaniel squealing and Hope laughing\u2026 but Reuben just walked slowly across the room, paused and stopped.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReuben?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He sighed and looked around him, his eyes were open but glassy, his face was very still, with no animation whatsoever. \u00a0\u201cSofia? \u00a0 Sofia?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His voice wavered across the room \u00a0and he turned calling his sister by name and stopping every so often as though he had to do so in order to hear her reply.\u00a0 By the bed Olivia watched him, \u00a0her heart ached for him, but she didn\u2019t dare to waken him having been told that sleep walkers should never be disturbed in their wanderings.\u00a0 She wasn;t too \u00a0sure how true that was, but didn\u2019t dare to risk anything at this stage just in case they were right.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben walked to the window and stopped, he wasn\u2019t looking out at the view, but was standing as though deep in thought.\u00a0 He nodded to himself \u201cBest get more wood.\u00a0 The fire won\u2019t go out if there\u2019s more wood.\u00a0 Sofia\u2019s cold\u2026 \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia watched as her little boy enacted the actions of picking up wood for a fire, and walking to a certain spot to place it down. \u00a0 He held out his hands to the imaginary flames and then muttered \u201cI need to go to the outhouse.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0 he turned and walked away towards the wardrobe and then stopped again, turned and shouted \u201cNo, no, \u00a0come back, come back\u2026Sofia, Sofia\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia caught him just as he collapsed into a heap in her arms and very gently led him back to the bed. \u00a0 He allowed her to settle him down and he closed his eyes, a deep sigh and he was sleeping normally again.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The two horsemen dismounted outside the Double D and were admitted into the \u00a0house by Marcy who stood on tiptoe to kiss Ben on the cheek. \u00a0\u201cLuke said you would be along. \u00a0 Hello, Sheriff Coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy nodded and smiled, he would have told her he was no longer sheriff but didn\u2019t know how to do so easily so said nothing. \u00a0 Luke was cleaning his rifle and acknowledged them both with a nod of the head \u201cHow soon do you want to leave, Ben?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, \u00a0anytime that suits yourself, Luke. \u00a0 If we can cover the distance from here to where Roy and Candy found Reuben before nightfall, \u00a0that would possibly be the best idea.\u00a0 We can start travelling further in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cVery good.\u201d Luke nodded \u201cMarcy has food ready to eat now, best travel on a full stomach.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben was in two minds about delaying further, but Roy had already started removing his outer clothes so he decided that perhaps it would be a good idea.\u00a0 He pulled his chair up to the table and sat down to eat what Marcy served them, and after just the one mouthful realised how hungry he actually was, and that this was a \u00a0better idea than he had first thought.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Within the hour they were leaving, Marcy stood at the doorway with her shawl around her and waving them goodbye.\u00a0 With their saddlebags stuffed with provisions, and feeling optimistic about their journey, they rode out of her sight and towards the track leading either back the way they had come, to town, \u00a0or to the less travelled route south.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 36<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The room was not large, \u00a0but it was pink.\u00a0 Roses and forget-me-nots with blue or pink ribbons \u00a0were painted delicately on the walls.\u00a0 A pretty room, perfect for a little girl.\u00a0 Dolls and soft rag toys, spinning tops and jack-in-the-boxes lined the shelves along one wall, a rocking horse in one corner and a quite magnificent doll\u2019s house in the other, with little people living within it, even with a dog in the kennel.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia opened her eyes and released a long sigh. \u00a0 She looked around the room \u00a0and remembered that she had seen it several times now, before everything was hazy and strange but this time she could see with clarity and some degree of pleasure.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A fire crackled in the fireplace, \u00a0and pink velvet curtains covered the window.\u00a0 She was warm, comfortable and sleepy. \u00a0 Perhaps this was just a dream and what had happened before was the nightmare that she wanted to forget, \u00a0to pretend had never happened.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When the door opened she turned her head slowly in its direction and watched as a woman approached the bedside. \u00a0 \u00a0She had seen this lady before, a very pretty lady with golden blonde hair and blue eyes, and always smiling, always looking so happy to see her. \u00a0 She was like a princess the way she would glide towards the bedside and take a chair by the bed.\u00a0 Sofia could remember the times she had opened her eyes and the lady had been there holding her hand, or brushing away the hair from her face and always with the most happy smile on her face. \u00a0 Whenever she spoke to Sofia she called her \u2018dear\u2019 or \u2018my darling\u2019, and once Sofia could recall her kissing her brow very gently.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was one time she had opened her eyes and seen a fat man standing by the bed.\u00a0 He had hold of her wrist with one hand and was staring at a watch with the other. \u00a0 He was talking, but his voice sounded slurred and as though it was coming from far, far away. \u00a0 \u00a0His hands had touched her face, her brow, and neck.\u00a0 She had shivered at his touch because his hands were cold, and because \u2026 he made her feel afraid.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There had been another lady with the fat man, and Sofia could tell that she had been listening very seriously to what he was saying, because every so often she had nodded, and looked anxious. \u00a0 Later \u00a0when the pretty lady came this other lady was with her and they had talked together for a little while. \u00a0 This other lady was older than the Princess, but she was pretty, even beautiful, with a sad smile, gentle eyes and a soft touch of her hand upon Sofia\u2019s cheek.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia was not afraid of either woman, \u00a0she felt safe and warm, even a little hungry.\u00a0 She smiled when the young lady came and sat beside her \u201cAre you feeling a little better, dear?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, thank you.\u201d \u00a0Sofia lisped, and she smiled up at the lady so that there would be a smile returned<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou must be hungry. \u00a0 Phoebe will be up in a moment with something for you to eat.\u00a0 Dr \u00a0Lovell said you would need to eat after having slept so long.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHave I been asleep a long time?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, a long time.\u201d \u00a0she leaned forwards and kissed Sofia on the cheek, \u201cI am glad you are awake now though, darling, once you are well enough you will be able to play with all your toys. \u00a0 Grandmother bought these for you a long time ago, but this is the first time you have had the chance to play with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia looked away from the lady and smiled, she wanted to play with that doll\u2019s house, she had never had one before but had seen one in a shop window and oh, had so longed to own it. \u00a0 \u201cAre \u00a0you a Princess?\u201d \u00a0she asked innocently \u201cOnly I can\u2019t remember\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The lady laughed, a soft laugh and shook her head \u201cNo, there are no princesses in America.\u00a0 Only in fairy stories or in Europe.\u00a0 I\u2019m your aunt, Alice.\u00a0 I\u2019m your aunt Katy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAunt Katy.\u201d \u00a0Sofia echoed and nodded shyly, then smiled again \u201cThat\u2019s a nice name.\u00a0 I had another aunty once, her name was \u2026\u201d \u00a0she frowned, what was that name again? \u00a0 It was something like Katy, but just a little bit different.\u00a0 She looked at the woman and frowned \u201cShe was pretty but had a bad face.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh dear, that\u2019s a shame.\u201d \u00a0Katherine Royale shook her head and a slight frown furrowed her brow \u201cAre you sure it isn\u2019t part of that nightmare you have been having? \u00a0 You were very ill you know and had such bad dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t remember.\u201d Sofia sighed and settled back into the pillows.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The door opened again and a young woman came into the room with a tray upon which was some food and drink.\u00a0 The tray had little legs on it which Phoebe the maid pulled down so that the whole thing could stand across Sofia\u2019s lap without toppling over.\u00a0 Sofia thought it looked very smart indeed and smiled over at Phoebe who bobbed \u00a0down in the parody of a curtsey, grinned \u00a0back at her, before leaving the room. \u00a0 Katherine took a napkin from the tray, flicked it out and then tucked it under Sofia\u2019s chin \u201cPromise me that you\u2019ll try to eat it all \u00a0up.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine looked pleased at that and stood up to look around the room, \u00a0while Sofia ate a little of the scrambled eggs, and drank some of the milk she walked around the room and picked up a toy, \u00a0set it back down and then picked up another.\u00a0 She found a book and glanced through it, then she selected another one and carried it over to the bedside \u201cHave you read this story, \u00a0Alice? \u00a0 It\u2019s about two little children who got lost in a forest.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHansel and Gretel.\u201d Sofia said immediately and nodded \u201cYes, my mommy \u2026\u201d \u00a0she frowned and stared at the book, \u00a0something at the back of her mind like an itch that she couldn\u2019t scratch \u201cMy mommy read it to me \u00a0once.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure she did, dear.\u201d \u00a0 Katherine sat down and opened the book, \u00a0\u201cEmily always loved reading, \u00a0even more than I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia frowned, but she ate her scrambled eggs and toast, \u00a0drank her milk and listened as Katherine read the story. \u00a0 She was a good reader, she knew how to make the children sound frightened and sad, the horrible old woman sounded just as cackling and horrible as a witch could be who liked eating up little children. \u00a0 Then of course father came and rescued them both \u2026 Sofia leaned back against the pillows, and thought of a dark eyed, dark haired man with a grin and dimples \u2026 she looked at Katy, \u201cIs my daddy here?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy no, dear, he\u2019s back home with your mother.\u201d \u00a0 she closed the book now and set it down \u00a0on the table by her side, \u201cDon\u2019t you remember how grandmother and I came to visit you all? \u00a0 Your mother had just had the baby and she had been unwell, so your father asked us to bring you here to stay for a little while. \u00a0 You would have come last year but there was fever in the town so we couldn\u2019t bring you, \u00a0but it all worked out alright this time\u2026.except\u2026\u201d \u00a0she sighed and removed the tray, placed it on the table and then took hold of Sofia\u2019s hands in hers \u201cIt was when it started to snow and we had to stop along the way.\u00a0 You were really ill, sweetheart, and for a while we didn\u2019t know if \u00a0you were going to even reach town. \u00a0 Can\u2019t you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia shook her head and screwed up her eyes. \u00a0 Perhaps if she tried she could remember something \u00a0\u201cIt was cold, \u00a0I was cold.\u00a0 I was shivering all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right, so you were. \u00a0 We couldn\u2019t get you warm at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWas that why you made the fires?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine\u2019s smile faltered, then she nodded \u201cWe had to do something, try anything.\u00a0 We would never have forgiven ourselves if anything had happened to you, how could we have told Emily and James that their little girl \u2026 anyway, it didn\u2019t happen, we got you home just in time.\u00a0 Dr Lovell said had it been any longer and we could have lost you altogether.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI remember the fires, and the snow \u2026\u201d \u00a0Sofia said slowly<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCan you remember anything else? \u00a0 You were having some terrible dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWere they horrible and awful?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, \u00a0I\u2019m afraid so. \u00a0 But -\u201d \u00a0her face brightened up as though she had decided there was enough talk about sad things and her smile was as captivating as ever \u201c it\u2019s alright now, Alice, you\u2019re home now, safe with us.\u201d she squeezed Sofia\u2019s hands and leaned down to kiss Sofia on the brow \u201cYou\u2019ll always be safe with us.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMommy says that \u2026\u201d Sofia whispered<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure she does.\u00a0 She\u2019ll be so happy to know you\u2019re alright and not sick any more.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia nodded and smiled up at her aunt Katy, \u201cI didn\u2019t know I was sick\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course you didn\u2019t \u2026 now, \u00a0do \u00a0you want to get up and play with the doll\u2019s house?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCan I?\u00a0 Can I really?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia was so excited that when her aunt Katy pulled back the covers she just wanted to jump right out of bed and run to that dolls house, but as soon as her feet touched the floor her legs went very strange.\u00a0 She tried to stand up but her legs wouldn\u2019t support her, she reached out for Katherine who grabbed at her hands and then helped her back into bed \u201cI am sorry, Alice, \u00a0it seems you\u2019re still too weak.\u00a0 I shouldn\u2019t have tempted you to play just yet, you need feeding up \u2026 I forgot you have been without any good food for some days\u2026 I am sorry, dear.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia didn\u2019t speak, Katherine was smiling at her, although her eyes were sad, and she was stroking back some stray wisps of hair from Sofia\u2019s brow. \u00a0 Sofia smiled, it was alright, she told herself, it was alright, although it was a shame that Aunt Katy had forgotten that her real name was Sofia, and not Alice.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie Royale was writing a letter when Katherine entered the room and quietly sat down \u00a0by the fire, picked \u00a0up her needlepoint and began to work on the pattern.\u00a0 For a while they were quite silent until Rosemarie looked over at her daughter \u201cHow is she?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s weak, but she ate her food.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPoor little thing, \u00a0she must have been so hungry.\u201d Rosemarie sighed and wrote a little more, then put down her pen \u201cDid she speak at all?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, a little.\u00a0 She seemed very happy with things really, confused of course. \u00a0 She\u2019s such an adorable little girl.\u00a0 I was thinking \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t think, Katherine. \u00a0 It doesn\u2019t do to think, not about what happened\u2026you were going to talk about that, weren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d Katherine nodded, and set down her sewing, \u201cI can\u2019t help but be reminded of it, that little girl reminds me so much of my \u2026\u201d she swallowed the words and straightened her back, stared at the far wall and remembered the baby she had held for just a brief moment or so, such a dear sweet little scrap she had been.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no point looking backwards, Katherine. \u00a0 We \u00a0have the chance of saving that child, making her happy. \u00a0 Heavens, Katherine, had we been any later she would have died.\u00a0 What kind of parents leave a child like that to die in the kind of weather we\u2019re \u00a0having \u2026 it makes my blood run cold, it really does.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine nodded and picked up her needlepoint, rethreaded the needle and stared at the pattern.\u00a0 It had been hard to imagine her feelings when she found that child curled \u00a0up beside that dying fire, and Clifton had so gently picked the little girl up and carried her to the carriage. \u00a0 She hadn\u2019t known what to do, \u00a0they were miles from anywhere, \u00a0the only place to go was home. \u00a0 Rosemarie had decided for them, the child would be brought home of course and if she died, then that was meant to be, but if she lived \u2026 \u00a0 if she lived \u2026 that had worried Katherine but Rosemarie had said that there was no way she would even bother looking for any parent or family who had abandoned a child out in the wilds in such weather.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Of course, mother was right. \u00a0 Mother was always right.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The little girl had been taken ill within the first few hours of the journey, and it had been a terrible time, really really terrible. \u00a0 Clifton had forced the child to drink some \u00a0brandy and wrapped her in a fur lined shawl and told Katherine to hold her tight, just hold her and talk to her, softly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And she had done just that, even sung to her until Sofia had stopped calling out for somebody called Boo, another person called Reuben, and Natty \u2026 \u00a0 there were others she called for but eventually she fell into a deep unconsciousness, not exactly sleeping but something deeper than that.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clifton had carried her into the house of course, \u00a0and Rosemarie had told the servant girl, Phoebe, to get Dr Lovell. \u00a0 That was when the lies had began, although Katherine couldn\u2019t think of them as lies otherwise she would never have been able to sleep with a bad conscience. \u00a0 She told herself that it could have been just as mother had said, they had collected Alice, Emily\u2019s daughter, \u00a0and brought her home for a winter holiday but she had been taken ill.\u00a0 It had been that simple, and it could have been true!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Over the days of Sofia\u2019s illness Katherine had hardly left the bedside, \u00a0she loved the child.\u00a0 Such a pretty little girl, and just the age that Katherine\u2019s very own child would have been \u2026 it was too much of a co-incidence. \u00a0 Katherine prayed that God was giving her the chance of being a mother again, \u00a0only this time she would be a really really good one. \u00a0 Alice would be her child, her little girl, and would want for nothing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 37<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The hotel in Monroe was of a decent size and looked as most hotels in that kind of town would look, even in the pouring rain. \u00a0 Hoss remained in the saddle and took up the reins of the other horses having already agreed to take them \u00a0to the livery stable while his brothers booked rooms in the hotel.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The hotel clerk glanced up casually as the door opened and then visibly brightened when he saw the potential for some clients.\u00a0 Business was obviously bad and the way he listened to their request for three single rooms was an indication of just how bad if the smiles and brisk efficiency with which they were attended to were anything to go by.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAny bathroom ?\u201d Adam asked he signed the register and the clerk immediately assured him that there were two, one on the floor to which they had been assigned rooms.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGot a decent restaurant?\u201d Joe shivered and rubbed his hands together, \u00a0he was so tired, cold and hungry that he longed for a really good hot meal to be placed in front of \u00a0him right there and then.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir \u2026 \u00a0the restaurant it right through that door to the right of you.\u201d \u00a0he paused \u201cHave you any luggage, Mr \u2026oh \u2026 Mr Cartwright\u2026Mr Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe indicated the saddle bags he and Adam had slung over their shoulders which received a nod of the head from the receptionist who was about to speak when the door opened and Hoss entered, removed his hat and shook it so that rain drops scattered everywhere around the hotel foyer. \u00a0 \u201cGot the horses settled.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, took the keys from the clerk and then turned to the stairs.\u00a0 Hoss glanced at Joe and grimaced, then shrugged and together they followed their brother up to the rooms where the keys were handed out and the bathroom located.\u00a0 Joe scratched his head \u201cNot sure which to do first, eat or bathe.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m eating.\u201d Hoss growled, \u201cI\u2019m so hungry |could eat old Sheba if she were anywhere hereabouts.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam chaffed his hands together and suppressed a shiver, \u00a0the warmth in the building was thawing out the chill in his bones and the thought of a hot bath, \u00a0a hot meal and a decent bed was certainly more than attractive. \u00a0 He looked at Joe who appeared to be giving the matter of bath over food very serious consideration \u201cDecided yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m wet and cold, \u00a0I\u2019d like to change clothes first.\u201d Joe muttered<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAgreed, what about you Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Their brother looked wistful and then nodded, \u201cEat first \u2026after changing into something dry \u2026 shucks, I sure hope they cook a decent meal here, I\u2019d sure be disappointed if\u2019n they don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMeet you out here in ten minutes.\u201d Joe said as he slipped the key into the lock and promptly disappeared inside.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The three rooms were a similar size, anonymous in appearance but clean.\u00a0 It took less than the allocated ten minutes to get changed and back to the landing where they met and then made the way downstairs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They had arrived at a popular eating time for the restaurant was crowded with the townsfolk.\u00a0 Young couples sat here or there, holding hands or gazing at one another as young couples did\u2026 but mostly the clientele comprised of men, and the hum of voices was subdued, a ripple of bass tones.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They were led to a table that was not in a very obvious position which pleased each one of them. \u00a0 After their order was taken the three of the looked around them and took note of the people around them, Adam nodded \u201cNo miners \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot many cowboys either.\u201d Joe muttered<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFrom what the livery man said this is a railway town. \u00a0 Most employed by the railways because they\u2019re working on getting a branch to run up through these here parts.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam gave his brother a brief smile of commendation and allowed his thoughts to wander, not that they wandered far from the concerns that involved them so much, and that was to find out anything to do with Sofia.\u00a0 Any word, any sign, anything at all in fact that could indicate her presence in that town was an essential part of their being there now.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s pretty small.\u201d Joe murmured, \u201cThey can\u2019t have all their main work force here yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I thought that too\u2026\u201d Hoss sighed and glanced around him, looked over his shoulder and nodded at the couple seated behind him, he leaned forward towards his brothers \u201cHow\u2019re we going to go about this?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJust listen as hard as you can, and notice as much as possible.\u201d Joe hissed back and then had to stop talking as the waiter came to set down their meal.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShucks, I ain\u2019t much good at hearing and seeing when I\u2019m eating\u201d Hoss sighed dramatically and looked down at his plate, he lowered his head to smell the rich sauces emanating from his plate \u201cSmells good, \u00a0looks good.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you plan on doing, Adam?\u201d Joe asked as they ate in relative silence, although they were watching their fellow diners with a care that was obviously making some of them uncomfortable.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, \u00a0I noticed they got a church here \u2026\u201d \u00a0Adam murmured \u201cI\u2019ll go to the pastor tomorrow, \u00a0he\u2019d know about his parishioners, if any have a sudden addition to the family so to speak.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t see any doctors surgery ..\u201d Joe said \u00a0and was about to continue speaking when a man seated close to him leaned towards him to tell him there was no doctor.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo doctor?\u201d Hoss\u2019 eyes widened \u201cWhat happens when you\u2019re ill?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat usually happens in a one horse town like this \u2018un \u2026 we have to rely on folks who know something about healing, that\u2019s what.\u00a0 The barber knows how to pull teeth, and set bones, so does the livery man. \u00a0 We got a man who trained to be a horse doc back east, he does well enough for us when we need anything whipped out like an appendix or some such.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about women \u2026 I mean \u2026\u201d Joe shrugged and tried to look nonchalant \u201chaving babies and so forth?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe got several women in town know how to deliver them \u2026 and some men too.\u201d \u00a0he turned right around to face them and looked them up and down \u201cYou just riding through?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSort of.\u201d Joe nodded, \u201cI\u2019m Joe Cartwright, these here are my brothers, Adam and Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCartwright?\u201d \u00a0the other man frowned and then extended his hand \u201cJoshua Hurley.\u00a0 I\u2019m a surveyor for the railway.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hands were shaken all round before Hurley ventured to ask if they were the Cartwrights from the Ponderosa and after that was confirmed he nodded rather ponderously and after sticking two fat fingers in a pocket withdrew a piece of card upon which was printed his name and address \u201cYou got some good real estate there.\u00a0 I rode through it from Genoa some time ago.\u00a0 Anytime you want to do a deal and sell some to the railway, you just get in contact with me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe slipped the card into his pocket and was about to resume eating when Hurley asked them what exactly it was that brought them to Monroe, \u00a0to which Joe gave Adam a quick glance before saying that they were looking for someone.\u00a0 Hurley shrugged \u201cThis is a peaceful town, Mr Cartwright, \u00a0no one wants any trouble around here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss grinned \u201cWe ain\u2019t looking for that kind of person, mister, fact is we aint\u2019 looking for no trouble at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hurley narrowed his eyes \u201cThen who are you looking for?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam sighed and then very slowly said \u201cMy daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d \u00a0Hurley frowned more deeply and hooked his thumbs into his vest pocket \u201cWal, we got some real pretty girls working in the saloons, guess one or two may have run away from home although I\u2019d have thought no girl in her right senses would leave the Ponderosa to work in places like that\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a child, she didn\u2019t run away, she went missing from school \u2026\u201d \u00a0Adam said coldly, \u00a0and he looked at Hurley, \u201cToo young to be working anywhere Mr Hurley although I thank you for the thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hurley ignored the sarcasm but frowned and looked concerned \u201cA child?\u00a0 That\u2019s a mite different. \u00a0 I\u2019m truly sorry, Mr Cartwright.\u201d \u00a0 he paused, then shook his head \u201cYou say she\u2019s missing from school? \u00a0 I take it the school\u2019s in Virginia City?\u00a0 That\u2019s a long way for a kid to come ain\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right, it is a long way. \u201c Adam sighed and it was Joe who said quite bluntly that they suspected that she was taken by someone from that locality.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWal, \u00a0that\u2019s a strong accusation, Mr Cartwright.\u00a0 You thinking of anyone here in this town stealing your kid, then you\u2019re thinking is pure wrong.\u00a0 This is a \u00a0small town, and we\u2019re hard working and honest folk. \u00a0 Like I said before, you go around causing trouble, \u00a0you might find \u00a0yourselves regretting it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He turned then and with a nod of the head at two other men who had shared the table along with him, he left the restaurant.\u00a0 Joe sighed and looked down at his meal, then looked at his brothers \u201cWell, that didn\u2019t go quite as I thought it would\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam said nothing but shrugged slightly while Hoss resumed his meal with an enthusiasm both his brothers singularly lacked.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There were slight flakes of snow swirling in among the raindrops, and the wind was blowing hard against their backs when Ben, Luke and Roy came upon Riley\u2019s cabin.\u00a0 Darkness had fallen for they were heading towards the shortest day of the year now and the days were short. \u00a0 Ben was happy enough to have made it to the cabin as detouring to Luke\u2019s had added miles, and therefore, hours, to their journey.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The cabin was empty but Pete had left a note telling them the cabin was theirs for the duration\u2026 Ben wondered if the old man had anticipated their return, or whether he left that note for the sake of any wanderer making their way to or from Virginia City.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy pulled off his boots and tossed them aside \u201cSure hope it don\u2019t snow, my bunions are playing havoc right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben said nothing but stacked wood up onto the dead fire while Luke foraged around for some coffee and food. \u00a0 Roy rubbed his chin with his fingers \u201cI guess he had to get things arranged for his nephew, young Fitz. \u00a0 Shame about that \u2026\u201d \u00a0he sighed \u201cHe was a well meaning boy, \u00a0but a whole lot sicker than he realised.\u00a0 That young girl, Charlotte Beckett, she\u2019s a bad one. \u00a0 She\u2019s going to cause her folk a whole lot of grief before she\u2019s much older.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAlready caused that for some,\u201d Ben muttered and struck a match which he set against some paper and kindling \u201cShe didn\u2019t seem to care about the harm she had done.\u00a0 Just blamed the adults for everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy rubbed his feet, before pulling off his coat and tossing them over to join his boots \u201cYeah, I went to see her too. \u00a0 Blamed everybody but herself.\u00a0 I guess young \u2018uns are like that, \u2018cept that she ain\u2019t like most young \u2018uns.\u00a0 I seen a lot like her, and none of \u2018em turned out good for anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke shrugged and concentrated on his food preparation, not that he was much good at cooking but had survived long enough on his own to have some measure of confidence about it. \u00a0 \u201cWell, she is a kid, and she may well have thought that the adults around there would know what to do if things turned bad. \u00a0 That\u2019s what kids do, ain\u2019t it?\u00a0 Rely on adults?\u00a0 In this case they all fell short of doing what they should have done\u2026 \u00a0 Ezra went off to have a drink, Miss Brandon went off with her boyfriend instead of checking the grounds for waifs and strays\u2026. Can\u2019t put all the blame on the girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not, \u00a0Luke.\u201d Ben said quietly and looked at his young companion thoughtfully, \u00a0while his mind drifted back to a little girl called Katya Dent who had been very much like Charlotte Beckett all those years back.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIf the snow don\u2019t lay we should be able to pick up your boy\u2019s tracks, Ben.\u201d \u00a0Roy pulled out the map he had folded up and tucked into a pocket.\u00a0 He walked over to the table and spread it out before leaning over it to mark out where they were \u2026 he pointed to where they had found Reuben \u201cYou can see why Candy wants to check out the route across the Ponderosa, it\u2019s as likely for anyone to go across there to Genoa and so forth \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the route I took, \u00a0it\u2019s become a regular roadway across your land, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded and thoughtfully passed a hand across his jaw \u201cAdam and I discussed building a roadway, several in fact, to make travelling easier \u2026. \u201c he stabbed his finger down at where the supposed junction would be \u201cThat\u2019s the road to Monroe, \u00a0but it forks off towards Colfax \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere do you think of going first, Ben?\u00a0 That\u2019s if we don\u2019t meet up with Adam and the boys before then?\u201d \u00a0Luke watched as Ben\u2019s face fell into the familiar anxious lines that he had seen so often that day, then glanced over at Roy who was staring down at the map with an intensity that only an old sheriff like Roy would have, \u201cAt least we don\u2019t need to worry about that track across the Ponderosa is Candy\u2019s posse is going to check on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded, but still he said nothing.\u00a0 Roy looked up as though to ask a question but Ben turned away, and returned to the fire as though that was more important than answering a lot of tom fool questions to which he had not answer.\u00a0 He could recall to mind the sight of Reuben in that bed, the way Olivia held his hand and looked so scared, so worried. \u00a0 He heaved a deep sigh, one that touched the hearts of his fellow companions, and then placed a log carefully upon the others.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 38<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The church was obviously built on the spur of the moment, the kind of building someone thought should be built, just in case, but not essential to life so hardly worth bothering about too much.\u00a0 That was the kind of town Monroe was and Adam had the feeling that once the railway had built its tracks along or through the place the town would die and blow away in the desert storms.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Pastor was a rotound little man who shook Adams hand warmly as though he couldn\u2019t believe that some stray sheep had actually wandered in through his doors for salvation. \u00a0 As Adam removed his hat and followed the older man into the back room \u00a0which was both study and living quarters he wondered just how far gone the spiritual state had spiralled down the ladder of opportunity and progress.\u00a0 He sat down and when the old man offered him coffee he declined with a smile. \u00a0 \u201cI wanted to ask you something, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d \u00a0an eager response and Adam had a vague feeling that he was going to disappoint him by the question he was going to ask.\u00a0 He glanced around the room \u201cIs this your only place of worship in town?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt is.\u201d \u00a0Pastor Evans nodded \u201cBetter than the saloon \u00a0and I\u2019m grateful for it, as are my parishioners.\u00a0 I get at least 25 to the service on Sundays you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI – er – No, I didn\u2019t know.\u201d Adam glanced around him again, he twitched his shoulders and frowned \u201cWell, the reason I\u2019m here is to ask for your help.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnything, ask anything?\u00a0 What denomination are you?\u00a0 Catholic?\u00a0 Baptist?\u00a0 Perhaps Methodist?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam raised a hand to halt the flow of words and shook his head \u201cI am sorry, it isn\u2019t a theological question I was going to ask, \u00a0it was about your parishioners\u2026well, to be honest, it may not be \u2026\u201d \u00a0he paused, saw the confusion on the old mans face and cleared his throat \u201cMy daughter and son went missing a few days ago. \u00a0 My son has been found and returned safely home, but my daughter \u2026\u201d \u00a0 he bowed his head and struggled a moment to get the words together \u201cShe\u2019s six years old, blonde haired and blue eyed.\u00a0 She\u2019s possibly been found and brought to someone\u2019s home – maybe here – \u00a0and I was just wondering, as you\u2019re the Pastor here – if any of your parishioners may have heard about her, or even found her themselves and taken her to safety.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pastor Evans frowned and shook his head, he looked down at the ground and concentrated for some moments and then shook his head again \u201cThat is quite a sad dilemma. \u00a0 Just a little girl \u2026what is her name?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSofia Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCartwright?\u00a0 You\u2019re one of the Cartwrights from the Ponderosa?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I am but -\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you\u2019ve lost your little girl?\u201d \u00a0he spoke as though a wealthy man like Adam Cartwright had no more right to lose a child than the poorest man in town, he shook his head \u201cDear \u00a0me, dear me \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve not noticed anyone in your – parish – who has suddenly got an additional member of the family?\u00a0 A child you have not seen before?\u201d \u00a0he frowned \u201cIt is possible she may be ill \u2026 \u00a0would your doctor \u2026 no, of course you don\u2019t have a doctor here in this town I forgot \u2026 perhaps someone who cares for this kind of thing may have attended a family with a sick child?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTo be honest Mr Cartwright, there are not that many families in this town, some young couples, plenty of single men and a few girls. \u00a0 The town is mainly made up of railway workers, come the spring time this town will double in size with the number of men who will ride in to work on the railway. \u00a0 Doubt if there will be many families though.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI see,\u201d \u00a0Adam rose to his feet and twisted his hat round between his fingers while he looked thoughtfully at the Pastor, \u201cIf you hear of anyone, anything at all, would you let me know?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes of course I will, most certainly.\u201d \u00a0the old man smiled and followed Adam to the door where he cast an oblique glance at a box with a wide opening in it before offering his hand to be shaken.\u00a0 Taking the hint Adam placed some money in the box and then left, scratching the back of his neck as he did so.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He stood for a moment on the sidewalk watching the few people on the streets.\u00a0 There was snow drifting about, it hadn\u2019t settled the previous evening but was just lazily swirling down. \u00a0 He replaced his hat and made his way back to the hotel.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As he stepped into the hotel the man who had been seated at the table and spoken to them the previous evening approached him. \u00a0 Josh Hurley was a handsome looking man, well built and sandy haired, as he came towards Adam his face bore a smile and his eyes were candid and open, he extended his hand \u201cMr Cartwright, I bin waiting for ya.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam looked at the proffered hand and then shook it, for a moment something akin to hope lurched in his heart and after greeting Joshua he waited for the man to speak his mind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFact is I got to thinking about how I left you \u00a0and your brothers yesterday evening. It weren\u2019t polite, and I\u2019m right sorry about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded \u201cI guess we were at fault some, Mr Hurley.\u00a0 We\u2019d travelled some distance in bad weather and our nerves were strung out.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI can imagine and rightly so.\u00a0 I\u2019ve two kids of my own back home.\u00a0 I got to thinking about how I\u2019d feel if anything happened to either of them. \u00a0 Have you no idea where your little girl could be?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot really.\u00a0 Just a vague hope, a hunch \u2026 we\u2019ll just follow it along until it peters out or we find her.\u201d \u00a0he frowned and gave a slight shrug \u201cThen we\u2019ll start again in another direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I\u2019d do just about the exact same \u2026.\u201d \u00a0Hurley released a deep sigh as though the bottom of his world had just fallen through.\u00a0 He looked around the hotel foyer and mentioned that Joe and Hoss were absent \u201cGuess they\u2019re looking around huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI reckon.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI wish you every success, Mr Cartwright.\u201d \u00a0he nodded to add emphasis to his words \u201cI\u2019ll do everything I can to help.\u00a0 What does she look like this little girl of yours ?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam described her again and looked at the other man with a rather hopeless feeling welling up in his heart.\u00a0 Sometimes the impossibility of the task seemed too much, \u00a0the importance and everything that hung upon its success weighed too heavy \u2026 he nodded as Hurley shook his hand again, promised that he would get his men to keep their ears to the ground, and then watched him leave the hotel.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The three brothers met together in the restaurant at noon, \u00a0ate a little and discussed what they had done, what if any success they had achieved. \u00a0 The telling took less time than the eating, there was no news, no one had seen or heard of a lost little girl.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThis kind of place, folk would know.\u201dJoe muttered quietly, and shook his head \u201cThey\u2019re men who have left their families behind, they have some understanding of how it must be and were willing to do all they could to help.\u00a0 But when there isn\u2019t anything there isn\u2019t really much they can do, is there?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded and emptied his cup of coffee, \u201cWe\u2019ll keep trying here until tomorrow and then ride on \u2026 what\u2019s the next town?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss shrugged \u201cwhich direction you want to head ?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSouth?\u201d \u00a0 Adam suggested and glanced at Joe who nodded, it was all one and the same really, they had no idea where to go, it was like clutching at straws drifting down in the waters of a stream, which one was the one to reveal the secret \u2026who knew?<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The snow was blowing directly into the faces of the three men, Ben, Roy and Luke huddled further into their coats and lowered their hats. \u00a0 They had passed the area where Candy would take the posse across the Ponderosa, travelling eastwards, it was also pass where Reuben had been found. \u00a0 They couldn\u2019t speak as the wind prevented them opening their mouths.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The day was closing in on them and the cold was fiercer as a result. \u00a0 Ben was wondering how Roy was faring up and Roy was thinking much the same about Ben when Luke gave a \u00a0yell to draw their attention to an approaching wagon.\u00a0 The light from the shutter lamp glowed dim but it was still light enough to see the shape of the covered wagon pulled by two mules drawing closer to them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTarnation\u2026\u201d the driver hauled on his reins and drew up the mules \u201cWho \u2019xactly is that thar?\u00a0 You try robbing me and I\u2019ll blast your heads off, see if I don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Another voice from behind yelled \u201cWho is it, Pa?\u00a0 You tell \u2018em I got a rifle pointing right at \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy \u00a0walked his horse forwards and raised a hand \u201cRoy Coffee from Virginia City, Mister. \u00a0 These here are Ben Cartwright and Luke Dent.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The other man shook his head sending snow from the brim of his hat skittering in all directions \u201cLan\u2019sakes, what you doin\u2019 hereabouts?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe could ask the same of you.\u201d Roy replied with a smile in his voice in order not to provoke the traveller who grinned and looped the reins of the mules around the brake of his vehicle in order to clamber down to the ground<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m \u00a0Obadiah Ross, my daughter Millie -\u201d he jerked his thumb in the direction of the wagon. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m heading up to Virginia City, got family there.\u00a0 Had enough of life hereabouts, thought it was time to try something new. My brother kept on telling me it was a good life where he was, so \u2026\u201d he shrugged and looked at them and then up at the sky \u201cReckon on night fall anytime now, \u00a0best get camped up and a fire going before it gits too wet and cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere do you hail from, Obadiah?\u201d Luke asked as the other man \u00a0began to organise things for a camp<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh all over I guess. \u00a0 Been living in Mono County for a while. \u00a0 They\u2019re talking about the next big bonanza strike there but I don\u2019t see it happening anytime soon. \u00a0 I was at Sutters Creek when that all happened, had my chance of the big one then \u2026 but decided it wasn\u2019t the life for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Millie Ross came down from the wagon and pulled her big overcoat closer around her \u201cLawksamassy, Pa, it\u2019s freezing out here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThen stop gawping, girl and get the fire lit up\u2026 then we can eat.\u201d \u00a0 Obadiah blew on his hands \u201cYou\u2019re welcome to stop over and join us.\u00a0 We got plenty enough to share out.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt always seems warmer when there\u2019s company as well.\u201d Luke smiled and Millie softened and fluttered her eyelashes a little before collecting wood for the fire.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Between the five of them the fire was soon roaring, a good high fire that warmed them despite the persistent snow drifting down and the wind at their backs. \u00a0 The thick beef stew that Millie had prepared in the wagon was cooked over the fire, while they shared whiskey laced coffee and talked nonsense about their lives.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It took them half way through the beef stew before Obadiah drew breath and actually asked them why they were travelling on such an unpleasant night.\u00a0 This gave Ben the opportunity to tell him and Millie about Sofia, and how his sons were out looking for her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you out looking then?\u00a0 Ain\u2019t you got enough confidence in them to find her?\u201d \u00a0Obediah muttered and narrowed his eyes as though now doubting the veracity of this story<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe have, \u00a0but the more men on the ground searching the sooner we will get to find her.\u201d Luke said, \u201cShe\u2019s my niece, I have to be part of the search to find her or I\u2019ll never be able to look my sister in the face again.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Obediah nodded and looked at Ben and Roy, then shrugged \u201cWell, the needle in a haystack comes to mind. \u00a0 Easy enough to hide a child in any town if you ask me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded, he remembered times past when he had lost Hoss who had had amnesia and the difficulty that had involved, \u00a0and the other times, with Adam and that Kane, Joe \u2026 he sighed and shook his head, \u00a0but they had been found, dogged determination had won through, that and the faith they had in someone who had guided their way.\u00a0 He was quite sure that that Someone would do likewise this time, and he stared down at his stew and sighed his prayer but said nothing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Obadiah wiped stew from his whiskers and leaned over to pick up the coffee pot, then paused to look up and over to his guests “What do you know about those towns you’re heading for?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke nodded “I was in Colfax a few days back, seemed a decent enough town.”<\/p>\n

Obadiah nodded “Yeah, it’s much like most others I guess.\u00a0 Monroe is a mushroom town, \u00a0it’ll expand while they build the railway, if \u00a0they ever do.\u00a0 Not too big but growing, \u00a0wal, \u00a0you know what them kind of towns are like …not many women there, nor families.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Not the type of place anyone would take a child?” Ben murmured<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Wouldn’t have thought so, a strange child would stand out like a sore thumb. \u00a0 Colfax..that could be possible. Nice families, you know the kind, decent and law abiding, the backbone of most towns.\u00a0 Can’t say the same for Bodie. Lots of not very pleasant folk there.”. He glanced over at his daughter who nodded but said nothing<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You lived there?” Luke asked as he held out his cup to be refilled with coffee<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I lived in all of ’em, from time to time.\u00a0 An army man moved into Bodie some years back.\u00a0 He got things organised for a while, but when he died things fell apart. \u00a0 His wife’s still there …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I heard.” Luke agreed “I served in his unit as a scout for a while some years back.”<\/p>\n

Obadiah grinned “then you’ll know how the Missus likes to be Queen Bee wherever she is\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I know all about Mrs Royale” Luke smiled, “”But do you think she’s capable of taking and keeping someone else’s child?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Obadiah gave that question some thought for a moment then shrugged “I doubt it, not unless there was something in it for her?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Such as? \u00a0 Blackmail?” Roy asked as he removed his glasses to remove the snow spots<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, well, perhaps.” Again Obadiah paused as though to think it over then shook his head again “No, can’t think she would.\u00a0 Sides, where’d she hide a child?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Millie pulled a shawl closer “Pa, we don’t know nothing about her, so don’t go putting ideas into their heads.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke smiled “I know someone in Colfax, we’ll head there first.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Probably the best idea, it isn’t as big as Bodie…” \u00a0Obadiah stood up, stretched “Time to sleep.\u00a0 Goodnight, gentlemen”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 39<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Snow drifted lazily down the glass of the window of the pink room and for a while Sofia watched it\u2019s slow progress.\u00a0 She traced several snow flakes with her finger until she became bored and for a while watched the people in the street. \u00a0 A woman hurried along with a little boy holding her hand, she watched as he slid on the snow, righted himself and then after a few more paces slipped over and fell.\u00a0 The woman hauled him up and brushed down his clothes before taking his hand and continuing on to her destination. \u00a0 Sofia followed her with her eyes until she disappeared through the door of a \u00a0large clothes store.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine came up from behind her and placed a gentle hand upon her shoulder, she gave the child an impromptu hug and asked her what she was doing, what was she thinking about which brought a moment\u2019s silence as Sofia thought over her reply.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI was watching the people and a little boy fell over.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I hope he wasn\u2019t hurt.\u201d \u00a0Katherine sat down on the wide ledge of the window, too big to be called a window cill, pleasant to sit on and watch what was going on outside.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a moment Sofia continued to look out of the window and Katherine reached out and took hold of her hand so that she turned and looked at the woman, before saying how she could remember living in a big house in a big town. \u00a0\u201c We used to play in the park.\u00a0 Reuben fell over in the snow once and so did Marcy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine gently squeezed Sofia\u2019s hand in her own while a \u00a0kindly but concerned look settled over her face as she smiled up at the child \u201cIs this one of your dreams, dear?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0I didn\u2019t dream it, it\u2019s real.\u201d \u00a0Sofia answered with a slight frown \u00a0and a petulant pout of her lips, \u201cReuben didn\u2019t like Uncle Booth \u2026 \u00a0and Aunty Morgan was nasty, she didn\u2019t like Mommy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI think it was a dream, Alice. \u00a0 Perhaps the medicine you have been given is making them too real. \u00a0 Perhaps you\u2019ve read about these people in a book \u00a0and they\u2019ve stuck in your mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia shook her head, she thought of Olivia and exclaimed \u00a0 \u201cMy mommy\u2019s really pretty.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, she is\u2026 she was always the prettier one of the two of us.\u201d Katherine put a hand around the childs waist and drew her closer, \u00a0\u201cCome and sit here beside me.\u201d \u00a0without hesitation Sofia did as she was asked and sat by Katherine, so close in fact that she was leaning against her with her head resting upon the woman\u2019s shoulder, \u201cDo you like it here?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, \u00a0it\u2019s a nice house.\u00a0 I like this room.\u201d \u00a0Sofia replied honestly, \u00a0\u201cBut my room back home is bigger, and the windows let me see the mountains, and there is a river \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine shook her head, that concerned anxious furrow appeared once again upon \u00a0her brow and she put a finger to the child\u2019s lips \u201cI think you are dreaming still, \u00a0that sickness hasn\u2019t gone yet. \u00a0 Perhaps you\u2019ve got up too soon and are weaker than I realised.\u00a0 Oh dear, Alice, \u00a0I wish you could remember Emily and James, your mother and father.\u00a0 They would be in despair if they thought you had forgotten them.\u00a0 Don\u2019t you remember the baby?\u00a0 Your little brother?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYe – e – es\u201d Sofia nodded but she wasn\u2019t sure now which baby she should be remembering, was it Nathaniel or was it Abel? \u00a0 She didn\u2019t like it when she couldn\u2019t remember, when what she knew so clearly suddenly became muddled up with other names of people she could not recall at all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd do you remember why we had to bring you here?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMother was ill. \u00a0 Grandmother said I should come back with \u00a0you both because I was going to come back anyway in the summer time.\u201d \u00a0Sofia spoke slowly, saying the words as though she had learned them from a book, \u00a0words she was couched to say, but still she couldn\u2019t see faces, couldn\u2019t remember this Emily and James. \u00a0\u201cMy Grandmother \u2026 \u00a0 is her name Abigail?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine shook her head, it occurred to her that this was becoming more and more difficult each day; \u00a0as the child\u2019s memory returned there were a mountain of facts, people, faces and names she had to climb over and eradicate. \u00a0 She dropped a kiss upon Sofia\u2019s brow \u201cLet\u2019s play, what would you like to do now?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh the doll\u2019s house \u2026 \u201c \u00a0Sofia clapped her hands, she loved this doll\u2019s house, \u00a0and ran over to where it stood.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A rustle of silks as Katherine settled down beside her, the full skirts of her gown crumpled around her feet and gathered about her knees, \u00a0and slowly she took the people out of the little house and placed them on the floor \u00a0\u201cHere\u2019s Papa, \u00a0his name is James \u2026 and here is Momma, and her name is \u2026\u201d \u00a0she looked at Sofia who stared at the little figure blankly \u201cWhat is Momma\u2019s name, Alice?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia blinked, the little wooden figure had an angry face, \u00a0not the smiling features of her own Momma, and it had black hair too \u201cEmily.\u201d she replied and nodded \u201cHer name is Emily.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben stood at the window and watched as the snow slipped down the glass, \u00a0he could see it mantling the roof of the stables and coating the ground.\u00a0 Mary Ann was driving her buggy into the yard, glanced up to the boy then waved and smiled.\u00a0 Reuben raised a hand before he turned to wards Olivia \u201cAunty Mary Ann is here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia left her seat and with Nathaniel in her arms joined her son at the window where they both looked down to watch as Mary Ann clambered down and first lifted Daniel down, and then reached inside the buggy for little Charlotte. \u00a0 \u201cMa, when is Pa coming home?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, \u00a0Reuben.\u201d \u00a0she clenched her teeth together, sometimes questions like that from her little boy brought too many emotions to the surface and she wanted to weep from frustration and worry. \u00a0 It seemed as though her heart was being wrung so tightly that there was hardly any possibility to breathe.\u00a0 Each day that passed started with hope, and as the day wore on that hope just would somehow, drift away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMa, I\u2019m sorry, I\u2019m sorry I didn\u2019t bring Sofee back home.\u00a0 I did try, truly I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nathaniel looked at his big brother and saw the sad face, the tears welling up in the boys eyes, he didn\u2019t like seeing tears for he knew that meant the boy was unhappy.\u00a0 He reached out his arms and wiggled his fingers for Reuben to give him attention, it was as though he wanted to say Look, come and play, come and be happy with me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know you tried, Reuben.\u00a0 I know, \u00a0we all know how hard you tried to come home.\u201d \u00a0she touched his face, gently, and dropped a kiss on his brow. \u00a0\u201cYour Pa promised to bring her home, and he will. \u00a0 Even if it takes a very long time, \u00a0so we have to be patient and believe in him. \u00a0 Granpa and your uncles are helping as well.\u00a0 It won\u2019t be long before they are all home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWith Sofia?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nathaniel clapped his hands \u201cSo-fee \u00a0 \u00a0 So-fee\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, he\u2019ll bring her home.\u00a0 It\u2019s different from when he was away at sea, when we never knew where he was or what kind of dangers he was encountering. \u00a0 And he didn\u2019t have your uncles and Granpa with him either, did he?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben reached out and took her hand, holding it tightly within his own, \u201cMa, you aren\u2019t angry with me, are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Her heart missed a beat, several in fact, as she looked at the earnest little face looking up at her.\u00a0 He was just a little boy, \u00a0one forgot that so easily at times.\u00a0 He had that same earnest look about him that Robert would get at times, she could remember so well how her first husband would get that same tight look in his eyes, the same pinched mouth.\u00a0 She hugged him closer and Nathaniel, nearly tipped out of her arms, wiggled and clung to her in order not to fall. \u00a0 \u201cOh-oh\u201d he cried in such a comic manner that Reuben relaxed, stepped back and regarded him with a grin which Nathaniel responded to with a grin of his own.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMa, I did kill a rabbit.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d \u00a0she took his hand and led him over to the fire, the bedroom was large and comfortable but needed the warmth of the fire, a luxury she knew some couldn\u2019t afford. \u00a0 \u201cIt was a clue that helped us locate you\u2026or rather one of them that Candy and Roy found.\u00a0 You did so well, Reuben.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She wanted to ask him so many questions, but the little they had found out came one by one, \u00a0dropped into conversation just as he remembered them.\u00a0 Paul had been the previous day and commented on his progress as being very good, a testament to love and good care but that emotionally, mentally, they still had to be very careful how they talked about Sofia and what happened.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDid you know they squeal?\u00a0 I didn\u2019t tell Sofia because she would have been upset.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t know they squealed like that but Uncle Hoss didn\u2019t tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes we have to learn the hard way, by our own experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI used my boot laces.\u201d \u00a0he sighed and shook his head as he remembered the time it took to get them fixed into a good little noose<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why your boots kept falling off I suppose\u2026\u201d she smiled and decided now to put Nathaniel down on the floor rather than have him wriggling around on her lap.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, they kept falling off.\u00a0 I forgot about that \u2026\u201d \u00a0he frowned, \u00a0there were other things he had forgotten but they were behind a black door, \u00a0curtained off in his mind. \u201cMa, why didn\u2019t they find Sofia?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey will find her, darling \u2026 they will \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Colfax was indeed a good sized town, and as the three horsemen rode down its main street Ben was reminded of so many towns like it. \u00a0 They seemed to fit a pattern which never deviated, \u00a0and in some ways it was like being caught on a treadmill, going round and round and seeing the same things over and over again, until in the end one never would have known where one was except for the sign that told a person upon entry.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The snow was thicker here, they had climbed higher as they followed the tracks to the town, \u00a0the snow had even obscured the sign that welcomed them to Colfax built in 1867.\u00a0 Luke glanced over at his companions and knew that they were cold, hungry and weary.\u00a0 He knew that because he was, and being that he was a good few decades younger he dreaded to think how much worse they were feeling.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHotel first?\u201d \u00a0he said and indicated the grand edifice ahead of them \u201cAnd something hot to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben and Roy were so stiff they couldn\u2019t even nod agreement, just steered their horses to the livery stable and dismounted. \u00a0 Roy had removed his spectacles the previous day, \u00a0the snow had covered them so often \u00a0as to make it impossible to see out of them.\u00a0 At least he could see better without them, even if everything was hazy.\u00a0 It was hard to unbuckle the straps and harnesses, their fingers were so stiff, and both men were puffing a bit as they slung their saddles over the bars of the stalls.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow long for?\u201d the livery keeper asked and they looked at one another and shrugged \u201cI\u2019ll charge you for a week. \u00a0 If you leave sooner I\u2019ll give you refund.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s fine by us.\u201d Luke muttered, \u00a0and pulled out his note book in order to put down the money<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCome far?\u201d \u00a0was the next question and Luke replied that they were from Virginia City, to which the other man nodded \u201cThought I recognised this horse.\u00a0 You were here a week or so back, weren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI was\u2026\u201d Luke nodded and smiled \u201cYou\u2019ve a good memory for faces, mister.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFor horses and brands.\u201d \u00a0came the reply as he led Cinnamon into a stall and looked at the brand \u201cAh, \u00a0this is a new one\u2026 a \u00a0pine tree.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cA ponderosa pine. \u00a0 I\u2019m Ben Cartwright, from the Ponderosa.\u201d \u00a0Ben offered his hand which the livery shook and \u00a0muttered \u201cChet Worsop\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019ve not seen any other horses with this brand recently?\u201d Ben asked tucking his gloved hands beneath his arm pits in the hope of thawing out his fingers enough to get some feeling back into them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNope, but I ain\u2019t the only stables here in town.\u00a0 Just the closest to the hotel\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo you wouldn\u2019t know if there were any others from the Ponderosa here?\u00a0 I was hoping my three sons would be \u2026\u201d Ben sighed and shrugged \u201cGuess not, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chet took Roys horse now and led it into a stall, unfastened a hay bag and put it on a hook for it to reach \u201cNope, but as I said there are others in town.\u00a0 We got several hotels too, \u00a0if they did get here, they could be in any one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke ran a hand across his jaw, a few days growth of stubble rough to his fingers reminded him of how good it would be to have a bath, a shave\u2026 a comfortable bed.\u00a0 He patted the rump of his horse as it lumbered into the stall provided \u201cIs Jack Hills still in town?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJust about,\u201d came the laconic reply \u201cHe came into some money from selling some land and near drunk himself to death. \u00a0 The doc thought for sure he was a goner but seems nothing will kill him off.\u00a0 He\u2019s still in the surgery being took care of \u2026\u201d \u00a0Chet grinned and winked<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about Shaun Hunnicutt, is he still in town?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chet shrugged \u201cCould be, ain\u2019t no telling with Shaun, \u00a0he just ups and disappears for months at a time. \u00a0 He was a scout in the army some years back you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I know, I scouted with him.\u201d \u00a0Luke turned to follow Roy and Ben from the stables and once standing on the sidewalk realised just how warm it had been inside from the shelter of the wind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Heads bowed the three men braced themselves to reach the hotel into which they practically fell as the doors were opened and they were embraced into its warmth.\u00a0 The bright colours quite dazzled their eyes for a while as they blinked like owls and shook snow from their clothes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was a good quality hotel, \u00a0there was no doubt about that and tantalizing smells came from the restaurant that adjoined the foyer. \u00a0 The clerk came and pushed the register towards them \u201cThree singles?\u201d \u00a0he suggested in a tone of some disdain<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWith a bathroom?\u201d Ben asked and was promptly handed a key, \u00a0he blew on his fingers for a moment before writing down his name<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBen Cartwright from the Ponderosa?\u201d the clerk read it out and looked at Ben with more respect that he had earlier \u201cHey, I know a Hoss Cartwright, and Little Joe Cartwright.\u00a0 You their Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI am.\u201d Ben said proudly<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSure am mighty glad to meet you at last, sir.\u00a0 I rode on a cattle drive to Tucson with your sons some years back.\u00a0 Saved my life when I got unhorsed by a mad old mother cow \u2026 \u00a0broke my leg though.\u00a0 How\u2019re they getting along?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cVery well, thank you. This is Roy Coffee \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know, Sheriff Coffee, I met you once or twice as well, though doubt if you would recall me\u2026 Timothy Sutcliffe.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy mumbled that he didn\u2019t know and be danged if he didn\u2019t get the keys to his room soon he\u2019d die from exhaustion right there and then in the foyer.\u00a0 Luke was then introduced and after that (thankfully he had never met Luke before in his life) keys were passed over and the three men made their ways to their rooms.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Outside the wind blew harder and snow hit the windows with greater ferocity, or so it seemed, than moments earlier. \u00a0 \u00a0Luke wondered if they would be leaving Colfax by the end of the week or forced to stay longer while Ben worried about his sons and where they could be\u2026 Roy just thought he was caught up in a nightmare and wished he were back home.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ann Canaday had just put Samuel down for his sleep when the door opened and her husband stepped inside, put a finger to his lips and tiptoed over to the crib.\u00a0 He had reached home earlier and been only too glad to remove his outer clothing, pull off his boots and make his way on stockinged feet to where he knew Ann would \u00a0be.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCandy, thank goodness you\u2019re home, I thought \u00a0– I was so worried -\u201d she seized hold of his hands and then pulled him towards her to hug him close \u201cIts bitter out there now. \u00a0 Did you – did you find her?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He shook his head, dragged a hand over his face, over the growth of beard and turned away from her \u201cNo, \u00a0not a sign of her.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t keep the men away any longer, it was quite a ride, and the weather being as it is, they just wanted to get home to their own families.\u00a0 We couldn\u2019t see clearly anyway with the snows coming down so heavy at times.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think Ben was right then? \u00a0 That someone came and took her?\u201d \u00a0she slipped her arm through his and together they left the sleeping baby and took the stairs to descend to the bigger room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so, Ann, because if she wandered off, well, we won\u2019t know until we find her remains in the thaw. \u00a0 If someone has taken her, \u00a0then I can only pray to God that they are keeping her warm and safe. \u00a0 It goes some way to mitigating what they have done.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey may be intending to bring her home once the weather clears, Candy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t reply to that, \u00a0somehow he felt that was not the case, \u00a0there had been opportunity enough for them to have ridden along to the ranch house, there were three houses after all, anyone of them would have been more than happy ..oh yes, more than happy to have had them bring the girl home. \u00a0 He stared at the fire, he was exhausted, \u00a0as the cold chills left his body he felt wearier than ever \u201cThe men did good, \u00a0they wanted to stay for as long as it was possible but \u2026\u201d he shook his head, there was only so much one could ask of a body, especially when one and all of them felt that their journey was a waste of everyone\u2019s time.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia lay in her bed and listened to the wind in the chimney.\u00a0 As she closed her eyes she knew that in her \u2018other\u2019 house she could have ran into her brother\u2019s bedroom and snuggled in beside him.\u00a0 They would have whispered and giggled for a little while, before falling asleep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But was that all part of the dream?\u00a0 Was it some story she had read and that had seemed so real that she liked it enough to create a world all of her own? \u00a0 She had to remember \u2026 \u00a0had to remember \u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 40<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was -0* but the snow had ceased falling and the wind had dropped.\u00a0 The three horsemen walked their horses through the snow \u00a0which blanketed the animals as liberally as it coated each one of them.\u00a0 They didn\u2019t speak, they were too cold and numb to utter a word.\u00a0 Their fingers felt as though frozen around the reins despite the number of times they removed the gloves to blow upon them or rub them together to keep the blood flow moving before pulling the gloves back on.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was more than grateful that the snow and wind were not aggravating the matter more than it had done already.\u00a0 At least there was no wind chill to take into consideration that would cause the temperatures to plummet even lower than they already were. \u00a0 He knew that exhaustion was taking its toll, his head was spinning as though he were drunk, he struggled to think coherently and forced himself to recite poetry as best he could, he didn\u2019t dare to think about Sofia, or his wife and children back home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Every so often he would glance sideways to the right where Hoss was riding onwards with bowed head, his breath pluming out into the cold air from beneath his hat.\u00a0 His brother resembled an ice covered bear with the snow clinging as it did to his old brown coat.\u00a0 The grip on the reins indicated Hoss\u2019 determination to keep going and even though he didn\u2019t look up or across to Adam , his brother was more than aware that Hoss knew his concerns for him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss just kept his head down, \u00a0he relied on his horse to follow Adams and he knew the animal well enough to trust it to obey the least twitch of the reins, although he couldn\u2019t rightly recall when he last \u2018twitched\u2019 as his hands were so cold they ached.\u00a0 He sighed deeply sending another plume of warm breath to cloud out into the cold air around him. \u00a0 \u00a0He wondered how Hester was, \u00a0whether or not Pa had stayed home and was safe and warm. \u00a0 The thought of his father being out in this weather gave Hoss palpitations.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe was the same, riding alongside Adams left, his thoughts constantly see=sawed between concerns for his wife and children, and for his father. \u00a0 Whenever Joe thought they were on a fool\u2019s errand he felt such guilt well over him that he could have wept from frustration. \u00a0 He had wanted to say several times that the wise course of action was to return home, \u00a0then the weather got really bad and it was pointless to say that because the difficulties of returning were as great as continuing onwards.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He tormented himself daily with doubts and miseries.\u00a0 His main fear, one he didn\u2019t express to his brother, was that Sofia was already dead, buried somewhere under the snow, or perhaps, frozen in the river. \u00a0 He had thought how one day in the spring during the thaw, someone would find her, and bring her home.\u00a0 Then he remembered his own daughter, would he have been satisfied by being given that information by one of his brothers?\u00a0 No, he knew he would have gone at them fists flying, because while he had breath in his body he would have kept searching for his little girl no matter what. \u00a0 And he knew that was what Adam was doing \u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was about to speak when Adam stopped his horse and raised a gloved hand.\u00a0 Both his brothers followed the direction Adams hand pointed to and felt a surge of relief at seeing what was ahead of them. \u00a0 Some homesteader so far from Monroe and in the middle of where exactly? \u00a0 Snow surrounded the building, piled up to the cills in the last storm. \u00a0 More importantly smoke drifted skywards into the blue sky.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss could have yelled a whoop had his mouth not been so frozen stiff, and Joe just bowed his head and muttered a \u2019thank you\u2019 while Adam merely nudged his horse to move on, \u00a0to wade through the snow towards this haven.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They had been aware that they were climbing upwards, the elevation was indicated by the colder and thinner air, and the going had been more difficult too. \u00a0 There had been a track at one time leading who knew where , but none of them were too sure as to whether or not they were still following it.\u00a0 Nor were they sure as to where it led to, apart from taking them from Monroe what lay ahead \u2026 who knew?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once Joe had stopped and shouted over to Adam \u201cDon\u2019t you think we should find out where we are?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His brother had only replied \u201cWho are you going to ask?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was right, there was no one to ask. \u00a0 They had been given general directions by Hurley and taken his word for it, and now \u2026 no one, \u00a0no human being on horseback, in a wagon, \u00a0or even struggling along on snow shoes. \u00a0 No sign of human habitation either until now\u2026 thankfully.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam had paused to check his compass once but Hoss had thought he had stopped for some other reason and went up to him, reached out to wards him and Adam had tilted sideways out of the saddle which prompted Hoss to think his brother had fallen asleep . \u00a0 He \u00a0had muttered something about his leg and the cold, \u00a0and snapped the compass shut before urging the horse on again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now here they were heading for the house of someone whom, Hoss hoped, would provide a good meal and even a bed for the night.\u00a0 Joe was thinking much the same, so much so that his mouth was watering at the thought of something hot to eat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They dismounted stiffly, and equally as stiffly walked to the door which opened before they had reached it. \u00a0 A tall dark man stood in the opening with a rifle in the crook of his arm, the fact that he was in shirt and pants only indicated the warmth within the building, \u00a0but the way his eyes glinted didn\u2019t show much warmth coming from him. \u00a0 He looked from one to the other \u201cSaw you coming some distance away. \u00a0 What do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was Hoss who answered, somewhat surprised at the man\u2019s tone of voice, after all no one would \u00a0be turned away from the Ponderosa in such conditions \u201cI\u2019m Hoss Cartwright, my brothers \u2026 Adam and Joe.\u00a0 We\u2019ve been riding some distance, mister, sure would be grateful if you could provide something warm or a hour or two to thaw out by \u00a0your fire.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was the sound of laughter from inside the house, children\u2019s laughter, high pitched and happy, it smote each man\u2019s heart standing there as they were reminded of their own. \u00a0 A woman came to the door and put a hand upon her man\u2019s arm, she smiled up at him and nodded upon which he stepped aside and gruffly, with a jerk of the head, told them to step inside.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOur horses \u2026\u201d Joe muttered but the man shrugged and once they were inside the building he was pulling on boots and a coat before going outside to attend to the beasts.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The woman smiled and the two children crowded close around her skirts to look at the visitors \u201cWell, don\u2019t just stand there, best take those coats off and come closer to the fire. \u00a0 Coffee\u2019s already brewing, \u00a0as soon as Cole saw you coming \u00a0we expected you here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Coats, hats and everything else besides was cast onto the floor where the snow melted away to form puddles which a dog lapped at for a while before sloping back to where it had come from under the stairs. \u00a0 \u201cSo, you\u2019re the Cartwrights\u2026from the Ponderosa?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right, ma\u2019am\u201d Hoss nodded and cradled his hands around the mug, inhaling the hot brew gratefully while his body shivered as the warmth travelled through his flesh and into his bones.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam and Joe were experiencing the same, \u00a0numbed fingers coming back to life could be painful and wet clothing had a tendency to steam as they dried out by the fire that was roaring up the chimney. \u00a0 Joe grimaced \u201cSorry about this \u2026\u201d he mumbled as his mouth began to thaw and his words came out reasonably clearly<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve travelled some distance to have come this far, and in this weather.\u201d \u00a0she turned to stir some food in a large pot on the stove, \u201cMy name\u2019s \u00a0Henrietta, \u00a0my husband calls me Hetty. \u00a0 He\u2019s Cole and \u2026\u201d she beckoned the children over \u201cOur twins, Andy and Cassie.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The children came, smiled and then ran back to their play.\u00a0 Handsome children, boy and girl, both looking so alike that had they swopped clothes no one would have known which was the boy or which the girll<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The door opened and Cole stepped inside the room bringing cold air along with him, he pulled off his coat and boots and joined them around the fire \u201cYour horses are tired, they\u2019ll be alright now \u2026 the stables warm and dry.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re a long way from Monroe, arn\u2019t you?\u201d \u00a0 Joe observed glancing from one to the other of them \u201cIt must be pretty isolated for you here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole grinned \u201cNo more so than it must have been for you when your Pa chose to build where he is \u2026.\u201d \u00a0he leaned forward and poured more coffee into his mug \u201cI remember passing through this territory when I was a kid, with my own folk.\u00a0 They didn\u2019t want to settle at Eagle Station so drove on, it was sparse thereabouts, \u00a0not many folk living \u00a0there not like now. \u00a0 We stayed over at your place, there was a woman there then, pretty girl she was \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat must have been my mother.\u201d Joe said quietly, his brow then crinkled \u201cHow come you remembered that?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI often thought of her, she didn\u2019t fit in somehow, too pretty, too elegant.\u00a0 But you were there despite the loneliness of the place \u2026 and you\u2019re still there now.\u00a0 Hey, \u00a0you need some blankets.\u00a0 Hetty, go get some dry blankets for these men.\u00a0 Don\u2019t want them gitting new-mone- ia\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe nodded as did Hoss, \u201cYou must have passed through some time ago, Mister.\u00a0 My Ma died when I was five \u2026 hasn\u2019t been a woman there until we got wives of our own.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, as I said, I was a kid at the time.\u201d Cole nodded to his wife who was passing them warm blankets to wrap around themselves, \u00a0\u201cBest take off them thar pants and boots as well.\u00a0 Hetty, how much longer before that foods ready?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His wife assured him that there was enough food for everyone and it wouldn\u2019t be long before being served \u201cAndy.\u00a0 Cassie.\u00a0 Come along, \u00a0set out the table now.\u00a0 Remember your manners, and don\u2019t forget to set out for three extra.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The children did as told with a great deal of clatter and giggling, \u00a0and by the time they had finished, the cups had been emptied Hetty said she was going to serve up. \u00a0 The four men removed themselves to the big table where the children watched them with big eyes and equally big grins on their faces.\u00a0 Cole watched them for some moments as they ate the food, broke the bread and gulped down hot coffee, then he nodded over at Adam \u201cI remember you, you were the quiet one even then \u2026 \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam frowned, looked over at the other man \u201cYou have a very good memory for something that happened so long ago, Mister -?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCameron. \u00a0 But just call me Cole.\u201d \u00a0he grinned and nodded \u201cWell, I have a good memory of what happened because it stayed in our minds for a long time as we travelled through that territory.\u00a0 Ma couldn\u2019t get over that such a lady would live in so isolated a place and it did her a whole lot of good.\u00a0 See, \u00a0she\u2019d been bitter at leaving her home behind and things weren\u2019t so good between her and Pa, but after seeing your Ma and how kind she was giving us something to eat, and decent clothes for me and my brother\u2026she just couldn\u2019t get over it, and it changed her, for the better.\u00a0 She never complained one single jot after meeting your ma.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss grinned over at Joe, who bowed his head, heaved a sigh and caught a whiff of memory to cherish for the moment. \u00a0 Cole was a talker, \u00a0when Hoss was being served another helping Cole was still only \u00a0half way through his first plateful, as he told them about how he set his heart on having a place of his own, just like the Ponderosa. \u00a0\u201cIt became like my goal, \u00a0my focus in life. \u00a0 I nearly had it too, \u00a0when we were in Kansas.\u00a0 But then the war came and I couldn\u2019t settle on the land that \u00a0had been a battlefield, all those dead and dying, all the blood \u00a0on that land\u2026so sold up and came here.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBeen here ever since.\u201d Hetty smiled fondly over at her husband who smiled affectionately back at her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole looked again at Adam with something like a frown on his face \u201cYou\u2019re the one they call the Captain , ain\u2019t\u2019cha?\u00a0 Read a whole lot about you in the news tabloids.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, you shouldn\u2019t believe everything you read.\u201d Adam muttered and shrugged slightly, \u201cI\u2019ve retired, I\u2019m just Mr Cartwright now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole nodded as though that would satisfy him for the time being, \u00a0he poured out more coffee then looked again at the three brothers \u201cYou know where exactly you are?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAccording to the compass we\u2019re close to the border with California.\u201d Adam replied \u201cwe left Monroe over a day ago, \u00a0wondering which town we would hit upon next.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWal, \u00a0you\u2019ll have to go back on yourself some distance to get on the main track.\u00a0 You\u2019ve been on \u00a0my land for most of the afternoon.\u201d Cole grinned, \u201cBodie will be the next town if you keep a straight course.\u00a0 You\u2019ll \u00a0be moving up higher too \u2026 \u00a0it won\u2019t be getting any warmer up there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow far is it?\u201d Hoss asked now as he pushed aside the empty plate and smiled his thanks to Hetty.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIn this weather \u2026 another 36 hours at least. \u00a0 So -\u201d \u00a0he leaned forwards, elbows on table and eyes narrowed \u201cWhat brings you this far from the Ponderosa, especially with all this here snow?\u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re looking for someone.\u201d Joe said quietly and glanced sideways on to his brother who was chewing some bread as though it would take a month of Sundays to swallow<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWho exactly? \u00a0 I need to know so\u2019s I can keep my place safe\u2026if there\u2019s any person out there \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam raised a hand and shook his head \u201cNo, \u00a0it\u2019s no one like that, we\u2019re looking for my daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hetty sighed and her shoulders slumped, as a mother she felt the weight of sorrow for another mother who was missing her child, she shook her head \u201cDid she run away?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, ma\u2019am, she didn\u2019t, she\u2019s only six years old \u2026\u201d Adam \u00a0gulped, his throat was dry and he needed to drink the coffee again after which he was able to tell what little they knew, \u00a0and afterwards a profound silence settled upon them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was broken by Hoss who said he would check the horses, there was a lot of travelling still to do and he wanted to make sure they were up to the task.\u00a0 Cole \u00a0nodded and watched him as he left the table and pulled on his clothes, then his coat, boots and hat. \u00a0 Snow blew into the room as the door opened and the smoke from the fire billowed like a dark cloud across the hearth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo, you reckon someone stole her?\u201d \u00a0Cole said quietly and then looked at his children \u201cAlright you two, get yourselves off and play awhile.\u00a0 Off you go now\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hetty busied herself by clearing away the plates and then preparing more coffee, outside it had become dark as snow covered the glass windows. \u00a0 Joe knew that there was no way they were going to leave the Camerons any time soon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I don\u2019t think anyone stole her.\u201d Adam said evenly and glanced over at Hetty, who was standing by the stove with her hands clasped as though she were in pain, \u201cI think someone found her and with this weather brewing decided it was better to take her to their home.\u00a0 I believe she\u2019s well, and safe, \u00a0but my wife and I \u2026 \u00a0we need to be sure of that, and bring her home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole \u00a0shrugged, shook his head \u201cI reckon you\u2019re being mighty magnam .. Er\u2026mighty kindly towards them. \u00a0 Would have done them no harm to have brought her back even if only to Virginia City.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe \u00a0shook his head \u201cWe don\u2019t know nothing for sure, Cole. \u00a0 The signs we saw and what our friends mentioned, \u00a0would indicate that they may not have been able to take her home. Perhaps Virginia City was just that bit too far, or they feared the weather turning.\u00a0 We don\u2019t know, until we do, we don\u2019t feel we can judge.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hetty nodded \u201cYou\u2019re right of course, that\u2019s the best way of looking at the whole matter.\u00a0 Of course she\u2019s safe and warm, no one would want to hurt a little girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole \u00a0sighed and leaned back in his chair, he shook his head \u201cCould be all manner of things happen, best to dwell on the more positive I suppose.\u00a0 If it were my girl, I\u2019d tear a town apart to get to her again. \u00a0 Even in weather like this \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On cue the door opened and Hoss stepped inside mantled with snow, he shook his body so that it cascaded outside and then came further into the room \u201cSorry, mam\u2019, making a mess an\u2019all. \u00a0 Snowing fit to bust out thar now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about the horses?\u201d Adam asked and Hoss nodded \u201cThey\u2019re alright, no harm done to any of them.\u00a0 Eating their heads off though.\u201d \u00a0he looked apologetically at Cole, \u201cWe\u2019ll pay for the feed, Mr \u2026 Cole.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about that,\u201d Cole waved the offer to one side, then his face creased into one of his familiar warm smiles \u201cYour hospitality that time saved our lives, we were really on our uppers when we hit \u00a0your place. \u00a0 Least we can do is repay what I owe you back then.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hetty came with the fresh coffee \u201cYou\u2019ll have to sleep over, you can\u2019t possibly think of riding out there in this.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

All three brothers murmured their appreciation and watched as the coffee was poured, hot and steaming into their mugs, Joe, from being so cold was now really warm and as a result his eyes were closing, he was finding it a struggle to stay awake.\u00a0 The hum of voices slowly faded around him and within minutes his head was cradled in his arms upon the table.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole sipped his coffee \u201cBodie\u2019s a big town, \u00a0and not exactly law abding if you know what I mean. Just about every no good that gets to know it exists drifts there eventually.\u00a0 You\u2019ll have to take care how you go about looking for your little girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t they have a sheriff? \u00a0 Any one trying to keep order?\u201d Adam asked and Cole grinned, shrugged<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAn army man, by the name of Royale, he tried and for some years it worked.\u00a0 He was quite a disciplinarian they say, \u00a0ran the town like an army fort. \u00a0 His wife and daughter live there now. \u00a0 Well respected too, \u00a0no one would do any harm to them, \u00a0they\u2019re good folk.\u201d \u00a0Cole nodded and looked over at Adam \u201cMay be best if you went to them and asked for some help.\u00a0 If your \u00a0little girl is in Bodie, then they\u2019ll help you find her.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 41<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reubens sleep was restless and disturbed by nightmares from which he would wake calling for his Pa and Ma. Olivia slept on a truckle bed in his room and never left his side but even that did little to calm him.\u00a0 She would hold his hands and smooth him as best she could until he drifted back to sleep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester had suggested that Nathaniel slept in the same room as her girls and they, \u00a0ignorant and innocent as they were thought it all great fun to have their little cousin in with them.\u00a0 Hannah treated him as though he were a doll, wrapped him in blankets and carried him about despite his protests while Hope ran around them giggling with mischief. Of course it led to some discipline being meted which created tears from them all, poor Nathaniel cried along with them because he hated to see them upset.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Paul had warned Olivia that as memories came back into Reubens mind there would be some nightmares as the mind struggled to make sense of the things he was remembering. Paul was becoming quite a student of the modern medical views about the effect of the mind upon the body.\u00a0 But being forearmed by his advice helped Olivia to keep calm and not become unnecessarily anxious as she sat beside her little boy hoping that what he would remember would be helpful.<\/p>\n

\u2026…..<\/p>\n

Joe woke up during the night with the terrible realisation that it would be impossible to continue on the journey. \u00a0 He could only croak hoarsely from a throat as dry as the desert, and his head aching so much his teeth hurt and his eyes felt as though someone was sticking needles in them. \u00a0 He lay on the makeshift bed Hetty had provided and shivered with fever.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Through the window a shaft of silver light gleamed into the room as the moon slid across a cloudless sky and the snow lit up the world around them.\u00a0 For a moment he stared at it before closing his eyes hoping that the snow would be so deep that even Adam would realise the futility of travelling on.<\/p>\n

……..<\/p>\n

In Colfax Roy, Ben and Luke snored through the hours in warm comfortable beds.\u00a0 They had eaten well, \u00a0thawed out slowly and agreed that Luke would contact the two men he knew in town and find out what they could tell him. It was just possible, by a miracle, that the matter could be resolved that very next day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke had forced both men to promise to remain in their rooms until he returned. His concerns for their well being weighed heavily upon his shoulders and he wished at least twice every hour that they had not made the journey.\u00a0 Their stubborn refusal to accept that age did bring some limitations caused Luke more headaches than the weather.<\/p>\n

Having gained their assurance that they would wait to hear from him they then parted to their rooms and fell gratefully into bed.<\/p>\n

\u2026….<\/p>\n

At 2 in the morning Adam woke up and rolled out of his blanket.\u00a0 The fire was dying down and the room colder as a result although the snow outside acted as a perfect insulator from the worst.\u00a0 He dressed quietly and then built the fire up from the logs piled along one side of the hearth. Prior to going to sleep he and Cole had spent a while checking the maps which the homesteader had kept meticulously up to date by his own notations of any additional detail of new homesteads or towns in the local area.\u00a0 By using his compass Adam was able to get a fixed bearing for Bodie and felt confident that not even the weather could prevent him reaching the town.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At this hour in times past he would have taken a turnabout on deck, talked to members of his crew who were on watch duty and spent a while thinking of those whom he loved back home. It was a habit he found difficult to shake off particularly now.<\/p>\n

For a while he watched the logs as the slowly settled upon the red hot embers and ignited into flame. \u00a0 Having decided in his mind that it was safe to leave as it was he gave his hands a final rubbing and walked very quietly back to where his brothers slept. Joe’s coughing was an immediate indication of a brewing problem and putting his hand on his brother’s shoulder Adam shook him very gently<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Joe? Joe?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe managed to unglue his eyes to focus on Adam, despite the hour the moon light through the window was sufficiently bright for him to see Adam quite clearly and was able to register the fact that his brother was looking down at him with some concern<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What ..what’s wrong?” His voice was a harsh croak, the words ended in a harsh cough.\u00a0 He screwed up his face “I don’t feel so good.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You don’t sound it either.”. Adam agreed<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’ll be alright later on.” Joe whispered which caused more coughing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Go back to sleep, Joe.\u00a0 We’ll see how you are in the morning.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Even as he said the words Adam knew there was no way that Joe would be well enough to leave the Cameron’s home.\u00a0 He remained beside Joe until sure of his brothers \u00a0return to sleep and then rose to his feet, and walked to where Hoss was snoring. \u00a0 A moments observation assured him that his brother was in rude good health so he left him where he was before opening the door and stepping out side.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the glow of the moonlight it all looked beautiful. The snow glistened, undulated over lumps and bumps in the ground, covered the trees thickly like thick blankets. \u00a0 He appreciated its beauty but the cold was intense and he quickly closed the door again and returned to the fire s warmth.<\/p>\n

..\u2026…..<\/p>\n

Reuben rubbed his eyes and smiled at the sight of \u00a0his mother looking down at him. “Hello sleepy head, how are you feeling today?” she whispered as she leaned forward to kiss him<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I remembered something, mom.\u00a0 I remembered why I couldn’t bring Sofia home.”<\/p>\n

He put his arms around her neck and held her closely to him “oh mom,I needed to go, mom, you know?\u00a0 And I went to some rocks. \u00a0 I was behind them and heard voices and there was a man and a lady by the fire … The man picked Sofia \u00a0up in his arms like this…. And the lady said something like poor thing.\u00a0 I ran out then and shouted but they \u00a0kept on walking and then I fell down …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She enfolded him in her arms closer now, kissed the top of his head “you did well, son.” She whispered, “Well done, I’m so proud of you.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben couldn’t speak another word, but buried his face into her shoulder while the circle of her arms assured him that he had indeed \u2018done well\u2019.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She held him close to her until he finally fell back to sleep, upon which she placed him back into the bed and covered him over.\u00a0 For a while she watched over him and feeling it safe to leave him quietly left the room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester and Hop Sing were in the kitchen preparing the morning meal and glanced up as she entered, the look on her face must have registered with them that something had happened so they both stopped in their work and waited for her to speak\u2026after clearing her throat she said quietly \u201cReuben\u2019s remembered something, \u00a0something important.\u201d \u00a0taking a deep breath she continued \u201cA man and woman came and found Sofia, they picked her up and carried her away with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hearing herself say the words brought home the reality of what had taken place, the look on Hester and Hop Sings faces reflected how she had felt when hearing it for the first time and then Hester said \u00a0\u201cDidn\u2019t Reuben call out, didn\u2019t he try to stop them?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe tried \u2026but he fell, that was when he hit his head on the rocks.\u201d \u00a0she looked at them, \u00a0helpless, forlorn, lost. \u00a0 Then with a sob she said \u201cHis boots \u2026 he had no boot laces ..they kept coming \u00a0off.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now she wept, hard and bitterly as she imagined her little boy trying to stop the couple from taking his sister, \u00a0slipping in his boots, falling and hurting himself while Sofia was being driven away to who knew where?\u00a0 Hester hurried to put her arms around her and started crying as well, while all the time rubbing her back and saying in a rather wobbly voice \u00a0\u201cThere, there, \u00a0it\u2019s alright, Adam will find her, he will, he\u2019ll bring her back home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the Camerons home Hoss woke to the sound of food being prepared and coffee brewing. He sniffed and smiled, nodded his head, his stomach rumbled with the anticipation of food and after stretching and saying to no one in particular \u201cGood morning\u201d \u00a0he rolled out of his blanket.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hetty looked and smiled over at him \u201cGood morning, Hoss. \u00a0 Hungry?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAs a bear\u2026\u201d and when the two children giggled at that he growled and raised his arms and pretended to be a hungry bear chasing them around the table so that they squealed and laughed at this big man with the tousled hair and cheery red face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s enough now, calm down before there\u2019s an accident.\u201d Hetty scolded. \u201cCassie, set the table, Andy, get the bread.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The door opened as she was speaking and Cole came indoors with his arms loaded up with logs.\u00a0 Hoss frowned and shook his head \u201cHey, Cole, you bin up already?\u00a0 Why\u2019d you leave me sleeping fer so long?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole glanced at his wife who shook her head to indicate that she had said nothing, so he unloaded the logs and then glanced over at where Joe was sleeping in the corner of the room \u201cYour brothers ill.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWh-a-a-t?\u201d \u00a0Alarm immediately hit Hoss, and he looked from Cole to Hetty, and then around the room \u201cWhere\u2019s Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole cleared his throat and then walked to the dresser where he picked up a piece of paper and handed it to the big man who took it doubtfully, as though it might blow up in his face or burst into flames.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It might as well have done for the shock it gave him\u2026 he had to re-read it twice before it made any sense to him, then he looked up at Cole \u201cDid you see him leave?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe left about 3 o\u2019clock this morning. \u00a0 Ordered me not to say a word to you until he was well clear of the place.\u00a0 I reckoned\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWait a while thar,\u201d Hoss put up a hand \u201cYou mean, you spoke to him?\u00a0 You didn\u2019t wake me up?\u00a0 He left without speaking to me about it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, \u00a0he told me not to, \u00a0you\u2019ve read what he wrote to you both?\u00a0 Sides which, your younger brother needs you here. \u00a0 We\u2019ll do all we can to help him get better but he needs you more\u2019n a couple of strangers.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss sunk down upon a chair and stared again at the letter, shook his head in disbelief \u201cHe went on without us.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His voice was a whisper, \u00a0after staring again at the paper, and then looking over at Joe who was coughing and retching \u00a0he got to his feet and walked to the door, \u00a0pulled it open and stared at the vast expanse of whiteness that spread out before him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was no sign of foot prints bar Cole\u2019s from collecting the wood, \u00a0no sign of horse prints, \u00a0everything already covered by the snow.\u00a0 He looked up at the sky, \u00a0it was blue, a pale wintry sun beamed down and there was no sign for any new snow fall.\u00a0 He bowed his head and looked again at the paper in his hand, closed his eyes and struggled to get something said \u2026 a request for help, to protect the lone traveller now.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He turned back and closed the door, then went to where Joe lay and pulled the blanket higher over the younger mans shoulders \u201cYou alright, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0I feel \u2026.feel real bad, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReckon you got a fever.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSure \u2026 guess \u2026.so.\u201d \u00a0a harsh bout of coughing seized Joe and he sat up, clung to Hoss\u2019 shirt \u201cI saw \u2026.saw \u2026Adam \u2026. \u00a0 Did he \u2026 come \u2026back?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBack?\u00a0 You saw him go?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGo?\u00a0 Go where?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTo find Sofia?\u00a0 Where else would he go?\u201d \u00a0Hoss growled and pushed the note into Joe\u2019s hand, but there was little point in doing so as a fresh paroxysm of coughing seized him, leaving him breathless, head hanging and heaving to get his lungs inflated again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hetty came and put a gentle hand on Hoss\u2019 shoulder \u201cGo and get something to eat, Hoss, \u00a0I\u2019ll deal with this for now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss stepped back and looked at her, nodded even though his head was in a spin with so many different thoughts chasing around and around within it.\u00a0 He put the note in his pocket and looked over at Cole who shook his head<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe was determined to go, Hoss. \u00a0 Felt guilty at bringing you both on a trip that he feels is his responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, guess he would too,\u201d \u00a0Hoss muttered and shook his head \u201cWish he\u2019d remember we ain\u2019t kids no more, we made the decision ourselves to come with him.\u00a0 We knew what we were heading into.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDid you?\u201d Cole sighed and shook his head \u201cYour brother over there didn\u2019t think he\u2019d get ill like this, did he?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss glared at the other man and then realised the intent behind the words, Cole was right, Adam was right, Joe was ill, there was no other way around it. \u00a0 He shook his head \u201cYou\u2019re right, no point in saying more about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole nodded and poured out steaming hot coffee \u201cAdam said you\u2019d be happy to help with some chores around here, to keep you busy and stop you from fretting you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSure, anything \u2026 \u201c Hoss sighed again and looked at the food on his plate, Cassie put some bread down beside him and he gave her one of his wide smiles to which she giggled.\u00a0 It calmed him down a little, a little girl\u2019s laughter was the best medicine of the day for him<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hetty ladled something sweet and syrupy down Joe\u2019s throat and waited for him to fall asleep.\u00a0 Through the window the sun shone, bright and cheerful, but with no warmth at all.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam had reached the main road at last, when he looked back he could see his horse prints going back as far as the eye could see before the last snow shower had covered it over. \u00a0 Cameron\u2019s land, and he mentally registered it in his mind before turning his horse towards the track that was barely visible above the snow line that which would lead him to Brodie.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He checked his compass and the notes he had taken from Cole\u2019s maps, and walked the horse south east and always edging higher. \u00a0 Cole had warned him that it would feel colder, but there were places to shelter in and that had been noted carefully by him before he had left the building.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It had not been an easy decision to leave his brothers behind. \u00a0 Joe he knew would not want nor be able to leave the comfort of the house, but Hoss \u2026 well, he knew that Hoss would be annoyed until he realised the fact that Joe needed him there.\u00a0 As it was, Adam felt a relief at leaving them behind, he felt freed from the obligation of responsibility for them both on an errand that he believed to be his own \u00a0duty.\u00a0 Sofia was his daughter, and he had promised his wife that he would bring her home.\u00a0 As he pulled his muffler tighter around his neck and to cover his nose and mouth he remembered the way his wife had looked at him, that conviction on her face, the trust in her eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He couldn\u2019t fail her.\u00a0 He wouldn\u2019t fail her.\u00a0 He\u2019d find Sofia and he would bring her home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 42<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sidewalks were lethal for walking on, piled with snow that was being blasted by the wind into ice laden mounds that caused the unwary to lose their footing and slip.\u00a0 The youngsters found it amusing to see people slipping and sliding, but for the older ones they remained behind closed doors, \u00a0piling fuel onto their fires and praying for the snows to clear.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Colfax provided well for their townsfolk and did what they could to ensure their safety \u00a0although Ben was of the opinion that they could do better and do more.\u00a0 He had slid and skidded about several times to reach the Telegraph Office in order to send a cable to Virginia City to report their progress to the sheriff, and to the family only to have the clerk there inform him that there was no guarantee when the cables would be sent as there was nothing getting through. \u00a0\u201cSnow on the lines.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSnow on the lines?\u201d Ben expostulated, his dark eyes bulged and the clerk stepped back warily in case this customer was going to prove difficult.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHappens every year when the snows come, especially with this wind.\u00a0 Takes a while to get them repaired because the engineers can\u2019t get out there too quickly because of the \u2026the snow.\u201d \u00a0 he frowned and looked less smug, \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Mister, it ain\u2019t my fault, it\u2019s just how it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded and sighed, \u201cWill you send them as soon as you can though?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir, certainly I shall.\u201d \u00a0he paused when Ben passed over a coin, \u201cCan\u2019t take tips, sir.\u00a0 Some folk may accuse me of taking a bribe.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d \u00a0Ben shrugged and slipped the coin back into his pocket, much to the clerk\u2019s regret after all it was up to the customer to deal with company policy once the rules had been trotted out.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once he was back in his hotel room \u00a0Ben walked over to the window and stared out across to the mountains that closed round the town. \u00a0 He was deep in thought, thinking of Virginia City and how Sun Mountain reared up as a backdrop when one rode into it from the Ponderosa.\u00a0 When there was a knock on the door his response was an abrupt \u00a0\u201cWho is it?\u201d \u00a0in answer to which both Roy and Luke stepped inside.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDid you get the cables sent off alright?\u201d Roy asked as he settled into a chair that was positioned close to the bed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0there\u2019s problems with the lines.\u201d \u00a0Ben muttered \u00a0and returned to look out of the window as though that was more interesting than answering a lot of tom fool questions.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSnow on the lines I expect.\u201d Roy muttered, \u201cHappens every year \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben rolled his eyes and shook his head, clasped his hands behind his back and refused to turn round to observe the other two men.\u00a0 Luke was staring thoughtfully at the fire that was burning in the small hearth, before getting to his feet \u201cHills died, I found the doctor who was taking care of him. \u00a0 He had a bad liver condition for years apparently.\u00a0 The doctor congratulated me on getting that land before Jack died, said it was touch and go for months.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

No one said anything to that, silence weighed heavy as Roy continued to stare into the fire and tug his moustache and Ben glared out of the window.\u00a0 Luke stroked his chin and then scratched the back of his neck \u201cAnyway, I know where Hunicutt is so I\u2019m going to go and have a talk with him, \u00a0just in case he has heard anything of interest that could help.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIn which case I\u2019ll come too.\u201d Ben said and turned immediately from surveying the world beyond the glass and strode to where he had left his coat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSame here\u2026\u201d Roy got to his feet, struggled a bit as he\u2019d stiffened some due to the cold.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2018t think so, gentlemen\u201d \u00a0Luke put up a restraining hand and shook his head \u201cNo, I go alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou will not, young man.\u00a0 I\u2019m coming with you.\u201d Ben growled<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d rather you didn\u2019t, Ben. \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019d rather I did.\u201d Ben rolled his eyes in disbelief that this whipper snapper would have the effrontery to prevent him doing what he wanted, unheard of, he picked up his coat in order to pull it on when Luke sat down again and folded his arms across his chest. \u00a0\u201cWhat are you doing? I thought you said you knew where this scout of yours was?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI did, and I do.\u00a0 But I also said I\u2019m going alone.\u201d \u00a0Luke frowned and sighed, looked up at Ben and shook his head \u201cI respect you very much, Ben, but I would prefer it if you would trust me to do this on my own.\u00a0 Hunnicutt can be a little testy at times and \u2026 and it needs a calm head to handle him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou saying I\u2019m not calm enough to talk to this fellow?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m saying that I know how to handle him, and you don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMay I remind you that this involves my grand daughter?\u201d Ben straightened his shoulders, \u201cI have every right to ask anyone I choose anything I like in order to find her.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI agree, but may I remind you, Ben, that Sofia is my niece.\u00a0 In fact, if I may push the point harder, she is more my niece than she is your grand daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben spluttered, veins stood out in his neck and he went slightly purple, Roy got up out of his chair in case Ben needed it to collapse into, \u00a0and he gave Luke a dark glare for causing Ben\u2019s acute reaction.\u00a0 But Luke was resolute and remained where he was, very calm and very determined.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben threw his coat onto the bed, and growled something beneath his breath, turned on his heel and back to the window where he glared down onto the street his \u00a0hands on his hips and shoulders rounded. \u00a0 His sons would have scurried for cover by this time, but Luke remained calm.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy cleared his throat, and rubbed his chin \u201cI reckon I\u2019ll \u00a0just go and see what they\u2019re serving by way of lunch \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When the door closed behind the old man Ben turned round, \u201cOh still here then?\u201d he muttered seeing Luke still seated by the fire.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBen, \u00a0try and see it my way\u2026 \u00a0 I can handle Hunnicutt, \u00a0if he knows anything he\u2019ll tell me eventually.\u00a0 But if you go charging in like a bull in a china shop, then whatever he knows he\u2019ll promptly forget. \u00a0 Just trust me on this, will you? \u00a0 I need to find Sofia, for my sister\u2019s sake.\u00a0 I want her to feel that she and the children are important to me as well as to the Cartwrights.\u201d \u00a0he paused \u201cThey are Dents, \u00a0they are my blood line.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMeaning \u2026\u201d \u00a0Ben paused, stopped and stared at Luke as though only now did he realise exactly what the younger man meant.\u00a0 He saw in Luke a resemblance to Olivia with that same stubborn chin, \u00a0the shape of the eyes and clear high brow.\u00a0 With a release of breath he nodded \u201cI see. \u00a0 Well, I certainly won\u2019t go charging into your conversation with your old friend like a bull in a china shop as you so tactfully put it.\u201d he shrugged, grimaced and then nodded \u201cAlright Luke, you go ahead.\u00a0 I\u2019ll go and join Roy in the restaurant and have something to eat.\u00a0 Be careful\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke said nothing to that, as far as he was concerned the most dangerous thing he had to face that day was an enraged Ben Cartwright.\u00a0 He stood up and shook Ben\u2019s hand \u201cThank you, Ben.\u00a0 I appreciate that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The older man shrugged and without another word left Luke in the room, alone. \u00a0 As he made his way to the restaurant he fretted over the cables he had sent, \u00a0over the fact that it would take time to reach those worrying and anxious back home. \u00a0 He also worried about not having met his sons, \u00a0the possibility that they had headed in an entirely different direction to him gnawed at his nerves and he tried to shake off the fear that something could have happened to them just as easily as it could have to himself, Roy and Luke.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy was loitering in the foyer and glanced over at Ben, raised his eyebrows \u201cWell?\u00a0 Peace and accord between \u00a0you two is there?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe made sense,\u201d Ben replied grimly, and then shrugged \u201cI didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy slapped his friend casually on the shoulder \u201cCome on, let\u2019s go and get something to eat, young Luke can grab something when he\u2019s out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Annie Sutler kneaded the dough with a determination that always brought about a lovely loaf of bread.\u00a0 She was smiling to \u00a0herself as she did so while she listened to young Phoebe talking, so excited was the girl.\u00a0 When she finally drew breath Annie said kindly \u201cI hope they\u2019re going to give you something extra in your pay for this, young Phoebe.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh I don\u2019t know.\u201d Phoebe shrugged, \u201cI was just so happy.\u00a0 Can you imagine it, Annie?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure the little girl is up to walking out, Phoebe?\u00a0 It ain\u2019t been that long ago she was so mighty sick and it is cold out there with all this snow.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh Annie, it isn\u2019t so far to my place.\u00a0 Stone me, you could have knocked me down with a feather when Mrs Royale asked me to take Alice to visit and play with my little sister.\u00a0 She said that it was time Alice made new friends while she was here, \u00a0that perhaps having Ella to play with would stop her having those nasty nightmares.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs she still having them?\u00a0 Still \u00a0talking about being called Sofia and having another family somewhere?\u201d \u00a0Annie frowned, her plump features looked much like her dough, her small eyes like two currants in a lovely plump bun.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe hasn\u2019t this morning.\u00a0 She just looked so sweet sitting there in bed looking at her aunt Katherine.\u00a0 She does love Miss Katherine you know, you can see that the way she looks at her.\u00a0 And Miss Katherine had that dress all finished for her, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Mrs Simpkins managed to finish it then?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all pink and such soft material, Annie.\u00a0 I guess it would have cost me a months wages.\u201d \u00a0Phoebe \u00a0smiled as her face became dreamy and her eyes went a little misty, \u201cOh she is a pretty little girl, no mistake.\u00a0 She just looked so adorable in that new dress.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGot quite an imagination on her though, \u00a0came and sat with me the other day and kept on about a cook she used to call Flannel, used to cook marvellous chocolate cakes. I said to her \u201cWell, don\u2019t I cook chocolate cakes good enough for you, Miss Alice\u201d and she sighed \u2026 just like an actress on a stage she was ..\u201dOh please, remember my name is Sofia, not Alice.\u201d \u00a0so I says to her \u201cWhile you\u2019re in this house, young lady, you\u2019ll be called Alice and nothing else but, \u00a0and I thought she was going to cry, bless her heart.\u00a0 I gave her a cookie and said \u201cCheer up, it ain;t all bad y\u2019know.\u201d and she seemed to perk up a bit then.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe was really ill during that journey.\u00a0 Miss Katherine admitted to me that they should have stayed at her sisters and just waited until the spring but they were worried about Alice, she didn\u2019t take too well having a new baby brother you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Annie nodded and slammed her plump fists into the dough \u201cSeen it before, my dear, young children can get very jealous of new ones coming into the family.\u00a0 It upsets them, and I suppose, when you think about it, \u00a0that was quite a long journey they were on.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They paused in their talking when the bell tinkled overhead to summon Phoebe to the drawing room upstairs, they looked at one another, smiled and parted.\u00a0 Annie put the dough into the loaf tin while Phoebe ran lightly up the stairs to present herself to the mistress of the house.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie Royale was seated with Sofia by her side, her arm wrapped loosely around the child\u2019s waist.\u00a0 Phoebe stepped inside and looked at Miss Katherine who was sitting on a chair further away, doing some needlepoint and smiling at something her mother had just said. \u00a0 It seemed to Phoebe to be such a happy little trio, and Sofia\/Alice looked especially pretty in the new pink dress with pink ribbons in her curls.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Noticing Phoebe now Mrs Royale stood up \u201cWell, Phoebe, are you ready?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh yes, M\u2019am\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMake sure Miss Alice is well wrapped \u00a0up from the cold, and keep her close to you.\u00a0 Don\u2019t let anyone talk to her but just take her right away to your mother\u2019s house. You know what time to bring her home, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh yes, M\u2019am\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie smiled indulgently and looked at the child, a look of affection and fondness softened her sharp features and she brushed back an errant curl from the little girls face \u201cNow, then, Alice, this is a nice surprise for you. \u00a0 You have the chance to play with Ella, Phoebe\u2019s sister.\u00a0 Did you want to take any of your dolls with you? If you do best say so now, \u00a0so that Phoebe can run upstairs and collect it for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia shook her head and smiled \u201cNo, its alright. \u00a0 Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood girl.\u00a0 Now, ask cook to let you have some cookies to take with you.\u201d \u00a0Rosemarie glanced over at Phoebe \u201cHave you her coat and galoshes?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, m\u2019am\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine came now and slipped her hand into Sofia\u2019s \u201cCome along, sweetheart, I\u2019ll take you to the door.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie leaned forward and planted a kiss on Sofia\u2019s brow, \u201cEnjoy your play, child.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Holding Katherine\u2019s hand Sofia was led to the front door where Phoebe helped her into the very smart new coat and bonnet, then into the boots, she had a little fur muff to keep her hands warm even though she was wearing gloves.\u00a0 She gave Katherine a hug, when the woman leaned down to kiss her and then followed Phoebe, taking her hand as they went down the steps into the snow laden streets.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cElla will be so excited to see \u00a0you, Miss.\u00a0 She don\u2019t get to play with many children her age.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia said nothing, she looked around her and up at the tall buildings, snow covered, ice shining like diamonds as the sun gleamed upon it. \u00a0 The sky was blue, there were a few lazy clouds but nothing that indicated any further snow. \u00a0 She sighed, it was a lovely day.\u00a0 Quite lovely.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam Cartwright squatted down beside the fire and warmed his hands by the small flames. \u00a0 He slowly pulled the food he possessed into small pieces and ate them, chewing methodically, swallowing and tasting nothing.\u00a0 Cole had provided him with enough food for the expected length of time they had estimated it would take him to reach Bodie. \u00a0 During the journey he had checked and re-checked his compass and knew that in another 24 hours and he would reach the town.\u00a0 In the meantime he located the small caves that Cole had drawn on his sketched map, and took shelter in them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Having been a captain of a ship and with the responsibility of so many men under his command he found a form of relief being on his own now. \u00a0 Even being without Hoss or Joe brought a measure of freedom from the stress such concerns placed upon him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As he chewed on the food he wondered how his brothers had reacted upon knowing he had left them at the Camerons. \u00a0 He worried about Joe, \u00a0it was obvious that the younger man would not have been up to the journey for some days, that would have meant losing time in this search for Sofia.\u00a0 Time.\u00a0 Precious commodity though it was, seemed to be slipping through his fingers.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 43<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The house was comfortable and warm. It was not in the least ostentacious \u00a0but contained an abundance of books that seemed to be just about everywhere, \u00a0tumbling off shelves, piled on chairs.\u00a0 Sofia liked it and stood perfectly still gazing around her and enjoying all the different colours the walls were coloured although it was hard to see much from all the shelves of books<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Do you live in a library, Phoebe?” She asked in a breathless voice as Phoebe helped her struggle from her coat and boots.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Goodness me, Miss Alice, of course not.” \u00a0Phoebe laughed “what notions you get in your head”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia said nothing to that but let the young woman remove the boots and slip little slippers on her feet. By the time that was over Phoebe’s mother was in the room looking so pleased to see them. She kissed her daughters cheek, exclaimed in delight at the cookies and then smiled over at Sofia<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Ella is so excited to have you come to play.” \u00a0She smiled, gentle and kindly, then turned to lead the way into another room<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A girl the same age as Sofia was seated by the fire reading a book.\u00a0 She looked up as her mother entered the room and craned her head a little to try and see more clearly the child following along with Phoebe “well, here she is, Ella. Here is Alice come to keep you company.” The mother said and stepped aside for the girls to see each other more clearly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ella was a pretty girl with the same gentle appearance as her mother and sister.\u00a0 Her blonde hair was braided around her head so that she looked like a little Swiss doll Sofia had once seen \u00a0in a shop window.\u00a0 She had big blue eyes that looked intently at the newcomer “Hello Alice, I”m Ella,”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia was a little shy, she felt unsure of what to say or do. There was no Reuben there to tell her and she glanced around to find Phoebe but the girl had disappeared.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Hello, Ella.” She said and swallowed a big lump in her throat as she stepped further into the room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Come on closer, Alice, by the fire. Phoebe told me you had been sick …are you all better now?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia nodded and stepped closer.\u00a0 It seemed very strange to her that the girl just sat there, the book still on her lap, and she was about to say something about it when Ella’s mother reappeared with a tray laden with glasses of something to drink, and Annie”s cookies.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She set them close to Ella on a small table “Come along, Miss Alice. Don’t just stand there.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ella sighed and put the book down “I was sick once, and my legs got bad, didn’t they, Ma?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“They did, dear,” Mrs Soames replied with a rather sad expression on her face, she glanced anxiously at Sofia “That’s why Ella isn’t at school.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia recalled the time when Reuben was in a chair, unable to do what he wanted, a prisoner to his fears and that wheelchair. She approached Ella who had set the book to one side \u201cHasn\u2019t your chair any wheels?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mrs \u00a0Soames sighed and shook her head, she clasped her hands in her lap \u201cWe can\u2019t afford that kind of chair, dear.\u00a0 Far too expensive.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t your legs work then?\u201d \u00a0Sofia frowned as she asked for she remembered Reuben\u2019s constant complaints that his legs just wouldn\u2019t do what his brain told them to do, but just collapsed under him, \u201cAre they wobbly?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ella laughed, Sofia\u2019s innocent enquiries coupled with the look of concern on her face, touched the little girls sense of humour \u201cMy legs just don\u2019t work.\u00a0 I have got two, but \u2026\u201d she shrugged and looked at her mother who was biting her bottom lip anxiously as though she didn\u2019t like this conversation but didn\u2019t know how to end it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia sat down on a small chair opposite her new friend and looked at her thoughtfully, \u00a0but the smile on Ella\u2019s face was friendly and innocent of any malice, her eyes were bright and clear \u201cYou\u2019ve a lot of books.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMy father was a school teacher.\u00a0 He got sick and died.\u201d a touch of sadness touched her words and her mouth drooped, \u00a0she sighed \u201cIt was when I got the sickness as well, and my legs stopped working.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mrs Soames cleared her throat, obviously the conversation was straying into area\u2019s she wished not to hear so she clapped her hands and said quite brightly that the cookies should be eaten or they would only be fit for the birds. \u00a0 Ella nibbled on one and smiled \u201cAnnie makes nice cookies, \u00a0she gives Phoebe some for us but these are my favourites.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFlannel cooked chocolate cake, you would like her chocolate cake.\u201d \u00a0Sofia grinned and nibbled around the pink icing on the little cookie in her hand<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhose Flannel?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s our friend, she used to cook for us when we lived in the big house in San Francisco. \u00a0 That\u2019s a big city you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u00a0 I saw it once when we first came here .. Before we came here..\u201d Ella frowned \u201cI sometimes forget things.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia nodded \u201cSo do I.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs your daddy a school teacher too?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, my daddy was a Captain on a big ship, and he went to lots of different places everywhere\u2026and he rode on a camel once.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ella laughed, she looked at her new friend and thought she was the most comical little thing and because of her daughters laughter Mrs Soames didn\u2019t correct Sofia and tell her that her father was actually a bankers clerk in Warsop but allowed her to chatter on.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After a while Mrs Soames left the two girls to enjoy each others company.\u00a0 At first Sofia didn\u2019t leave her seat, \u00a0and told Ella about her two brothers, Reuben and Nathaniel, and how her mother was so pretty with her green eyes while \u00a0her Pa was the most handsome man in the world.\u00a0 Ella loved it, the stories were better than the ones that she had read to her, and she asked questions that prompted Sofia to remember the things that had slowly been slipping away from her memory.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke found Hunnicutt sitting alone by the big pot bellied stove in the saloon, \u00a0his booted feet propped up close to the main source of heat and a tankard of beer in one hand. \u00a0 He watched the other man carefully for a \u00a0moment then ordered two fresh beers before approaching the scout who looked at him with a scowl knowing that he would now have to share the heat of the fire with someone else.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWarm enough for you, Shaun?\u201d \u00a0Luke said and sat down on a chair that looked as though it had seen \u00a0better days.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWas..\u201d \u00a0came the taciturn response and Shaun drained his tankard dry before setting it down on a nearby table.\u00a0 He was more than amused at the sight of another being placed immediately at his elbow and nodded his thanks to Luke before picking it \u00a0up.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSeems quite a while since we last met up like this\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIf\u2019n I recall rightly it were only a few days back. \u00a0 You bought some land from Jack Hills, hastened his demise as a result.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019m sorry about that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShouldn\u2019t be, he was an ornery old cuss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke didn\u2019t reply but drank some of the beer before looking over at the scout, \u201cYou still scouting for the army?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNooo, \u00a0I\u2019m employed by the railway now.\u00a0 They\u2019re planning on getting a railway line fixed up across from Monroe \u2026 \u00a0 but, that\u2019s not what you came back to talk to me for, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOur last meeting wasn\u2019t exactly in the way of a conversation, Shaun.\u201d \u00a0Luke grinned, and looked at the flames in the fire as though they were the main topic for conversation right then, \u201cShaun, \u00a0you been here long?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cA few weeks.\u00a0 Why?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll tell you the truth, Shaun \u2026 I\u2019m looking for my niece.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Shaun scowled and fidgeted, \u201c What\u2019s that to do with me?\u00a0 You reckon she\u2019s run away from home and got a job in a saloon hereabouts?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo no, she\u2019s only a child, a little girl.\u00a0 She – well – she\u2019s lost, you see.\u201d he paused and then plunged into the telling of the events leading up to Sofia\u2019s disappearance \u201cMy nephew is sure that some couple came by, or some body, \u00a0and they took her \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Shaun frowned more deeply and sighed, he hugged his half full\/half empty glass to his chest \u201cAnd you aint found her?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, we thought perhaps she was here, in Colfax. \u00a0 Would you know of anyone who would have been travelling across Ponderosa land that particular day?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Shaun shook his head and pouted, his protruding bottom lip gleamed wet in the light of the fire, then he closed his eyes and for a moment Luke thought he had fallen asleep but he hadn\u2019t for he said \u201cMillers \u2026 they took their wagon over. \u00a0 But they came back agin yesterday. \u00a0 Elderly couple.\u00a0 No children.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke waited, there was surely some more information to come and after a moment, during which time Shaun had emptied his glass, \u201cThey left about ten days ago though. \u00a0 Then there were the Jacksons, \u00a0but they were going in the opposite direction\u2026 no, not them \u2026let me see\u2026 Milano family\u2026 they went down to Virginia City, so if they had found your little girl they would have taken her there I\u2019m reckoning.\u201d \u00a0he paused and pouted \u201cYou are sure she is alive, ain\u2019t\u2019cha?\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to be the one to bring this fact to your notice but children left in the cold for so long do usually die.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMy nephew hadn\u2019t, and he was quite sure she hadn\u2019t either ..\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe could have been mistaken, I mean, about someone finding her.\u00a0 She could have wandered off, \u00a0maybe into the river?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke shuddered, shook his head, such things happened, he wasn\u2019t a complete fool to think differently, but not to Sofia.\u00a0 He raised a hand for two more glasses of beer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI saw Clifton Reid a while back.\u00a0 Do you remember Clifton?\u201d Shaun asked and when Luke nodded a rather sly grin spread over the other mans\u2019 face \u201cClifton was devoted to the Royales, or should I say, to the C.O\u2019s wife. \u00a0 Quite a beauty she was in her day, and Clifton had been with them for a long time. \u201c<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The glasses arrived and were set down on the table.\u00a0 Shaun picked one up without any hesitation and gulped it greedily, Luke had still to finish his first. \u00a0 Shaun frowned and looked thoughtful \u201cClifton told me they were going to a town called Warsop.\u00a0 Do you know it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke nodded, it was a good distance from the Double D but from Colfax and this area so far south one would need to go onto Ponderosa land to get there because taking the whole way round would have added days upon days.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cApparently Emily Royale, now Emily Kincaid, had just had a baby, and was ill, Clifton was mighty concerned about it, you\u2019d have thought he was their Pa, but then \u2026\u201d he shrugged and grimaced \u201cMrs Royale was insisting that they went to see her daughter and the new grandchild.\u00a0 I remember Clifton saying that he had warned her that the weather was turning, \u00a0but \u2026\u201d \u00a0 he emptied the glass, Luke watched his adam\u2019s apple jerking up and down as he gulped the beer down \u00a0\u201cAnyway they left some time back. \u00a0 Not sure if they came back before the weather came down bad, \u00a0or if they decided to stay there longer, in which case they\u2019ll still be in Warsop.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was a lull in the conversation again, \u00a0and Luke drank more of his beer and Shaun fidgeted so that Luke felt obliged to order another glassful for him. \u00a0 After a while Shaun leaned forward and tapped Luke on the knee \u201cSee here, you think about this\u2026 say you were driving along knowing there was bad weather, and you had been on a long journey already. \u00a0 You find a child, lost, perhaps abandoned, \u00a0what would you do?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke sunk a little lower in his chair and glared at the fire, he knew what he would have done, \u00a0he just didn\u2019t want to say it \u201cI\u2019d have tried to get her to her home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut what if she can\u2019t talk? \u00a0 Or she\u2019s so ill she don\u2019t remember. \u00a0 Fact is, Luke boy, we found kids like that ourselves at times if you recall, when out on manoeuvres.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke inclined his head, perhaps that was another reason why he wanted to find Sofia \u00a0because of all those children they had found, lost, abandoned, dead, dying \u2026 found and taken to the Fort, left without knowing if they ever found kith or kin again.\u00a0 He sighed, \u201cGo on\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Shaun picked up the fresh glass and nodded \u201cRight, \u00a0so think on it \u2026 the nearest town is miles away, further than your own home town.\u00a0 If you go in that direction you add time and miles to your journey.\u00a0 Aint I right?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke nodded, of course he was right, so he nodded again.\u00a0 Shaun swallowed and licked his lips \u201cSo the best thing to do is take the child to your own home, you know where you\u2019re going, you know how long it\u2019s going to take you.\u00a0 You look after her, if she\u2019s ill, you get a doctor.\u00a0 In the better weather you get her to her own home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut wouldn\u2019t you have sent a cable to let the parents know she was safe?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIf the child can talk and tell you who her parents are \u2026 \u00a0 or if the telegraph wires are working, \u00a0because hereabouts in \u00a0bad weather they don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He gulped down more beer and then took it upon himself to call out to the bar keep if he knew anyone who had left and returned from town recently. \u00a0 The barkeep thought over the question and then shook his head \u201cMaynards left some weeks ago, came back a few days since.\u00a0 And then the Millers\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Shaun shrugged and shook his head, but Luke got up and asked the bar keep for the Maynards address.\u00a0 Upon getting it he slipped it into his pocket and bade Shaun goodbye, \u00a0as he turned to leave the old scout yelled \u201cDon\u2019t you be leaving town yet, there\u2019s more bad weather on the way.\u00a0 Leave now and we\u2019ll be finding your body in the spring.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On that cheerful note Luke let the doors swing shut behind him and made his way to the Maynards.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They were an elderly couple and nervous as they stood together in the doorway of their home.\u00a0 They listened to Luke and shook their heads, \u00a0looked at one another in the way people do when about to relate the same information, a kind of collaboration for words that were as yet unspoken<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t go across the Ponderosa.\u201d Mr Maynard said, \u201cWe only went as far as Bodie, then we came back again.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOur daughter lives there.\u201d Mrs Maynard added, \u00a0catching at a strand of wispy grey hair and tucking it into her snood \u201cI wanted to see her before the bad weather came.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t see anyone either.\u201d Mr Maynard concluded by saying and before Luke could ask anything more he said \u201cIt\u2019s cold, if you don\u2019t mind, I need to get inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe has a weak chest,\u201d Mrs Maynard added as the door finally shut on the younger man.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia found that making this pale little girl laugh was sheer joy.\u00a0 Sometimes she had felt that pleasure when playing with her baby brother, but hearing Ella’s giggles made Sofia happier than she had been for some days. \u00a0 The confusion in her head was lifted, she knew who she was again, and telling Ella about her family consolidated that clarity.<\/p>\n

She wasn’t sure why Ella found it all so amusing though and was too young, too naive, to realise that Ella believed what she had been told by Phoebe and her mother that her new friend was Alice, Mrs Royales grand daughter. None of them doubted for a moment that the little girl was someone else entirely.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ella laughed because it seemed to her that Alice had a brilliant imagination, and the adventures of her family were just too fantastical to be believed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After a while Mrs Soames came in with something to eat, the noon day meal.\u00a0 She carried Ella to another chair so that the child could reach the food. No one would know that Ella was unable to walk as she sat between her mother and Sofia.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The meal was nourishing. Simple and plain, enjoyable.\u00a0 Afterwards Mrs Soames carried Ella back to the other chair put more fuel on the fire and asked them if there was anything they needed…a book?\u00a0 A doll?\u00a0 Ella smiled over at Sofia “We’re going to play ‘ Hunt the thimble’ so, Mommy, we need one of your thimbles.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was a good game, Sofia enjoyed hiding it and then running around the room to where Ella suggested it would be while knowing all the time where it was… And when it was Ella’s turn to hide the thimble she was very clever in concealing it on her person, or close by her…Sofia even found it \u00a0hidden once among her little friends braids!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mrs Soames worked in an adjoining room and stopped occasionally to listen to the children’s voices, their laughter and chatter wrung her heart, \u00a0times for such happiness were not often to be heard within the confines of Ella’s home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After an \u00a0hour of play Phoebe came and sat down with them, they played Cat’s Cradle for a while and then Phoebe read to them from \u00a0red covered book with the title Alice’s Adventures \u00a0in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll published in 1865. \u00a0 “I thought to read it to you both because it’s all about a little girl called Alice.” And she beamed a bright smile at Sofia.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“That’s you, Alice” Ella said with her eyes big and bright, her smile so happy that Sofia’s desire to deny any such name died on her lips.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You will like it, Miss Alice …” Phoebe insisted and got herself \u00a0comfortable so that she could read the first chapter.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Time passed and suddenly Phoebe put the book down and said it was time to go. Ella’s face dropped in disappointment and she grabbed for Sofia’s hand ‘ You will come again, won’t you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I will, if …” \u00a0Sofia paused, for a few hours she had left this new world behind, she had been Sofia again, but now?\u00a0 She looked at Ella and smiled, nodded<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Oh please do, \u00a0I so like your stories, Alice. I want to hear more about Reuben and the sea captain…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia put a finger to her lips and leaned closer to Ella “Don’t forget it’s our secret.” She whispered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She took hold of Phoebe’s hand in order to leave, smart in her new coat and fur bonnet that matched her muff, at the door she turned and waved, the happy smile on Ella’s face reflected by one of her own.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 44<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hop Sing opened the door \u00a0to find Ezra holding his hat with one hand and his coat secure with the other.\u00a0 There was no doubting the fact that the man had been riding through the bad weather for some time as he stumbled into the house looking frozen to the core.<\/p>\n

Hester and Olivia were both surprised to see him, even more so when he produced some mail and with shaking hand held the letters out to them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I got through to town, took twice as long as usual but I ..I thought you would be wanting to know if there was news.”. He shivered as the heat began to thaw his extremities, and rubbed his bristly chin with a damp gloved hand “There’s some cables too”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia stood up to take the mail from him with a grateful smile. “That was very thoughtful of you, Ezra\u2026 we didn’t expect you or anyone to go into town in this weather.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester smiled and nodded. \u00a0 \u00a0They knew why he had gone, of course they did, he had kept out if everyone’s way since the children had gone from school. Like some old lion that had gone into hiding to lick his wounds, waiting a chance to redeem himself.\u00a0 He had seen this as his opportunity and now waited for his reward.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“We thought, if there was any news that Candy would have told us, somehow.” \u00a0Hester said, and glanced over at Olivia who was checking through the envelopes for a familiar and much loved handwriting.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Oh no, there won’t be a chance if that happening now, Miss Hester, the pass closed just after I’d got through. Snow fall is heavy just now.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He saw the way they looked at one another, that bleak despair that filled their eyes.\u00a0 He cleared his throat “I did see the sheriff, he wanted to know how you were, and Reuben.\u00a0 He said he’d heard nothing, received no word.\u00a0 The posse returned only when it became obvious that it would be dangerous to proceed, they didn’t find anything helpful.” He paused “Miss Brandon asked after the boy, she said to tell you that she had resigned her post as the school teacher, going to get married and move back East.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester nodded “I was worried that she would do something like that, she was so upset at what has happened.” She sighed and approached Ezra with a kindly smile “thank you, Ezra, for being so thoughtful.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Least I could do Miss Hester …best go now and take Miss MaryAnn the mail I got for her.”. He fumbled with his hat and after nodding over to Olivia,backed away and left the house. Hop Sing closed the door behind him and after a quick glance over at the two women returned to the kitchen.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“A cable..” Hester said and ripped open the envelope \u00a0“From Hoss ..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What does it say?” Olivia asked almost forgetting the one clutched in her hand<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“IN MONROE stop HEAVY. SNOW stop LEAVING TOWN TODAY stop ALL. IS \u00a0GOING WELL stop”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They looked blankly at one another, a frown on both their faces”What does that mean?”.<\/p>\n

Olivia asked but Hester just shook her head and looked at the date which indicated it was sent several days previously.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What does your cable say?”. She now asked pointing to the scrunched up correspondence in Olivia’s hand<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SHE. IS. NOT \u00a0HERE stop. HAVE. FAITH stop SHALL BRING HER HOME stop<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The two woman were silent for a while and then Olivia looked at the other envelopes ..letters for Ben, for Reuben and obviously from his friend Billy Webb, and one addressed from Ben to his three daughters in law which they tore open<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“My dear girls<\/p>\n

Luke and I have decided to join forces with Roy and look for Sofia. You no doubt realised that anyway . \u00a0we shall try to meet up with your husbands and spread out. Hopefully weather \u00a0will not be too bad. \u00a0 See you soon, don’t worry..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia frowned “I thought he’d just decided to stay in town because of \u00a0the weather.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“So did I.”. Hester sunk back down into a chair and buried her face into her hands “What does he think he’s doing?\u00a0 He and Roy … Luke should not \u00a0have encouraged them to go with him”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia said nothing, but slowly wiped the tears from her face. She seemed to cry easily these days, they came unheeded at the most inconvenient times.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe’s message to his wife was welcomed for the young woman tore open the envelope to read<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“NOTHING YET stop LEAVE THIS TOWN TOMORROW stop<\/p>\n

LOVE YOU ALWAYS stop”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben beat the snow from his hat as he stepped into the foyer of the hotel, he was cold and somewhat dispirited.\u00a0 A youth approached dressed in the hotels uniform and murmured something in his ear upon which he turned to a door and made his way to a large room where hotel clientele could ‘lounge’ and take their ease should they be so inclined.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy was already seated in a large chair by a roaring fire, his hands clasped and dangled between his parted knees.\u00a0 Luke was standing with a glass of whiskey in one hand, his other toying with some ornament on the mantelpiece.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There were several other people in the room but it was large enough to accommodate far more \u00a0without anyone fearing loss of privacy. \u00a0 Seeing Ben enter Luke straightened up and turned to face him “How did you get on?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben shook his head and was about to take a seat when another member of staff approached him to ask if he would care to order a drink before the evening meal. Ordering himself a brandy the rancher sat down and passed a hand over his face he was tired, the cold was wearing him down.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I went to every doctor in town, \u00a0every clinic and every hospital.\u00a0 Did you know they have two hospitals here? Granted one is a small affair …” He paused when the youth arrived bearing his glass of brandy on a salver and again he waited until the lad had set it down on the side table and then disappeared.”No one knows anything.\u00a0 No doctor had any reason to leave town during that time, nor have any patients that far from town.\u00a0 No one has been summoned to attend to a child suffering from the results of extreme cold. Nothing..!’ \u00a0 He glanced at them both “From the way you look I’d say you’ve come against the same problem.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy nodded “The \u00a0sheriff I first approached told me the town was split into two circuits, and each sheriff has eight deputies.\u00a0 I spoke to them all …” \u00a0He shook his head and shrugged “They are going to conduct a house to house ..starting in the morning.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“How long will that take?” Ben demanded to know and gulped down some brandy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Depends on what results they get.\u00a0 Could be anytime…at most two days.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke nodded and emptied his glass “I visited all the saloons, talked to quite a few interesting characters .. Also went to the newspaper offices, they couldn’t give any information but agreed to run an advertisement asking that anyone who may have seen or heard about Sofia contact you immediately, here at the hotel,”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben sighed and shook his head “I didn’t realise this town was so big…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke was quiet for a few moments, the room began to empty as people left for the dining room. \u00a0“We will need to consider what to do next” he eventually said “we’ve set things in motion here that requires our staying until the \u00a0end of the week at least, unless you both stay here and I go on ahead of you.” \u00a0He glanced from one to the other of them his eyes dark with concern “What do you think?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy sighed as he struggled to his feet, “Personally I don’t feel that she’s here, but we’ve set the ball rolling as you say…I reckon we need to see what the weather is like before we decide who stays and who goes. Could be the weather will decide for us.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben said nothing to that, he trusted Roy’s instincts, but there had been times when he had been proven wrong.\u00a0 However, he knew Roy was right about one thing, it would depend on the weather.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He walked slowly behind his companions, deep in thought “Where do we go from here if we get no results?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke frowned “Next nearest town is Monroe, although I hear tell its only a settlement as yet.\u00a0 Going further along we hit the California state line, but Bodie would be next.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Or we backtrack…” Roy suggested, “The sheriff told me about some homesteaders and small ranchers off the beaten track we likely missed.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded thoughtfully as they sat down to eat, there were still several things that could be done, were going to be done. His thoughts turned to his sons, their searches had so far not revealed his sons whereabouts \u00a0and anxiety for them weighed heavily upon his heart.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2026……..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine Royale folded the covers over the little girl and then sat on the side of the bed and held Sofia’s hand in her own.\u00a0 She had helped the child undress and wash, slipped the pretty floral night dress over her head and brushed out the tangles from the long blonde hair. \u00a0 Throughout that time Sofia had chattered about her day, about Ella and the room full of books.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She leaned down to kiss the child “I’m so glad you had such a happy time with Ella, she’s a dear child isn’t she?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yes, but I wish she had wheels on her chair like Reuben had when his legs were poorly.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine frowned, and put a finger to the child’s lips \u00a0 “Now you know we don’t mention that name here, don’t you? There is no one by that name here, is there?” \u00a0She smiled down at Sofia who looked blankly up at her, “Now, what were you saying about a chair with wheels?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia wasn’t too sure what she was going to say now,she sighed “_I just wish she could have one is all … She just sits in one chair all the time.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine nodded and looked thoughtful as though the matter worried her too.\u00a0 Then she tapped Sofia playfully on the nose and smiled “well, Alice, time to sleep. Perhaps tomorrow you can go and play with Ella again”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia\u2019s eyes lit up, a pleasurable feeling crept over her. It was so good being with Ella, so much better than school, or being in this big house with just the two women and servants. She wrapped her arms around Katherine’s neck in an impromptu gesture of thankful appreciation, an act that brought tears to Katherine’s eyes and a tightness to her chest as she held the little body close to her own<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Aunt Katy, did I fall down a rabbit hole?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine nearly laughed but she shook her head and smiled as she settled the child back down upon the bed “Why no, whatever gave you that idea?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Well, the other Alice did, she saw a big rabbit and she chased him and fell down a hole.\u00a0 Then she got big, then she got small…”. She yawned, her eyes were sleepy it had been a long day, “I thought maybe that happened to me cos I can’t ‘member some things …” Her voice drifted away and she whispered about how the rabbit had a watch and wore a waistcoat, \u00a0her eyes closed and she fell asleep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine didn’t move for a while but sat there looking down at the child.\u00a0 If anyone had told her she could have felt so much love, such a deep emotion for another child after losing her own, she would never have believed them.\u00a0 But , fate had provided this blessing, this second chance of joy \u00a0and happiness through this dear little girl.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As she removed the lamp and left the room Katherine thought only of her own pleasure, the fact that somewhere a woman was on her knees praying for the return of her daughter never even crossed her mind.\u00a0 Someone else’s tears meant nothing at all.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The cleft in the rock provided enough shelter although a cave would have been better but Adam realised he was blessed to have found it considering how quickly darkness had fallen.<\/p>\n

.<\/p>\n

There was room enough for the horse and himself with space to spare so he quickly unclipped the martingale, and after slinging it across the saddle pulled it from the animals back.\u00a0 The low growl of winds hit what was basically a wide crack in the rock face and bounced off an an angle creating a whistle effect each time it was struck.<\/p>\n

“Have to get used to that, boy.” He murmured to the animal and ran his hand down its neck, “good boy, you deserve your rest.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He stretched a little and then looked about him, striking several matches in order to see better. \u00a0 He was relieved to see that over time the wind had blown enough debris in the easy of dry leaves, twigs to provide a small fire so his next action was to get one burning in order to thaw his hands and boil up some coffee. \u00a0 \u00a0It took no time to collect snow in the pot, the fire to burn “Seems God looks after more than drunken sailors” he mused to himself, and after seeing to his horse he found the coffee ready.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He sat cross legged with the mug held between his hands while he listened to the wind. \u00a0 The cleft in which he sheltered was similar to a chimney, and the wind blowing from the north actually bounced off the protruding rock and didn’t disturb those sheltering within.<\/p>\n

It reminded him of the days when the Ainola was beleaguered at sea, sometimes lying awake wondering if the wind would ever stop blowing after being buffeted for days.\u00a0 The rigging would whistle, the sails snap and crackle and that would be the last sound \u00a0one heard as sleep finally came, and the first thing one would hear as wakefulness came. \u00a0 So often surprised to have fallen asleep at all, whether for a few moments, or hours.<\/p>\n

He didn’t want to think of Sofia, that part of his thinking processes left him feeling too bereft, then a sick feeling would creep into his stomach and lurch up into his chest until he could barely breathe.\u00a0 Better to indulge in past memories of old friends, rather than torment himself with worry.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What was Olivia doing now? \u00a0 Would she have got the cable he’d sent?\u00a0 Pa would take care of her, sure he would ..and the rest of the family would but what about Reuben?\u00a0 Reuben, poor lad, poor boy …<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a moment Adam rubbed his face, ran his fingers through his hair as he thought about his son.\u00a0 What would the child be thinking?\u00a0 Hadn’t \u00a0the boy suffered enough already with what had happened earlier with that shooting in the school?\u00a0 Would he, as the father, ever be able to help the lad eradicate those memories and face his future without the fear of these things always haunting him?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Questions and doubts chased through his mind like a dog chases a rabbit.\u00a0 He finally had to get up and pace what ground was available until in no time at all doubts crept in about finding Sofia.\u00a0 What if she were not in Bodie? \u00a0 What if the search went on for weeks or months?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He pulled his bedroll close to the fire feeble though it was, but better than nothing.<\/p>\n

He thought of snow storms in Alaska as he drifted into sleep, and of O’Brien and himself quoting poetry in order to stay wake. \u00a0 He thought of some now, brief snatches that floated through his brain and slipped away as sleep finally captured him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 45<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hetty Cameron stepped back from the bed with a bottle in one hand and a spoon in the other.\u00a0 Her comely face bore a look of concern as it had for some time since Joe became ill, \u00a0but it was touched by another expression now that indicated that there was hope that the young man had turned the corner.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded as though to herself and poured more of the syrup into the spoon and poured it into Joe’s mouth, despite his attempts to avoid it.\u00a0 Hoss \u00a0held his brothers head steady until the medicine had been taken, \u00a0before releasing him while telling him it was for his own good and all those other things mothers said to their children when attempting to force some foul liquid down their throats.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“It already feel like the fevers gone,” Hoss \u00a0assured Joe as he leaned forward to peer into his brothers eyes “You’ll be feeling really well soon.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Are you sure? \u00a0 I feel …real bad, Hoss” Joe croaked<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Course ya do, that’s because you been sick.\u00a0 Miss Hetty done take good care of you, Joe.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hetty stepped closer to her patient and out a cool hand on his brow which created shivers all down Joe’s spine “Best you sleep some more, Joe, then soon as you wake you can have some broth.\u00a0 You need something to line your stomach now you been vomiting that much.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe’s head rolled and his eyes closed “I don’t want to put you to any trouble, Ma’am.” \u00a0and then promptly fell asleep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss looked anxiously down at Joe and shook his head before turning to Hetty “Thanks, Miss Hetty.\u00a0 Not sure how we would have handled this if’n we’d been caught out travelling and he’d took ill then.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hetty smiled and patted his arm, “Well, the main thing is that you got here in time.\u00a0 Now come and have your supper.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole was already seated at the table along with the children who had been as quiet as possible once Hetty had told them about the sick man.\u00a0 It had been hard for two boisterous and healthy youngsters but they had done their best and been duly commended by their parents.\u00a0 Now they sat and looked with big eyes at their guest “Is that right you got children, Mr Hoss?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I sure have,”. Hoss replied “two little girls.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Are they good girls?”.\u00a0 Cassie asked<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Most times.”. Came the answer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole bade them to be quiet now and settle down for the meal, he looked affectionately over at his wife who was putting a finger to her \u00a0lips and frowning at them, then he looked at Hoss who was looking rather concerned “Joe will be alright, Hoss, my Hetty knows what she is doing.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I know that, Cole, and Joe’s already a whole heap better than he was, I was thinking more about my other brother. It got dark mighty quick this afternoon and …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“He can read the signs, Hoss, he knows what he’s doing.\u00a0 Sides which I drew him a map showing every place I could think of where he could hole up.\u00a0 I know the track from here to Bodie \u00a0like the inside of my hat I’ve travelled it so often.” he dipped bread into the broth and chewed on it for awhile “He’ll be alright, once he gets through tonight he’ll be all set to reach the Palmers … They’re our closest neighbour and good folk. I told him to stop by there especially if the weather cuts up rough again.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“There ain’t no short cuts are there? \u00a0 He’s an impatient man and its been on my mind all day that he’ll go off the main track to find a quicker way.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole chuckled ‘That just ain’t possible, Hoss. For a start it’s nigh impossible to see where the main track is with all this here snow, and he knows for a fact that if he tries anything stupid like you’re thinking it takes him away from shelter should more snow come by.\u00a0 He needs to stick to the route or he’ll never reach Bodie ,,,alive anyway.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss wasn’t sure what to make of that speech from Cole, and decided to concentrate on eating.\u00a0 Eventually he ventured to ask Hetty when she thought Joe would be well enough to travel again to which she replied they would have to take it from day to day, and see how he improved.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole then assured Hoss about the extra rations he had given Adam, but all their assurances fell on deaf ears for he could hear the wind moaning about the chimney.\u00a0 Cole heard it too and nodded “Good thing we checked the shingles today\u201c \u00a0he rubbed his hands and grinned again \u201cI sure appreciate all your help, Hoss.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They strolled over to two chairs set close to the fire while Hetty saw to the children . Here \u00a0Cole shared his plans for the future with Hoss, and here Hoss shared with Cole some of the hardships they had experienced in building the Ponderosa.\u00a0 Their voices provided a pleasant backdrop for Joe who drifted in and out of sleep, lulled by the medicine, and the weariness in his bones the youngest Cartwright fell in and out of dreams, until finally he woke up to darkness apart from the glow of the fire, and to silence broken only by the familiar sound of snoring.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2026……..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sleep eluded him after all as the wind growled and howled around the cliff tops to send ice laden snow drifting upon him.\u00a0 On the peripheral of his mind he was back with Rostov and Lawson, \u00a0lying prone upon the frozen tundra of Alaska and there was no ship there to rescue them.\u00a0 They lay together with their eyes staring up at the sky and snow falling upon their frozen orbs with no hope for salvation left to them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam Cartwright scrambled onto his feet as though by doing so he could prove to himself that he was alive and that frozen vast whiteness was long behind him. \u00a0 He glanced upwards to where his covert was open to the skies and turned round in a semi circle until he had seen all that was needed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Stars shone pin prick bright and the moon was full, there was no fresh snow fall only that which was being blown by the wind down the chimney.\u00a0 Somewhere a coyote warbled just pitched highly enough to be heard over the winds.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He began to gather his things together with an urgent determination, time was marching on and while there was this God given light he should be using it to its fullest advantage .<\/p>\n

The fire was already dead, leaving grey ash scattered by the wilful breezes as he roused the horse and saddled it, and after mounting up he walked it out from the cleft and back onto the track.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The moon was a silver disc in the purple sky with grey clouds \u00a0scudding southwards.\u00a0 The darkness that had driven him to find shelter had fled away as the moon had fattened during the evening hours.\u00a0 Now it shed a path way ahead of him as shining and clear upon the glistening snow that it bouyed him full of hope that he would soon be at his destination..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

……<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia had fallen asleep as soon as the door closed upon her.\u00a0 Her room was always so cosy and warm, her bed soft and the fire \u00a0glowing warm in the grate.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The shadows were familiar to her now and held no fears.\u00a0 She closed her eyes and her lips smiled as sleep and dreams claimed her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She was falling, down, down, down and then landed on the ground with a bump.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You’re late.” A cross sounding voice came close to her ear and a boy was staring at a watch in his hand which he put into his pocket “now that you’re here you had better take my hand and come with me.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Where?\u00a0 Where are you taking me?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Home of course, where else would I take you.\u00a0 Why don’t you girls think….and don’t let go of my hand this time.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She grabbed at his hand and he gripped hold of hers tightly and told her to run, which she did until he stopped and declared they had run far enough.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Where are we?” She asked looking around her “Are we home?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Of course” he tossed his head in a boyish manner, and looked at her with a grin so that she couldn’t help but smile back<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Reuben? \u00a0 Is it you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Of course, who else would bring you home.” And then he pulled out the watch “I’m late .Mom will be so angry with me..” \u00a0And promptly disappeared<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

An old lady was sitting on a settee staring out of the window \u00a0and then sighed “I can see you looking at me, you know.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The little girl jumped startled at the voice, familiar and yet from so long ago, \u00a0the old Lady turned and looked at her, smiled “Do you know who you are yet?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Who are you?” She asked “Are you grandmother?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Abigail Phillips.\u00a0 Of course I’m your grandmother, who else would I be?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The little girl knew \u00a0where she was now and went to sit beside the old woman who looked rather unreal but it didn’t seem to matter because she knew \u00a0down the corridor she would find Flannel, making cakes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Is daddy here?” She whispered and Abigail frowned, looked at her seriously “is he?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Well now, there’s a question …which daddy do you mean?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Of course your real daddy is here …my son, Robert.\u00a0 He’s here …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And so he was, smiling at her and holding her mothers hand, just the same face as the one she had seen in a photograph so often. Her ma looked so happy as she beckoned to her to draw closer. “Robert, this is your little girl …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Robert smiled, “You’re late” he said softly<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’m not … I’m not …” She protested<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia woke up with a jerk, and for a moment couldn’t remember where she was at all. \u00a0 Some coal in the fire slithered into place and the night light shivered in a breeze. She sighed and closed her eyes, it was alright, she was home in her own bed….everything was alright.<\/p>\n

\u2026………<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A light glimmered within the night time gloom and Adam checked the horse, got his bearings and turned in the direction even though it took him from the main track.\u00a0 It was a mere dot beckoning him onwards but one he felt wise to take.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was too cold to ignore it, and he could sense the power in his horse failing.\u00a0 There were times a delay was necessary no matter how urgent the assignment. \u00a0 The light grew larger until it revealed the outline of a cabin, the light itself shone from a window.\u00a0 Perhaps it was to serve as a beacon to weary travellers such as himself, for that he was grateful<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The horse slithered, readied itself, plunged downwards into the snow which reached its chest, it continued on, one plunging leap after another until they were on a level again and the way was easier.\u00a0 The rider tightened his grip upon the reins and headed on to the cabin.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He had wrapped his scarf tightly across his nose and mouth to make breathing that much easier and now, as he dismounted, he pulled it free and sent a smattering of snow drifting about him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He had to knock several times before the door opened, and an elderly man peered at him, frowned and attempted to see \u00a0over Adams shoulder in case there were actually more than one man at his threshold<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mr Palmer? \u00a0 Cole told me ..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Come on in, don’t stand there in the cold.”. He pulled the door wider, allowing Adam the chance to step inside “Take a seat by the fire, throw some more logs on it while I see to your horse.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam removed his hat and approached the fire.\u00a0 He had not felt so weary for a long time as he sunk gratefully into a chair. He pulled off his gloves, stretched out his weaker leg that ached more than he would ever admit, leaned back and closed his eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Someone was plucking at his sleeve, he yawned and nodded in an attempt to rouse himself. “Mr Palmer?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You looked exhausted, Mr …” The old man smiled, nodded “I left you to sleep on. \u00a0 There’s coffee and food, should you require it.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam gave a hurried glance to the window, saw the sun light shining now upon the snow but hunger gnawed at his stomach, and his bones ached.\u00a0 He struggled to muster up a smile “Thank you, Mr Palmer. \u00a0 I’m Adam Cartwright from the Ponderosa.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Its good to meet you, \u00a0Mr Cartwright.\u00a0 I’ve heard of the great Ponderosa, of course.”. He turned towards an inner door from where someone was calling him, he smiled apologetically “My wife.\u00a0 If you will excuse me ..please do help yourself …” \u00a0 He beckoned to the table and then quickly made his way to the other room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 46<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright looked up from his study of the map, his dark eyes were contemplative and rather sombre as he now turned his attention to his companions “”We still have a distance to go if you really think we get some more definite answers from Bodie, and these people you used to know, Luke.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy was standing close to the window and was watching the coming and going of the few townsfolk who were risking an early venture out to the stores he folded his arms across his chest and frowned “We need to move out of here soon then, before the snow returns. At present we have some respite, we need to take advantage of it.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I agree with Roy,” Luke glanced sideways long at Ben, “There’s no point in hanging around here any longer, if there was anything anyone knew we would have been told by now.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yep, \u00a0folk talk among ’emselves, if’n anyone knew anything at all they would have bin an’ told us.” \u00a0Roy turned from the window and came to look over Ben’s shoulder at the maps spread out on the desk at the local Land Registry.”Seems quite rugged terrain, and rising up a higher elevation.\u00a0 Gonna be a cold trip.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Roy, if you’d rather stay behind here, we can always come back along on the way home.” Ben rubbed his jaw, smooth again for the time being.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I did say we should git movin’, Ben.\u00a0 No point standing around here and wasting any more dadburned time…and ..I may be retired as sheriff \u00a0but I ain’t retired from life yet, y’ know.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben grinned and nodded “Point taken, Roy.\u00a0 So, come on, let’s move before it starts snowing again.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Shaun Hunnicutt watched the three men as they made their way to the livery. He was leaning against the doorframe of his favoured saloon who provided him with breakfast when he was in town.\u00a0 After a while he pushed himself through the door and called over to Luke who stopped to let the other man catch up with him<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You leaving?” He asked and moved the piece of tobacco around to the other side of his mouth, exposing the yellowed stumps of his teeth as he did so.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Don’t think we’ll get to find Sofia \u00a0here, wasting time sticking around.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Hmm, you’re no doubt right, this kind of town ain’t good at keeping secrets. Anyone have a kid no one ever see before there’d be a whole line up of folk wanting to know every detail about her.\u00a0 You going on to Bodie?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“We are.”. Luke glanced around him, no one was taking any particular notice of them, \u00a0he shrugged”Thanks anyway, Shaun.\u00a0 It was good meeting up with you again.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hunnicutt nodded and shook Luke’s hand, ‘Don’t forget to give my regards to Clifton Reid.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke raised a hand and walked on, he found Roy and Ben seeing to their horses and went to saddle up his own.\u00a0 Hunnicutt was still standing in the same place as they rode by, his hands in his pockets and his jaw moving up and down \u00a0as he moved the quid of tobacco round his mouth. Once the three horsemen had disappeared from sight he spat into a pile of snow and turned back to the saloon.<\/p>\n

…..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam Cartwright scratched his jaw through the beard that was steadily growing and which he felt would be better on than off.\u00a0 It was a mans natural protection against the elements and he had learned the hard way just how effective it could be.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was nursing a mug of excellent coffee while bent over in order to observe the sky, after a moment or two he straightened up and joined Mr and Mrs Palmer at the table.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“It doesn’t look too bad. Suns shining and seems the temperature has risen.” He smiled at Mrs Palmer, a frail old lady who had insisted that he had a good sleep and a meal ‘ under his belt ‘ before going any further.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Just be careful’ Henry Palmer cautioned, “The snow can be treacherous as it melts. ”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, and emptied the mug, “I wish I knew how to repay you for your hospitality, Mr Palmer, M’am.\u00a0 It worries me that you’re on your own here, and the town being as rough and wild as you say …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mrs Palmer smiled and shook her head “Don’t you spend your time worrying about us. You just go and find that girl if yours.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He grinned and picked up his heavy winter coat which he began to button up slowly as he watched the couple “Haven’t you thought of moving away?\u00a0 You’d get a good price for this place.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“We did once, perhaps twice …” Mr Palmer smiled at Adam before turning to his wife and the smile gentled \u00a0“When our daughter died we buried her here, and have stayed ever since.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Safe journey, Adam.” Margaret Palmer said “God speed”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She took his hand between both of her hard worn arthritic swollen hands and smiled up at him<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He left, closing the door quickly behind him in order that \u00a0the cold air didn’t rob them of the warmth in the room.\u00a0 He glanced back over his shoulder as he rode away, sometimes the kindness of strangers touched him and left him feeling rather sentimental about them.\u00a0 But there was no time for too much sentimentality, and so he set the horse forwards to mount up through the snow and back to the main track to the town.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

..\u2026…….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia waited patiently as Phoebe removed her outer clothing and pulled off the boots to put on the little slippers.\u00a0 As she balanced on one foot and then the other she remembered parts of her dream, puzzled over some for a second before telling Phoebe she didn’t like the story about Alice<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Why ever not, Miss Alice?\u00a0 It’s Ella’s favourite.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“But it gave me a bad dream, Phoebe.\u00a0 I don’t like it …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What kind of bad dream?”. Phoebe smoothed down the blonde curls and looked anxiously at the pale face, “You are feeling aright, arnt you, Miss Alice? \u00a0 If you don’t then maybe I should take you home.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’m alright, Phoebe, it was just that dream, I was falling down a hole and my real daddy was there…. Robert.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phoebe sighed, shook her head slightly at the child’s vagaries and then took hold of her hand “Come along now, and stop this talk about your daddies … That’s three you’ve got already!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia felt duly scolded and yet felt rather indignant at the implication that she had lied.\u00a0 Her sullen features soon bloomed into smiles at the sight of Ella who was seated by a table. “Look, Alice, look at what your Aunt sent round for us? \u00a0 \u00a0Do you know how to make paper roses, Alice?\u00a0 We can make paper dollies too?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Such a lot of things to do …and so many different colours \u00a0of soft tissue paper, pots of glue, stiff hard paper, crayons and best of all, special little scissors. \u00a0 There was so much that Sofia couldn’t wait to get started. Phoebe brought up a chair and smiled at the chatter between the two children. If she hadn’t had to go back to do her work she would have \u00a0loved to have had the chance to play alongside them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mrs Soames \u00a0arrived and brought them a drink before leaving them to do her own work in the other room.\u00a0 She kissed Phoebe good bye and confirmed the time when Alice would be collected back.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The girls made some paper roses and fastened them into. \u00a0their hair like crowns “I shall wear mine forever and ever” Ella declared looking really pretty as she beamed a big smile at Sofia.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They then made some flowers with stalks that could be put into a pot, Sofia said Ella could keep them all as Aunt Katy and Grandmother had lots of flowers anyway.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“But they arn’t my real Aunt and Grandmother, remember, and anyway I dreamt of my real daddy last night.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“The captain?\u00a0 Was he on his boat?’ Ella asked with big round eyes and quite captivated once again by her friends story<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, not that daddy, my real daddy.\u00a0 I never saw him except in a picture mommy has got.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Is he handsome?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia crinkled her brow. “What does handsome mean?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ella shrugged “I don’t know, Phoebe thinks Tommy Jeffries is handsome even if he does have lots of spots \u00a0on his face.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a little while the merits and demerits of having or not having spots was discussed very seriously which led to a discussion about freckles. \u00a0“My daddy counts my freckles, he knows whenever some are missing” Sofia informed Ella with a gravity that was very impressive<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Which daddy is that?” Ella asked “is it the Captain?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yes. Of course”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Does he have spots?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia concentrated for a moment as she conjured up a picture of Adams face “No, he doesn’t have no spots at all.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ella nodded, she didn’t think the Captain would have had a single \u00a0one. \u00a0“What about the other daddy? The one you dreamed about?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia shook her head and shrugged “I don’t know, he was dead before I was borned.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Was he sick?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I don’t know. \u00a0 I can’t remember.\u00a0 Your daddy was sick though, wasn’t he?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ella nodded and looked over at a picture of a couple with several children “Yes, ma said he died of lead poisoning.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Did it hurt?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yes, it did.”. Ella nodded, and sighed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia didn’t ask any further questions, for a while they sat making the dollies in silence.\u00a0 Sofia remembered Ella telling her she had been sick the same as her father but she could also remember her Uncle Hoss and Uncle Joe talking about \u00a0someone dying from lead poisoning, and she knew for a fact \u00a0the man had been killed when someone shot him in a saloon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Ella, did you get sick with lead poison too?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The other child shivered and put the scissors down upon the table “Mama doesn’t like me talking about it.\u00a0 She gets sad.” \u00a0 She then sighed and took hold of Sofia’s hand “It’s a secret.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia shared her friends shiver, “I won’t tell no.body.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ella leaned closer “A bad man was riding his horse and he was …he had been drinking a lot …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“He was drunk?” Sofia whispered and Ella nodded.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“He was shooting his gun and I was with Papa, he just fell down and then something hit me hard in my back …”. She frowned “That was when my daddy died and I stopped walking.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia didn’t know what to say, she stared down at the paper and crayons, and picked up the scissors. \u00a0 Ella whispered “Don’t tell anyone ..will you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I won\u2019t tell anyone at all, not if you don\u2019t want me to.\u201c she whispered back, and then turned back to the pretty coloured paper on the table\u2026 it seemed that everyone she knew \u00a0had secrets.\u00a0 Everyone.<\/p>\n

\u2026…..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Beneath the surface of the snow it was melting, leaving a treacherous path by which to pick out a safe passage, as he urged the horse forwards Adam wondered yet again just how much longer it was going to take before he reached Bodie. \u00a0 The sun was setting, such as it was, and shadows were growing longer.\u00a0 Were it to be a cold night the snow melt would freeze making the journey even more hazardous in the morning.\u00a0 He looked up and then behind him, and that was when his horse missed his footing, slid and in struggling to right himself fell into the snow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam had his feet free as soon as he realised something was about to go wrong.\u00a0 He could feel himself falling, his body twisting from the saddle and then falling heavily upon the ground. \u00a0 Even though the thickness of the snow cushioned the fall it still \u00a0knocked the breath from him.\u00a0 As he rolled downwards he ploughed a furrow as he went, and \u00a0behind him the horse struggled to regain its feet, snorting as it fought gravity to get upright.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As the moon crested the hills it beamed down upon the crushed and trampled snow, the stamping horse shaking its mane and the man lying prone face down in the icy whiteness.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 47<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Despite Sofia’s prior request for the adventures of Alice not to be read, Phoebe produced the book and looked so determined to continue on with the story that Sofia had no choice but to sit and listen.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She sat in her chair next to Ella, both little girls with paper roses wreathed upon their heads and the fire casting dappled shadows over their faces.\u00a0 Phoebe stopped once or twice to look at them in admiration for they struck such a pretty picture together.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Phoebe,” Ella leaned forward a little “there aren’t cats like that really, are there?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phoebe considered the case of the Cheshire cat and shook her head “Of course not.”. She glanced rather nervously at Sofia “You don’t really believe in vanishing cats, do you, Miss Alice?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia nodded her head “Cats always vanish, that means they disappear doesn’t it?\u00a0 Mamma says they go away when they like and then they always come back for something to eat. \u00a0 But that cat is a whole lot different from any cat I ever saw .”<\/p>\n

Phoebe released her breath, the last thing she wanted was for the child to be scared and claim to have another bad dream.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I don’t like it,”. Ella declared before Phoebe had had time to catch her breath and get restarted.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“”But Ella, I thought it was your favourite?” The older girl cried in dismay but Ella shook her head and the paper roses rustled and nearly fell off.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I like stories about princesses and nice things , I don’t want stories with horrible people and funny animals in it.” Ella protested<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Or mermaids.” Sofia added “”My daddy tells me stories about mermaids when he’s at home.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phoebe put the little red book down with a sigh it had been a favourite of hers ever since her father had placed it in her hands and told her to enjoy such a magical feast for the imagination.\u00a0 She slipped it into her pocket and stood up, “Well time to go anyway, come along Miss Alice.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia slid from the chair and removed her garland of paper flowers. She and Ella shared a smile, and then she was following Phoebe from the room to put on her coat boots and bonnet. \u00a0 The paper flowers were left, abandoned, on a chair atop a pile of books to await her return the \u00a0next day.<\/p>\n

\u2026……<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia only saw Rosemarie in the mornings when they had breakfast together or upon those occasions when the older woman chose to see her, so it was rather nerve wracking for the little girl to be told that ‘her grand mother’ wished to see her before she had had supper.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie had been beautiful when younger but as events in her life took place that beauty hardened, as though frozen into place.\u00a0 She had been loved by many, respected and admired by both men and women, but none of it had seemed to have thawed the hard steel that surrounded her heart and, she thought, protected her from hurt.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But she was wrong for the damage had been done many years previously, the hurt had twisted her strengths into a vice that prevented her realising that \u00a0the pains in life often moulded one into a human being that could understand and have empathy for others.<\/p>\n

The child entered the room unsure of what to say or do.\u00a0 She looked for Katherine and relaxed a little upon seeing the other woman there, a gentle fond expression on her face as she stood up when Sofia entered the room<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Alice, come here.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie’s voice seemed to bounce about in Sofia’s head but she approached the woman, glanced anxiously at Katherine before standing in front of the more formidable woman<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Do you like it here?” Rosemarie asked and when Sofia nodded, she frowned and said sharply “You have a tongue in your head, child, \u00a0use it!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yes, m’am.\u00a0 Yes, I like it here.\u00a0 Thank you.” And she bobbed a curtsey to make sure she was doing things right.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“And you like visiting the child, Ella?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Oh yes, m’am, yes, I do.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia could hear the rustle of Katherine’s skirts as the woman began to walk over to her but a piercing glare from her mother stopped her in her tracks “Stay there, Katherine”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine immediately froze, her hands clasped together in the front of her skirts. \u00a0 Sofia felt her little heart pounding faster as she blinked up at Rosemarie<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Now, Alice … I want you to stop this nonsense about having another family \u00a0somewhere, your family is here and in Warsop, \u00a0Emily is your mother and James is your Father.\u00a0 I hear that you have now conjured up yet another parent … ” \u00a0she shook her head, and picked up a framed photograph of a young couple which she thrust in front of \u00a0Sofia “This is your mother and this is your father.”. She stabbed her finger at the picture “look at it and remember.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia duly stared at the couple, pleasant enough to be sure, and she nodded, after all she had been shown it before and there was a similar picture in her own room.\u00a0 She looked up at Rosemarie and wished she could say the things that were going round and round in her head, but knew it would be wiser to say nothing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Alice,” Rosemarie attempted to modulate her voice \u00a0“It isn’t right for little children to tell lies, it isn’t kind and shows very little gratitude for everything that you have been given. \u00a0 If I hear any mention of any other persons again, you will have to be punished.\u00a0 You do understand me, don’t you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia nodded, \u00a0and wished she could run out of the room and find her mother waiting for her on the other side of the door. \u00a0 She wished she could have explained to this woman that she knew she wasn’t Alice, she knew her name was Sofia Phillips Cartwright, but the words stayed stuck in her head as she stood, frozen to the spot, in front of this stern unbending figure.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Katherine, take the child to her room.\u00a0 Straight to her bed.\u00a0 There will be no supper or play this evening.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia’s stomach immediately rumbled, she felt Katherine’s hand reaching for her own and wondered just briefly what would happen if she kicked the old woman \u00a0in the shins and told her how much she hated her … But it wasn’t worth it, she knew that, child though she was, and she also knew she had got away with it lightly this time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She allowed herself to be led away by Katherine who didn’t speak a word but left her in Phoebe’s care to be undressed and put to bed.<\/p>\n

\u2026…<\/p>\n

She lay passively still in the bed and let her eyes rove from right to left, taking in the flickering shadows the fire created, shadows that drifted over the ceiling \u00a0and down the walls.\u00a0 They were becoming familiar to her now, and the little night light glowed like a friendly beam close by.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She tried to remember her other bedroom where the beams curved protectively in the ceiling and the window looked out upon the mountains where the ponderosa grew and \u00a0the moon beams danced over her bed covers,<\/p>\n

.<\/p>\n

The memories were fading and it was getting harder to recall every detail now.\u00a0 Tears filled her eyes and one trickled down which she rubbed away with her fingers.\u00a0 She didn’t want to give in to blubbering, she wasn’t a baby, but she just felt so full of misery, it was like a tight fisted ball caught in the centre of her chest<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The door opened slowly, as though whoever was behind it was doing their best to be as silent and careful as possible.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Alice?\u00a0 It’s me.. Phoebe.”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The young woman hurried to the bedside and knelt down so that she was level with the child in the bed “They said you had no supper…so Annie made this, just for you.” She opened a napkin that she had been holding in her cupped hands “Eat it while it’s still warm, and here’s some milk.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia rubbed her face free of her tears and sat up “Thank you, Phoebe. Will you tell Annie thank you for me …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phoebe nodded and then stood up, “Ella’s so fond of you, Miss Alice … If they stop you from going over to see her I don’t know what she’ll do.”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“They won’t do that, will they?” Sofia stopped eating and looked wide eyed at the girl, \u00a0seeing Ella had become such an important part of her life that the thought of it being taken from her made that tightness in her chest come back. It was hard to swallow the sweet pastry that Annie had made her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mrs Royale can do anything she has a mind to doing here, dear. \u00a0 Now, eat up, make sure there’s no crumbs left behind .,.here, drink your milk,”<\/p>\n

She did as told and then returned the napkin and empty glass to Phoebe “You won’t get into trouble. Will you, Phoebe.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phoebe shook her \u00a0head and after dropping a quick kiss on Sofia’s cheek quickly and silently, \u00a0left the room.<\/p>\n

\u2026….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The saloon was smoke laden and the smell of nicotine, sweat and stale beer was the first impression the new comer had as he pushed open the doors. \u00a0 No one took any notice as there were always strangers coming into the saloons and brothels, gambling joints and opium dens in this town.\u00a0 A stranger was just another stranger, and if he had money to pay his way then he would quickly become a friend.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was tall, \u00a0broad shouldered and dressed to suit a man who had been travelling in the cold extremes of their climate.\u00a0 When he pulled off his gloves his fingers were stiff, and his face had the pinched look of one who had endured the cold snow laden winds for just too long.\u00a0 Snow was melting in the growth of his recent beard and from his clothing, and his eyes had the weary appearance of a traveller who had come a long way to reach his destination.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He ordered a whiskey, and kept both his hands upon the counter.\u00a0 The safest way when entering saloons in a town he had heard to be lawless, where there was no respect for life and offence could be taken at the least thing, like letting a hand rest upon the handle of a gun for too long.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The bar keep poured out the whiskey and pushed the glass towards him, and as he raised it to his lips there came the sound of a crash as a table was overturned, glasses smashed as they fell upon the saw dust strewn floor, there was the tinkling of coins and some laughter, some cursing .<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He kept his eyes ahead of him and watched the fight as it was reflected in the mirror.\u00a0 The fight was none of his business and he had no intention of making it so.\u00a0 When the men, locked together as they fought, fell against him he just rolled \u00a0his body away with his glass raised high to prevent \u00a0spillage and let them continue as they punched and kicked to the accompaniment of cheers and crude comments from the saloons clientele.<\/p>\n

Adam put the glass down and signaled for a refill, ignoring the fight, the resultant scenes of chaotic disorder around him.\u00a0 Someone jogged his arm, but he ignored that too, even though this time some of his drink did spill over his fingers.\u00a0 The bar keep froze, waiting for the strangers reaction after all he could see the gun belt and the gun snug in its holster.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A man yelled out a foul expletive and fired a gun however, taking the attention of the bar keep away from Adam and to what had just occurred.\u00a0 One of the combatants was lying prone on the floor, blood oozing from a wound in his thigh, while the other pushed himself to his feet and turned to face the gun man<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Why’d you go do that for?” He yelled \u00a0“I had him just about beat!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You spilled my drink and my cards that’s why.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The shouting lasted a few moments but died out, after all there’s little point in trying to out talk a man with a gun still smoking in his hand.\u00a0 Tables were set to rights, and a sallow faced youth appeared with a broom to clear up the broken glass.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam leaned against the counter “Anyone going to get him to a doctor?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“His brother ..” The bar keep jerked a thumb over to a man who was now coming down the stairs from the upper rooms.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No sheriff to deal with it?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Here? \u00a0 In Bodie?” There was a short mirthless laugh, more like a bark, “the last lawman we had here died from lead poisoning.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shrugged “A common ailment around here, I imagine.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He tossed several coins onto the counter and \u00a0turned slowly, he had been there long enough to get some attention now, eyes followed him as he made his way through the debris caused by the fight.\u00a0 He paused when he reached the injured man whose brother was in the process of hauling him up, \u00a0causing groans as a result.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Need a hand there?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The man struggling to get his brother off the floor paused and glared at the stranger<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Who’s offering?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Do you want help or not?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The unruffled tones of the stranger indicated that the offer wouldn’t \u00a0be repeated, so he gave a curt nod and stepped aside for Adam to assist.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was no difficulty in hauling the injured man up and over one shoulder years of doing just the same with his brother and sundry others made him an experienced old hand at doing so. \u00a0 Without more ado he followed the other man out of the building<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Who is he?”. Clifton Reid asked the bar keep who shrugged and shook his \u00a0head<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Just a stranger in town.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reid frowned and stroked his moustache, just recently he had begun to get a little wary of strangers in Bodie.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 48<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dr Armstrong was none too happy at being roused from his bed so late to be confronted by a man who required surgery. \u00a0 He glared with ill disguised annoyance as Adam let the injured man drop onto the operating table.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You could have taken him to Lovell,” he whined “It’s not as if he lives that far from the saloon.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam stepped back a pace and gave Armstrong a black scowl as the faint odour of stale \u00a0liquor reached his nostrils. He shook his head slightly and turned to leave, to return to the hotel into which he had booked a room earlier before he had made his way to the saloon.<\/p>\n

“Hey, Mister..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A hand pulled at his sleeve and he turned, perhaps his eyes signalled that he resented the action for the other man immediately backed off “I just wanted to thank you for your help is all. \u00a0 Doug could have bled to death for all anyone there cared.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam gave a slight shrug, a nod of the head but the other man was persistent and stepped in line with him “I’m Jethro Hardy, that’s my brother Douglas.\u00a0 He’s the hot headed one of the family.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A rather dirty hand reached out which Adam took, shook and gave his name.\u00a0 Jethro nodded “The Ponderosa?\u00a0 You’re some distance from home ain’tcha?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I guess I am at that” Adam nodded “Anyway, best you get to see to your brother, Mr Hardy.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jethro nodded but remained watching as Adam Cartwright left the doctors and faded into the dark shadows beyond.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As Adam pushed open the hotel doors the sound of gun shots from another area of the town were to be heard over the cacophony of the towns night noises. \u00a0 He had heard them so many times before, ridden into so many towns just like this, and wondered if a time would come when peace would prevail.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded over to the clerk at Reception who appeared half asleep but managed a half hearted nod in return.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once in his room Adam locked his door and placed a chair angled beneath the door handle before pulling drapes across the windows.\u00a0 The bed was more than welcome and after removing his outer clothing, and his gun belt, he settled himself down for some serious sleeping, \u00a0although his gun remained easily accessible.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His body ached everywhere, young Douglas Hardy hadn’t been any lightweight either.\u00a0 As he closed his eyes he thought back over the journey, that tumble in the snow and the fear that the horse had been harmed.\u00a0 He had been amazed at the distance he had fallen, only realising by how far upon recovering his wind and getting back on his feet to clamber back to where the horse stood. \u00a0 How he had avoided \u00a0cracking his skull on numerous rocks and boulders along the way down had been nothing short of a miracle.\u00a0 Not that he had come out of it unscathed, the aches and bruises to his body were testimony to that fact.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was drifting into sleep and recalling Cole telling him to contact a family called Royale, he wondered briefly how Joe was faring.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2026…….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The loud knocking on the door disturbed everyone in the house, the dog began to bark, Cassie woke out of a dream and started crying. \u00a0 Joe forced open bleary eyes while Hoss got to his feet and reached for his gun.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole opened the door warily while Hetty stood behind him holding a lamp high enough to shine on anyone who would be in the other side of the door.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Who is it?”. Cole demanded and then there was a pause before he stepped back ” Best you come right on in outa the cold.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The three men, bundled up well against the weather were more than grateful to step into the warm building although they brought a draught of cold air along with them. Cole nodded to his wife, clear indication that coffee needed to be prepared.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Thanks, Mister, one of our horses took a fall further up, couldn’t have gone on much further.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“How is the beast?” Cole asked as he fed fuel into the stove and then turned as Hoss stepped into the room gun in hand “got more visitors, Hoss.\u00a0 We”re becoming a regular boarding house for waifs and strays”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But he got no further as his speech was interrupted by Hoss’ exclamation of “Pa!\u00a0 Dang it, Pa, what are you doing here ?”<\/p>\n

.\u2026…..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In her room Sofia had fallen into a troubled sleep, dreams disturbed her, dreams of disembodied cats with faces like Rosemarie Royale, and now Emily and James Kincaid were floating about in them as well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She woke up once and listened to the sounds of the house as it settled for the night, she waited for the sound of a baby crying …Nathaniel? \u00a0 Or Abel? … And for the murmur of a deep voice drifting through floorboards but there was nothing except the sounds from outside, of music that was jangling out some tune, men’s loud voices shouting, laughing, some singing that was shrill and discordant.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She drifted back to sleep telling herself over and over again that her name was Sofia , Sofia Cartwright.<\/p>\n

……….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hetty bustled about to get hot drinks for the three newcomers and in the way women handled things so well had the children back in bed and food on the table by the time Ben, \u00a0Luke and Roy had removed their wet clothing and boots.\u00a0 Cassie was calmed and returned to her bed and sleep while Joe sat at the table, his blanket wrapped around him, and grinning from ear to ear at the fact that his father was within reach of him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss had gone to see to the horses and spent a little time checking on the injuries that Roy’s horse had sustained.\u00a0 By the time he had got back inside Hetty had coffee ready for him steaming on the table.\u00a0 Ben, Luke and Roy were eating and listening to what Joe was telling them about their own adventures and how Adam had gone ahead upon realising how ill his brother had become.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss sat down and pulled the cup closer, “So how come you came to be here, Pa?\u00a0 We thought you were back home with the women.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke answered up on that point, with Roy nodding and tugging at his moustache throughout. \u00a0“Sofia’s my niece, I couldn’t just sit on my hands while the rest of you were scouring the country for her.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe had a bout of coughing which caused Hetty to scold him for being out of bed “I,m alright, Hetty, I just want to know how they came to be here…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben shrugged and gave a slightly wry smile “We noticed there were ranches and homesteads between the towns we were concentrating on. There was as much possibility of someone from one of them having found Sofia as someone in a town.\u00a0 We decided to call on them all as we made our way to Bodie”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Had no idea where you were,” Luke said while he smiled a thank you at Hetty for the bowl of hot food she had put in the table<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“We soon realised you hadn’t been in \u00a0Colfax …” Roy mumbled as he chewed on the food “This is real good, m’am …and for sure little Sofie weren’t there.\u00a0 So we reckoned on making our way to Bodie \u00a0and keeping on going til we found her.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“When Roy’s horse took a tumble further back we knew we needed to get decent shelter, we’d lost our bearings somewhat despite there being a full moon.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole shook his head “It don’t do to be travelling at night in these hills, not with the weather as it is now.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded, and for a while no one spoke until finally he asked for more details about Adam \u00a0..when did he leave, how was he feeling physically, upon which Cole rose to his feet, yawned and stretched “By my reckoning, Mr Cartwright \u00a0Adam should be in Bodie now.\u00a0 He knows what he’s doing,and, if you want my advice, I reckon you should all bed down and get some sleep.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yeah Cole’s right, \u00a0Pa, no point jest sitting talking when we all need our sleep.\u00a0 Joe, got yourself to bed before Hetty comes at ya with more medicine.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe grinned, pulled a dramatic face but left the table, standing by the door wrapped in the blanket he turned and caught his father’s eye, nodded, and reassured that it really was his Pa seated there, made his way to where he slept.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke stood up and caught Hoss’ eye, before turning to thank their host. Tomorrow was another day and he already knew what he was going to do, and from the expression on Hoss’ face, so did he.<\/p>\n

…………<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was still dark with only the glowing of a fading moon reflected upon the snow when the two men pulled on their coats and boots. \u00a0 The room seemed crowded now with so many bodies in it for Hetty had woken to prepare breakfast and pack up food for their journey while Cole had sketched another copy of the map he had given Adam.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy had complained about being left behind although inwardly he was too tired to continue the journey and knew it.\u00a0 Hoss reminded him that it was his horse that couldn’t continue on and somewhat mollified the old man shook their hands and then returned to his bed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben had said nothing upon rising at the sound of voices and movement as Hoss and Luke had risen and left the room. He had simply followed them and waited for Hoss \u00a0to realise he was there and for him to explain what it was they were planning to do.\u00a0 The two younger men had explained that they had intended to locate Adam and join in the search for the child together.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You do understand, don’t you, Pa?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You plan to go to Bodie?” Ben said in reply and his face had fallen into dark brooding which caused Hoss to stop what he was doing for a moment leaving Luke to speak for them both.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Ben, you have a son here who needs attention.\u00a0 Roy can’t continue with his horse as it is, \u00a0and, let’s be honest, he’s tired. \u00a0 Bodie is further up, the airs thinner, colder, and we’re both stronger and younger.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“He’s right, Pa.\u00a0 Adam may well need our help and …I think Joe needs you here with him.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded “I’m not arguing with either of you, son.\u00a0 I just want to know for sure you’re well prepared for what you may be riding into…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“We know, Pa.” Hoss muttered as he pulled on another sock over the one he already wore.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Both of you … Be very careful.” Ben stepped towards each and shook their hands, then moved away to give them the room to get ready…that was when Cole and Hetty bustled out and made him feel as though he were contributing nothing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He did, however, manage to place a firm hand on Hoss’ shoulder and repeat the admonition to his son to take care just as Hoss opened the door and stepped out into the cold winters evening, followed by Luke.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole closed the door and Hetty put her hand on Bens arm “Would you care for a drink, Mr Cartwright?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Thank you, but ..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole raised his eyebrows “We’re not meaning coffee, sir..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben smiled “Well, in that case …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He knew they were distracting him from the thought of his son and Luke riding out without him by their side; that they \u00a0understood to some extent what he was feeling.\u00a0 As he sat down at the table and watched Cole pour the amber liquid into the glasses, and heard the sound of Joes coughing from the other room, he was reminded of something Adam had once \u00a0said ….no one can be in two places at the same time.\u00a0 Joe needed him, and to some extent at that precise moment in time more urgently than either Adam or Hoss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 49<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After breakfast Rosemarie told Sofia that she could visit Ella and as a special concession she could ask Annie to provide one of her cakes to give to Mrs Soames as appreciation for having the care of her for the past few days. \u00a0 This kindness for her friends confused Sofia who had cast the old woman into the role as the Red Queen who was always wanting to chop off people\u2019s heads. \u00a0 Noticing Katherine\u2019s gaze upon her however she remembered to thank Rosemarie and then to thank Katherine for the paper and crayons she had provided the previous day \u201cWe made paper roses and dolls.\u201d \u00a0she said with an enthusiasm that brought a glow to delight to Katherine\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As she sat eating her meal and observing this little girl Katherine thought back to the evening that they had found her. \u00a0 It puzzled her that a child of such a \u00a0young age could have been left like that, abandoned by a fire with such bad weather conditions.\u00a0 There were times when she was alone that she thought over the occurrence and wondered if there had been anyone else in the area, someone who had been responsible for the little girl.\u00a0 She would re-trace her footsteps time and again to confirm in her own mind that everything they had done had been for the safety and protection of the little girl, \u00a0how hard it had been to see or hear anyone else and apart from that, Clifton had heard and seen no-one, \u00a0and if anyone would have noticed, he would have done.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDraw me a picture today, Alice.\u201d she said as she leaned forward to tweak the ribbon in Sofia\u2019s hair, \u201cSomething that you particularly like\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI like Annie\u2019s cakes although \u2026\u201d Sofia paused, her tongue had nearly run away with her again and she knew that would lead to problems, \u00a0\u201cI suppose I could always think of something else.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie nodded as though in approval and then looked over at the clock, she stood up and pushed her chair away from the table, then looked at Sofia \u201cAnd no talking nonsense to the servants, Alice.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia nodded, asked very politely to be excused and upon getting her grandmother\u2019s nod of approval quickly left the room. \u00a0 For a moment the two women seemed lost in thought, before Rosemarie turned to her daughter \u201cDo you think she is forgetting her past now?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe seems quite happy enough, doesn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They both noticed the slight note of anxiety in the others voice but preferred not to mention it.\u00a0 Phoebe came in to clear away the table and was told to prepare Miss Alice for her visit to Ella \u201cAnd don\u2019t forget to collect the cake from Annie.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phoebe was delighted, a treat from Annie, what a delight. \u00a0 She hurried up to the child\u2019s room and took up the coat, bonnet, muff and boots \u201cHurry Miss Alice, we have to get ready and we can take a cake from the kitchen.\u00a0 Annie\u2019s cooked such a lovely one for today.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chattering away she got Sofia dressed and then stepped back to nod in approval of her handiwork \u201cShe look a real picture.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia \u00a0said nothing but tucked her hands into her muff, in each fist she held a little doll from the dolls house, \u2018Emily\u2019 and \u2018James\u2019 were about to go for a walk, and they weren\u2019t going to come back!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The snow was deeper due to the fresh snow fall during the night, and the young woman and little girl had to tread their way carefully in order not to slip. \u00a0 Along the way \u2019Emily\u2019 disappeared in a heaped pile of snow, horse dung and refuse from the street while \u2019James\u2019 \u00a0was deposited through the open window of someone\u2019s house, \u00a0a great find for some child who would seize upon it later in the day and wonder for the rest of her life how it came to be there.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In his hotel room Adam carefully shaved away the beard, the scrape of the razor passing over his skin reminded him of past times, when he entrusted such tasks to his stewards \u00a0… Abbott’s, \u00a0Ames … As he rinsed his face in the warm water and slowly towelled it dry he felt that those days, \u00a0years, had happened to someone else, another life time away.<\/p>\n

An hour later he was treading down the snow laden streets, adding his footsteps to all those others and slowly transforming them into ice upon which the children slid with shouts of delight and laughter whenever someone fell a victim into the snow that was heaped along the sidewalks.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He pushed open the door of the Telegraph Depot and waited until the clerk was available to take his messages only to see the man shake his head and shrug “All the lines are down, \u00a0sir,” there was a grimace, one meant to be of sympathy and of some consolation to his customer “They went down a few days ago. \u00a0 No telling when they’ll be operating again.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam said nothing although he raised one dark eyebrow and his mouth tightened.\u00a0 The irony of it, no longer all those miles away at sea but just a paltry 150 and still unable to send a cable.\u00a0 He glanced down at the counter as though doubtful as to what to do next.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The clerk cleared his throat ” If you want to write your messages here, sir, \u00a0I’ll send them off as soon as the lines are free. \u00a0 Sometimes its just the weight of the snow and if it blows free, then I can send the messages through.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It made sense, he nodded and took the note pad and pencil wrote down what needed to be said and handed them over. The clerk checked through them, counting the words before telling him the cost.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As he pulled out his wallet Adam looked around the building and then out of the window, he put the money down in the counter. “Its a bigger town than I expected.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Growing all the time sir.\u00a0 They reckon there’s gonna be another Comstock out those mountains”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I guess any things possible ..” He murmured thoughtfully “Do you have a sheriff here?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“A sheriff?” The clerk looked surprised “Well, not at present, they kind of come and go, if you get my meaning. \u00a0 You looking for anyone in particular?”. \u00a0 He leaned on the counter, arms folded, prepared for some man to man confidences.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“The Royales… Could you tell me where they live?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yes, sir .. I’ll write the address down for you.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam slipped the address into the inner pocket of his coat, thanked the clerk and left the building.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The customer who had been standing next in line looked back over his shoulder as Adam walked out into the street, then turned to the clerk. “Who were the cables for, Seb? ”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The younger man looked awkward, hesitated for a moment before handing them to Clifton who noted that they were \u00a0addressed \u00a0to Mrs Olivia Cartwright, Mr Ben Cartwright and Sheriff Canaday … Clifton stared at them for some while before handling them over, “Did he speak much? \u00a0 Say anything of any significance?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I don’t know, Mr Reid.\u00a0 Significant as to what exactly?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Did he say why he was here? ”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, just asked if there was a sheriff here and for the address of Mrs Royale.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Seb watched as Reid strode out off the building, he stood in the same spot as Adam had only moments earlier and then turned and hurried to the home of the two women who mattered so much to him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dr. Armstrong was not exactly overjoyed when he saw the stranger walking into his surgery but when Adam asked about Douglas’ condition he recognised the voice, apologised for his lack of manners and informed Adam that the young man had survived surgery and was sleeping.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the door. \u00a0“It was unnecessary…the shooting I mean. \u00a0 He could have been killed there, or here during the operation”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“My dear sir, haven’t you realised yet that in towns like these, life is cheap?”. He paused,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I got the impression last night that you would not be capable of performing any kind of operation …” He gave Armstrong a glare which made the doctor colour up, \u00a0the red flush crept over his collar as he returned Adams glare with one equally baleful<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You don’t know under what kind of conditions we work \u00a0here.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Then if the conditions are that bad why don’t you leave and start a practice in a more law abiding town?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Because sir, despite the impression you have of the place there are quite a number of decent good people here who …” He stopped and shook his head, then turned away as though in despair “you’re right, quite right.\u00a0 For the sake of those decent folk I should at least try to stay sober, it’s just very hard to do so when its the decent ones that are brought in and there’s nothing, just nothing anyone can do to stop it.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shrugged and gave a slightly embarrassed grimace “A good sheriff…”<\/p>\n

“They don’t stay long ..they either ride out or get buried.” \u00a0Armstrong shrugged and then frowned as he surveyed the other man”You aiming on applying as sheriff here?\u00a0 If you are, let me warn you now, you won’t be alive for long! ”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shrugged “No, I’m not aiming to stay long. \u00a0 Just making enquiries …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Oh about whom?”. Armstrong looked wary, “Are you a bounty hunter?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, not that either .\u00a0 I’m looking for a child … My daughter.”he stepped further into the room now and approached the stove by which he stood in the hope of it thawing the chill from his bones \u00a0 \u00a0“Dr Armstrong, my daughter went missing from her school \u00a0 in Virginia City …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Virginia City, but heavens alive, man, that’s miles away. \u00a0 What makes you think she would be here?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“She was with her brother, they wandered off and got caught in the bad weather, lost their bearings …” He had to stop there for a moment before he could continue, Reubens face had appeared in his memory so clearly that he felt guilty for \u00a0not having done more. “They were separated but he saw her being taken away from where she had been sleeping.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“But what has that to do with me?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The man was clearly on the defensive and Adam felt a surge of anger at the fact that he could appear so obtuse he turned away and stared at the hot coals settling in the stove “She would have needed a doctor, whoever found her would have needed your services to help her.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“For what reason, sir? “. Armstrong scowled and removed his glasses as though by doing so he could see this stranger more clearly<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Because she would have been ill.\u00a0 Perhaps quite severely… Have you been asked to treat a child like that, \u00a0a child \u00a0new to the area perhaps new to a particular family?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“There are always new families moving in, \u00a0some can barely speak the language”. He sat down and twiddled with the spectacles, turning them over and over between his fingers “What is the child’s name?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was more than wiling to give the other man Sofia’s details, and then watched with increasing frustration as Armstrong opened a book and checked his records.\u00a0 He shook his head “no, I haven\u2019t been called out to treat any child of that name.”. He closed the book which made a dull thud as it shut. “There are other Doctors practising in town.\u00a0 I shall ask them.\u00a0 A strange situation, Mr ….\u00a0 I didn’t catch your name?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Adam Cartwright from the Ponderosa.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The doctor nodded and was about to speak when the door opened to admit a woman pulling a young child behind her, Armstrong sighed and raised his eyes ceiling wards “A regular patient of mine, destined I swear, for a future as the worst kind of miscreant!”<\/p>\n

………..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clifton Reid was admitted into the parlour where Rosemarie and Katherine were seated together looking at several swatches of material and discussing their various merits.\u00a0 Katherine stood up immediately and moved to a chair further away by the window, something she was accustomed to doing when Clifton was present.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The relationship between Rosemarie and Clifton always had been a source of irritation with the younger woman.\u00a0 She could remember the man being in their lives ever since she had been born, \u00a0seemingly dogging their heels everywhere they went. \u00a0 She had asked her father about it once and Royale had just laughed at her antipathy and referred to the other man as a faithful old dog, one who was very useful to have around at times.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was always respectful to her, of course, sometimes she would even catch him looking at her as though puzzled by her negativity towards him but she couldn’t stop her resentment. \u00a0 Even now as he approached Rosemarie , Katherine felt a shiver down her back.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was direct in what he had come to say however, after a brief glance in Katherine’s direction he said quite bluntly “The child’s fathers here in town.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie didn’t speak for a moment, she stared at him very hard before asking \u00a0“Are you sure? \u00a0 Who is he?\u00a0 Do you know his name?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I just read the cables he hopes to be sending his wife, father and the sheriff in Virginia City…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Virginia City?”. Rosemarie frowned “Alice wasn’t any where near there when we found here”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“She was near enough Rose. \u00a0 We could have turned back.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“And this mans name?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Adam Cartwright.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was silence and then Rosemarie turned away to look \u00a0over at Katherine, \u00a0then at the fire while she twisted round and round the rings on her fingers “The Ponderosa Cartwrights?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yes. \u00a0 And I have to tell you, Rose, Adam Cartwright won’t give up until he’s found her.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What makes you think that?”. She snapped back sharply<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Because I’ve read about him, he’s the one went to sea, became a Commadore ..,and you don’t reach that rank by sitting on your hands and doing nothing.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie shook her head. “The Cartwrights are known as stubborn men, Clifton, how else would they have got all that land and held into it for so long.”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Again she was silent and again she looked over to her daughter whom she knew would be listening to every word so she now lowered her voice and turned her back on Katherine to speak exclusively to Clifton<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Get the cables, don’t let them be sent …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Rose …”. His voice held a warning note which she dismissed with a wave of the hand<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Does he know she’s here?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, not yet.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded as though confirming the words and she was satisfied with them.\u00a0 Clifton Reid stepped closer and placed a hand upon her arm, his fingers tightened as though the action would convey how important he felt his words were “Rose, \u00a0this is your chance to put an end to this charade and to return this child to her family.\u00a0 I”ve read about this man, I know of what he is capable of doing, he will not stop, Rose, if he knows she is here he will do everything he can to get her and you won’t be able to stop him”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She shook his hand away, impatiently, but the look on her face indicated it was more than that which caused her to step away from him and from her seat Katherine watched with some concern having only heard a fraction of what had been said.\u00a0 That the conversation concerned Alice was obvious, and what the outcome was going to be was making her feel light hearted with fear.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mother, what’s going on?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie turned to her and shook her head “Nothing, Katherine, nothing for you to be concerned about ..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“But if its about Alice ..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Katherine, please …” Rosemarie raised her hand in a gesture for silence then looked again at Clifton “How does he know Alice could be here? \u00a0 What proof has he got?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“He has none at the moment, Rose, but he’s here, and what you should do now is to contact him and let him know his daughter is safe.”<\/p>\n

“Clifton, I didn’t realise you were so sentimental.” Her eyes flicked over his face, cold and blank as was the smile on her lips. \u00a0“Just stop worrying, and let me handle this matter.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What do you want me to do? \u00a0 Contact him?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She shook her head and clasped her hands together “No, do nothing.”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His face became blank, his eyes as cold as her own, “Nothing?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You heard what I said, Clifton.”.\u00a0 Rosemarie shrugged slightly and turned away, resumed her seat and picked up some material, \u00a0the audience was over.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 50<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mrs Soames closed the door to the room and sat at the table where she carried out her work as a seamstress.\u00a0 Until the death of her husband and her daughters disability she had been employed by one of the towns \u00a0dressmakers, now she took in work that could be done at home so that Ella was never alone.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sound of the children’s chatter and laughter was music to her ears, Ella had become a lonely introverted child since the shooting, now this other little girl had brought some sunshine into their lives and for that Mrs Soames was truly grateful.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phoebe kept her own counsel with regard to things she heard or noticed at her employers home; she made no mention of the punishment Miss Alice had been given, after all, a parent or grandparent had the right to discipline as she or he felt suitable. \u00a0 But even so it stayed in her mind, along with other things she had heard and seen.\u00a0 Now she left Sofia with Ella, kissed her mother goodbye and hurried back to the other house to continue with her duties there.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ella and Sofia had decided to draw, especially as Sofia had told Ella her Aunt Katherine wanted a picture.\u00a0 Very carefully the little girl carried all the paper and crayons to the table closer to Ella and together they began their picture… A princess in her castle, a mermaid swimming among the fishes … They laughed and chattered as the pictures took shape, of course the mermaid had to have the longest golden hair and the princess the bluest eyes…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Tell me one of your stories, Alice, about your brother Reuben.” \u00a0Ella said as she carefully drew a fairy floating about on a rather strange cloud<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia shook her head and bowed her head lower over her drawing.\u00a0 More than anything she would have liked to have drawn a picture of her real house, with her family there, all of them. \u00a0 But she knew it would upset Aunt Katherine and also make Grandmother angry again<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Let’s draw a picture of Alice and the rabbit.” She suggested and was more than relieved when Ella seemed happy to do so.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mrs Soames came in with cake, Annie’s special, \u00a0and some thing to drink.\u00a0 When Ella teasingly suggested that her mama sang to them the woman laughed a little and after a little while sang some familiar nursery songs to which they could join in or clap along with…. \u00a0 She had a pleasant voice, and once she had got to enjoy herself she began to sing other songs.\u00a0 The girls joined in heartily with\u201dSkip to my Lou, my darling\u201d and Ella clapped while Sofia danced and capered around the room, laughing as she did so until she stopped, so suddenly that Ella and her mother were brought to silence. “Alice dear, what is the matter?” Mrs Soames asked in such gentle tones that Sofia promptly burst into tears.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As the woman hurried her into her arms Sofia sobbed onto her shoulder, “Hush dear, hush now ..what is the matter!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia rubbed her eyes and wept, in a tear laden voice she<\/p>\n

wailed “I want my daddy.”<\/p>\n

…….\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The offices of the towns newspaper “The Standard Pioneer Journal of Mono County”* provided a warm \u00a0haven as Adam stepped into it from the latest snow shower.\u00a0 After glancing around to get his bearings Adam made his way to the Editors office and after rapping on the door pushed it open.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The man seated at the desk looked up and glared at this newcomer, then sighed and gestured to a chair “Welcome to Bodie’s first newspaper, Mister.\u00a0 What can I do for you? Are you a stranger to town?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He had extended his hand which Adam shook as he sat down on his side of the desk “I take it you’ve only recently started printing? \u00a0 Everything has that ‘new’ smell to it.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Editor nodded, smiled proudly “Yep, \u00a0now that the Standard Company has actually found gold in the Bodie hills* we’re expecting to expand in a big way.\u00a0 We’re going to put Bodie on the map.\u00a0 Are you in the newspaper business?\u00a0 From Aurora are you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, I’m Adam Cartwright, from the Ponderosa.”. Adam sighed and fidgeted in his seat<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Adam Cartwright … The name sounds familiar, now, where have I heard that name before.”. He struck a pose, that of a man striving to recall some elusive but important fact “ah, \u00a0I’m Mills by the way, Editor of this weekly journal.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded opened his mouth to speak but Mills beat him to it as he continued speaking “Adam Cartwright, of course, Daniel deQuille has mentioned you often…been to sea haven’t you? \u00a0 One of the Ponderosa Cartwrights … Coming to invest in the Standard Company’s mine?\u00a0 Best get your shares in it now before stock rises. \u00a0 Its just 1$ a share at present* \u00a0This gold strike is going to be bigger than anything found in Aurora, Virginia City or anywhere else on the Comstock …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mr Mills …”. Adam paused as though to ensure that the man had actually stopped talking. “Mr Mills, I wanted to ask for your assistance …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Anything..just name it … You want to advertise something?\u00a0 Or ….”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I wanted some information..\u00a0 The Territorial Enterprise often covers details of the comings and goings of Virginia City’s citizens … Social visits, business trips … And I was wondering if you did the same.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mills frowned, tugged at his moustache “Well, we only started printing in October,* and the first stage coach from. Carson City direct to here was on 1st December, * and …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“It would more than likely be a private trip…some one travelling to visit relatives in Genoa or Aurora, even to Virgina City …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mills shook his head “We haven’t quite got that familiar with folk yet … It’ll come with time I guess, but not just now.” \u00a0He narrowed his eyes slightly “I’ve known Daniel for years, how is he getting along?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam sighed and reached out for his hat, \u00a0then paused in the act of picking it up “Mr Mills, I wonder if you would be interested in printing a story …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What about?”. Mills asked as he pulled a notepad and got his pen poised<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam set his hat back on the desk and set out the details regarding Sofia’s loss, how he was looking for her. He provided a description as well as details of her age … And when he had finished Mills put down his pen and nodded “A very compelling story, \u00a0Sir. \u00a0 I’ll have it inserted and ‘put to bed’ right away although it won’t be available to the public until the end of the week.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam knew there was nothing he could do about that but thanked the man as he rose from his seat.\u00a0 Mills again shook his hand and wished him well on his search reminding him that the child could be elsewhere not necessarily in Bodie but in Colfax or Aurora.\u00a0 Adam nodded, agreed and bade him farewell<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He found himself retracing his footsteps to the Telegraph depot and found Seb doodling while he waited for his next customer.\u00a0 His smile of welcome slipped a little when seeing Adam who assumed that was due to the news being negative rather than any other ulterior \u00a0motive. \u00a0 Seb nodded and greeted Adam with an apology “I didn’t mention ..I mean I should have told you before that our telegraph line has only been installed recently*…and it only goes to Bridgenorth and Genoa.* \u00a0 Of course, I guess the office in Genoa will no doubt transfer your messages on down to Virginia City just that i should have told you afore but didnt think to say ..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You haven’t sent them yet?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Snow ..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Of course ..,”. Adam bit down on his bottom lip and shook his head<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You want me to notify the office in Genoa to forward them on?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam merely nodded, then turned and left the building. Seb wiped his brow and glanced over his shoulder in case Clifton Reid was lingering anywhere nearby<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam felt frustration and irritation welling up inside of him. He glanced up and down the main street, already a mile * in length and wondered where else he could go … His stomach indicated that a meal would be a good idea, looking for some sign of an eating house he finally settled on The Del Monico Restaurant*. \u00a0 As he made his way across the road he decided that his next stop was to visit the Royales. Just \u00a0possibly they would give him an idea of what direction he should take thereafter.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From childhood Adam had been used to times of feast and famine, even during this strange journey he had eaten little and he was a man who, when given the chance, enjoyed his food.\u00a0 Now however, despite the hollow feeling in his stomach he found no pleasure in the thought of eating.\u00a0 He sat down at a table and asked for coffee, then glanced at the menu that was placed on the table.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mr Cartwright?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A nervous voice but one that was familiar and when he looked up at the speaker he recognised young Jethro Hardy<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mr Hardy.” He nodded acknowledgement and gestured to the chair opposite “Have you eaten?\u00a0 Care to join me”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hardy nodded and gratefully sat down, placing his hat on the chair next to him. \u00a0 “I work for the newspaper.” He said all in a rush of words and obviously anxious to please “I heard what you told Mr Mills.\u00a0 It’s my job to set out the print”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, ordered another coffee for himself and for Hardy, ordered some food but the young man declined that saying he was short of time, he had Douglas to visit yet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I really came over to say that I’ll do what I can to help.\u00a0 Keep my ears open and let you know if I hear anything about your little girl.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, wondered why the offer and was told it was because of the way he had helped when Douglas got shot.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Folk in town hereabouts will step over ya rather than lend a hand to help.\u00a0 You did a real kindness to us, Douglas is the only kin left to me now.\u00a0 I owe you, sir.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He gulped down the coffee, confirmed where Adam was staying and left just as the waiter brought along the food.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As he ate a surprisingly well cooked meal Adam took time to observe his fellow diners, not that there were that many but it helped pass the time. \u00a0 He had eaten his fill when a woman \u00a0entered and was greeted with the degree of servility to indicate that she was obviously a woman of some importance in the town. \u00a0 A tall woman, no longer young but dressed to appear more youthful; she held herself erect and walked with that deliberate but dignified gait that indicated to others that she really was a superior being and her presence was to be noticed as such.\u00a0 She was very attractive in every sense of the word, appealing to the eye even though every movement, every gesture was a warning not to venture too close.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She was ushered to a table where a tall rather fat man was already seated, and now hastened to his feet \u00a0as she approached.\u00a0 The greeting between them was cordial, polite and respectful, he listened to her, drank wine, swallowed his coffee, all of which she herself declined.\u00a0 After some moments it was he who left the restaurant.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She sat alone and in obvious deep thought for some moments, and when the waiter approached a second time she requested some hot chocolate to drink.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam found her of some interest as he watched and observed her while he finished his coffee. \u00a0 He had risen to his feet just as another man approached her table, paused and said something to her and was obviously approved for he was sitting on the chair recently occupied by the fat man by the time Adam had paid his bill and was collecting his coat and hat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He couldn’t help but wonder why a woman of her standing would be talking to a man who so obviously earned his living \u00a0by using his guns.\u00a0 Adam recognised him from the times he had seen that face peering out from the Wanted posters in Roy’s, now Candy\u2019s, \u00a0office.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 51<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

More snow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It shimmied down from the sky looking so beautiful as it covered everything that \u00a0was bare and bleak and ugly with its pure fleece blanket of glistening whiteness.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester stood at the window and watched for a few more minutes before turning to where Olivia sat staring bleakly at the fire while the children played together and Reuben tried to concentrate on reading his book. When he noticed Hester crossing the room towards Olivia, Reuben immediately stood up as he waited to see the reaction this attention would bring to his mother.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Olivia?”. Hester sat down beside her sister in law and reached out for her hand which she held tightly within her own even though it was cold and limp to her touch. “Dear Livvy, please come and eat something. \u00a0 You need food, you know that, don’t you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“It’s alright, Hester, don’t worry, I’m just not hungry.” Olivia replied although she didn’t take her eyes from the fire which would have meant looking at Hester and being confronted by those fierce sapphire blue eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What about the children? \u00a0 Nathaniel needs you, dear, and so does Reuben .. Come and eat with us now.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia sighed and said nothing to that ; she couldn’t shake off the misery anymore.\u00a0 It weighed her down so much that it exhausted her and all she really wanted to do was sleep.\u00a0 She frowned a little before turning to look at the other woman “I should have looked harder. \u00a0 I tried but … ”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She looked back at the fire and shivered. Odd now she couldn’t get warm. \u00a0 She felt as though she were still trapped in that fog the cold wetness of which seemed to soak into her skin even now. \u00a0 As she looked into the flames she could see herself on Kamille that day they had spent searching for the children, straining her eyes to look through the curtain of mist and hearing her voice bouncing back at her. \u00a0 Back and forth they had ridden, back and forth and yet they had found nothing. \u00a0 A mother should be the one to find her children, surely? \u00a0 So why had she been unable to do so?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A hand touched her arm and she looked up and saw Hop Sing smiling and nodding at her “I make you good chicken soup, Missy. \u00a0 You come eat?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His sloe black eyes crinkled in the creases of his face as he smiled, but she could see the concern for her and felt guilt.\u00a0 She knew she was causing them all more concern and that was unfair of her but … “Do you think she’s alright, Hop Sing?”<\/p>\n

“Mr Adam find her, you see.”. He nodded again and his smile didn’t falter.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Is it still snowing?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Snowing very much snow.” \u00a0Hop Sing replied and extended his hand to her in order to assist her to her feet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She took her seat at the table as though in a dream, it seemed as though life were suspended, hanging in a dream. Mary Ann smiled at her and she wondered when it was that she had arrived, she hadn’t noticed and forced a smile to which Mary Ann responded with a warm smile of her own.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Every one was waiting, and for some reason Olivia realised they could be waiting for a very long time.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Eddy glanced up from checking the accounts for which he was responsible to the Telegraph Co and nodded at Candy \u201cAin\u2019t got no news for ya, sheriff.\u00a0 Lines are still down.\u00a0 Doubt if they\u2019ll clear anytime soon with this snow that\u2019s coming down.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy nodded, snow drifted from the brim of his hat and the shoulders of his coat as he did so. \u00a0\u201cNo letters?\u00a0 Nothing ?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sir.\u00a0 Aint had nothing through from no where for days now.\u201d \u00a0 Eddy cleared his throat \u201cOnce the lines are repaired or cleared of the snow, \u00a0there\u2019ll no doubt be a whole batch of mail come through.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy rubbed his gloved hands together and nodded again, and then made his way out of the building to stand a little while on the side walk and watch as the citizens of Virginia City continued with their lives. \u00a0 There had been no stages for a week, \u00a0and the Gold Hill train had cancelled several of its scheduled journeys. \u00a0 Miss Brandon and her fiance had departed on one journey, \u00a0and no doubt been relieved that the snow had prevented too many coming to see her departure.\u00a0 Candy had been sad to see her go, as had many others, but as she had said with a sad smile life goes on \u00a0and as it did so, changes had to be made.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel deQuille moped in his offices and chewed his nails to the quick. \u00a0 He had \u00a0made copious notes from O\u2019Brien\u2019s journal and had been eager to see if he could return it and filch another to take its place but the several times he had attempted to leave town had met with failure.\u00a0 Snow had completely blocked the route into the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss dismounted and walked through knee high snow to attend to his mount, and to ensure that both he and Luke\u2019s horse were still able to breathe freely.\u00a0 Oftentimes they had had to clear away the ice that was forming over the animals faces as their breath slowly froze. \u00a0 Both men knew from long experience on the plains that animals could literally suffocate from the ice muzzle that would form over the nostrils and mouths.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was hard enough for the riders, let alone the animals and Hoss rubbed his face until he could feel some degree of warm blood flowing through his cheeks again.\u00a0 He looked over at Luke who was sagging slightly in the saddle \u00a0\u201cYou alright, Luke?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, just tired of being so cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShould get to Bodie before night fall.\u201d \u00a0Hoss reassured him and remounted into the saddle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The horses walked slower now, \u00a0it was an effort to wade through the snow. \u00a0 It may have looked beautiful, disguised the ugly cold black rocks and \u00a0boulders behind a mantle of softy downy whiteness, but it seemed to have a power of its own, after a few miles it fought back, \u00a0pushing the horses feet from under them, being hard to shove through\u2026Hoss sighed and shook his head, and remembered his father once telling Adam and himself that for every 1000 ft higher the route, then the temperature would fall one degree lower.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t really into statistics, but he could feel that his father was right, for the cold wasn\u2019t just nipping at his toes and fingers and nose, it was pure biting, and biting hard.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The wind played with them too, as though it had decided it and the snow should join forces to make the travellers journey even harder.\u00a0 Every turning they made meant a faceful of snow flipped playfully at them, \u00a0or tumbled down from the rock face, \u00a0or drifting in a slow cadence of movement in imitation of a water fall until it landed on top of them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He glanced back up at the sky and watched as the clouds gathered once more, inwardly he prayed that the snow would not fall, \u00a0not again, not until they had reached Bodie anyway.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d Ella asked all big eyes and smiles as she leaned over Sofia\u2019s arm to look at the drawing<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s my house, that\u2019s where I live with \u2026 with my family.\u201d Sofia said proudly and held the drawing up for her friend to see \u201cThat window is where my bedroom is, \u00a0and over there, that\u2019s the stable where we keep the horses.\u00a0 Did I tell you that my Pa has a horse called Kamille, and she was a present from a Sheik.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cA shake?\u201d \u00a0Ella breathed with rounder than ever eyes \u201cWhat\u2019s a Shake?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia frowned and put the picture down, she picked up a brown crayon and began to colour in the barn with slow strokes as she wondered if she had said too much and if Rosemarie were to know what would happen to her? \u00a0 Ella tugged at her sleeve \u201cAlice, what\u2019s a shake?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, daddy said that a Sheik is a prince. \u00a0 He lives in a country where there are camels and he\u2019s very rich. \u00a0 Kamille had a little boy horse, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cA pony?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, a real baby boy pony. \u00a0 I wanted him for my own, he was so pretty, but my Uncle Joe \u2026\u201d she stopped again, Uncle Joe, always laughing and teasing with his merry hazel eyes and big grin, she blinked back tears.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou arnt\u2019 going to cry again, are you?\u201d Ella said, putting a gentle hand on her friends arm \u201cI don\u2019t like to see \u00a0you so sad, Alice.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia shook her head \u201cI\u2019m not Alice, I\u2019m Sofia \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ella looked at her and blinked, she nodded and removed her hand to pick up a crayon to complete her own picture. \u00a0\u201cYes, of course \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But Sofia could hear the doubt in her friends voice, \u00a0the anxious doubt of someone who wanted to believe her but, well, after all those other stories how was she know which was the true one\u2026Alice?\u00a0 Sofia?\u00a0 Ella sighed and then smiled, what did it matter, whatever the name was the girl was her friend, and she wrote very carefully on the drawing \u201cS-O-F-I-A\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s the best princess I ever drawed.\u201d \u00a0she said proudly \u201cAnd her name is Sofia.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The young woman who answered the door to a very persistent knocking looked up into the face of a good looking middle aged man with dark brown eyes, she nodded and smiled \u201cYes, sir?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs this the home of Mrs Royale?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs it possible for me to see her at all?\u00a0 Is she available?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sir, \u00a0I\u2019m afraid not. \u00a0 Mrs Royale is out at present.\u00a0 May I take your name?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs there no one else I could speak to, it is rather urgent?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot just yet, sir.\u00a0 There\u2019s no one home at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded slowly and frowned, looked thoughtful \u201cDo you know when they would be available for a visit?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot exactly, sir. \u00a0 Mrs Royale doesn\u2019t encourage visitors after 4 o\u2019clock.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The door was beginning to close, then stopped \u201cWho shall I say called?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCartwright. \u00a0 Would you tell Mrs Royale, that Adam Cartwright from the Ponderosa called\u2026and would like to see her. \u00a0 I\u2019m staying at the Bodie House Hotel*\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cVery well, \u00a0sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This time the door closed with a definite clunk, and Adam stepped back feeling a sense of disappointment.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t sure why he had felt that seeing the Royales was so important, after all, Cole had mentioned them in passing, just a woman and her daughter who were an important part of Bodie life and may have been of some help.\u00a0 No one of any importance really.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He walked away and kicked at a pile of snow with his boot, \u00a0then continued on his way.\u00a0 Half way to the hotel a woman was hurrying along the sidewalk with her head bowed against the wind, for while it was blowing against Adams back she was having to battle against it. \u00a0 She had one hand holding onto her hat and another clasped at her throat where the scarf seemed to be blowing free and about to escape her. \u00a0 As she turned in an attempt to grab at it, to prevent it from blowing away altogether, so her foot slipped in the ice and had Adam\u2019s hand not grabbed at her arm she would have tumbled rather inelegantly into the snow pile.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAre you alright, M\u2019am?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A kindly deep voice and gentle brown eyes looked down into her face. \u00a0 This was the first sighting of Adam Cartwright that Katherine Royale had, it was one she would never forget.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, \u00a0you\u2019re very kind.\u201d She gasped and then repeated herself as he caught at the errant scarf and gathered it together to place into her hands. \u00a0\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you have far to go?\u201d \u00a0Adam asked \u201cWill you be alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, yes, I\u2019m fine, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded and touched the brim of his hat before passing on , his head bowed as he contemplated his next action with regard to locating Sofia. \u00a0 \u00a0He stopped, \u00a0paused and decided to go to the nearest saloon, \u00a0aptly called The Bonanza* Saloon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was not too busy, \u00a0snow kept even the most hardened drinkers from venturing out until their desire for liquor was greater than the misery of the cold. \u00a0 He found a table and was soon provided with a glass filled with whiskey.\u00a0 A woman with plastered on make up and golden blonde hair came and draped herself over him, the smell of stale perfume mingling with that of other smells that were rather unpleasant, he gently pushed her away and said quite bluntly \u201cNo, thanks\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He noticed the drop of the smile, the hardness grow in her eyes but sometimes it was better to be blunt than not.\u00a0 She strolled off to join several other girls, whispered to them her opinion of this latest new comer and as a result Adam found himself the object of several pairs of baleful eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMr Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He glanced up and found himself looking at Dr Armstrong who bestowed a smile upon him as he pulled out a chair to sit upon, \u00a0a nod indicated that he wouldn\u2019t mind one of the same so Adam beckoned to the bar keep who brought over a bottle\u2026obviously knowing the doctor from of old.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHave you had any success in finding anything out about your child\u201d \u00a0the doctor removed his spectacles and placed them in his top pocket<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHardly surprising. \u00a0 A child lost in the conditions you mentioned \u00a0\u2026 \u00a0 I doubt if they would have survived the cold, the journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhich is why I came to you for answers, Dr Armstrong.\u201d Adam replied and poured some of the alcohol into his glass and pushed the bottle over to the doctor.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI have made enquiries on your behalf, my good sir.\u201d \u00a0Armstrong smiled and nodded as he poured the whiskey into his glass \u201cAnd I can tell you that several children were visited by various doctors in town. \u00a0 I have their addresses here, and their names of course.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With a flourish he produced a piece of paper with various names and addresses plus the name of the doctor who was attending them.\u00a0 Adam looked at them and checked each address, each name and then sighed as he put the paper down \u2026there was no Sofia Cartwright on the list.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAs an additional favour to you, sir, I also made enquiries at the under takers.\u201d \u00a0 he saw the colour fade from Adams face and felt a twinge of sympathy \u201cIt must have crossed your mind, sir, that she could have died.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt did.\u00a0 I just didn\u2019t want to be reminded in such a manner.\u201d \u00a0Adam turned the glass round and round between his fingers, before turning to look up at the doctor \u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a busy time for them, winter brings a lot of sickness to this kind of town, especially with men who work in the mines. \u00a0 But there was no little girl of your daughters name among the recently deceased.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Adam managed the flicker of a smile, \u201cI\u2019m very grateful to you for your help.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was no trouble.\u201d \u00a0Armstrong muttered in the voice of a human being rather than a professional man who disdained the emotions of others \u201cI had a child once, \u00a0he died at a very early age.\u00a0 I – I rather felt for you the other day and \u2026 it was the least I could do.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He tipped more whiskey into the glass and frowned \u201cSo many sadnesses\u2026. So many.\u00a0 You know, \u00a0it\u2019s odd, I have treated so many people, so many childen, but I couldn\u2019t save my own child.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou would understand, I\u2019m sure.\u201d \u00a0Armstrong gulped down the amber liquid and plunked the glass down, \u00a0\u201cI remember not long afterwards the school teacher here got shot, a good man, a good friend.\u201d \u00a0he paused again, poured out more whiskey \u201cSome idiot drunk chasing another fool down the main road and shooting his gun in all directions, killed my friend, and his little girl was shot too. \u00a0 Not a pleasant sight, you know, seeing a little girl shot like that .. Blood all over her pretty little dress\u2026I tried to save them both, but \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe child died too?\u201d \u00a0Adam raised an eyebrow, \u00a0perhaps the whiskey was making him maudlin, he wasn\u2019t sure why he felt so sad about this child and her father.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, \u00a0I tried my best, but the bullet was too close to the spine .. .. A pretty girl though, \u00a0just paralysed from the waist down.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened to the drunk who caused it?\u201d \u00a0Adam asked and pushed his glass to one side.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe fell off his horse and broke his neck\u2026good job too, \u00a0had he not done it to himself there would have been a whole host of folk who would have stretched his neck for him.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0he finished off his drink with a flourish and then nodded \u201cI\u2019ll leave the list with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam just nodded and watched as the doctor weaved his way around tables that were obviously not in the place he thought them to be. \u00a0 When the doors closed Adam picked up the list and read through it again\u2026. He gave a slight shrug of the shoulders when he noticed that Mrs Royales name and address was on the list, a little girl Alice Kincaid was attended to by Dr Lovell. \u00a0 \u00a0He folded the paper in half and slipped it into his pocket \u00a0\u2026 co-incidence \u2026 but then, he didn\u2019t believe in co-incidence.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 52<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nathaniel ran around the table, now that he had found his feet he never walked if he could help it, his chubby little legs moved as jerkily and as fast as he could go while he shrieked and laughed as Hope chased behind him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester observed her daughter and nephew with a fond softening of her face.\u00a0 To think that there had actually been a time when she had thought her little girl was suffering some kind of sickness, she could laugh at herself now for her fears.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hope caught her cousin, shrieked with delight in doing so while Nathaniel wriggled in protest “Caught you. Caught you”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Not ..Not”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben left the table and his books to sit by his mothers side.\u00a0 She had been watching the children with a smile but sadness in her eyes, a sadness that never seemed to leave her face now.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The child sat and took hold of her hand, “Mom?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She turned away from the two little ones to observe Reuben, smiled and nodded, “Are you alright Reuben?”. She brushed back his hair from his brow, and then frowned “What’s the matter?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Of course she knew it was a stupid question, what was the matter was hanging over their heads like the sword of Damocles, in the air they breathed, in every word they spoke.\u00a0 He leaned into her and was grateful for the fact that she opened her arms and took him into them, holding him close and resting her cheek upon his head<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Ma, I’m so sorry, I tried so hard to bring her home … I didn’t realise how lost we were, and all I wanted was to show Pa that I could bring her home safely … ”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia didn’t speak at first, but she continued to hold him in her arms while so many thoughts and emotions tumbled through her mind. \u00a0 Had he been a man, even a youth she may well have shouted and screamed that he’d made a fine mess of everything, that had he been more sensible he could have prevented it happening.\u00a0 Those thoughts had gone through her mind so often, if there had to be blame placed in anyone … Then she would tell herself he was only a child, a boy, and he had done the very best he could do at the time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Ma? \u00a0 Please don’t be angry with me…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She sat up then and cupped his face within her hands, looked into his eyes and gently kissed him “Reuben, \u00a0you did all that you possibly could to have kept your sister safe.<\/p>\n

How could I be angry with you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“But you’re so sad.\u00a0 I know you are …and I’m sad too, Ma, really I am”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His lips trembled and a tear slipped down his face which she gently brushed away “Reuben, I’m .. I …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mom, do you remember what you said to me that time I was so scared about going to that trial?\u00a0 You know, when the Downing kid was there …” He watched as she nodded slowly, \u00a0her eyes looking thoughtfully into his “You said \u00a0‘Fear knocked on the door, faith answered but there was nothing there'”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I remember, my mother told me that a long time ago.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Do you still believe it, mom?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She turned her face away and closed her eyes, how could she explain to him that every time she tried to sleep at night she could see her little girl sleeping stiff and frozen in the snow looking like some kind of ice sculpture? \u00a0 That her \u00a0dreams consisted of countless rides on Kamillle calling their names and never finding them and then waking up to tears on her face and her pillow wet as a result of them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded, leaned forward and kissed his brow, “I know” she whispered “I know what you’re saying, son.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She held his hand in hers while he nestled his head upon her shoulder, he felt some reassurance now, there was comfort in having seen something in her eyes that showed she hadn’t been totally beaten by all that had happened.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Reuben, we have to be patient.”. \u00a0 She heard herself say the very words she had refused<\/p>\n

to accept herself, “Your Pa will find her and bring her home.\u00a0 We have to remember, your grandpa, and uncles are all searching for her too.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He knew that … How many times had they said those words?\u00a0 Everyone said the same, it was \u00a0like a prayer one said over and over until eventually they believed it.\u00a0 He leaned into her again and thought of the snow, the constantly falling snow …<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Someone tugged at his leg and he opened his eyes to see Nathaniel looking wide eyed up \u00a0at him, a cookie in his hand which was being offered up with dimples in his cheeks and big eyes beaming up at them. \u00a0 As Reuben took the cookie the infant turned to Olivia “Me …. me too …” And stretched out his arms in order to be lifted up and held close within her embrace.<\/p>\n

\u2026…..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam had folded the list into a pocket and then trudged his way back to the hotel. He paused once to glance over his shoulder to check that he wasn’t being followed.\u00a0 In this town his instinct for danger was finely tuned.\u00a0 He walked on and at the first opportunity took a side turning, pressed himself against the wall and waited, one hand on the handle of his gun.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He waited long enough for the most patient of pursuers to have continued following him, but no one came.\u00a0 Only the snow \u00a0drizzled down in lazy spirals to the earth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Had he imagined it?\u00a0 Nerves? \u00a0 He frowned and crossed to the other side of the alley from where he could see the way he had come and saw nothing, no one.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

One thing he knew for sure was that he was \u00a0bone weary.\u00a0 A man who was overly tired could imagine anything and make mistakes as a result. \u00a0 He headed for his hotel, made his way to the room and locked the door. \u00a0 Before he put a match to the lamps wick, he went to the window and looked out at the shadows below<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Did he imagine the shape of a man partially concealed as he stood against \u00a0a wagon and appeared to be staring up at the hotel? \u00a0 If he were not imagining it, why assume the man was watching his room? \u00a0 He stepped back, pulled across the drapes, struck a match and lit the lamp. \u00a0 The chair he again placed under the handle of the door and then removed his outer clothing cast off his boots \u00a0and then fell into the bed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The bruises, the pains and aches, the utter weariness washed over him and within minutes he was sound asleep.<\/p>\n

\u2026……..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie Royale looked down at the little girl and gently stroked back the blonde curls.\u00a0 When she smiled her eyes twinkled and she looked younger, prettier so it was only natural for Sofia to smile back.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Now, my dear, did you enjoy your time today with Ella? Did she enjoy the cake Annie made?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia nodded, suddenly shy and confused. Rosemarie took hold of her hand and squeezed her fingers gently “Alice, little Ella enjoys your company, and I was thinking how nice it would be if she could come and spend time here instead. You wouldn’t mind, would you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, m’am”. She looked around the room “Where’s aunt Katherine?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“She’s resting.\u00a0 She’ll join us later.”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hand in hand the woman and child made their way to the large room where books lined the walls and a fire burned brightly in the hearth. Rosemarie paused and pointed to the books “Help yourself to any of these books, child. \u00a0 You like reading, don’t you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yes, m’am”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie sighed and leaned down to look into Sofia’s eyes, \u00a0“Darling, \u00a0i’m your grandmother, I know you find it hard to remember, after all, it was quite a while since we met before and you were a very, very little girl then.\u00a0 But I am your grand mother, so don’t be frightened of me, call me grandmother instead of m’am”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia nodded, she remembered, vaguely an old lady but yes, it was a long time ago.\u00a0 Things were getting so very confused, she nodded again “Yes, grandmother”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You’re a very pretty little girl, Alice.” Rosemarie smiled, her eyes gleamed and she gave the little girl a kiss on her cheek.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Now, go and find yourself a book until Phoebe comes to bring you to dinner.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She left the room, her long skirts drifted across the thick carpet her perfume lingered in the air as she moved.\u00a0 Sofia watched her and then turned to the books, she chose one and settled down cross legged on the floor to immerse herself in another world and escape the one in which she was living in now.<\/p>\n

\u2026……….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sound of the door handle rattling roused Adam immediately and his hand went instinctively to his gun.\u00a0 As his fingers curled around the handle a familiar voice yelled<\/p>\n

“Hey, Adam. You in there?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss, by all that was wonderful, he rolled from the bed and within seconds the chair was removed, the key turned in the lock and the two brothers were staring at one another and then hugging and shaking each others hand “What are you doing here you big galoot?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Shucks, why’d ya think?”. Hoss grinned “look who came with me?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam now realised there was another man with his brother, and both eyebrows rose as he looked at Luke Dent who was looking thoughtfully at him as though weighing him up as a worthy associate for the task ahead. \u00a0 “Come on in,” Adam smiled after shaking Luke by the hand. “We can talk better without running the risk of being overheard.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once inside Adam turned towards them both and then shook them by the hand again “How long have you been here?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Long enough to stable the horses and look over the \u00a0registers of three hotels before getting to this one.” Hoss replied pulling out a chair to sit on, and giving his brother a grin<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Its good to see you, Luke ..but where’s Joe?\u00a0 Is he alright?\u00a0 How come you’re with this brother of mine?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“She’s my niece, \u00a0Adam, you didn’t think I’d sit by and leave you all to find her by yourselves, did you?”. He removed his hat and brushed snow from his shoulders while Hoss explained to Adam how Ben, Roy and Luke had arrived at the Camerons , \u00a0as Joe was still unwell it was considered wiser for the older men to stay with him. “It’s what Joe would have wanted anyway …” Hoss muttered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“So, have you found any sign of her yet?” Luke asked as he looked around the room as though surprised not to see Sofia hiding in the wardrobe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shook his head and told them what he had done, even as he spoke \u00a0it sounded so little and he felt suddenly weighed down by guilt.\u00a0 He rubbed the back of his neck and then pinched the bridge of his nose while Hoss paced the floor, his hands on his hips and brow puckered in a frown of deep concentration.\u00a0 Luke was quiet as he observed the two other men and then asked \u00a0“The Royales, did you visit them?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I did, but they don’t see visitors … ” Adam sighed and gave a familiar shrug of the shoulders, “But ..” He paused as he clasped his \u00a0hands together ” I believe they know something.”. He paused, frowned over at Luke “what made you mention them?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I met an old friend in Colfax, he suggested visiting them…I used to serve under Royale, knew the family and Clifton Reid, he was a close friend of theirs and he’s also here in Bodie.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, stared thoughtfully at Luke, then at Hoss,”Too many coincidences” he muttered, “It may be best, Luke, if you pay them a visit as soon as possible.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss nodded but raised a hand “First off, something to eat.\u00a0 Luke and I ain’t eaten nothing since we left Cameron’s.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“We can discuss a strategy as we eat.” Luke suggested as he got to his feet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As Adam reached for his boots he said quietly “I’d best warn you now, there’s no law here in Bodie, I’ve recognised several faces from wanted posters already … Life is cheap so be careful.”<\/p>\n

………..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was early evening as the three men made their way through the town, the moon shone upon snow laden streets, the light reflecting back creating long shadows.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia had eaten her meal and as everyone was in a good mood it had been a light hearted pleasant time together. Rosemarie had even encouraged her to show off her expertise on the piano and both women had clapped their lace mittened hands in pleasure.<\/p>\n

“You’re quite a delight, darling.” Katherine said and gave her a hug while Rosemarie positively beamed at her and patted her on the head before saying how clever she was and that it was now time for bed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phoebe had already prepared her bed the room was warmed by the fire and she now assisted Sofia in undressing and slipping into her nightclothes.\u00a0 There was no wind blowing this evening, and the moon sent a silver streak of light into the room through the gap in the curtains.\u00a0 Drawn by the light Sofia ran to the window and clambered up onto the window seat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The house was a three storeyed building and her room was at the top of the property, so seated by the window she had a very good position to watch the people down on the street without them ever realising they could be under observation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She pressed her nose against the glass and watched with casual curiosity as people made their way to their various destinations. Shadows lengthened, shortened, and she wondered if shadows actually turned corners.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She noticed three men walking along the sidewalk and was fascinated by the difference in their shadows, one so big that she told herself it belonged to a giant. \u00a0 For some reason they paused in a group, turned towards her house, perhaps the light from her bedroom attracted the attention of one man who had \u00a0raised his face<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Daddy!”.\u00a0 She breathed the word, a whisper and then more loudly “Daddy!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She banged on \u00a0the glass with the palms of her hand, watched as Adam lowered his head, shoved his hands into his pockets and turned to follow Hoss \u00a0and Luke.\u00a0 Sofia couldn’t believe it, banged harder, called louder …\u00a0 But the three men walked onwards and Phoebe came, told her to quieten down and get into \u00a0bed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“It was my daddy,” the child whispered barely able to get the words through her sobs, “I saw him”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phoebe shook her head “You thought you saw him, Alice that’s all.\u00a0 Your daddy is in Warsop with your momma and the baby.\u00a0 Why would he be here without them and -” she pulled the bed covers up to Sofia’s chin “if it was your daddy he would be here, wouldnt he? After all, this is where his family is, isn’t it?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia stared up into the honest trusting eyes of the young maid and said nothing. Phoebe sighed “If you work yourself into another fever Madam will bring in Dr Lovell again and you wouldn’t want that, would you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She shook her head and sniffed, wiped her eyes and watched as Phoebe tidied the room and the left her on her own. \u00a0 She couldn’t understand, nothing made sense anymore, things were getting mixed up in her head.\u00a0 Tears trickled hot and sticky down her face into the pillow.\u00a0 One thing she knew, just knew for sure, she had seen her daddy and the other men ..well, \u00a0one of them was Uncle Hoss for sure!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 53<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester was more than surprised to find Olivia dressed and prepared for going outside and even more surprised when her sister in law greeted her with a smile “Hester, I’ve had a word with Ezra and he tells me it will be quite safe to get back home so I thought it would be a good idea if I took the children and got it ready for when Adam and Sofia get back.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Go home?\u00a0 But, Livvy, this is your home for as long as you need us, you know that, don’t you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia smiled again, a gentler smile this time as she \u00a0approached Hester and reached for her hand “Dear Hester, time and again you so willingly take care of us, but now’s the time I need to get back home and face up to things.\u00a0 Reuben and Nathaniel need a mother who organises their lives not someone who mopes about all day feeling sorry for herself…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“But you had …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Well, \u00a0perhaps, maybe, but I can’t take your kindness for granted any more, Hester. \u00a0 You and Mary Ann have been \u00a0such dear friends”. She leaned forwards and kissed Hester on the cheek “poor Cheng Ho Lee will be wondering where I’ve got to…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Are you quite sure?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yes, quite sure. \u00a0 Ezra is fixing the rig with runners and will take us home.\u00a0 I shall leave Kamille here rather than risk her in this weather, and ..and thank you, Hester, you’ve just been so kind”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They embraced again and Hester was about to ask concerning the children’s whereabouts when Reuben pushed open the front door “Its all ready, mom…” He smiled over at Hester and gave her a generous smile “We’re going home, Aunt Hester.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Before Hester could say another word Hop Sing appeared with Nathaniel warmly wrapped up snug in his arms while two little girls held onto his tunic wailing and protesting at the loss of their playmate.\u00a0 Nathaniel took it all in his stride and waved a mittened hand solemnly at his cousins.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“If you feel you need to come back, you will, \u00a0won’t you?” Hester cried grabbing hold of both Olivia’s hands within her own<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Dear Hester,” Olivia said gently, but firmly “Adam \u00a0married me thinking I was a strong woman, and I want him to come home and find that I am, that this situation hasn’t turned me into someone else… Some empty headed woman who has so little confidence in her husband that she goes to pieces.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A little pressure on Hester’s fingers and then she turned, nodded to Reuben, \u00a0took hold of Nathaniel and hugged him close as she stepped \u00a0out of the house and followed her son to where Ezra awaited them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester picked up Hope and followed by Hannah stepped out onto the porch.\u00a0 Olivia caught sight of them waving \u00a0good bye just as the rig swept away from the stable.<\/p>\n

………<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phoebe put the tray down and shook her head as Annie looked away from the oven, raised her eyebrows and asked how the little Miss was now. \u00a0“I don’t understand it, she went to bed so happy last night.”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“She has a vivid imagination does that one,”. Annie sighed and returned to her baking, “But I got the impression she had \u00a0calmed down these past few days. \u00a0 Your Ella’s been good company for her and Miss Katherine wants me to cook some little cakes \u00a0for them both as your sisters coming over today, isn’t she?”.\u00a0 She frowned at the silence and turned to the younger woman “Cat got your tongue!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I was just remembering something that happened when I was putting her to bed. \u00a0 She said…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sound of footsteps tapping down the hall stopped her from saying anything and she busied herself with clearing away the items on the tray as Katherine came into the kitchen<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Phoebe, how is Alice? \u00a0 Do you think we should get Dr Lovell in to see her?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I don’t think so, Miss Katherine. \u00a0 She’s had bad dreams during the night that’s all.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine nodded “Well, if you’re sure.” She still hesitated, her fingers constantly twisted the rings she wore on them round and round “Mother’s worried about her, She seems to have so many bad dreams”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The two women remained silent knowing from past experience that was the best way to handle her, she sighed and after shaking her head left them alone. \u00a0 Annie rattled some crockery and muttered dourly “The thing is \u00a0that little girl isn’t happy, no matter what any one says…”<\/p>\n

\u2026…..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The three men met in the foyer of the hotel and after a brief nod of a greeting left the building.\u00a0 They parted, as planned the previous evening, and went their seperate ways. \u00a0 Luke took the route to the Royales home, Hoss \u00a0to the saloon and Adam to the surgery of Dr Lovell.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The snow had stopped falling and the temperature had risen so the snow was beginning to turn to slush.\u00a0 It dripped from roofs and cills adding to the accumulation of puddles everywhere.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The town was already busy, store keepers were serving early customers, women were wending their way back and forth, saloon keepers had their premises open for business.\u00a0 A fight was already breaking out in the Comstock Saloon as two men tumbled through \u00a0the doors swinging punches at one another causing Hoss to step back to avoid them.<\/p>\n

Adam didn’t break his stride by glancing over at the fight, but continued on towards the address \u00a0the Hotel clerk had given him<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clifton Reid had carried little Ella from the Soames house to the Royales. It was not a great distance, one from the other, and the man was thoughtful as he listened to the child talking excitedly about what she and Alice were going to do during this day together.\u00a0 He had been told to take Ella up to Alice’s playroom and to make sure she was comfortable.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He had performed this task \u00a0and was just turning from the door of the house when he came face to face with a man approaching the property.\u00a0 For a moment he considered whether it could be Adam Cartwright but before he could speak he recognized that there was something familiar about the man, searched back in his memory and thus encouraged stepped forward to greet Luke.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Luke Dent?\u00a0 It is you isn’t it?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke was less than pleased to see Clifton, the plan had been to get into the house and see the women, meeting up with Clifton could be a barrier to that but he mustered up a smile, a nod of the head “Clifton?\u00a0 Good to see you.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The two men shook hands, a rather more cordial greeting than either anticipated. \u00a0“So what are you doing here, Dent?\u00a0 Last I heard you were in Arizona”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I went back home, have my own ranch now.\u00a0 Bodie’s a growing town, should imagine some beef steaks wouldn’t go amiss …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clifton laughed “Its been a while since I had one of those although I guess you’re in the wrong place if you want to discuss cattle deals.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke nodded and gave a shrug of his shoulders “I know, but I wanted to see Mrs Royale and Katherine.”. He pulled a wry face “just to catch up …”. He frowned “I believe that Emily’s in Warsop,,,with her family?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“That’s right.”. Clifton nodded “Why the interest?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke glanced at the house behind Clifton, before giving him a suspicious \u00a0glare “Is there a particular reason why I can’t visit Mrs Royale and Katherine?\u00a0 There was a time when I was on good terms with them and I just thought, as I was here that it would be good to meet them again. \u00a0 But if you feel that there is a reason why I shouldn’t call …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clifton shrugged “No reason, just .. Well just curious that’s all”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke looked again at the \u00a0house, nodded “Well, if you’ll excuse me …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clifton had no choice but to step aside, he waited for a moment as he watched him knock on the door, saw it opened and Phoebe came to answer it.\u00a0 Luke removed his hat and after another moment stepped inside.<\/p>\n

\u2026…..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss looked around the saloon and wondered momentarily what could have caused the fight, it didn’t seem as if there was anything or anyone around to be the cause of one.\u00a0 The man behind the counter glanced up at him and raised his eye brows, his eyes goggled a little, it didn’t bother Hoss he was used to people reacting like that when they saw him the first time. \u00a0 “Just a coffee … No milk.”.\u00a0 He flipped some coins into the counter and waited, staring at the scene of what was happening behind him as it was reflected from the mirror .<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clifton Reid entered the saloon just as the coffee was placed in front of Hoss, he nodded in acknowledgement of the big man and then asked for coffee plenty of sugar.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What was the fight about this time?” He asked casually “I think Fred just bit Hanratty’s ear off.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Aw, he’s sore because Hanratty got a bonus and he didn’t … Three sugars, Mr Reid?”<\/p>\n

Clifton nodded and then looked at Hoss. “Seem to get a lot of strangers here lately.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss shrugged “Would have thought \u00a0a town like Bodie would be used to strangers passing through, mister.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clifton nodded “Sure, not when its been weather like this though … You thinking of staying long?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss frowned, it seemed to him this person was being a mite uppity, at the same time he could remember Luke mentioning someone called Reid so refrained from saying anything that could cause the man to start a fight.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“That depends” he replied honestly and drank down his coffee and asked for another, “I came with a friend of mine, we’re in the cattle business.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clifton looked Hoss up and down, “You came in with Luke Dent?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“S’right.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Well, \u00a0any friend of Luke’s is a friend of mine, name of Clifton Reid\u2026 Luke and Me we served in the same unit some while back.\u00a0 Come and sit down, have a drink on me .. Mr..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Cartwright, Hoss \u00a0Cartwright but just coffee for me, thanks”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clifton felt his throat tighten, \u00a0he nodded over to the bar man and then gestured towards a table “Hoss Cartwright …”. He sat down, \u00a0“Well, sure is a small world ..from the Ponderosa?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yes, sir” Hoss smiled genially, and picked up the cup, “you know the Ponderosa then?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I certainly do, I have to got across it every time we go to Warsop.” Clifton leaned \u00a0his arms upon the table “So how long have you known Luke?”<\/p>\n

\u2026…..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dr Lovell looked over at his next patient and frowned, checked his list “who are you?\u00a0 I’ve got Mrs Fawcett next…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mrs Fawcett decided she didn’t need to see you, Dr Lovell.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“And you do?” Lovell’s voice contained more than a hint of arrogance, the fat face reddened a little around the collar . Adam wondered if that was due to the collar being too tight Or the doctor being particularly irritated that his schedules had been disarranged.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I do, but I won’t take up too much of your \u00a0time. Doctor Lovell. \u00a0 I just want your help…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What medication do you need, sir?\u00a0 I presume ..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Wrongly, you presume wrongly, Doctor. I don’t need a prescription just some information about a little girl, her name, Alice Kincaid.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Kincaid?”Lovell looked confused for a moment and shook his head “I don’t .ah, yes, of course, Mrs Royale’s grand daughter.”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What can you tell me about her?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Well, \u00a0not much really, she isn’t a regular \u00a0patient of mine you see. \u00a0 Mrs Royale brought her across from her daughters home in Warsop. \u00a0 The child was taken ill on the journey, what possessed them to travel …well anyway I told them when I saw Alice they were very irresponsible bringing a little girl in such weather conditions, it was no wonder she was ill.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“How long ago was that?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lovell shrugged again, he was a man who enjoyed talking, confidences were very loose considerations so far as he was concerned, he rubbed his chin with a plump dimpled hand “We had snow, it had just started coming down heavy. Clifton said there was fog \u00a0along the way but being a higher elevation here we got the snow sooner …they got me out of bed to attend to her you know? \u00a0 They were very concerned for her.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Describe the child …what was wrong with her ?\u00a0 Has she recovered?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a moment Lovell hesitated, the intensity Adam conveyed and the bearing of the man made the doctor realise that just perhaps something was not quite right.\u00a0 When he had hesitated a little longer than necessary \u00a0Adam opened his coat and put his hand on his gun handle,had it been \u00a0any other \u00a0man he would have appealed to their good nature, but this man ….Adam thought scaring him would save time and therefore be the more expedient method.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“A young child, dainty in stature, blonde hair and blue eyed.\u00a0 She had got overly cold and had a fever .\u00a0 I visited her several times until she was quite recovered.\u00a0 She wanted her mother and father, cried a lot for them .. And her brother …” He paused “Are you alright?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, controlled his emotions for the thought of his child crying out for them caused his heart to beat so fast he felt dizzy. \u00a0“Yes, I’m alright. \u00a0 Go on…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lovell shrugged “Nothing really to say except that Mrs Royale explained that it was the \u00a0first time her grand daughter had been so far from home and family, she and her daughter, Katherine, were really relative strangers to her. It’s a long journey from here to Warsop you know,”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“And the child made a full recovery?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Oh yes, definitely. The last time I saw her she was running about playing with her dolls, and quite happy. She’s very fond of her aunt, Katherine.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“How old is the little girl?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Possibly six.\u00a0 Very pretty, quite charming in fact.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded \u00a0“And in her fevers, did she mention any names at all? Places?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Not to my knowledge just the ravings of a child. Unintelligible mostly.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded. He stood very still for a moment before asking if any other 6 year old girls had been \u00a0attended to by him at that time, but Lovell shook his head none that he could recall. \u00a0 There was nothing more to be said, Adam put money on the desk and in silence left the building<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 54<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was deep in thought as he trudged through the sludge and slush of the melting snow.\u00a0 There were other doctors to visit, to speak to but his instinct was so strong a compulsion in his gut that he was more than ever convinced \u00a0that everything was still pointing to the Royales. \u00a0 He knew assumptions were unreliable, he knew coincidences did happen, but from a child he had always listened to his instincts and they had seldom been wrong.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He slowed his pace slightly as he thought over people from the past he had befriended …well, \u00a0there had been Tom of course, some could point to him as an example of his instincts leading him down a false trail but they’d be wrong in their thinking if they did. \u00a0 He had always known Tom was a ‘wrong ‘un\u2018, but the man had saved his life and deserved the time and chance to make changes. \u00a0 Adams instincts had been that Tom would always have chosen what suited Tom best … And he’d been right.\u00a0 But had his instincts been wrong and Tom had chosen a decent settled life, then his life would have been saved, and Adams debt paid to him \u00a0in full.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He paused again, glanced over his shoulder as instinct now told him he was being followed.\u00a0 He watched people as they made their way through heaped mounds of snow, horsemen walking their horses through puddles of snow melt.\u00a0 Slightly on edge he continued on to the saloon where he had agreed to meet Hoss,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He immediately noticed his brother seated at a table with an older man sharing a jug of coffee. As he caught the bar man’s eye and indicated he’d like the same he could see the reflection of the man who followed him in.\u00a0 Without breaking his stride he made his way to the table and pulled out a chair as the other man leaned upon the counter and ordered some whiskey.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From outside there were several gun shots causing both Adam and Hoss to half rise in their chairs, their hands hovering close to their holsters as they \u00a0turned their heads to the door but no one else moved an inch, just carried on as usual because that was \u00a0\u2018the usual\u2018.\u00a0 As they settled back down onto their seats Clifton Reid put out a hand “Clifton Reid, friend of Luke ‘s. \u00a0 Take no notice of all that, it’s probably some hot heads shooting for the sake of it.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What if someone’s hurt, mister?”. Hoss asked but Clifton shrugged and said something along the lines of it being their own fault for getting in the way of any bullet.\u00a0 Then he turned to Adam<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“So you’re Adam Cartwright? \u00a0 I’ve read a lot about you …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You don’t want to believe everything you read” Adam replied, and nodded his thanks to the barman for the coffee. “So you know Luke?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Knew him from way back when we served in the same army unit.\u00a0 That was when Major Royale was in charge.\u00a0 Yeah,, Luke was a good kid, had it rough during the war between States. You know his brother got killed at Bull Run. \u00a0 Shot, dropped dead \u00a0right by Luke\u2019s side? \u00a0”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“He doesn’t talk about his past life much.” Adam said rather coolly, he glanced over at his brother who gave a slight nod of the head in understanding that the man wasn’t to be encouraged in discussing details of Luke\u2019s life.\u00a0 Some things one had to respect and if a friend hadn\u2019t divulged certain matters then no stranger had the rights to do so.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Their conversation was disrupted by some altercation outside “This is a rather noisy town you got here, Mr Reid” Adam observed as he picked up his cup<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Folk here work hard, play hard …so long as no one interferes in their business they’ll be alright” came the immediate answer<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“And what does interfering actually mean, Mr Reid?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Oh, asking too many questions about matters that don’t concern a person!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam sipped the coffee, glanced over to the counter and caught the reflection of the man who had followed him.\u00a0 He recognised him now, he’d seen him talking to a smart woman during which a very urgent discussion had taken place.\u00a0 As he watched the man straightened up, his hand dropped to his holster but Adam moved slightly faster. \u00a0 In reaching over to push his brother out of the way of any bullet the table was overturned, toppling against Clifton and sending him falling backwards suffering nothing more than a bang to the head from its contact with the floor.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Both Hoss \u00a0and Adam fired their guns back but could only watch as their assailant ran unscathed from the building<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clifton was on his feet and brushing down his jacket “Seems you have an enemy in town, Mr Cartwright.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I don’t think so, Mr Reid” Adam pulled the table upright “I rather think that bullet was meant for you,”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“For me?” Reid laughed but he soon became quiet when Adam dug out the bullet embedded in the wooden pillar where Reids \u00a0head had been reclining not so long prior to the shooting<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Did you recognise him?” Hoss set his chair straight and yelled for more coffee<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I thought I did, but – it doesn’t make sense, why would he shoot at me?” \u00a0Reid muttered as he picked up his hat and brushed down his jacket<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Maybe you know something you shouldn’t,” Hoss muttered with his usual na\u00efvet\u00e9 as he poured out the coffee into three new cups<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That comment went down like the proverbial lead balloon.<\/p>\n

………..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine Royale had greeted Luke like a long lost friend and, to all intents and purposes that was exactly what he was, her genuine pleasure at seeing him there helped him relax as he was helped out of his heavy coat and handed over his hat to Phoebe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mother won’t be long, she had some business to attend to. Phoebe, do prepare some refreshments and bring them into the drawing room.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phoebe did what good servants \u00a0did best which was to disappear, bearing the coat and hat with her. The news that a gentleman had called, that Miss Katherine was so happy at seeing him led to the two women speculating for the few minutes it took them to prepare the tray that Phoebe then carried up to the drawing room<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I can hardly believe you’re here, Luke. \u00a0 How did you find us?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke smiled and settled into a chair by the fire, it was a pleasure to see her again for once upon a time he had harboured quite a fondness for Katherine Royale.\u00a0 That fondness could have grown into something more permanent \u00a0until her mother put a stop to any hope of it progressing further. But he had to admit she was still a very pretty woman and when she smiled as she was now, she looked quite enchanting<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I only heard you were here by chance quite recently, Katy. If I had known earlier …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No one’s called me Katy for years,” she interrupted and sat down in a chair opposite to him but close enough to touch him if she had been able.\u00a0 Phoebe came in with the laden tray and quietly went about bringing a small table closer to Katherine’s \u00a0chair so that she could pour out the coffee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine chattered on for a while, telling Luke about their life in Bodie, how her father had decided it was a good place for them, and how he had become the Mayor “Things have gone wild since he died, though. \u00a0 I do wish Mother would consider moving. We could join Emily in Warsop, it would be so much better than staying here,”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Why not go anyway, Katy? \u00a0 If you’re so unhappy here, then why not join Emily there? \u00a0 How is she, by the way?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Oh she’s very well, and happy.\u00a0 She has family of her own now, and has just had a baby boy.\u00a0 We visited them not so long ago.”. She sighed, melancholy slipped across her features just momentarily while she busied herself with preparing coffee for her visitor<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He listened as she told him how unhappy the trips to Warsop made her because Emily, well, she had a husband, \u00a0children and although she herself didn’t mean to complain life with mother in such a God forsaken place as Bodie was no comparison. \u00a0 “Its been made a little pleasanter since Alice came though.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Who’s Alice?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“My niece. \u00a0 Mother thought Emily needed time to recover from the delivery of her son, \u00a0to be with her husband and son alone and Alice hadn’t settled well with the \u00a0baby. \u00a0 We had been promising Alice time here with us for so long.”. She paused, then looked over at him “I’m sorry, I’ve been prattling on and not asked you anything about yourself. What a selfish friend I am ..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I \u00a0would say a lonely one, \u00a0rather than a selfish one, Katy.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded and then looked uncomfortable as though acknowledging the truth about her life was not only rare but preferably hidden away even from herself,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So he told her about the ranch, about his wife which caused her to blush a little as though realising that the little castle in the air she had been constructing in her mind would never become a reality after all.\u00a0 Noticing this Luke directed the conversation now to past events …parties and balls at the Fort, old friends they had in common, which led to him saying he had just met Clifton Reid outside the house.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“He was always a close friend to your father if I recall rightly”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded “Yes, but sometimes he can be so tiresome ..” She shrugged “Mother keeps him employed here because of past loyalties, but that’s all,”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke was about to contiinue with the topic when the sound of familiar footsteps could be heard from outside indicating that their tete a tete was soon to end,. \u00a0 In anticipation of Rosemarie\u2019s entrance Luke rose to his feet and prepared himself to meet the lady of the house.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie stepped into the drawing room with her handsome features set into cold and disdainful lines, her eyes were totally devoid of any warmth and her lips thin with disapproval at the sight of their visitor. \u00a0 \u00a0“Luke Dent! \u00a0 I heard you were in town.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Really, Madam?\u00a0 I only arrived last evening.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Enough time for news to get around.”. She looked him up and down, before stepping further into the room and occupying the chair \u00a0that Katherine had vacated for that purpose “so what have you two been talking about? Old times, no doubt,”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Of course, mother … And old friends.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie stared at Luke, decided she disliked him as much now as ever she did in the past, Luke, unfazed by her attitude promptly said “I believe congratulations are due Mrs Royale.\u00a0 Katherine tells me that Emily has married and has children.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie’s lips puckered into a rosebud of annoyance she said nothing for a full moment then said that yes, Emily had both a daughter and a son.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“And living in Warsop? \u00a0 Some distance for you to travel? \u00a0 I suppose you take the junction and cross the Ponderosa to reach it?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You know the Ponderosa?” She snapped back at him and when he said that his ranch was close to its borders she shrugged “Then why ask a question when you obviously know that its the only route we can take which makes it remotely reasonable for such a journey to be undertaken”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“One you took quite recently?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“To be with my daughter during her sons birth.” She looked at Katherine very sternly her cold eyes conveying a message that Luke couldn’t understand. “And to bring my grand daughter here for a while”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She stood up now and raised her chin as though challenging him to say anything more on the subject, realising his visit had to end Luke stood up, smiled at Katherine who lowered her head, suddenly shy. “Good day, Mr Dent”. Rosemarie said between clenched teeth but without even looking in his direction.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine led him out to the Hall and located his hat and coat he smiled as he took them and gave a slight shrug of his shoulders \u201cSeems your mother hasn\u2019t warmed to me none\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Luke.\u00a0 She has strange fancies and \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A noise behind them caused both to turn to see Phoebe closing a door to another room “Oh sorry miss,I didn’t hear you ring.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“It’s alright Phoebe, \u00a0I didn’t ring for you” she smiled and then turned to him \u00a0\u201cYou must meet Alice before you go. Is she in the library, Phoebe?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phoebe had no time to answer as Katherine, all smiles and eyes alight with pleasure led Luke to the other room that Phoebe had just left.\u00a0 She pushed the door open with a smile \u00a0on her face she stepped into the library “Oh. Alice ..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The child \u00a0turned, the book on her lap nearly toppled to the floor, and her face coloured up immediately “Phoebe said …” she stammered but before she could say another word Rosemarie, standing directly behind Luke stepped forward, brushing both Luke and Katherine to one side, gave the girl a smile and \u00a0said \u00a0in warmer tones than Luke had been privy too \u00a0“That’s alright child, enjoy whatever book you wish.” Then she turned, stood in front of Katherine and successfully obscuring her from Luke’s view “my grand daughter, Alice. \u00a0 Now, if you don’t mind sir …please leave my premises.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke glanced back at the child sitting on the straight backed chair a pretty little girl indeed, but it wasn’t Sofia.<\/p>\n

\u2026……<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reid had left the saloon by the time Luke arrived there and found the Cartwright brothers waiting for him. \u00a0 He pulled out a chair and slumped down, slung his hat onto the table and yelled over for a whiskey before uttering a rather strong expletive<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“As bad as \u00a0that, huh?” Adam muttered catching Hoss’ eye and raising his eyebrows<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“That old virago ..I’d like to call her a lot worse and that’s a fact!”. He tossed back the whiskey and shuddered<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Did you see any sign of Sofia?” Hoss asked, leaning forwards to try and see Luke’s face for the other man had bowed his head into his hands<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No.”. Luke sighed and raised his head “The grand daughters there, Alice. \u00a0 I saw her, it isn’t Sofia.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam pouted slightly and frowned.\u00a0 He chided himself inwardly for expecting this search to have been so easy. To have expected Sofia to be found in the first house so soon, no, that had been overly optimistic and yet ..how could he explain to anyone that even now, even now, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that the Royales knew something.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Did you see Reid on the way from the Royales?” He asked Luke.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, why?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss shrugged “Someone took a pot shot at him … He was sitting right where you are now so be careful, that chair may give way any time soon.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You sure it wasn’t at either of you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shook his head at that suggestion “Would have got him between the eyes if we hadn’t moved in time.\u00a0 The shooter knew who he was aiming for, and so did Reid.\u00a0 He left here as though the weight of the world was on his shoulders.”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Why would anyone want to shoot Reid?” Luke muttered and glanced around the near empty room as though someone, somewhere would supply him the answer<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Not just any someone … I recognised the man, he has a thousand dollar bounty on his head” Adam pushed the empty glass round the table “You have to ask yourself, what does he know that Mrs Royale \u00a0does not want him telling anyone?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What makes you think Mrs Royale \u00a0had anything to do with it?”. Luke muttered<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I accept the fact that I’ve never met the woman but …” Adam paused, asked himself if he were being foolhardy even thinking along those lines but nonetheless he told them both about seeing the elegant older woman talking to the gun shooter before adding “Reid knows too, he couldn’t hide the fact when he walked out of here.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss rose to his feet in a deliberate slow action “Then we had best go see Mr Reid before the next shot gets him!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2026….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phoebe was confused. \u00a0 She didn’t dare to tell Annie when she took the tray back down about what she had heard just before she had gone to collect it from the drawing room.\u00a0 The whole thing still made her shiver.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie had been talking, more than that, she had been shouting, her thin voice calling Katherine all manner of names “…and what else would you have told him had I not arrived when I did?\u00a0 You stupid stupid girl!” \u00a0That had been followed by the sound of a hand striking flesh, then another slap accompanied by a startled cry of pain which had emboldened Phoebe to knock on the door and enter the room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But servants are adept at noticing things that they should not, and despite Katherine turning away and Rosemarie calmly taking her seat as though nothing had happened Phoebe could see from Katherine’s reflection in the mirror the reddened cheeks that resulted from a slap around the face. \u00a0 They were certainly not caused because of the young lady thinking of the gentleman who had just left!<\/p>\n

…… ..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ella was also confused, as well as worried about Alice.\u00a0 Her little friend had been very quiet and tearful through the morning and had ran constantly to look out of the window.\u00a0 When Ella had asked why Alice had said nothing but leaned closer into the glass until her brow was touching it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When Phoebe had come with milk and cookies she had suggested that Ella went to read in the library while the other child had a little rest for Sofia was looking flushed and rather wild around the eyes.\u00a0 So while Sofia was put to bed to rest a little, Phoebe carefully carried her sister down to the library and settled her there close to the fire and with a book to enjoy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

To add to Ella’s confusion had been Rosemarie, Katherine and a gentleman\u2018s sudden appearance and she couldn’t understand why Rosemarie had mentioned Alice when the only child in the room had been herself.. \u00a0 Her enjoyment of what should have been a happy day was fast dwindling to such an extent that she asked Phoebe if she could go home earlier.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Are you sure!” Asked her sister who was still trying to recover some sense of equilibrium from what had taken place in the drawing room.”Alice will be so disappointed.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I don’t think Alice is very well, Phoebe, and I don’t want to sit here all day on my own”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Do \u00a0you think I should tell Mrs Royale?\u00a0 Does she need the doctor!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ella didn’t know, how would a child her age know about a thing like that?\u00a0 Phoebe looked worried. Wrung her hands together before getting to her feet for she had been kneeling beside Ella’s chair “I’ll ask Mr Reid to take you home.\u00a0 Don’t worry I’ll be back soon.”<\/p>\n

.\u2026…….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clifton Reid was more than a little nervous.\u00a0 He was 100% sure that the bullet had been intended \u00a0for him even though he wanted to think it was more likely to have been aimed at Adam. \u00a0 Fact was, it wasn’t! \u00a0 That bullet would have got him right between the eyes had Cartwright not moved so fast.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Who would want him dead?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The answer to that question took him back over a number of years to when he had first met Katherine Royale.\u00a0 He had loved her from the first day he had met her for she had been ,and still was, such a beauty! \u00a0 She shone like a jewel whenever she appeared, and she had been a devoted wife to her husband.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But despite that loyalty, which Reid rather admired, he had continued to love her .<\/p>\n

The Major had realised, of course, and Reid knew it had become a private joke between the couple, perhaps further afield \u00a0too.\u00a0 But what did it matter, and when at times she had shown him some kindness it had compounded the intensity of his feeling for her<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And he knew her so well. \u00a0 \u00a0He had known exactly what she had been thinking when he had tried reasoning with her about finding the parents of \u00a0the child.\u00a0 He had seen and recognised that look in her eyes and remembered the last time he had seen it, shortly before Royale had died.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But she had turned \u00a0to him to attend to that little matter, \u00a0and as a result he \u00a0had achieved what he had desired for so long.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clifton Reid kept his head down as he walked back to the house. Every nerve strained as he wondered if he would reach there alive. \u00a0 He knew because he had followed her that evening when she had met \u00a0with Duggan, the latest gunslinger who had drifted into town.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 55<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As the three men made their way along through town Hoss couldn’t resist giving his brother a nudge \u00a0in the ribs and saying, along with a wide grin how like the early years of \u00a0Virginia City this town was, wild, lawless, and noisy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded rather absent mindedly, his mind on other matters than the things that happened back in the past.\u00a0 Luke had his head down, \u00a0scowling and thinking over what had happened at the Royales, feeling anxious for Katherine and wondering how they were possibly going to find Sofia.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Where are we headed now, Adam?”.Hoss asked as he stuffed his hands in the pockets of his old brown coat<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke glanced up, he had followed along with the two others because he couldn’t think what else to do, where else to go but now he stopped and grabbed at Adam’s sleeve<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Why are you coming here?\u00a0 I’ve not long left and I’ve seen Alice, I told you already that she isn’t Sofia.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Doesn’t rightly matter who the girl was you saw, Luke, I still got to go and see Mrs Royale.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Ain’t that the dumbest thing, Adam” Hoss groaned, “Ain’t Luke just done \u00a0told you that Sofia ain’t there”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shook his head, firmed his lips and stared at both men while the wind whistled around their ears and they stood glaring at one another. Finally he turned away to continue walking onto the Royales house<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Doggone it, Adam, if you \u00a0ain’t the most stubborn mule headed..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

;”Look, Hoss, call me whatever you like but I have to go there if only to satisfy my own mind.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Ain’t it enough that Luke has just been and …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“There’s no point standing here arguing, Hoss. \u00a0 Luke may have seen Alice, doesn’t mean Sofia isn’t somewhere else in the house, does it? \u00a0 Or maybe she isn’t there at all but the women there may know something that gives us an idea of where she could be.”.\u00a0 He glared at Hoss before turning to Luke. “Unless you got any ideas of your own to suggest?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke shook his head.\u00a0 There was a silence of a few minutes before Adam nodded, turned and continued to walk on.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clifton Reid held Ella in his arms carefully as he walked from the big house to the sidewalk.\u00a0 The child was quiet, unlike her usual chatty self and she looked pale and dark eyed.\u00a0 He had just turned to walk to her house when there came the sound of a gun firing.\u00a0 He wondered for a fraction of a minute, considered the possibility and dismissed it, held the girl closer. \u00a0 Another shot and he was aware of his knees weakening, he tried to walk on, \u00a0despite muffled sounds around him he was aware of a child crying .. His heart thudded in his ears and he could hear himself saying “Sorry, Ella” before both he and the little girl fell into one of the snow mounds by the side of the road.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke had yelled “Alice … Run…” \u00a0Just as Clifton fell with the child still in his arms.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

All three men ran towards \u00a0the victim, their own guns ready even though there was no sign of the ambusher.\u00a0 Some others joined with them, some women who demanded a Doctor be sent for, although Clifton was more in \u00a0need of an undertaker.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Alice, come here \u2026” Luke said in a gentle voice, kindly enough to be non threatening to the little girl “Come on now, I”ll take you home.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ella remained where she was, pinned down in the snow by Cliftons arms and it was Hoss who carefully untangled her and whispered “Alright thar, little girl, come to Ol’Hoss and he’ll take you home.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I can’t, I can’t, “Ella sobbed “my legs …I can’t walk, Mister”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She was still sobbing, the tears streaming down her face as she felt once again the horror of being shot down in the street. \u00a0 \u00a0“They shot my daddy …\u00a0 They did … And …and I can’t walk”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss gripped her hand and nodded although he had no idea of what she was talking about “You got hit? \u00a0 Whereabouts, honey?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Hoss, she needs to get back home,” Luke said as he placed a hand on the big mans shoulder, “The shocks got to her, can you carry her?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss nodded and as people began to move away, after all what was another shooting in Bodie – he picked the child up into his arms and turned towards the Royales drive that led to the big house<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Alice,” Luke said to the sobbing child, \u00a0“we’re going to take you home and …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“She’s not Alice.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The quiet way Adam said the three words stopped the other two men in their tracks.\u00a0 Luke was immediately defensive<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I saw her in the house, Katherine identified her as her niece and Mrs Royale \u00a0did likewise.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam raised his eyebrows “Well now, they lied, which begs the question as to why!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Shucks, Adam … If’ n you’re so danged sure she aint Alice, who is she?” Hoss asked slightly belligerently as he continued to stride down to the house<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Her \u00a0father was the school teacher here, she was shot down along with him a few years ago, \u00a0that’s why she can’t walk.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“And how do you know this? ” Luke asked just as his hand was raised to bang on the door.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Because a doctor told me …” \u00a0He stopped as the door was opened and before any word could be spoken the young woman looked wide eyed at the three of them, \u00a0then at the child and screamed<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Ella. Ella”. She pushed Adam aside and hurled herself at the little girl, pulling her away from Hoss and sobbing as she did so. \u00a0 The responding open arms and tight embrace as Ella hugged into her sister \u00a0satisfied the men that Ella was in safe hands \u00a0although Hoss did manage a suggestion that a doctor be found to attend to her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They now entered the hall and removed their hats as the mistress of the house bore down towards them. “What is all this caterwauling about?\u00a0 Phoebe, take that child to the kitchen and get her seen to.”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie drew herself up straight backed and thin lipped, she glared at Luke before turning her heavily lidded eyes into the other two men “And who may you be?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Before anything else, Mrs Royale…” Luke began<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Did I give you permission to speak, Mr Dent?\u00a0 No I don’ t think so. \u00a0 Now – who are you men and what are you doing in my house?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam promptly stepped forward and introduced himself and Hoss, then added that they had come to tell her that a friend of hers \u00a0had just been killed.\u00a0 She looked from one to the other, during which time Katherine now appeared from the drawing room and hesitantly stood near by<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“A friend? Who exactly do you mean?” Rosemarie asked and raised her chin challengingly<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Clifton .. He was shot while carrying a little girl …” Luke began but Katherine gave a startled cry of “Oh no…no” and covered her mouth in an effort to suppress another sound.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie bowed her head , stared for a moment at their boots “Clifton … Shot?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke had gone to Katherine’s side and gently supported her saying as he did so that she needed some brandy as she was near to fainting and then carefully steered her back into the drawing room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie had no choice but to follow demanding all the time for details about what had happened.\u00a0 Luke helped Katherine onto a chaise longue and then poured wine into a glass while Hoss looked around the room for some sign of his brother who had suddenly disappeared.<\/p>\n

……….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It seemed too good a chance to miss out from as everyone seemed to head for the drawing room so Adam headed for the stairs.\u00a0 It seemed logical to him that had another child been in any of the rooms on the lower floor they would have followed Katherine’s example and at least have peeked round the door to see what had happened.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He took the stairs two at a time while his heart thudded loudly even though he was telling himself to keep a calm head, it was possible he was wrong and if there was a child here, then it could well be Alice Kincaid.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He turned to the next flight of stairs ignoring the rooms as he knew if the child was not up in the eaves he could always look into the other rooms on the way back down.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

‘She may not be here, she could have gone out…where would she have gone out to?\u00a0 No, she’s here ..and if she isn’t there will be something of hers in the room…but she will be here …”<\/p>\n

…\u2026………<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia had slept a little for her head had ached and she couldn’t even begin to pretend to be happy while Ella was there.\u00a0 Sleep had been deep and pleasant as she had dreamt of the fields full of wild flowers and the river that slipped lazily along down past the house.<\/p>\n

When she woke up she just lay there awhile thinking of her dream \u00a0and then she remembered that she had seen her father and uncle’s from the window so hurried over to scramble back upon the window seat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The window overlooked the back of the house and the main street beyond so she was spared the sight of the shooting which had taken place from the other side of the house.\u00a0 Nor did she hear a sound<\/p>\n

.<\/p>\n

For a few moments she pressed her nose against the glass and stared down at the street below.\u00a0 After a while her eyes tired of staring, she leaned her head against the glass and just closed her eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She was slipping back to sleep when footsteps could be heard, heavier steps than Katherines or Rosemarie’s. She wondered if, just possibly, that horrible Dr Lovell was visiting \u00a0with his fat fingers and heavy nasally breathing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A door opened and someone said, not too loudly, “Sofia?”<\/p>\n

Then the door closed very gently.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She waited, wondered, dared hardly to breathe as she watched the door handle turning.\u00a0 Then it was pushed open and a tall broad shouldered man stood in the opening and called her name<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Sofia?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 56<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Snow was pattering on the glass of the window as Sofia leaned further forwards to make sure what her eyes saw, what her brain captured, what her heart told her was actually true. \u00a0 Not yet more of the half truths and lies that had been fed to her over the past weeks<\/p>\n

Adam felt feelings he didn’t even understand himself, feelings he couldn’t express and would never be able to put into words as he stood looking at the little girl seated by the window<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Sofia?”.\u00a0 His voice caught in his throat, and it wasn’t just because he wanted to attain to her level that caused him to sink to his knees … He opened out his arms “Hey, pumpkin, time to go home…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“DADDY! \u00a0 OH. DADDY!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She ran into those outstretched arms as though her life depended upon it, and perhaps, it DID but she was safe now. \u00a0 She knew that for sure as his arms held her close.<\/p>\n

Too close really because she thought her ribs would break and she could barely breathe but it didn’t matter, no, it didn’t matter. \u00a0 Nothing mattered now just those arms around her, his warmth against her face, his smell reminding her of home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Oh daddy, I knew you would come, I knew you would.” \u00a0She whispered \u00a0into his ear and her warm breath drifted past his cheek like a kiss, the softest sweetest kiss of all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I came as soon as I could, as soon as I could.” He whispered and the sound of his voice brought the tears to her eyes so that she began to weep and her little body shook in his arms with the force of her sobs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a moment he couldn\u2019t move, self control almost deserted him as his heart cried along with her but then very carefully Adam stood up with her in his arms and turned to carry her from the room, slowly stroking her back in an effort to calm her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He had gone one step onto the landing when Rosemarie Royale appeared at the head of the stairs closely followed by Katherine, Luke and Hoss.\u00a0 A jumble of voices, exclamations of delight as Hoss and Luke called her name so that she peeked shyly over at them, \u00a0and there was Katherine’s gasp and cry of pain as she cried “Alice, oh Alice.!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But above all was Rosemarie’s voice, cold and callous as it cut through all the other sounds in such a manner that everyone just froze, resembling an ensemble of marble statues rather than humans beings of flesh and blood<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Put the child down, this instant, Mr Cartwright”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia’s arms tightened around his neck as though unconsciously determined to ensure that he would not be able to comply even were he to choose to do so.\u00a0 Holding her close and one hand supporting her back Adam stepped forward.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Put my grand daughter down.\u00a0 This instant! \u00a0 \u00a0Alice, let go of him and go into your room.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She stepped to one side in a bid to stop him walking on, Katherine stepped beside her mother with tears in her eyes “Alice?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Such pleading in her voice that Hoss, always tender hearted felt a pang smite his heart but then he saw his brother’s face \u00a0and recognised that stern proud aloofness and the coldness in his eyes so stepped forward and put his hand \u00a0upon Katherine’s arm,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Miss, you need to let my brother and his daughter pass by if you know what’s good for you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No…” Katherine cried and stepped forward to snatch at the child “No, you can’t … You can’t take her away, you can’t..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She was screaming now but Adam walked on until Rosemarie once again blocked his passage,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“How can you call this child your daughter when you left her, abandoned her? \u00a0 If we had not found her she would have died, frozen to death”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Daddy…” Sofia’s whimper quelled the anger that was beginning to boil inside Adam while being he turned his eyes from Rosemarie and pushed past her and began to descend the stairs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie was on his heels instantly, grabbing at his jacket, ordering him to stop but he walked on until he reached the hallway when he paused at the sight of the young woman who stood with her hands clasped at her waist. Phoebe looked from Adam to Rosemary, then back to Adam,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Thank you, Mister for what you did for Ella.”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A voice of calm, and warmth in the maelstrom of emotions engulfing them.\u00a0 Adam nodded “Is she alright?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“She ‘s with Annie ..”. Phoebe looked across Adam to where Rosemarie stood, then nodded “I’ll take care of Sofia, mister, I’ll take her to Ella.\u00a0 They can comfort each other.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This made sense to Adam, he whispered to Sofia and then handed her to Phoebe who took her into her arms and carried her to the kitchen where Ella, with a tearstained face saw her friend and smiled “Alice!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phoebe shook her head “This is Sofia, Ella.\u00a0 She isn’t Alice.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ella’s eyes widened “Sofia? \u00a0 Then you really do have a brother called Reuben?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yes, and my daddy’s here …”. Sofia flung her arms around Ella’s neck “My daddy came for me.”<\/p>\n

……..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once Sofia had been taken away by Phoebe, Adam turned to face Rosemarie and Katherine. \u00a0 Hoss and Luke had already stepped forward to flank Adam on either side.<\/p>\n

Rosemarie put out a hand and grasped hold of her daughters, the fact that Katherine’s hand was shaking irritated her but she tightened her hold as though by her will power and force she could stop the woman’s shivering.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You heard what I said, Mr Cartwright.\u00a0 You leave Alice here and leave this town.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss shrugged “Or what? \u00a0 Folk who say them kinda things always add some kinda threat. \u00a0 Not that we’d take any notice mind!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Or you’ll never leave here except in a six foot hole in Boots Hill.”. Came the immediate response, “Don’t think that’s an idle threat either, this town is – as you may have noticed – without law.” She drew herself more erect “When my husband died, I became the only law here … Clifton found that out, too late sadly, for him.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Lady” \u00a0Hoss shook his head “I think you’re crazy!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Smiling Rosemarie shrugged “It doesn’t matter what you think, \u00a0but you step out of this house with Alice and …” She sighed “you won’t survive many hours that’s a guarantee.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine stepped forward now but turned to face the other woman with the look \u00a0of confusion on her own features “Mother, perhaps we should explain…you could explain.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She pointed to the adjacent door and with a nod the older woman turned to lead them into the sitting room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The three men followed them.\u00a0 It seemed to Adam as though the nightmare was never ending, all he could think of as he stood in the centre of that ornate over warm room was that Olivia would be wondering if they would ever reach home.\u00a0 She didn’t even know that Sofia was safe, he lowered his head, looked at the hems of their skirts and waited to hear what Rosemarie would say next<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Was she mad?\u00a0 Each man there wondered that same question, after all, her actions would indicate she was but then again perhaps she was just a woman so used to having her own way and with so much power that she assumed she could do anything, without having to answer to anyone…not even God.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You have to understand” Katherine was saying groping for the right words; words that would sound reasonable to a father who had just found his daughter “when we quite by chance came across Alice \u00a0…the child … It was like a miracle. She was – \u00a0just there – lying on the ground by a dying fire.\u00a0 Just there?\u00a0 Don\u2019t you see?\u00a0 We could have driven right on by and never even seen her but we did \u2026 we found her there, abandoned as she was.\u201d she paused to take in a deep breath, to control her emotions, before she continued \u201cYou can’t imagine how it felt to hold this little girl in my arms, and she was so \u00a0ill.\u00a0 We thought she was going to die, we tried so hard \u00a0to keep her safe and \u00a0it seemed the very best thing was to bring her home and …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie shook her head “That’s enough, we don’t have to \u00a0grovel and apologise to the likes of them.\u00a0 You left your child to die, we saved her, therefore you owe her life to us.\u00a0 I don’t have to explain anything further to you.\u00a0 Alice stays here…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mother!”. Katherine’s voice had a touch of her mothers hauteur, and for an instance Rosemarie was silent but not for long as she turned back to Adam, Luke and Hoss<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Leave this house now or, I swear, you won’t leave this town alive.\u00a0 That includes – Alice.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shook his head. then slowly placed his hat upon his head, nodded over to his brother and Luke and left the room.\u00a0 He could have explained, of course he could have done.\u00a0 He could have told them about his son who would never abandon his sister, he could have told them about a mother aching for her daughter to be safe in her arms again\u2026 but he felt there was little point.\u00a0 As far as he was concerned they were beneath contempt and totally undeserving of any explanation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Less than five minutes later Sofia was in her father’s arms walking down the drive flanked by both her uncles.\u00a0 They passed through the gates where Clifton had died. His body had been removed but blood still stained the snow upon which he had fallen less than an hour earlier<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 57<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For some while nothing could be heard in the sitting room but the ticking of a clock, the settling of a log in the hearth. Eventually there came the sound of sobbing, heart rending sobs that caused Rosemarie to come out of her self absorption to turn and observe her daughter.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Pull yourself together, girl. Can’t you see what a mess you \u00a0have made of all this? \u00a0 I gave you the chance to have Alice back and you threw it away! \u00a0 You’re like your father, you’re weak!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine held a handkerchief to her face, shook her head and uttered a low moan as she \u00a0almost fell into the chair closest to her. ‘”You can’t say that about Father. He was a good man, he wasn’t weak. If anything made him weak it was his love for you.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Love?\u00a0 What do you know about love?” \u00a0Rosemarie taunted and walked slowly to wards the window as though the view beyond it was better than that currently in the room<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I had the chance of love” Katherine said, weeping still and barely able to get the words pass her lips “but you put a stop to that didn’t you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You mean that silly infatuation with Luke Dent?\u00a0 Oh, yes, \u00a0I noticed how you kept looking at him while he was here. You stupid girl, \u00a0he never had any interest in you.” She smiled thinly and tossed her head as though she had scored a victory and was proud of it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, it wasn’t Luke who loved me, and whom I loved.” Katherine whispered and wiped her eyes as though even the memory of that love was giving her the courage to speak “It was some one else entirely …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“The father of that child you had I presume?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I would have been a good mother to her, you didn’t have to have her taken from me. \u00a0 If Paul had lived he would never have let you take her, we would have married and …and you could never have interfered in our lives again, never.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie turned slowly and faced the weeping woman who, standing with the handkerchief to her face, should have touched a mother’s heart with some degree of pity but Rosemary stared at her daughter with contempt and shook her head “Some mother you would \u00a0have made.\u00a0 Look at you?\u00a0 You’re a mess!\u00a0 Emily and James were far better suited to raise your child, you should be grateful they agreed to do so or it would have been taken to the nunnery like all bastards usually are.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“And did you never think of how I would feel, every time I saw her, having to pretend she was my niece and Emily always making sure I knew how happy Alice is with them … Don’t you realise how it makes me feel when the child ignores me, turns away from me?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What do you expect her to do? She’s a child and you’re just a stranger to her.” Rosemary shrugged her shoulders and moved towards the fire, turning her back to the other woman<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Oh mother mother …don’t you feel any pity for any one? Why, \u00a0you haven’t even given Clifton a single thought … A man who devoted himself to you for so many years?\u00a0 Don’t you even feel anything at all for him?\u00a0 If you can’t feel any love for me, you could spare some thought for him?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Her mother stared blankly at her then shook her head “Why should I do that? He’s dead, isn’t he?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine no longer wept but stared at Rosemarie as though seeing her for what she really was for the first time in her life.\u00a0 After a moments pause during which time Rosemarie had pulled the tasselled bell rope that would summon a servant Katherine turned to leave the room, paused and looked back at her mother \u00a0“That was cruel what we did to that little girl..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You think so now, you didn’t earlier..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, and I was wrong.\u00a0 I wanted her to be my Alice, someone I could love and be loved by …she was such a pretty little girl but I’m glad her father came for \u00a0 her.\u00a0 You would eventually have poisoned her \u00a0life as you’ve ruined mine”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You always were given to theatrics, Katherine … Go to your room and clean yourself up.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine made no comment to that but left the room, passing a Maid as she did so who entered the sitting room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She didn’t see the letter given to the girl with instructions to hand it to a certain person staying at The Comstock Hotel.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss had blubbered a bit once they were back at the hotel, and Sofia had hugged him and kissed him, told him she loved him and was longing to see everyone back home again. \u00a0 Then he had hugged her, swung her up and spun her round and sang her a song about a donkey that made her laugh and clap her hands.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke had laughed along with her, his own relief at finding his little niece safe had quite overwhelmed him, bringing back memories of a child he had lost years ago. \u00a0 Seated nearby Adam watched them with a gentle smile on his face while his eyes dwelt upon his daughter as a starving man would look upon a banquet of good things.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Eventually Sofia ran to her father and clambered upon his knee “Daddy, can I see Ella again? \u00a0 She was my friend.\u00a0 She can’t walk, you know?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I know, sweetheart.” He caressed her head, curled a lock of hair around his fingers “She helped you a lot, did she?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia nodded “She made me laugh, and her mother sang songs. \u00a0 But Ella can’t dance …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, looked at Hoss and Luke, “We shall have to see what we can do for her.” he smiled “And for her mother.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Daddy, Phoebe was my friend too.” she rested her hands in her lap and leaned against his chest “I’m tired, daddy.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Of course you are.” Adam said softly and lifted her up, carried her to the bed and settled her under the coverlet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss blew his nose again and turned to look out of the window. \u00a0 Luke, always pragmatic, rose to his feet and walked over to the window “What do we do now? \u00a0 That woman’s threats were not empty words, you know.\u00a0 I have memories of her from a long time back.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He turned now to observe \u00a0the two brothers before returning his gaze upon the street below. Adam stood up and joined his friend at the window. \u00a0“What do you think Clifton Reid knew that would have caused Mrs Royale to have him killed?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke shrugged “Clifton Reid and the Royales go back a long time. I should think once anyone started scratching around they would find far more than the bargained for … But Rosemarie Royale gets bored easily, and Clifton has been around for too long.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mmm, well -” Adam tugged his ear lobe and looked over at his brother “Hoss, will you look after Sofia.\u00a0 There are a few matters I need to deal with.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What if she wakes up and doesn’t find you here?” Hoss asked immediately<\/p>\n

His brother smiled and slapped him affectionately on the arm “You’ll be there, and I won’t be long.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What do you want me to do?” Luke asked<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shrugged and leaned closer to the glass “I think you’re about to get a visitor..best you get down to the foyer to meet her”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

..\u2026…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine Royale was heavily cloaked as she entered the hotel and hurried to the reception desk. The conversation was interrupted when the clerk glanced up and murmured that gentleman about whom she was enquiring had just entered the foyer.<\/p>\n

Luke could see that the woman was frightened, her nervousness was betrayed by her constant wringing of her hands or brushing aside some strands of hair that weren’t there.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Luke … Is there anywhere we can talk privately?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke glanced around him, the last thing he could afford to do was risk being accused of any impropriety with Rosemarie Royales daughter. \u00a0 How could he trust Katherine after all? He indicated a room beyond the foyer, a small restaurant, a public place but at that time of day few were partaking of the hotels culinary delights.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A waiter hovered and he ordered coffee for them both, settled her at a table that was more concealed than others and then sat down opposite her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They sat in silence for a few minutes before she spoke<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You must think me as mad as my mother, taking the child, keeping her here ..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You didn’t kidnap her, Katherine. \u00a0 \u00a0No one’s accusing you of that … And you were right, you did save her life.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I really thought she had been abandoned, you know?\u00a0 I saw it happen when we were in \u00a0Fort Sill, wagons coming in and families bereft because a child had been lost.” She dabbed at her eyes “mother immediately assumed that had happened with Alice ..I mean …what is her name?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Sofia. \u00a0 And she was not abandoned, Katy.\u00a0 Her brother was nearby, saw you take her. \u00a0 We were just hours from finding them both…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Her brother?”.\u00a0 Katherine frowned recalling to mind now the way the child had called out for her parents, for someone called Reuben, a baby ..she buried her face in the palms of her hands and wept<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The waiter came and placed down the coffee in delicate little cups on pretty saucers and then discreetly left them. Luke cleared his throat and rubbed his jaw “Her mother Sofia’s mother that is, is my sister. \u00a0 She’s …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Please, Luke, don’t say it , I can imagine how she feels.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Can you? \u00a0 Sofia is very much loved, \u00a0there were posses out searching for her and her brother, if the weather had not been so bad they would not have been lost, or if they had been they would have been found much sooner.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded as though acknowledging she heard the words, and again wiped her eyes. With trembling fingers she picked up the cup and looked at him from over its rim “We did save her life.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yes, you did, for that we are truly grateful” he frowned “But why didn’t you take her up to Virginia City?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She stared at him then, \u00a0after which she released a long sigh<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mother decided to continue on to Bodie and Clinton said the weather was going to worsen.\u00a0 Mother had business to attend to and couldn’t afford to lose more time going in the opposite direction. \u00a0 And, \u00a0in all honesty, I wanted to keep her.\u00a0 She was so lovely, I said to Mother how she was so like Alice she … She could almost be her.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Your niece?” luke frowned, assuming that a frustrated spinster saw herself with the chance of having a child of her own.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No not my niece my daughter. Alice Kincaid is my daughter… I disgraced my family by having a baby out of wedlock.\u00a0 Emily and James adopted her and I see her maybe once a year.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He said nothing to that, \u00a0any words of recrimination died on his lips and he gently squeezed her fingers within his own, after all, hadn’t he only moments earlier be mourning the loss of a child? She glanced up at him and saw the softening of his face, she slowly withdrew her hand,,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Luke I didn’t come here to talk about Alice..I mean … Sofia.\u00a0 After you left Mother sent for a man called Duggan.\u00a0 He’s a murderer, wanted in several states for various crimes.\u00a0 He’s replaced Clinton … Anyway, to come to the point, she ‘s given him orders to make sure that you don’t leave town… Or if you do, you don’t get far.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“How do you know that?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I overheard them … I was coming down the stairs and saw him go into mothers private study and listened.\u00a0 She hates being beaten by anyone, and she never did like you …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He nodded “Did you hear anything he said?\u00a0 What plan he had?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She shook her head \u201cNo, I couldn\u2019t hear anything like that, only that he\u2019ll do what my mother has ordered him, and no doubt, he\u2019ll be paid well.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke nodded, he had no doubt that Duggan would be paid well, no doubt at all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 58<\/p>\n

The knocking on the door caught Mrs Soames by surprise; so much so that she spilled the liquid in the glass over her fingers instead of pouring it into Ella’s mouth.\u00a0 The child’s eyes widened in fear as the knocking persisted.\u00a0 After what had already happened she was feeling as though caught in a nightmare from which there was no escape, or rather, having escaped it once, the killer had returned to try again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Phoebe, open the door..” Mrs Soames cried as she wiped the dampness from her hands “It’s alright, Ella, it has nothing to do with you.\u00a0 Now then, let’s see how much medicine I can spill this time, shall we?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Her teasing words, gentle voice and smile reassured the child who obediently swallowed down the medicine and relaxed as her mother leaned to kiss her forehead with all the tenderness a mother possibly could after all how many mothers have kissed their children while wishing that child’s pain could be their own rather than see them suffer any more.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Ma…its a gentleman to see you.” Phoebe whispered<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Not Dr Armstrong?” Mrs Soames frowned and rose to her feet, turned and then stood very still as Adam stepped into the room, his hat held in one hand and his brown eyes looking from her to the little girl lying on the daybed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Dr Armstrong is on his way, Madam. I saw him a moment ago and he asked me to assure you he would not be long.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded and waited for more, after all, he didn’t look the kind of man who would consent to running messages.\u00a0 As though realising her discomfiture Adam smiled and stepped further into the room, looked directly at Ella “I really wanted to see this young lady and to thank her for all she has done for my daughter.”<\/p>\n

“Oh!” Phoebe nodded and beamed over to her mother \u00a0“I should have realised, I’m so sorry, sir, I clean forgot what with all that going on over there .. Ma, this is Alice’s Pa.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Sofia ..” Ella said quietly, barely loud enough to be heard “her name is Sofia.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mrs Soames nodded and beckoned to Adam to pull up a chair while telling him how Sofia had cried for him and missed him so much. “We didn’t realise what was going on, \u00a0Sir, we thought she was telling stories.”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phoebe nodded “She had been ill you see, sir, and Dr Lovell said she would be prone to odd fancies so we just thought she was still a bit sick in the head.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam inclined his head to acknowledge what they were saying and then sat down in the chair and looked again at Ella “You’ve had a rather unpleasant shock, haven’t you?” He took hold of her hand “How are you feeling now?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Scared .. A little bit \u2026 in case he comes back and tries to shoot me again.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s smile gentled “He won’t come back to hurt you, Ella.\u00a0 He got the person he wanted it was just a shame you were there at the time.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phoebe and Mrs Soames dithered about, they asked if he would like some coffee or tea which he declined.\u00a0 Still holding Ella’s hand he told her how grateful he was that his own little girl had had the blessing of having her as a friend .<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You helped Sofia through a very dark time in her life, Ella. A good friend is worth more than anything in the world when it seems there is no one to be trusted.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ella nodded and smiled slowly “I thought she was telling me lovely stories about people she dreamed of but all the time she was talking about you, and her Momma, and her brothers Reuben and … And Nathaniel.”.\u00a0 She sighed and her hand trembled a little within his “Are you going to take her home?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I am, as soon as possible.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Will you tell her to write to me?” she smiled again “She’s my best friend.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Ella, some time ago my son, Reuben, was involved in a shooting accident .\u2026he couldn’t walk for a while but we had a chair that helped him get from room to room on his own.\u00a0 Sofia was very sure that you would like to do that too …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ella’s smile widened and her fingers squeezed Adams “Oh yes, I would so like to do that, it\u2019s hard to \u00a0be sitting in one place all the time and it\u2019s hard for Momma as well, after all, I am getting a big girl now.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam laughed softly and squeezed her hands and then stood up, releasing her hand as he did so “Thank you, Ella.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The medicine was taking effect, her eyes were closing but a smile lingered on her lips, as Adam glanced back at her he thought what a joy she must have been to her father, what a sorrow for her mother.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mrs Soames followed him out of the room and closed the door “We tried to get one of those chairs you were talking about but we couldn’t afford one. \u00a0 They’re much too expensive for the likes of us.\u00a0 I can’t work as I used to because I have to stay here and there’s the rent to pay for this place as well as for her medicine ..” She stopped when he out a hand on her arm and looked at her with raised eyebrows as though he had heard enough and there was no need for her to run on so anymore.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“The chair is already on its way, Mrs Soames.\u00a0 I wouldn’t have mentioned it to Ella if I couldn’t have provided it.\u00a0 But there is something else I wanted to discuss with you ”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He paused to give her time to wipe her eyes, blow her nose and hug Phoebe who said she needed a cup of something so would boil the kettle after all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mr Cartwright, life has been so hard .. I’ve tried to keep going but …” She blew her nose again apologised and said how no one had been so kind to them before; she felt overwhelmed with what he had done for Ella \u00a0\u201cMy husband was a good man, he wanted to see this town become a good strong community but when Mr Royale was killed everything just seemed to go wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, it happened in so many of these mushroom gold boom towns, it just took one little shove and then another and like a row of domino\u2019s things come crashing down.\u00a0 Word gets around among a certain type of person and it would not have taken long for every outlaw, killer to start drifting to the place like iron filings to a magnet.\u00a0 But among the dross would be found the decent and law abiding.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mrs Soames continued to talk, it was as though a dam had been released and for the first time in \u00a0years she could pour out what had happened, how and why and the result of it all. \u00a0\u201cElla had always loved music, and dancing.\u00a0 It was a joy to have your little girl here to keep her company but such a painful reminder of what she had lost. \u00a0 I am grateful, Mr Cartwright, truly I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“It’s what Sofia would want for her friend.” Adam fidgeted a little with his hat “Do you need to stay here, in Bodie?\u00a0 Have you never thought of moving elsewhere?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“At times” she nodded, “But how could I with Ella? My husbands elderly parents still live here too and depend on me.\u00a0 And I have my regular customers, and Phoebe has her job.\u00a0 It isn\u2018t much of an income but it is steady work and ..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’m not going back there to work for that old witch” Phoebe declared resolutely as she put down the coffee pot with a smack upon the table, along with some cups that rattled in their saucers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam said nothing to that although he had full sympathy and respect for the girls decision, he looked thoughtfully at Mrs Soames before speaking what was on his mind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“There’s a doctor in Virginia City, he\u2018s very skilled and \u00a0I ‘d like him to check on Ella’s injury.\u00a0 He’s an excellent surgeon and …” he raised a hand to prevent another outburst of words. “I can afford to pay for an operation if he thought it would be successful.\u00a0 All you need do is \u00a0get there. I understand your responsibilities here, but think about it, and should you decide to come contact me and let me know so I can get everything arranged.\u201d he smiled and the seriousness of the subject left his face, replaced by one of gentle compassion \u201cSpring is not too far away, is it?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He stood up, \u00a0smiled again and shook their hands before turning to leave.\u00a0 A loud rapping on the door indicated the arrival of Dr Armstrong who nodded over at Adam as \u00a0 they passed on the threshold of the \u00a0house.<\/p>\n

.\u2026….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was deep in thought as he made his way to his next stop, arriving just as the Telegraph Clerk was thinking of closing up the office.\u00a0 He looked rather sourly at Adam and assured him the lines were still unusable.\u00a0 Adam considered his options for a moment then nodded “I need to have your assurance that these messages will go through as soon as the lines are cleared.\u00a0 I know all about there being no direct line to Virginia City, but that’s no problem as it can be forwarded on from wherever you can send it.\u00a0 My wife has to know that her daughter is safe and a telegraph will travel far more quickly than we will.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The clerk nodded, “Write it out then and I’ll mark it as urgent. I give you my word it’ll get through”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam crooked an eyebrow and gave him a long dark look before nodding “I shall know if you don’t get it sent ” he said \u00a0coldly and picked up a pencil to write his cable to Livvy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He wished as he scribbled down the words that he could convey in them all the feelings he had experienced when he had found Sofia. He could imagine how she would be feeling now, how she would feel when she got the cable and then the anxious waiting time before they got home. The words on the cable were so brief, didn’t say enough except telling her everything she needed to know.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He passed it to the man on the other side of the counter and paid slightly over the amount necessary.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once he was on the sidewalk he exhaled, waited just a moment before crossing the road to the livery. Behind him the clerk locked the door and turned the notice to say ‘Closed’ .\u2026then he picked \u00a0up the message, sat at his desk and attempted to send it through the wires but with a shake of the head finally left his seat.\u00a0 The lines were still down, but he left the written note on desk ready for another attempt in the morning.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Manager of the livery listened attentively to Adams request, stroked his beard and nodded repeatedly.\u00a0 They. shook hands on the deal and Adam handed over the necessary money, plus the amount already accrued from the stabling of his horse.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was aware that daylight was fading, most of the snow had been trodden down and the wind had frozen it into piles making it icy and slippery underfoot. He was also aware that he was hungry and the thought of taking Sofia to the restaurant to eat with them brought a smile to his lips.\u00a0 The very thought was a confirmation that she was safe, with him and her Uncles.\u00a0 All was well\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thinking pleasant thoughts he stepped off the sidewalk and passed an alley.\u00a0 Two steps along something hard jabbed into his back and a voice hissed “Not thinking of going anyplace are you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Not at this precise moment in time.” he said with a cold preciseness for he was angry at himself for his lack of concentration and in being caught as easily as an empty headed adolescent.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Keep your hands away from your body and step into the alley.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There were very few people abroad at this time of day and those present hurried by with averted eyes for fear of seeing too much and being called to account at some later time.\u00a0 Although, of course, \u00a0in Bodie that was very unlikely.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Turn around” Duggan now ordered “Slowly …. Keep your hands where I can see them.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam raised his hands a little higher and slightly further from his body. \u00a0 The sun was slipping away but even as it did so it cast an oblique shaft of light across his face. Duggan nodded and stepped further into shadow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“So you’re Commodore Adam Cartwright.\u00a0 Well, well ….I would never have known had not Reid been talking about you the other evening.\u00a0 You Captained the Ainola, didn’t you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Once upon a time, a long time ago.” Adam murmured quietly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Duggan nodded “I don’t suppose you remember anyone called Andrew Duggan?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam bowed his head and thought over all the men he had known over the years he had been at sea.\u00a0 He looked up and the other man “Yes, a marine.\u00a0 He served on the Ainola.” He thought a while longer after all Duggan seemed not to mind. \u00a0“He was a good man, Armstrong thought highly of him.\u00a0 He was recommended for special duties at times. \u00a0 A relative of yours?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“My youngest brother.\u00a0 He spoke highly of you.\u00a0 Said you were a fair man.\u00a0 Hard but fair.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, shrugged slightly “So, now that we have the pleasantries over with, perhaps you’ll explain why we’re both standing here like this?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Because I wanted to meet you before I carried out my \u00a0orders \u00a0to see you dead.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mrs Royales orders I believe?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You seem to have upset her, Captain.\u00a0 You took something of hers and she wants it back.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shook his head “No, she won’t get Sofia back. Duggan.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I could have shot you down just now, just the same way I shot Reid.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“The same way you’ll end up no doubt …” Adam sighed and gave a wry smile “You’re nothing like your brother, Duggan”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“So my mother used to constantly tell me. \u00a0 As for Reid, I hope you ain’t wasting time considering him any kind of hero.\u00a0 He was as cold blooded as they come.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No doubt -” Adam nodded and stared at the other man, tried to figure out a way to stop him firing that gun, watched that slight flicker of the eyelids as the man began to squeeze the trigger.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

No time left but it was worth trying anyway and Adam kicked out at Duggans ankle and as the gun went off \u00a0Duggan slid rather clumsily on the ice upon which he had been standing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By the time he realised what was happening it was too late, he landed heavily, his gun rattled out of his hand and when he looked up Adam was standing over him with his own gun inches from Duggans head.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He grinned rather like an over grown schoolboy tricked into falling and struggled to get up, a slightly difficult task as his feet keep slipping on the ice. \u00a0“Well? \u00a0 You going to shoot me or what? \u00a0 There ain’t no sheriff here, no law for you to tote me off to.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was upright now and shrugged as he watched Adam pick up the dropped gun<\/p>\n

“You could change, Duggan. This could be your chance to ride on out of here, leave the place and start fresh.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Duggan shook his head “I only just got here, I got men ready to do what I tell them.\u00a0 I’m not small fry here, Captain.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“While you take orders from a woman?” \u00a0Adam shrugged and stepped back “you could come back with us…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“So that you can collect on the bounty and then see me hang?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam sighed, nodded “Well, I was thinking of your brother, hoping there was some decency in you.\u00a0 Obviously there isn’t.”.\u00a0 He waved the gun to one side “You had better start walking, Mr Duggan.\u00a0 No doubt we’ll meet again.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yeah …. Soon” Duggan snarled and strode away, slipped on snow, righted himself and swore loudly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam watched until he was out of sight and then turned to resume his journey to the hotel.\u00a0 He had only gone a few paces when a man stepped out of the shadows of a doorway.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 59<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke Dent paused a moment in order to give Adam time to return his gun to its holster.\u00a0 Had he not called out “It’s me, Adam” as he stepped into the path of the other man, he could very well have found himself with a bullet somewhere in his body.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I heard what Duggan was saying, I was just coming to try and find you to warn you.\u00a0 Katherine told me that her mother had hired him to replace Reid.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded but didn’t speak. The two men walked to the hotel while he listened to Luke who told him the context of Katherine’s discussion. \u00a0 As he pushed open the door of the hotel he was telling Adam that the young woman suspected, but lacked proof, that Reid and her mother were behind Major Royale’s death.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“This town needs cleaning out that’s for sure.”. Adam said quietly as they mounted the thickly carpeted stairs to their rooms. \u00a0“When we get back to Virginia City we’ll contact the Governor and see what he can arrange.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The seriousness of his face softened and broke into a smile when he stepped into his room to \u00a0see Sofia sitting on Hoss’ lap listening to some story he was telling her.\u00a0 They \u00a0looked over as he and Luke walked in and closed the door behind them.\u00a0 With a delighted squeal Sofia was quick to abandon her Uncle’s lap and run into her father’s arms so that he could \u00a0swing her high until she was held close \u00a0against his chest.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Well now, Sofia, did you notice how thin your poor uncle Hoss has become?\u00a0 I think we should go and get him fattened up some, huh?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia nodded “Poor uncle Hoss.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke was somewhat bemused that Adam could be so calm after his encounter with Duggan. That the man could act as though nothing had happened, that danger didn\u2019t lurk everywhere.\u00a0 He trailed behind the two brothers wondering what Adam intended to do now and for \u00a0how long did he intend to stay in a town so full of men like Duggan who wouldn’t think twice about blasting his way into the hotel should he so wish.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The restaurant was not too full and Adam lowered Sofia into her seat before he pushed it closer to the table.\u00a0 Looking anxiously around the room for anyone likely to pull a gun Luke thought he was the only sensible man among them. Hoss frowned as he took his seat<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Something worrying you, Luke?”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Worrying me?\u00a0 Should be that we all oughta be worried.\u00a0 Adam hasn’t told you of his encounter with Duggan yet!” he pulled out a chair and sat down “Anyone would think this place were normal!\u00a0 It isn’t…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss frowned and looked at Adam them back again at Luke \u00a0“You’re sounding just like Joe … \u00a0 Worrying about things when he should be concentrating on enjoying his food.\u00a0 If you want to avoid indigestion you should quit worrying and git down to some serious eating.”. \u00a0 He snatched the menu from the waiters hands and scowled “And you seem to forgit, I ain’t eaten a decent meal for some while and when I’m hungry I got tetchy!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia giggled she could never tell when her Uncle Hoss was serious or funning, he always sounded like he was joking about and she gazed at him in adoration.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They ordered food and some wine, water for Sofia and although Luke was touched by the solicitous manner in which Adam cared for his daughter, he was still wondering how the man could act as though he were sitting at the International in Virginia City.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“So you met up with Duggan then?” Hoss muttered as he sliced through his steak. “Friendly, was he?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam smiled down at Sofia and then looked up at his brother “Turns out I knew his brother…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No kidding?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Served on the Ainola. \u00a0 I didn’t tell him that his brother was one of the biggest rogues on board ship, it might have prejudiced him against me.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

” Yeah, I can see that…so what else did he \u00a0have to say?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shrugged, glanced sharply over at Luke then said he got the impression Mr Duggan didn’t want them to leave because his employer wanted a certain item returned to her. Luke frowned, nodded and Hoss chewed on the steak awhile before he also nodded “So when do we leave?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam smiled down at Sofia “When do you want to leave for home, Sofia?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia leaned against him “I don’t want to stay here daddy. Its not a nice place is it?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“There you have it, gentlemen.\u00a0 We leave first thing in the morning!” \u00a0 He lowered his voice and leaned forward slightly “We need to get some sleep, its not going to be an easy ride and if we start exhausted then we’ll not make a good job of it.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Shouldn’t we be getting some thing organised … Some men..,”. Luke suggested<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss’ blue eyes widened “Men?\u00a0 What men!\u00a0 Ain’t no man here I would trust not to put a bullet in my back.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam raised his eyebrows and gave a warning glance at his brother to be more careful with what he was saying but Sofia appeared not to have noticed.\u00a0 For a while the three men talked about home, safe topics that would include Sofia after all she loved to hear that Marcy’s cat was about to have kittens again, Hannah had lost another tooth and Nathaniel had grown another inch, all said in a light hearted fashion to distract Sofia from anything that could cause her any anxiety.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With the meal finished at last Adam scooped Sofia upon one arm \u00a0and \u00a0carried her out of the restaurant. \u00a0 \u00a0They were nearly at the stairs when the manager called “Mr Cartwright”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They turned, Luke instinctively stepping in front of Adam and Sofia with his hand going to his gun but the elderly Manager, no doubt used to such reactions, merely beamed at them and held a package in his hands “Miss Katherine sent these for the little girl. \u00a0 She thinks that they’ll be useful for the journey.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss raised his eyebrows and took the package, as he did so the big doors opened and Phoebe stepped into the foyer, saw them and hurried towards them with a wide smile on her face and eyes beaming. In her hands she carried a box, which had Hoss \u00a0leaning towards it to give it a hearty sniff.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mr Cartwright, oh..goodness me, I just don’t know how to thank you, Ella is so excited with that chair…oh Miss Sofia you should see how she gets around in it even now.\u00a0 Ma can’t thank you enough.\u00a0 She wrote a letter here for you, sir.” She pushed the box into Luke’s hands in order to find the letter which she passed to Adam “She said to tell you that she’ll give the matter of leaving here some thought …well, \u00a0its all in the letter… And Miss Sofia, Annie made a batch of your favourite cookies for you.\u00a0 She said she won’t never forget you.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She stopped as though afraid she had already said too much, wiped a tear from her cheek and smiled slightly as though perhaps even that was too much<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’m not ever going back to that nasty old lady, Phoebe.” Sofia cried<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, miss, no more am I !” Phoebe exclaimed, “You will write to Ella, won’t you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With promises made along with farewells Phoebe finally left the hotel casting one last look over at the little girl who raised her hand to wave goodbye. Once the doors closed and the three men turned to wards the stairs Sofia bowed her head upon Adams shoulder and whispered “I don’t have to see that horrible lady again, will I, daddy?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, sweetheart, you won’t… Never.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Promise?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I promise.” he kissed her cheek and stroked back a curl of golden blonde hair and carried her to their room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The package Katherine had brought contained the coat, fur hat, mittens and muff that she had bought for the child she had so hoped would replace her own.\u00a0 There was also a note addressed to Luke thanking him for past friendships, and to tell him that she was planning to leave Bodie as soon as the thaw set in.\u00a0 She was going to reclaim her daughter and no one was going to stop her, “I can” she added “be as stubborn as my mother when it is necessary to be and seeing the example of Sofia’s family coming for her makes me ashamed at having been so weak for so long!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Oh how Hoss drooled over the box of goodies from Annie… There were snickerdoodles, sticky buns, crisp bread rolls and bottles of raspberry as well as strawberry cordial. Sofia pointed to a little pink iced cake and sighed “My favourite” before yawning hugely.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam looked at Luke and then at Hoss “Well, best get some sleep… We leave at dawn”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“And Duggan?” Luke queried as though determined to have the last say on the matter<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Duggan? \u00a0 We’ll deal with him when the time comes, the main thing is to get out of here with Sofia.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss nodded in agreement, slapped his brother on the arm and left for his own room, followed by Luke who proceeded to spend the next half hour checking his gun and rifle and ensuring he had adequate ammunition for the battle he was sure they would have to face.\u00a0 He went several times to the window to check for hidden shadows among the darkness \u00a0before he settled himself upon his bed.\u00a0 Even then he found sleep elusive as he tried to think of other ways in which Sofia could be spirited away back to Virginia City and home<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

………..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The knock on the door came shortly after the other two men had gone to their rooms and after checking to ensure that Sofia had not been disturbed Adam opened the door with his usual caution\u2026. slowly and his gun in his other hand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jethro Hardy slipped into the room and removed his hat as he did so.\u00a0 Glancing over his shoulder he gave the other man a grin \u201cWell, I done as you said, Mr. Cartwright. \u00a0 There\u2019s no way Duggan will be able to follow you out of town tomorrow morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam looked at the other man and then indicated a chair but Jethro declined \u201cNo, its alright, I have to get back to check on Douglas.\u00a0 Anyhow here\u2019s to fill you in on some of the details\u2026 my cousin Gabe got enlisted by Duggan along with some other men to keep tracks of you. \u00a0 Seems they didn\u2019t have much of a plan except to watch the hotel which job they gave to Gabe.\u00a0 Well, he don\u2019t mind standing around so much really but decided not to hang around too long seeing how cold it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam narrowed his eyes, obviously good deeds were rare in the town and needed to be discussed in great detail, but Jethro was a man not inclined to hurry over much anyway so took a deep breath and plunged on \u201cDuggan likes his drink, so it didn\u2019t take long to get him so drunk he couldn\u2019t stand up straight.\u00a0 Right now he\u2019s flat on his back nursing a bottle of whiskey which he\u2019ll empty by morning.\u00a0 Then he\u2019ll have a hangover that\u2019ll last him until next winter.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about his so called army? \u00a0 Is there any one capable of carrying out the job Duggan was given?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPah, Duggan didn\u2019t trust anyone with details although I guess the whole town knows Mrs Royale don\u2019t want you leaving town with the girl. \u00a0 Fact is no one wants to get involved – well – perhaps some would but we done dealt with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou have?\u201d Adam grimaced and then smiled \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOne of \u2018em broke his leg falling over something, probably his own feet he was that drunk and it is icy outside. \u00a0 Then another \u2026.well, he always liked Gertrude, the new saloon girl so he\u2019s busy with her right now if you know what I mean.\u00a0 He won\u2019t be wanting to go no place tomorrow. \u00a0 Some got easily talked out of it because they plain hate Duggan anyway and are thinking of how to turn him in and claim the bounty without anyone turning them in as well.\u00a0 Other than that the others are too stupid to do anything of their own accord, they need a leader to tell \u2018em what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam laughed quietly, Jethro\u2019s gleeful countenance proof enough that the task allocated to him had been quite happily complied with. \u00a0 \u201cJethro, when your brother is fit and well why on earth don\u2019t you move on out of here?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jethro shrugged \u201cIf every decent person up and left, Mr Cartwright, there wouldn\u2019t be much of a town here, would there? \u00a0 If we don\u2019t stay and do honest work then everything will fall apart. \u00a0 There\u2019s gold in that there mountain and the Standard Company* reckons there\u2019ll be enough bullion coming out of it *to make people sit up and take notice of this town.\u00a0 Sides, I got my eye on a girl here and \u2026\u201d he blushed a little and gave a slight shrug of the shoulders \u201cwhen I get myself established I\u2019d like to think we could settle down.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded and extended his hand to be shaken \u201cThank you, Jethro, I wish you well.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMy pleasure, sir. \u00a0 I\u2019ll keep an eye on things until you\u2019re well out of here.\u00a0 May not be able to keep Duggan away too long, I reckon once he\u2019s recovered himself he\u2019ll be angrier than a hornet and come on after you hell bent on getting ya.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo doubt.\u201d \u00a0Adam agreed \u201cBut at least you\u2019ve helped give us a head start, and if all goes well we should be well on our way home by the time he gets on our trail.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jethro shook Adams hand once again and with a rather sheepish look on his face left the room, as he stood on the landing he heard the bolt slide over and the key turn in the lock. He replaced his hat like a man with a lot on his mind before making his way down the stairs and back out into the bitter cold.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 60<\/p>\n

Hoss and Luke were waiting outside Adams room before the \u00a0dawn. It was bitterly cold and both men were already blowing on their hands and stamping their feet.\u00a0 Adam opened the door to them and complained that they sounded like a herd of elephants and ushered them in, where they found Sofia, \u00a0blinking like a little owl, as she stood beside the crumpled bed waiting for her father to finish preparing her for the journey<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She managed a smile at her two Uncles although she was swaying on her feet, half asleep, and the chill of the day only just beginning to rob her of the cosy warmth from the bed.\u00a0 Adam put his hand on her shoulder to \u00a0steady her and then picked her up and set her down on his lap.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In silence the other men gathered up various items needed for the journey while Adam buttoned up Sofia’s coat, checked that her boots were fastened, her little fur hat and muff in place and then passed her to Hoss.\u00a0 After he had pulled on his heavy coat and muffler, he yanked the quilt from the bed and wrapped his daughter in it.\u00a0 By the time they were at the half landing Sofia was asleep, her head bobbing up and down upon Hoss’ shoulder.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke was surprised to see the Manager standing in the foyer as though in expectation of them.\u00a0 He was seated at the counter but upon seeing them jumped to his feet and reached for something which was hidden from view causing Luke to anxiously put his hand to his gun.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cEverything\u2019s ready, sir.\u201c \u00a0the elderly man said, addressing his words to Adam and gesturing to the back door while at the same time he thrust a package into Luke’s hand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cA safe journey, Captain.” \u00a0he whispered conspiratorially and \u00a0shook Adam by the hand as he wished him well, then he slapped Luke on the arm and winked, as he did with Hoss before ushering \u00a0them through the door, \u00a0He hovered there for a moment or two and then the door was closed carefully behind them.\u00a0 Luke shivered as he heard the sound of the bolts being drawn across. \u00a0 It seemed to him as though this flight from Bodie was both clandestine and dangerous, and he shivered again the cold air from outside invaded the corridor to envelop them all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Did you know him?” Luke asked as they made their way down through a corridor to the yard outside \u201cI mean, from before sometime ?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, but he’s \u00a0Cape Hornier..” Adam muttered as his warm breath plumed into the cold air.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke shook his head slightly, that meant nothing to him at all but he followed along as they walked at a fast pace until they were in the yard .\u00a0 A young man warmly muffled against the cold beckoned and led them \u00a0to where their horses were waiting beside a two seater buggy which had runners attached to its undercarriage in place of its wheels.\u00a0 Two strong looking horses were harnessed to the vehicle and a third horse, Luke presumed it was Adams original mount, was on a leading rein in the ostlers hands.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was first to board the vehicle and then took Sofia from Hoss into his arms in order to settle her next to him. Swaddled in the quilt she looked warm and pink cheeked, she briefly opened her eyes to look up at him and dozily whispered “Home, daddy?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Home, sweetheart.” he tweaked her nose and then pulled the quilt up to cover her face in order to protect her from the chill early morning air. The packages, consisting of Annie’s provisions and the food that was contained in the managers parcel, were carefully placed at his feet.\u00a0 He then pulled the buggy\u2019s apron up and fixed it to the hood, this would successfully protect Sofia from the worst of the weather, and himself to some degree.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke felt a slight twinge of guilt at the realisation that while he had been wondering about Adams lack of doing anything, and he himself doing very little, \u00a0the man had actually been very busy in providing for their departure.\u00a0 Even the buggy was a strong sturdy modern vehicle and the runners were perfect for travelling through the snow as transport on \u00a0 wheels would constantly \u00a0be slowing down as they got clogged up by the snow and ice.\u00a0 It would have meant stopping in order to kick the wheels \u00a0free and clear again, thus losing valuable time.\u00a0 Even so their progress depended a lot on the strength and stamina of their horses.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They were ready. \u00a0 They were leaving Bodie behind them.\u00a0 The runners slid over the ice packed snow with a swishing sound as the blades skimmed over \u00a0the surface of the road..\u00a0 Here and there could be seen a light gleaming in the window of a house denoting that at least one of \u00a0the occupants was up and preparing for the new day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nothing and no one impeded their flight<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2026……<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Duggan stirred slowly and groaned as first one limb \u00a0and another twitched and sent spasms of prickly pain through his body.\u00a0 Somewhere in the far recesses of his memory he knew he had to be doing something important but the thought flickered through a fog of alcoholic infused brain matter and slowly drifted into nothingness.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He could only think of one thing at a time and his main concern at that moment was the pain in his head, the aching of his remaining teeth, the pins and needles that were like millions of soldier ants biting into him …and his stomach.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His stomach suddenly took prominence over anything and everything else as he rolled from the bed and vomited over the floor.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After that he felt marginally better and fell asleep where he had fallen .<\/p>\n

\u2026……<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine Royale stood in the pink room and gazed around her.\u00a0 This was the room her own child should have had as her own, \u00a0instead of living in cramped quarters in a small house in Warsop.\u00a0 This is where Alice would have played and where she, Katherine, would have spent her time with her, reading her bedtime stories, singing to her and nursing her through any childhood illness.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But instead all she had was a memory of someone else’s child who had \u00a0spent her confused days there trying to be someone she wasn’t because Rosemarie Royale had chosen it so.\u00a0 Just as years previously she had decided that the baby girl Katherine had delivered would be handed immediately to her daughter, Emily. \u00a0 By the time Katherine had recovered from her confinement James Kincaid had been ordered to take his wife and the child \u00a0far away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She stooped to pick up a ribbon from the floor and walked to the window to look up and over the skyline of the town laid out before her, bathed now in the apologetic beams of a new days sun. \u00a0 \u00a0The cold of the morning made Katherine shiver and pull her shawl closer around her shoulders. \u00a0 She turned to look again at the room, so quiet, so empty of life now.\u00a0 As she stared at the toy wooden house with its painted doors and window it occurred to Katherine that her mother had inflicted to much damage for too long.\u00a0 As far back as she could remember Rosemarie Royale had dictated on what was to be done, and how it was to be accomplished, \u00a0and with an intake of breath Katherine realised that she had just allowed everything to happen, just like that, just sat and done nothing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It couldn\u2019t continue, not now, there were new longings, new desires in her heart and she didn\u2019t want to live a life with a woman who had control over so many lives.\u00a0 She clutched the ribbon in her hand tightly against her heart, as though in some way during the course of these past days she had woken from a stupor into which she had descended when her baby had been taken from her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

All that time that had passed by and she had walked through the days, the weeks as though in a dream of \u2018Yes, mother\u2019 \u00a0\u2018No, mother\u2019 \u00a0and so much had happened, so many things that should never have happened.\u00a0 She sat now by the bed and concentrated hard on some events that had taken place during this somnolent period of time and as certain things clicked into place she knew that now was the time to confront the woman with her suspicions. \u00a0 Could she do it though? \u00a0 Could she actually accuse her mother of \u00a0killing her own husband, Katherine\u2018s father?. \u00a0 It would take courage and she hesitated a moment at what she planned to do, after all, \u00a0 many years had passed with her being totally subservient to her mother’s will. It was hard to cast off the shackles that crippled one mentally, emotionally.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She made her way hastily from the room, \u00a0to hesitate now would cause her to lose courage and she couldn’t afford to do that, not now that she had reached a decision.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On the half landing she heard the sound of voices, her mother’s was loudest and the other, a man\u2019s voice sounded dull and heavy.\u00a0 Slowing her pace she crept down the remaining stairs and leaned closer to the wall in order to hear more.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“They must have left before dawn.\u00a0 They can’t have gone far, it’ll take no time at all to catch them.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“But,” Rosemarie’s voice was shrill “if you had had your wits about you they wouldn’t have had a chance of leaving.\u00a0 Why not just admit the fact that you were drunk, \u00a0Mr Duggan. Too drunk to carry out a simple task of getting a child away from Cartwright.\u00a0 Are you so stupid as to think I wouldn’t have known?”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was a pause and Katherine could imagine her mother pacing the floor, wringing her hands as she thought of what next should be done<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“How many men do you have?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Six.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Do you think that will be enough?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Quite enough, I could get more but that will take time, and more money.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Time’s too precious, take the six men and get out of here.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From her position on the stairs Katherine watched the broad shouldered man stride out of the room, grab at his hat which had been left on a settle in the hall and leave the house.\u00a0 The slamming of the door made the glass in the chandelier shimmer and tinkle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She stepped into the room but before she could utter a word her mother turned, saw her and cried “That stupid fool…do you know what he did?\u00a0 He let Cartwright leave town with the girl.\u00a0 Can you believe that? \u00a0 Why am I always surrounded by fools?\u00a0 Absolute fools… ”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Is that what you thought of father? \u00a0 Did you think him a fool to?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie\u2019s eyes blinked, her face didn\u2019t change apart from her eyes which narrowed, darkened as she looked at her daughter. \u00a0 Then she shook her head as though the change she saw in Katherine was purely imagination, she even smiled as she exclaimed<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What? \u00a0 For goodness sake, Katherine, I’m talking about a totally different subject here? \u00a0 What does your father have to do with it?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Did you think Clifton stupid too?\u00a0 Was that why you had him killed?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie drew herself \u00a0to her full height, she was a tall woman anyway but now she \u00a0seemed to have added inches and to tower over the other woman.\u00a0 Such a stance would have intimidated the younger woman at one time, left her meek, caused her to apologise profusely but Katherine was no longer so easily cowed, she was too full of anger now to be fearful of this woman again. They glared at each other across the room, neither prepared to give way to the other while their hearts beat against their ribs and their eyes hardened and gleamed with ill concealed hatred.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What’s this all about, Katherine?\u00a0 Why are you bringing all this up now? \u00a0 Has that Luke Dent turned your head with his moralising?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No” Katherine shook her head “No, it was having the child here, realising how much I wanted to have my own child to love and the reason I couldn’t was because of you.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She stepped forward a few paces while a puzzled expression crossed her face “Why, mother, why are you so determined to get Sofia back? \u00a0 She doesn’t belong \u00a0here with us?\u00a0 She has a family who love her, a father who sought her out and ,..”. She shook her “and yet you persist in hounding them down,”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I have my reasons” Rosemarie scowled and her hands clenched into fists, her mouth tightened across her teeth.\u00a0 She was a beautiful woman, had always been so, but at that moment Katherine saw no beauty, only a selfish, cold hearted person with no compassion, no feeling for anyone else existent in her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Clifton wanted you to hand her back, didn’t he?\u00a0 Is that why you had him killed?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie shrugged and walked slowly to the window that overlooked a small yard, “He was weak, I was forever having to direct his attention to \u00a0 matters, organise things myself. Your father was the same, always seeing the good and the potential in everything.\u00a0 He thought I was cruel giving Alice to Emily. I had to remind him repeatedly that it was the best thing for everyone concerned …you could get on with your life without bringing shame on us, \u00a0Emily would have a child to love, the child would be safe …but, no, he wouldn’t listen”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“So you killed him? \u00a0 Or was that Clifton? Did he do it for you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie sighed as though the matter was really hardly worth bothering with, she turned to face her daughter \u00a0“Men can become quite tiresome after a while, Katherine, take it from me, once they become \u00a0too boring the best thing is to get rid of them. They’re all alike in the long run, always making excuses not to do something.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou killed Papa, didn\u2019t \u00a0you?\u201d \u00a0Katherine whispered, \u201cDidn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rosemarie didn\u2019t answer but turned again to look out of the window, it was only when she heard the rustle of Katherine\u2019s skirts and footsteps upon the stairs that she turned, realised her daughter had gone \u201c Where are you going?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Her voice rose as she hurried from the room, stood at the foot of the stairs and watched Katherine with her skirt gathered in her hands for her feet to take the stairs more swiftly “Where are you going? Come back here \u00a0this moment”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katherine barely glanced back at her mother but continued on to Rosemarie’s private room. \u00a0 For years she had watched as her mother had written down details of the days events in slim journals, each journal marked with the year, there would be rows of them, dozens of them but she knew, sensed, that everything she needed to know would be found in the one of the slim volumes she had watched her mother write in so often during her life.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As she pulled at the locked drawers of a bureau she heard her mother coming up the stairs.\u00a0 Hysteria was building up inside her, choking her, bringing tears to her eyes.\u00a0 She heard her mother screaming at her to leave well alone…or face the consequences. Everything on the bureau rattled as she pulled and tugged to get the drawer open and then quite suddenly Rosemarie ‘s fingers tightened around her wrist and forced her hand away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou did, didn\u2019t you? \u00a0 You killed Papa?\u201d she was gasping out the words, ashamed of the tears filling her eyes and blurring her mothers features \u201cDid you hate \u00a0him so much?\u00a0 He was such a good man\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe was weak.\u00a0 Stupid.\u00a0 Don\u2019t you understand, Katherine?\u00a0 In a town like this you can\u2019t be weak.\u00a0 You have to be strong.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut you killed my papa \u2026\u201d \u00a0it was a wail, an awful sounding wail of distress and heart ache. \u00a0 All those years ago when she lived in that dazed half awake half asleep time she had never felt the grief of her fathers loss so acutely. It were as though the loss of her child had taken away every emotion from her heart but now it poured in, filled up her whole being, choked her words in her throat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cStupid, stupid girl\u2026\u201d Rosemarie screamed and raised her hand to strike her daughter as hard as she could, hard enough to obliterate her if that were possible.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The tussle didn’t take long, both women were hysterical and screaming, both were evenly matched in strength and determination to better the other. \u00a0 It was Rosemarie’s misfortune to fall back upon the landing, to momentarily loosen her hold on Katherine. \u00a0 The heel of her shoe \u00a0snapped, she staggered back, reached out for a fresh hand hold but found none.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She fell without a word, without even a gasp.\u00a0 Her flailing hand scrabbled for a hand hold, but only her nails scratched along the surface of the wall as she continued her fall down the stairs. \u00a0 Katherine watched as her mother rolled and tumbled until she reached the hard marble floor below.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When Rosemary had reached the bottom of that stairway she didn’t move again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Duggan had been paid half of his money but whatever the outcome of the chase he would never receive the other half.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The telegraph clerk was more than relieved to discover that the messages he had piled on his desk could, at last, \u00a0be sent.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So he started with the one on top of the pile…addressed to Olivia Cartwright at the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 61<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The landscape around them was dazzling in its whiteness; its stark barren snow covered vastness was unbroken by any tree or shrub.\u00a0 It were as though looking out upon its own nakedness as it shimmered raw and undulating, miles of ice and snow surrounding them from every side.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A low keening sound drifted and eddied about them as though the gliding of the runners over the harsh stark snow, their breathing and that of their horses, could barely tolerated rivals in the making of noise in such a rarefied location.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“It’s as though we are ghosts, fleeing from some supernatural presence that we must avoid or die as a result.” thought Luke as he pulled his scarf higher in order to breathe \u00a0more easily.<\/p>\n

The cold made the inside of their noses burn and then hurt with a dull constant ache that reached across their brows and blurred their vision.\u00a0 Luke could see Hoss rubbing at his face and knew the big man was suffering from the intensity of a temperature that had plummeted over the course of their journey.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After a while Hoss raised his arm and brought his horse to a standstill.\u00a0 Both he and the animal were breathing heavily, their gasps loud to the ears of the \u00a0other men.\u00a0 Luke realised he was the same, there was a tightness across his chest.\u00a0 The extreme cold was coupled with the fact that the higher elevation made the air thinner. \u00a0 It was exhausting.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss dismounted and plunged into deep snow, after checking his horse to ensure its legs were still strong and its muzzle and nostrils free from ice and snow he forced his way to the buggy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“How far do you reckon we’ve come?” he asked and looked around at the terrible white bleakness surrounding them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Still a long way to go yet, Hoss.”. Adam sighed which was not the answer to his brother’s question although Hoss accepted it as such, he unclipped the apron so that he could get down and stretch his legs lifting the parcel of food down with him “Here, have something while we rest up a moment.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke had joined them now, he took some of the food and looked over at Sofia who was snug in the quilt and nibbling at the pink cake Annie had made.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“How is she?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Doing well,” Adam replied and then turned to look up at the sun and the gathering clouds. \u00a0 From his pocket he withdrew his compass and began to check out his bearings, as he did so Hoss nudged his arm and nodded over to the horizon which was hazed over with the mists of an approaching snow storm.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I don’t like the look of that.” He muttered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“We should avoid the worst of it,” Adam replied “We have to veer south east”. he pointed to the direction they were to take “Eat some and then do your business, we need to get on before it hits us. \u00a0 \u00a0Luke, are you alright?\u00a0 Do you want to take a shift in the buggy, it does give some protection from the weather, not much, but some.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke nodded “I’m alright just now, thanks.\u00a0 Perhaps next time”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded and made the same offer to Hoss who shook his head, then scooped up a handful of snow and swallowed it down “This is sure some place, ain’t it? \u00a0 Not even a danged tree or rock to hide and do your business in any privacy.” He wrinkled his nose as though disgusted \u00a0at such primitive conditions but called out a cheery hello to Sofia as he passed the buggy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“At least we can see anyone who may be coming after us.” Luke said as he looked back at their tracks which had mangled the pristine whiteness behind them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“We have a good start on them,”Adam agreed and swallowed the bread he had been chewing, then, like Hoss \u00a0earlier he scooped some snow with which he filled his mouth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“He was pretty generous that old guy who ran the hotel.\u00a0 What did you mean when you said he was a Cape Hornier?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded as though only now realising that not everyone understood seamans terminology.\u00a0 After looking over at the horizon to check on the speed of the approaching storm he explained that he recognised that the manager had been at sea and during conversation had discovered that he had sailed around the Horn which entitled him to several ‘privileges’, but he didn’t tell Luke what they were although he grinned and his eyes twinkled as he mentioned it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“And have you sailed around the Horn?” Luke now asked and wasn’t surprised when Adam nodded, said he had several times, both ways.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As he made his way to relieve himself he couldn’t help but mumble \u00a0beneath his breath “But of course you did I should have known!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once everyone was comfortable and Sofia had been refreshed with her cake and some of the cordial, the little convoy continued on their way.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sky was so blue that the snow crystals reflected its blueness, but that didn’t last long as the snow \u00a0cloud \u00a0slowly eclipsed the sun shrouding everything in eerie greyness and mist before the snow eventually began to fall.<\/p>\n

\u2026..\u2026………..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Doctor Lovell stepped away from the body of the late unlamented Rosemarie Royale and nodded ponderously before turning to the undertaker and several others who had succeeded in sneaking in for a peek at the messy sight of the bloodied corpse at the bottom of the stairs<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Well, you can take her away, Biggins.\u00a0 Straightforward case, no need for any Inquiry … My opinion, substantiated by Miss Royales own statement is that she got upstairs, the heel of her shoe broke, she lost her grip and fell. Quite conclusive. Quite straightforward.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Biggins and the surrounding few nodded, Lovell clicked his fingers and some men came forward to remove the body.\u00a0 The broken shoe slipped from her foot as they did so and their seemed a collective sigh of relief as though, with their own eyes they saw the proof of the doctors verdict on cause of death. \u00a0 Of course landing on a marble floor from that height didn’t help, and she could have been pushed, who was to know? \u00a0 There were plenty enough in town would have gladly carried out the deed.\u00a0 There were plenty in town now breathing a sigh of relief at the knowledge of her passing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the drawing room Katherine shivered by the fire as she thought over her future.\u00a0 Like a wide golden pathway lined with apple blossom laden trees it stretched out before her.\u00a0 All she had to do was put her foot on the path and follow where it led her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phoebe was by her side, dear Phoebe, the first person she had ran to for help and whose family had rallied round so comfortingly.\u00a0 She had noticed Ella in the wheelchair, and wondered why it was that she had never thought to be so kind as to provide one all those years before … She should have done, and felt ashamed at the thought that she had not.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phoebe had been telling her of their future plans, of how she was getting married eventually to a gentleman called Jethro Hardy, and that her mother and sister were going to move to Virginia City because Mr Cartwright knew a doctor there who could help Ella.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She smiled as Phoebe handed her a cup of soothing tea, it was all coming together so well.\u00a0 The future, set out all before them.\u00a0 It was sure to be wonderful !<\/p>\n

\u2026…….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sometimes as she lay in bed the groaning \u00a0and howling of the wind around the house and outbuildings seemed to be doing all the groaning and howling that she felt knotted up inside herself.\u00a0 Why \u00a0waste energy oneself when the wind did it so effortlessly and loudly<\/p>\n

as it raged about and flung the snow at the windows and heaped it around the doors.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia dressed herself with cold fingers for there was no fire in the room, she had been too tired to attend to it before retiring to bed.\u00a0 She drew aside the drapes and a wintry sun beamed down upon her as though it was glad to start the new day, even if somewhat sluggishly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There were times when fear for her husband and daughter overwhelmed her and it was then she would read through his letters or go to his study to check the atlas, spin the globe, and trace with her finger all the journeys he had undertaken, all the dangers of storms at sea, men seeking him in order to kill him and then she would pray that the God who had delivered him safely home then, would deliver him as safely again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cheng Ho Lee was preparing the morning meal and smiled encouragingly over at her “No snow today” he pointed to the clear blue sky and nodded, it was good he thought that there was no more snow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“That’s two days without snow, perhaps the pass will clear.”she replied as she carried a still drowsy Nathaniel to the table.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cheng nodded, sloe black eyes twinkled and he resumed his food preparation as she settled Nathaniel into his high chair. The infant was still sleepy and sat compliantly in the chair with his thumb in his mouth. \u00a0 He turned with interest though when the door opened and Reuben came in and smiled over at his little brother who beamed a dimpled smile in response.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I got the kindling in, Ma, and stacked the logs like Pa showed \u00a0me how, and I’m really hungry now.\u00a0 It sure is cold out there.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cheng Ho Lee nodded the thin braid of hair bounced down his back as he did so and Nathaniel stretched out a lazy hand to grab at it. \u00a0“I make man size breakfast for hard working boy.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben smiled over at his mother as his eyes sought her approval and when she dropped a kiss on the top of his head as she passed behind him on her way to the dresser he felt a tingle of pride run through him. If Ma was pleased she would tell Pa, then Pa would know that his son had done well, and could be trusted.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I said a really big prayer last night, Ma, I told God to make sure Pa and Sofia came home soon as well as Granpa, and Uncle Hoss, Uncle Joe and Uncle Luke.”. his anxious eyes turned towards her again “They’ll be home soon, you’ll see.” he grinned up at Cheng as the plate of food was out before him “It was such a big prayer I fell asleep in the middle of saying it but I reckon God won’t mind that, will he?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I think he’ll understand, \u00a0now eat your breakfast.\u00a0 Nathaniel, naughty boy, what are you doing?”. she scolded but with a smile so that the little boy clapped his hands and the bowl of oatmeal slipped from the table and onto the floor.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I think he wants a mans breakfast like me, Ma.” Reuben chuckled but his mother shook her head and said that he had worked hard and earned it but that little scamp had done nothing at all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But they all played their part in pretending life was going on fairly normally. \u00a0 Even little Nathaniel who was totally \u00a0innocent and ignorant of events did his bit just by being such entertainment and keeping them smiling at his antics.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As she sat by his side to make sure he ate his food she wondered how Mary Ann and Hester were managing without their men, and,, \u00a0of course, there was Marcy without her dear Luke, and so far away from them all\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026……<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Marcy Dent had milked the cow and put down some feed for her, fed the chickens and ensured the stables were clean fresh water in troughs along with hay and oats.\u00a0 The sky was clear blue and frost rimed the rooftops of the house and stables making the snow underfoot crisp and squeaky beneath her feet..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She felt Luke’s absence keenly but being busy was the best anecdote to feeling lonesome that she knew.\u00a0 As she counted the days she was more and more convinced that it wouldn’t be long before he came home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She entered the house with the pail of milk which she set down in the pantry, after washing her hands she prepared her morning meal and then sat by the fire to eat it with a cup of coffee . \u00a0 She ate slowly as she lingered over memories of when she had arrived at the house, then there had been old Mrs Abigail Phillips, slowly losing what was left of her mind. Miss Olivia of \u00a0course and the two little ones. It had been a noisy happy home.<\/p>\n

Perhaps, soon, it would be again \u00a0and a secret smile played about the corners of her mouth as she thought of the surprise she had to tell him.\u00a0 She would wait and let him settle into the home after such a long journey.\u00a0 Then she would make him his favourite meal after which she would say, well, no, she would tease him just a little, for a short while.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Perhaps he would guess…but then again perhaps not.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She sighed and got to her feet.\u00a0 There was work to be done.<\/p>\n

\u2026……<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the town Eddy received the cabled messages and slipped them into the relevant envelopes.\u00a0 When the door opened and closed he was not surprised to see Daniel deQuille standing there as usual the first customer of the day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Just the one for you, Mr deQuille” he smiled and passed the envelope to him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“About time to; \u00a0send these off for me, Eddy, as soon as possible.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Eddy accepted the scrawled notes and frowned, obviously the newspaper man was determined to get replies from all his contacts at some time or another even though most had retained a steely silence on the various matters relating to Commodore Cartwright.\u00a0 He put them to one side and leaned his elbows on the counter<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Do you know if the pass is clear yet?\u00a0 There’s mail here for the Ponderosa.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I believe it is.”. Daniel muttered while he kept his eyes fixed in the cable he was reading.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The door reopened and Candy entered, the two men nodded in acknowledgement of one another and as Dan headed for the door he heard Eddy \u00a0telling the sheriff that he had received news from Adam Cartwright. \u00a0 They were on the way home with the child.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Olivia will be more than pleased to know that,” Candy said in an undertone, after all it would never do for the public to know he had condoned a felony as disclosing the contents \u00a0of mail could be considered such … But this was such good news, and he was the sheriff after all. “A pity I’m busy today. Let’s hope someone manages to get into town soon, Olivia really needs to get this news quickly.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel paused with his fingers in the door handle, he turned and cleared his throat “Did you mention Olivia ? Anything I can do to help?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Eddy and Candy exchanged a look, it was Candy who answered that yes, a cable for Olivia.\u00a0 Dan nodded, “If you would like to entrust me with it? \u00a0 I could try to get it to her.\u00a0 Important is it?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The clerk nodded while Candy frowned and shuffled his feet<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dan smiled “In that case I’ll definitely take it in for her.\u00a0 I can check out the pass for myself as well … Who knows I could get a scoop..” \u00a0he grinned, his teeth gleamed through his beard, and he pocketed the cable Eddy handed over with a feeling of glee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Being in the right place at the right time was the essence if being a good newspaperman, and this was a golden opportunity to return that journal.\u00a0 His own cable had been disappointing as it informed him that everything he was enquiring about appeared to have been put into the classified category making it inaccessible ‘without funding’ which indicated money was needed to grease palms.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Any other mail for the Ponderosa? \u00a0 I might as well take it all while risking my \u00a0neck for one cablegram”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Eddy nodded, removed from various pigeon holes the mail for the Ponderosa and put it into a U.S mail pouch which he then handed over. \u00a0 Candy watched with a niggle of misgiving. \u00a0 The journalist nodded, bade them farewell and left the building whistling a<\/p>\n

jaunty tune that made the other two men look at one another with raised eyebrows.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel didn’t care, he sauntered along thinking what a wonderful thing ‘chance’ happened to be and how one day, he would write a story about it.\u00a0 For the present an urgent need of his own had been answered, now to take advantage of it!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 62<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cheng Ho Lee opened to the rather authoritive rapping on the door and stepped back a pace or two upon seeing the well wrapped but dapper figure of Daniel deQuille standing on the porch with a rather vague smile on his whiskery features.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Good morning, I’m presuming your mistress is home only ..” He held the mail bag aloft, swinging it by its handle “I elected to be mail man today.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cheng made no comment but merely stepped to one side to admit the man who removed his hat and coat upon entry and then followed him into the house.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia was sitting at the table with her son, Reuben, and from all appearances was coaching him on some math.\u00a0 It was obvious that inaccessibility to school didn’t mean lessons were to be ignored and like her husband, Olivia took her childrens education seriously..\u00a0 From Reubens look of concentration he was tackling a rather difficult problem although when he caught sight of Daniel he stopped chewing his pencil and removed it from his mouth with a look of astonishment on his face,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia stood up immediately to welcome her guest, catching Cheng’s eye and giving the slightest of nods to indicate that refreshments would be necessary. Daniel watched his departure with a wry smile before looking at the Mistress of the house, he gave a slight mimicry of a bow before speaking.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Good morning, Mrs Cartwright.\u00a0 As you can see the pass is just about clear and I have delivered your mail.” he flourished the mail bag once more and then placed his hand in to the inner pocket of his jacket, having removed his heavy coat in the porch upon entering the building. “And I hope … Some good news for you”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He held out the cable and was witness to a number of expressions that flitted across her face, he noticed how her colour faded, rushed back to suffuse her cheeks with colour before settling back to normal apart from a pleasing blush on her cheeks..\u00a0 Reuben had risen to his feet also and stood by her side, his hand resting upon her arm as though to remind her that he was there whether the cable contained good news or bad.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You are very kind, Mr deQuille,” she said in as calm a voice as possible “So the pass is clear now?\u00a0 Well, that’s good news.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Just about clear, Mrs Cartwright, had I not known how important this was to you I assure you I would have turned back several times, not having the same -er – stamina as your husband.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Then I thank you again, that’s very kind.\u00a0 Do please sit down Cheng will bring some coffee soon. \u00a0 You must be cold… Do take the chair by the fire.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He inclined his head in acceptance of her invitation and took the seat nearest the fire while watching her from the corner of his eye and trying not to be too obvious about doing so.\u00a0 She had turned her back upon him, \u00a0however, in order to read her cable message in some privacy and not expose her feelings too obviously to the journalist.\u00a0 He heard the tearing open of \u00a0the envelope and the rustle of paper. \u00a0 Only seconds later a gasp, a murmur of words and Reuben’s voice saying “I told you, didn’t I say?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cheng came in with a laden tray and it was to him that Olivia said “Adam has Sofia, they are on the way home now.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was so much joy and relief in her voice that Daniel had to stand up again and when she turned with a beaming countenance and tears sparkling in her eyes he stepped forward to shake her hands and all the time saying “Wonderful, wonderful news, Mrs Cartwright.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She had to turn her head away for a moment to compose herself and quickly wipe the tears away \u00a0before, blinking rather rapidly, she turned back \u00a0to him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’m so grateful to you for bringing this, you can’t imagine what it means to us.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Dear lady, it was just a case of being in the right place at the right time.\u00a0 I was in the telegraph depot and heard Eddy say he had mail and a cable for you, \u00a0the sheriff would have brought it himself but he has duties in town as you know.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded with a fixed smile on her face all the while he continued talking, they sat down by the fire and she provided coffee looking like she was caught up in a dream, her mind so in a whirl that she could barely put two sentences together.\u00a0 Finally she apologised and hoped he wasn’t offended if she appeared a bad hostess.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“We’ve waited so long to hear from them, to know they’re safe ..I mean, I know they have a long journey yet but at least they are all together, and with Sofia.\u00a0 Oh, I must let Hester and Mary Ann know…” She paused, shook her head and offered him a smile of such sweet gentleness that he envied Adam Cartwright from the bottom of his heart.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He stood up, having placed his empty cup and saucer back on the tray “Well, I must not delay you further. Thank you for your hospitality.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Its very little considering what you have done for us today.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She followed him from the chair and was surprised when he stopped and turned . “I hope you don’t mind, Mrs Cartwright, if I just return something I borrowed from Adam … From his study.\u00a0 I’ll just put it on his desk before leaving.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Oh I can do that for you…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, don’t let me cause you any further delay, you have other mail and as it is, it won’t take \u00a0any time at all as I know where the book goes ..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Well, if you insist, thank you again, so very much.”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It took but a moment for him to slip into the study and push one journal onto the shelf, he paused at the sound behind him and saw Cheng standing at the door way his eyes narrowed with suspicion,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’m just returning something” he said \u00a0and after a nod of the head hurried from the room.<\/p>\n

As it was Chen’s intentions were to assist the man into the heavy fur coat he had earlier set aside, so after struggling back into it \u00a0Daniel stomped off back to his vehicle. Partly relieved that one journal had been replaced and partly angry at the fact that he had been thwarted in getting another.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the house Olivia sorted through the mail, taking whatever was addressed for her husband and herself, while the rest was returned to the bag. \u00a0“We’ll go in the sledge, Hester will be so surprised at seeing us.\u00a0 We can go up to Mary Ann’s afterwards..” \u00a0She clasped her hands together, then hugged Reuben and kissed his rosy cheeks.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’ll go and get it all ready, Mom.” Reuben shouted and with a whoop ran to the porch to pull on his thick coat and boots<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Within less than 15 minutes they were all bundled up and heading to the Ponderosa ranch house, Olivia and Reuben laughing and singing snatches of song while Nathaniel looked around him wide eyed in surprise at having been snatched from warm cosiness to cold whiteness while his mother and brother seemed …well ..not quite what he was used to!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ezra meanwhile was not quite so happy but took his orders and considered them as a form of penance for his previous errors. \u00a0 Bundled up against the cold he was heading for the Double D with a letter to Marcy to tell her that Luke was on his way home.<\/p>\n

\u2026……….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clem Foster observed his boss anxiously as he watched Candy prowl around the office, rubbing his chin and going out to look up at the sky and then at the road as it stretched clear to the horizon all the way to the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Finally he could stand it no longer and strode out to join Candy in staring at the sky and road before saying in a firm voice “Why don’t you go and check for yourself, Candy. \u00a0 It could start snowing anytime again and you’ll never know if Mr deQuille got there safely or not. \u00a0 Could be, if it snows he could be trapped in a snow drift and we won\u2019t find him till the big thaw sets in.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy glanced at his deputy as though the man were mad but Clem just kept his eyes fixed on the sky as though there were clouds amassing up there for \u00a0the sole purpose of preventing the newspaperman from ever returning to town.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’ve things that have to be done in town, Clem.” Candy muttered “And there’s the report on the McAllister case to be written up before the Judge demands them on his desk tomorrow.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Some would say it were your civic duty to make sure that Mr DeQuille got back safely.” \u00a0Clem shrugged “but you’re the boss, you do what you think best.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clem turned back into the office then, whistling innocently.\u00a0 He knew how Candy had felt about that cable being delivered by deQuille, such news should have been delivered by a friend not a newspaperman looking for a scoop. \u00a0 But at the same time Candy was right, his duties were to the town and folk would be quick to cast him out if they knew their sheriff gave the women on the Ponderosa more consideration than themselves.\u00a0 And that report needed to be written…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“He is late getting back …” Candy said as he entered the office “I should never have let him go.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clem nodded “I can make a start on that report …after all Mr deQuille is an important man in these parts.”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He leaned back in his chair and began to sift through the latest batch of Wanted posters and didn’t look up until the door had closed with a thud behind the sheriff who was hastily pulling on his fur collared long coat in order to face the weather out of town.<\/p>\n

…….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester was delighted to see her sister in law and the children as the sledge came to an abrupt halt in the yard.\u00a0 She had just collected an armful of logs for the stove and dropped several before hugging them closer to ensure she didn\u2019t drop any more.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Hester, Hester. ..\u201c Olivia pulled the cable from the safety of her glove and waved it above her head “A cable from Adam, \u00a0they have Sofia safe and are on their way home,”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“All of them?\u00a0 Are they all safe?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia nodded “I shall go on up to tell Mary Ann, will you look after the boys for me? \u00a0 I sent Ezra to tell Marcy.\u00a0 Mary Ann will be so pleased to know they are all safe.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“And coming home!\u00a0 Oh, thank goodness.”. Hester’s eyes danced and her face was illuminated by her smile \u00a0“Mary Ann will be so happy. \u00a0 Bring her down, Olivia, we can talk..oh thank you Reuben,I thought my arms would drop off it I stood here much longer with \u00a0all these logs”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben smiled gallantly as he took some of the logs from his aunt and took them inside where Olivia had already deposited Nathaniel and left him to the excited attentions of Hannah and Hope<\/p>\n

.<\/p>\n

Heater brushed wood dust and splinters from her coat “How did you get the news..I mean, \u00a0who brought the telegram ?\u00a0 Is the pass clear enough for us to get into town?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mr deQuille brought all the mail, he got through alright.\u00a0 I sent Ezra to tell Marcy so hopefully he\u2019ll get through alright.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester grinned rather mischievously as she walked back with Olivia to the sledge “Poor Ezra, he’s so willing to do everything we ask of him nowadays, it\u2019s a long trip to the Double D.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I know, I have written a note to Marcy to take good care of him, and keep him there until tomorrow.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester nodded and her grin broadened “Oh, Livvy, it will be so good to have them home again. \u00a0 Don’t forget to tell Mary Ann to come back with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With a wave of the hand Olivia took the reins and turned the sledge out of the Ponderosa yard and into the track to where \u00a0Joe and Mary Ann lived.\u00a0 As always the view as she turned into the last curve took her breath away, especially with everything wearing its mantle of white snow.\u00a0 Even where the river had iced over the snow had crept up and over it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jenny opened the door and exclaimed with delight at the sight of the other woman whom she ushered inside but who ran ahead of her to find her sister in law, calling her name as she went so that Mary Ann came out of the kitchen in a rush “What’s happened? \u00a0 Goodness me, Olivia, how wild you look? \u00a0 Is everything alright?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yes yes, more than alright.\u00a0 They have Sofia, Mary Ann, they have her safe and sound and are on their way home.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary Ann clapped her hands together and then with a squeal of delight threw her arms around Olivia “Home!\u00a0 And Sofia safe … What an answer to prayer!” and in her delight at the news burst into happy tears “I know its silly, I shouldn’t cry but I’m so happy.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel was now tugging at her skirt “Mommy, mommy…” So that she stooped down and swung him into the air and into her arms. “Daddy’s coming home. Daddy’s coming home”<\/p>\n

she laughed and kissed him, then danced a little jig in the hall which made Olivia smile with tears in her eyes at seeing the younger woman’s joy then she grabbed at Mary Ann\u2019s arm \u201cCome along, Mary Ann, Hester wants us to get back.\u00a0 Do hurry \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2026……<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy drew \u00a0in his horse and shook his head bemusedly at the sight that met his eyes. \u00a0 True enough the pass was clear, but only just clear enough for what could be called wriggle space, and on both sides the steep inclines of rock were covered with snow that was loosening.\u00a0 Any loud sudden noise and the risk of avalanche could be only too real.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ahead of him was deQuille, struggling to get his vehicle upright while his horse threshed about in an attempt to be free of the contraption to which he was harnessed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Guiding his horse gingerly along the narrow strip where deQuille had travelled safely through earlier Candy approached and then dismounted to help the journalist set the buggy upright and calm the horse.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What happened?” \u00a0he eventually asked feeling sweat cooling on his skin beneath his clothes for it had been no easy task that they had laboured on.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Some fool rode by going too fast, spooked my horse.\u00a0 By the time he had disappeared the buggy was over.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t dare shout or fire my gun for help as ..well, you can see for yourself how precarious it is.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy nodded and glanced again at the overhanging mounds of snow threatening to fall “Did you manage to get through to Olivia with the mail?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Oh yes, got through well enough.” Daniel looked sharply over at the sheriff “Don’t tell me you didn’t trust me?\u00a0 It would really hurt my pride if I thought you had deserted your duties in town to make sure I had delivered that cable!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy flushed a little after all that was exactly the reason why and he felt somewhat ashamed now although deQuille’s sneer also made him feel annoyed enough to want to slap the sneer from his face<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“How was Mrs Cartwright?” he asked rather stiffly<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“How do you expect?\u00a0 The child has been found and the men are coming back with her.\u00a0 She was – ecstatic.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy cast him a thoughtful glance before going to the horse and carefully checking its legs, and after affirming that the beast was sound in every respect he nodded over to where deQuille was clambering back to take up the reins and resume his seat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’ll ride along with you, Mr deQuille.\u00a0 Just to make sure you get to Town safely.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel gave a curt nod of acceptance at the sheriffs words and in silence began the journey back to town, their eyes constantly upon the heavily laden snow covered crags, cringing at the sound of a bird as it cawed raucously overhead and a small cascade of snow trickled downwards.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once free of the pass Candy leaned forwards so that his head appeared from beneath the vehicles hood “So you didn’t get your scoop, Mr deQuille?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel shrugged and grinned “Oh but I did.\u00a0 I’m going to write a modern Good Samaritan story about a courageous reporter who risks all to let a young mother know her child was safe and her husband returning home!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His laugh floated in the air as he \u00a0took the direction of the livery, and left Candy riding towards the sheriff’s office.\u00a0 But Candy was smiling. It struck him as somehow amusing that \u00a0Daniels good deed was to be turned into a tale of heroics.\u00a0 As he dismounted he wondered if he would feature in the tale … Somehow he thought not!!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 63<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Relief at reaching a haven of some sort made each man realise their exhaustion.\u00a0 It was hard to resist the temptation to crumple onto the ground and just allow \u00a0sleep to take over completely. \u00a0 Luke clambered down from the buggy, fumbling with numb hands to get the hood released in order to do so.\u00a0 His legs felt as though they would take hours to thaw enough to move, as he glanced over at the other two men he sympathised at just how stiff and painful their legs and bodies would be feeling as they attempted to move in order to care for their animals.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Stay there, Sofia.”. he cautioned the child who had moved as though she also was going to get out of the buggy and join him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“But, Uncle Luke…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Wait until we get a fire of sorts lighted, its still too \u00a0cold for you.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With a sigh Sofia retreated back into the comfort of the quilt and tried to see through the gloom of their surroundings at exactly what was going on. \u00a0 Hoss’ voice came in a kind of rumble as the cave or fissure in the rocks created an echo so that words \u00a0seemed to bounce around. \u00a0 He was examining all the horses, telling Luke to unharness the animals from the buggy while Adam was already unsaddling their mounts; Sofia could hear the clunk and rattle as the tack was dropped onto the ground.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Well, seeing how hard we rode \u00a0’em they are in good shape. A rest will do ’em as much good as it’ll do us.” Hoss \u00a0blew on his hands and looked around at the vast hollow into which they \u00a0had ridden “This is perfect.\u00a0 Snug. Dry. I reckon I could sleep a week here.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You can,” Adam muttered although he smiled as he spoke “but we won’t. \u00a0 Now, let’s see if there’s anything we can use as fuel around here.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Matches were struck to illuminate where they were casting shadows over their faces but providing sufficient light for them to see that the hollow was deep, gouged out of the mountain by some natural phenomena perhaps thousands of years before. More matches were struck as they went further into the rear, Luke nodded and smiled “Smells clean”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Seems air from outside is blowing in via a natural vent further back, but its a decent temperature hereabouts” Hoss \u00a0muttered “And plenty of fuel too.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It took little time to get a small fire started from the debris that had blown in over the years, plus the unexpected bonus of \u00a0very dry animal dung that must have piled up at some time.\u00a0 Hoss and Luke discussed how it had got there and what kind of creature or creatures they \u00a0could have been while Adam was reminded of the wagon train journeys he had been on when all they had for fuel was buffalo and cattle dung.\u00a0 It was the children\u2019s task to collect the dry \u2018chips\u2019 as they walked along and throw them into the nets slung under the wagons so that there was a fire for the times they needed to cook. \u00a0 In those days there was always more than enough, but he wondered now with the demise of the buffalo how modern travellers would fare.\u00a0 He laughed to himself, and shook his head, showed his age, he had forgotten they could travel in comfort now, take a train or stage.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He sighed and walked to where Sofia was peeking from her quilt “Come along, sweet heart, time to stretch your legs a little.” \u00a0he hugged her close against him and was rewarded with a kiss as she wrapped her arms around his neck.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The fire glowed and cast their shadows upon the walls so that Hoss, always mindful how a child\u2019s mind would or could work, showed his expertise at shadow figures on the wall\u2026there was a rabbit cleaning his ears, and with a twist of his fingers it was an owl peeking with big eyes, Hoss even supplied a hoot or two to make the little girl laugh.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The packages from Annie and the old Cape Hornier were brought from the floor of the buggy and laid out before them\u2026Luke was more than pleased at the generosity of both as the food provided was more than enough for several meals, a bottle of wine came along with the old mans package, plus some coffee wrapped carefully in some paper and the cordials would certainly help Sofia swallow the food down.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss rubbed his hands together and looked at the food, then at the others there, \u201cWe\u2019ve been well blessed.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke nodded \u201cWho would have thought we could have left such a hole of a place with such bounty.\u00a0 Good hearted folk grow like roses among weeds.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam smiled and agreed \u201cYou\u2019re a poet, Luke.\u00a0 That\u2019s a fine way to express it.\u201d \u00a0he looked down at Sofia \u201cHungry, pumpkin?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded and leaned her head against his chest \u00a0\u201cDaddy, Aunt Katherine was kind, wasn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The three men looked at one another, Adam pursed his lips and pondered on how to answer trying to see it through his daughters eyes and not basing it on how he felt.\u00a0 Hoss cleared his throat and managed to say \u201cShe weren\u2019t your aunt, honey, she was just a lady who wanted to keep you with her.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d \u00a0Sofia frowned and then looked up at her father \u201cWhy, daddy?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, because you\u2019re very pretty and you were sick when they found you, so they looked after you for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She didn\u2019t know if she could understand that, she could remember Dr Lovell, and nodded<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I was sick.\u00a0 There was a doctor there and he was fat, and he poked me with fat fingers and he sweated a lot.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t nice like Uncle Paul.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut he made you better, didn\u2019t he?\u201d Luke reminded her, and realised they were all trying to turn negatives into positives so that the child would never have nightmares about what had taken place, but then, who knows how a child\u2019s mind works, what compartment of the brain horrors get filed into only to be released years and years later?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDaddy, that lady wanted me to call her Grandmother, but she isn\u2019t Grandmother, is she?\u00a0 Was she a bad lady? \u00a0 Was she naughty?\u00a0 Why did she say she was my grandmother?\u00a0 Why did she call me Alice?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam shifted in his position, a trifle uncomfortable by the questions although he knew that she had to ask.\u00a0 He remembered as a child asking countless questions about why he had not a mother and other children did \u2026 he looked down at her upturned face and raised his eyebrows \u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know, Uncle Luke may know\u2026\u201d and he looked over at the younger man as though reminding him about the conversation he had had with Katherine.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So as carefully as possible Luke told Sofia about Katherine\u2019s own little girl Alice and how they were, in a way, pretending to themselves that that little girl was now home to them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey wanted to love you, Sofia, not hurt you.\u201d he concluded with a kindly smile and his blue eyes earnestly seeking to reassure her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Like all children then and since, Sofia was suddenly bored with the subject, her tummy was rumbling, she was tired, the fire was making her feel comfortable, safe and warm.\u00a0 She yawned and with a languid movement accepted the bread and cheese Adam handed her, along with the cordial<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI wonder how far back this cavern goes,\u201d Hoss muttered after a while, he had eaten sufficient, wise enough though still hungry, to accept the fact there were other meals to be provided from their now more meagre supply.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The coffee made from melted snow tasted smoky and bitter but it provided warmth to the stomach and was a pleasant conclusion to the meal. \u00a0 It was Luke who collected up what remained and mentally noted how much exactly was left for the rest of the journey.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia was wrapped in the quilt and laid to rest, she was asleep before she had been laid down, muttering to her daddy that she wished she had Clarabelle with her now. \u00a0 Hoss looked about him and decided he was going to explore, he found an ally in Luke and together the younger men set off.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs there anything your brother is actually scared of?\u201d Luke asked as they strolled off as though walking through the towns park, a branch of some much dead wood in his hand burning and sparking as they went.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPlenty, just like you or me \u2026why\u2019d you ask?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke shrugged, \u201cNo reason, just curious.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He wished he hadn\u2019t mentioned it now and wondered what Hoss would be thinking of him for having done so.\u00a0 He was thinking along such lines when his companion stopped and pointed \u201cWe aint\u2019 been the first to use this place to hold up in,\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The remains of several adults, and children could be seen around what must have been their fire for the rock face was charred black from the soot it would have created.\u00a0 As they cast their torches around the bones of animals could be seen, heaped in some places, scattered in others.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is as far as it goes.\u201d Luke said and raised his torch aloft.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

High above their heads was a crack in the cavern roof through which clean air was drifting, along with a few snow flakes. \u00a0 \u201cI wonder what killed them.\u201d Luke wondered and together they moved in to look closer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve been dead a long time,\u201d Hoss said as he fingered the remains of some clothing, \u201cAnd they ain\u2019t European either, this here looks like something an Indian would weave \u2026 and that looks like a moccasin.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke nodded and noted that all the bodies still had remnants of coarse black hair, he sighed \u201cA family group do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNomadic, probably.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCaught in the storms?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u00a0 I guess so\u201d \u00a0Hoss gently turned one body over and nodded \u201cYeah, Indians, still got a quiver full of arrows \u2026 poor souls.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They cast a glance over at the bones of the animals and shook their heads yet again. \u00a0\u201cI wonder how long they\u2019ve been here.\u201d Luke muttered as they turned to leave with feelings of apprehension now tugging at his own mind, doubts as to how they would get away, fears of pursuers, anxieties about the hills that were to be surmounted.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss didn\u2019t answer to that, \u00a0he was thinking that when death had come, they had all been together, a family, and if it had to be, then that had to be a good thing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam had their own beds set up, saddles for their heads, their bed rolls ready for them to fall into. \u00a0 The fire was healthy, the smoke drifting into the chamber from which Hoss and Luke now emerged, he looked up at them, saw their sombre faces and raised his eyebrows.\u00a0 Hoss supplied the information in just a few words and his brother just nodded and said that he would take first watch.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFirst watch? \u00a0 Why?\u00a0 No one\u2019s gonna find us here.\u201c Luke protested for he was bone weary and longing to sleep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you just can\u2019t be too sure of that, \u201cAdam said quietly as he picked up his rifle, \u201cIt could be that some creature out there, four legged I\u2019m thinking, may be hungry enough to explore here, and then again, Duggan has been promised quite a good fee for getting Sofia back\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss frowned \u201cYou reckon they would still be out there, looking for us, in this weather, among these hills?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam smiled, he could have told his brother how on board ship in the most tranquil of seas there was always a watch because the weather had the mind of a child, truculent, teasing, cruel at times, mischievous and fun at others\u2026but whichever, it could lead to disaster if there were no watch.\u00a0 He chose instead to pout slightly and frown as he pulled his coat back on<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, you know what Pa would say to that, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss frowned, his Pa had something to say about everything and anything, and sometimes it was hard to find the exact right thing he did say but he nodded \u201cIt don\u2019t pay to be too complacent.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cRight ..\u201d \u00a0Adam nodded and without a word strode over closer to the entrance where the wind howled and whistled and snow fell in white flickering swirling lethal dances to the earth.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Duggan was gnawing on hard tack washed down with handfuls of snow as he and his men huddled in a narrow cave, too narrow for a fire although the body heat of the men and animals helped them from being frozen. \u00a0 Using their blankets as wind shields had protected them from the worst of the wind too.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He glowered about him, at the muttering men who scowled back at him \u201cI hope that old witch is paying you enough for this, Duggan?\u201d \u00a0a man called Bowman hissed as he chewed on the hard meat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll find out when we get back.\u201d Duggan replied, hoping he sounded confident about that, rather than angry, irritated and doubtful.\u00a0 If the men had a sniff of his own doubts about the sense in continuing then they would just up and go.\u00a0 He knew them of old, he knew them too well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReckon this storm will last much longer?\u00a0 It would be better if it cleared by day break.\u201d Blakeley said, a younger man, just started on his path of depravity and dishonour.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt will pass before day break.\u201d Buck Hunter muttered, he was half Kiowa so everyone took his word as gospel and felt better for doing so.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Duggan waited for the muttering to end, to be filled instead with the sound of the wind as it splattered the snow against their makeshift camp. \u00a0 It had been a long hard ride, Hunters\u2019 instincts had been quite good, his scouting methods slightly haphazard, if they lost the trail somehow he had always managed it find it again.\u00a0 Even so, one man had succumbed \u00a0to the cold, a sickly fellow who had coughed and spluttered most of the journey he had actually managed to make until his hands became too frozen and his hunched over body had fallen into the snow. \u00a0 He had been too far behind everyone else for them to notice at first, by the time they did there was little point in going back to see how he was which meant he would have died one way or the other.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Duggan thought of Rosemarie, how disappointing it had been to have discovered that she was just a woman after all, under all that finery she was pretty much skin and bone herself. \u00a0 But she was rich, she had power and she held the whole town in thrall to her demands and wishes.\u00a0 Of course, he planned to change things when he got back.\u00a0 But then, Clifton Reid had thought that too at one time, a long way back before Major Royale met his sad demise.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 64<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam woke to see sunlight gilding the edge of the rocks outline of what could be termed the doorway to their hideaway.\u00a0 Hoss was seated at an angle where he could hear and see any hint of danger and his brother felt a twinge of sympathy for him as it was obvious that the big man was suffering from the cold.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He crept carefully and silently from his bedroll and built up the fire, his actions disturbed Luke who stirred and muttered something even though he kept his eyes shut. Sofia slept on, her nose peeking above the edge of the quilt.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss turned at the sound of Adams approach and nodded, he was stiff and could barely move his mouth but did so to tell his brother that he didn’t appreciate freezing for no good reason.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded and stepped out to scoop snow into the coffee pot, “The suns shining, Hoss, couldn’t be that bad.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Wal, \u00a0it ain’t been that good I can tell ya.\u00a0 I’m near froze all the way through!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Go back to the fire and eat, here, take this and make the coffee.\u00a0 Leave me your rifle”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss did as he was told stretching and squeezing in order to get kinks out of his bones. \u00a0 Luke was now awake and rummaging in the packages for food which he spread out<\/p>\n

In order to see exactly what was available to eat,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Shucks, no beans !” Hoss \u00a0 muttered<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Does he really think there are people out there following us still,, despite the snow and these crags?” Luke asked as he handed some coffee which was out into the pot.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Wal, my Pa always taught us to take nothing for granted, y’see. \u00a0 And Adam, he spent more time travelling with Pa than any of us so learned to be mighty cautious.”.\u00a0 Hoss checked the coffee and moved it further into the heart of the fire.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia stirred and looked with big eyes at the shadows that the fire created “Where’s daddy?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It wasn’t exactly a whimper but there was enough of a wobble in her voice for Hoss to go and sweep her up into his arms and kiss her cheek while assuring her that her Pa was close by. Then he set her feet on the ground so that she could run over to greet her father.<\/p>\n

Luke watched as the sunbeams seemed to dance over the man hugging his daughter at the entrance to their \u00a0cavern, he sighed and squatted down on his haunches to stare into the fire “She’s a pretty little thing, reminds me of my sisters at that age.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yeah, can imagine they were mighty purty.” Hoss nodded and placed the last rashers of bacon in the pan,their sizzling made his mouth water and stomach rumble<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I had a son by my first wife ..” Luke paused trying to remember if he had ever mentioned them before to Hoss<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yeah, I remember you said she was Kiowa weren’t she?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“She was pretty, and she had dainty ways about her that reminded me of my mother…my boy was smart for his age too.” he tossed some fuel into the fire “You think life’s all mapped out and working fine, then something comes along and snatches everything \u00a0out from under your feet. “. he sighed deeply and shook his head “Made me feel life could never be normal or good for me again.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss nodded sympathetically “But things are working out for ya now, arnt they? \u00a0 You got a good wife in Miss Marcy and the Double D seems to be thriving.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke smiled and nodded, his face fell into the lines of a man content with his lot “Couldn’t wish for things to be better, Hoss, its like being given a second chance for which I’m mighty grateful,”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His companion grinned and then noticing the coffee was spitting poured some into the mugs, he picked two up, handed one to Luke and carried the other over to Adam who accepted it with a smile while telling Sofia \u00a0to return back to the fire and get warm.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“D’you still think they’re out there?”. Hoss muttered<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I do,” Adam replied in that dark way he had of speaking, “Once we’ve eaten we leave.\u00a0 The smell of that bacon will lead ’em here if nothing else does.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Ain’t that much of it left, anyhow if all goes well we should reach Cole’s place by nightfall.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They both stiffened at sounds from beyond that indicated visitors, Hoss \u00a0put his hand to his gun and stepped closer to his brother. \u00a0 Stealthy creeping movements and then a blur of movement as the creature pounced on all fours as it landed just feet away from where the two men stood with weapons in hand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The mountain cat turned slowly, her tail swung against the snow causing drifts of misty ice to catch upon her coat and hang there like so many diamonds.\u00a0 She looked directly at them with her amber eyes fixed in their direction.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It seemed as she stood there as though she were weighing up the odds against her.\u00a0 Two humans and close enough to cause her damage. She raised her head and snuffed at the air before lowering her great head to glare at them again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Danged bacon!” Hoss grumbled and raised his gun but he didn’t fire, there was no need \u00a0 to do so for she merely tossed her head as though indicating they were not worth bothering about and then walked regally away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Wonder how far she’ll have gone.” Adam muttered as he lowered the rifle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yeah, she must have eaten recently otherwise we wouldn’t still be standing here.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You mean to tell me, Hoss Cartwright, that you would have missed a sitting target like that?” Adam teased, “She wasn’t more than a few feet from us.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Huh, and you’re the one with the rifle…” came the reply accompanied by a grin as he holstered his gun and after slapping his brother gently on the arm returned to the food that Luke was now taking from the fire.<\/p>\n

\u2026………<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Duggan and his men had been riding since dawn, given a choice they would have gone back to town and that had been the subject of some discussion during the night.\u00a0 Most of them \u00a0had the sense to see beyond current events and to know that if this trip were successful Duggan would more or less control the town, with or without Rosemarie Royale at the helm. \u00a0 Some knew from experience and others from instinct that Duggan would not forget who turned back now and their chance of surviving any reprisals were slim indeed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sounds travelled further on cold snow crisp days and the roar of a mountain cat rippled over the white capped peaks towards them.\u00a0 Each man there loosened the gun in his holster, the rifle in its sheath.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Had they possessed any sense of poetry or appreciation for beauty they would have stopped to marvel at the white mantled arches, massive boulders and strangely contorted shapes of rocks formed over countless wind storms and blizzards over the centuries.\u00a0 They plunged onwards, \u00a0the horses at times slithered onto their haunches and struggled to get back on all fours again, their bellies disappeared into troughs of snow and they slowed their pace as a result.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Relying on their guide the small group of men ploughed onwards in their pursuit of the others.\u00a0 Whenever it seemed their quarry had evaded them Hunter would pick up on something that encouraged them on.\u00a0 Knowing that the Cartwrights would be heading for the Ponderosa, certainly the Lake Tahoe area, gave them a general direction for which to \u00a0aim.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A shout from the front and all eyes swung in the direction of Hunter whose extended hand pointed to the direction where the sight of several moving black dots proved their victims were closer than they had anticipated.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Duggan couldn’t restrain from giving a whoop of victory and without hesitation he urged his horse forward in pursuit.<\/p>\n

……………<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam had taken his place in the vehicle with his daughter, once again ensuring that she was warmly dressed and cossetted into her quilt.\u00a0 In full trust in him she leaned against \u00a0him, her head upon his arm and her little hand holding fast to his sleeve until the cold prompted her to remove it and slip it back into her muff.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Daddy, will we be home soon?” she whispered from the depths of her quilt.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“As soon as possible, and no sooner.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Is that a long time?” she sunk deeper into the quilt, even with the protection of the vehicles apron and hood the cold was creeping in to nip at her toes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Long enough” he smiled down at her “but it \u00a0will seem like no time at all when we get there.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She said nothing more but closed her eyes against the whiteness upon which the sun shone and dazzled her eyes so that she never noticed the awesome beauty of what she was driving through.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There were secret little crevices and hiding holes appearing constantly as they journeyed on, but the three men felt as danger was closing in on them, from both four legged as well as those on two legs who pursued them. It were as though the encounter with the mountain cat had been a warning to urge them to hasten on their way.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The noon day sun rose unshrouded by clouds, its rays unfettered by any threat of further snow, it beamed down as though amused at the flight of the little group from the horsemen closing in upon them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was Luke’s horse that floundered first as he breasted a bank of snow, came down and misplaced his footing.\u00a0 The beast rolled some distance sending Luke sliding some feet until he came to rest against a circle of rocks.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss dismounted immediately managing to get his frozen legs moving but slithering and sliding until he reached the other man who was struggling now to his feet.\u00a0 Luke was more than grateful for Hoss’ arm to haul him to his feet, and then turned their attention to the horse, struggling to survive but abandoning that struggle even as they reached it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss nodded “Saves a bullet.” he muttered and grasping hold of Luke’s elbow assisted him back up the slope.\u00a0 Ascending far more slowly than his descent had been earlier.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once assured that Luke was unhurt Hoss untied the reins of the spare horse from the back axle of the buggy and handed them to Luke “Good thing we thought to bring \u00a0 it along.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam had got down from the buggy where Sofia was peeking anxiously \u00a0over the quilt, \u00a0 He took the reins from Luke and beckoned to the vehicle “Take over Luke, your niece wants you to tell her a story ..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“We need to take a break Adam.\u00a0 Horses are tired and I’m froze near to death.” Hoss said and glanced at Luke who nodded in agreement rubbing his elbow as he did so.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They rode onwards slowing as the snow deepened and it became necessary for Adam and Hoss to dismount, take the horses by the bridles and carefully guide them along through to where the dark mouth of a cave revealed itself. To Adams way of thinking it was too obvious a hide out but then the shambles of overturned churned up snow was clear indication of their passage through and only nature could conceal that sufficiently to protect them from prying hunters.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The aperture was narrow, it was difficult to get the vehicle through and into the cave, so much so that Adam had to lift Sofia out and pass her to Luke while he and Hoss continued to wrestle with it<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Adam, if I pulled much more the whole things gonna come apart in my hands.”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, “Free up the horses then, we’ll leave it here.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was a nuisance but as he had noticed earlier there was no way he could have concealed the location anyway.\u00a0 He managed to get the last of the food while Hoss freed up the horses.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Unlike their previous refuge this one was narrow and confined in space.\u00a0 Sofia clung to her father now and whispered “I don’t like it here, daddy.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“We won’t be here for long, Sofia.\u00a0 Just enough for the horses to rest and for us to have something to eat.” He smiled and stroked back loose hair from her brow “You’re hungry, arn’t you.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded and took his hand to where he led her to where she could sit and then waited patiently for him to bring food to her.<\/p>\n

………..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Duggan and his men took a brief break standing close to the dead horse.\u00a0 They were too cold to shiver now, slowly feeding themselves while remaining in the saddle and staring gloomily about them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Look, don’t look so miserable for \u00a0Pete’s sake …” Duggan yelled waving his arm extravagantly in the direction of the trail that was so clearly laid out before them “we’re right on top of ’em!”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Another hour, that’s all ..” Hunter grinned.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Another hour, that was all …<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 65<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke swayed on his feet, back and forth, like a corn stalk caught by the wind.\u00a0 A loud rumble startled him, caused him to blink, straighten himself up and look around him. \u00a0 Food was still in his hand, his hand rested against his chest and sounds seemed to come from a long way off.\u00a0 His eyelids felt so heavy he could barely keep them open. Rather shame facedly he realised his own snoring had woken him from sleep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Forcing himself to shake off such lethargy he glanced hastily around him at his companions, hoping that they had not noticed his lapse. \u00a0 Adam was seated on a flat rock with Sofia in his arms and from her rapt attention on her face Luke surmised that the man was telling her a story. She sat with her hands clasped together beneath her chin and her eyes wide with that awe often seen on the faces of those caught up in their imagination as they lived the words they were hearing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss was leaning against the wall of the cave with a rifle in one hand but his head drooped onto his chest, his eyes were closed and the heavy breathing indicated a man deep in sleep.\u00a0 Luke cast a quick look over at Adam, surely he would have \u00a0noticed his brothers total lack of alertness while on guard duty?\u00a0 Perhaps he had also noticed Luke’s own lapse into sleep earlier.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But it was hard not to fight the body’s demands to sleep when the claustrophobic atmosphere of the little cave created such warmth after so many hours \u00a0fighting the intense cold. \u00a0 He noticed that even Sofia had discarded the quilt which she had clung too since leaving Bodie.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The horses were restless too, packed in too tightly together and still saddled up, lack of clean air and the heat was also affecting them.\u00a0 After eating the food and then scrambling to his feet he walked over to Hoss and shook the other man by the arm finding himself facing the barrel of a gun almost immediately.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Its me, Hoss … Luke.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The other man blinked rapidly and nodded, then after putting the gun away rubbed his face vigorously “Shucks, I was almost asleep there for a moment.” he mumbled and looked over at his brother and then at Luke “The air in here’s stale, we need to be moving on.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke nodded and turned to collect any food that could be useful later on.\u00a0 He felt a great need for a strong coffee, his mouth was dry, he also needed to urinate. \u00a0 Adam had finished his story and picked Sofia up, carrying her over to where Hoss was standing. \u00a0 Luke heard Hoss say they needed to get moving and saw Adam nod in agreement.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Within ten minutes the buggy had been moved and set to rights, \u00a0the horses re-harnessed and this time Hoss was sharing with Sofia wrapped in the quilt by his side.\u00a0 Once they had the apron fastened to the hood the pair of them looked as snug as a couple of bugs in the proverbial rug.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They moved at a good pace considering the depth of the snow. \u00a0 As they were descending from the more elevated barrenness of land there was an increase of temperature, barely noticeable by the travellers but it certainly revealed itself in the terrain through which they were travelling as bare rock could be seen clearly, exposed by the melting snow which was that much looser.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They had no difficulty in picking up the trail that Cameron had mentioned and were making good progress when Adam turned in the saddle to ensure their safety and saw only too clearly the group of men approaching them from the rear.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“We’ve got company …” he yelled, “Take cover …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“The rocks, over there …”. Luke cried and turned his horse towards the huge boulders half concealed by the snow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss handled the reins with his usual dexterity, so that the buggy, on its runners, slid into position between two vast rocks ahead. \u00a0 It took him only seconds to realise just how vulnerable the vehicle was, being in clear view of the men now appearing into view. Hoss hastily pulled off the weather proof apron and then \u00a0gathered Sofia up into his arms.\u00a0 She was still wrapped in the quilt but this he now covered with the apron giving her further protection from the cold and wet snow upon which he placed her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was immediately beside them, assured himself that Sofia was as safe as she could be behind the rocks and nodded over at Hoss. It was time to get into position and make their stand. \u00a0 He leaned down and whispered some words to Sofia, then joined his brother and Luke at the rocks that ranged before them.,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They loosened their guns in their holsters and the rifles were aimed and ready.<\/p>\n

\u2026………..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Duggan and his men felt elation and relief at the sight of the buggy and its out riders. Noticing the evasive action taken by them was indication enough that battle lines had been drawn up.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He looked at the men with whom he had left Bodie \u00a0and raised his arm.\u00a0 Guns and rifles were brought immediately to hand, with a nod of the head he turned into the rocks knowing his men would scatter among them, disperse into strategic positions.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Cartwright! \u00a0 Hand the girl over and you can go on your way with no trouble from us. \u00a0 All we want is the girl.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam didn’t bother to reply, after all there was nothing on earth that would impel him to hand over his daughter.\u00a0 Hoss nodded as though reading Adams thoughts and accepting them as his own.\u00a0 Luke squinted down the sights of the \u00a0barrel of his rifle and waited for the first gunshot which would reveal the location of one man at least.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Cartwright .. Did you hear me?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A pause before Adams voice “I heard you, Duggan”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Then hand her over.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Don’t be so ridiculous …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The cold contempt in the words stung Duggan, he stood up and revealed himself with a slight swagger as he did so. \u00a0 He was quite confident in the quality of the men he was confronting and that they would not fire upon him while negotiations ..such as they were..were going to take place.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You know, she could get hurt if we get down to any shooting.”<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss exchanged a glance, neither of them spoke. \u00a0 Luke licked dry lips, and then blew on his hands to warm them, he didn’t want to miss with his first shot.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Receiving no response to his last comment Duggan returned to his shelter behind a large boulder, waited a few minutes and then gave the order to fire. The first shots came in a volley splattering against the rocks, sinking into the snow, one scored across the rump of one of the horses who squealed in alarm and plunged panic stricken into the white vastness around it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As Adam returned their gunfire \u00a0his mind trickled back to similar conditions some years earlier when a Russian Count was demanding the return of some papers so vital to the American Government.\u00a0 Back then he had fought with fellow seamen by his side, and a dear friend, Daniel O’Brien.\u00a0 How did his daughter compare to a list of names on a piece of paper?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He had been prepared to give up his life to obey orders, and it had cost the lives of two of his men. \u00a0 How much more was he prepared to sacrifice for the safe keeping of his child?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The three men returned fire for fire, volley after volley.\u00a0 Two of Duggans men<\/p>\n

plummeted from their coverts to plunge into the rocks below.\u00a0 The hood of the buggy got liberally peppered, and rocked constantly from the vibration. A bullet creased Hoss’ leg but he was so numb from the cold that there was no pain, just surprise when he glanced down to see blood seeping through his pants.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke’s heart faltered when he pressed the trigger of his rifle to hear the ominous click of an empty chamber.\u00a0 He cast it to one side and withdrew his revolver.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In her hiding place Sofia shivered into her quilt and after pulling it over her head she covered her ears with her hands.\u00a0 She felt …well, she felt so frightened that her whole body was paralysed with her fear,she couldn’t cry, she couldn’t speak nor scream.\u00a0 As bullets flattened against the rocks around her she could only do what her daddy had told her …to stay very still and think lovely thoughts. Keeping still was easy, thinking lovely thoughts nigh on impossible.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was next to put down an empty rifle and take out his gun. \u00a0 He also retreated back to where his daughter was hidden, leaned over her and whispered “Not much longer now, Sofee … Love you.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His hand on the back of her head, stroked away damp curls. When he stepped away from her he found Hoss by his side, Luke was edging closer his gun in his hand and with blood trickling from his shoulder.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Cartwright, it doesn’t have to end like this.\u00a0 Think of the kid, Cartwright.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke wiped his hand across his mouth and realised he was shaking, the cold, weakness, everything was getting too much. \u00a0 Hoss narrowed his eyes and sent several bullets in Duggans direction.\u00a0 Adam rubbed his temple where pain throbbed and drummed behind his eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He slowly reloaded his gun, looked at Hoss and nodded, then raised his gun and waited.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 66<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Duggan rose to his feet with a feeling of triumph and delight trickling through him, warming his blood as a result.\u00a0 He signaled his men to draw closer and crowding together they made their way through the snow splattered ground towards their quarry.\u00a0 Guns and rifles were raised and fired, a constant volley that resounded around the rock, \u00a0re-echoed in the ears to create pain and then .. silence.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Duggan sunk onto one knee, blood was hot as it flowed down his cold flesh.\u00a0 He couldn’t understand it, bafflement gave him the strength to struggle back onto his feet, he turned to face the man walking towards him, black eyes as hard as granite and his rifle aimed straight in his direction.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His dying eyes roved from one body to another sprawled in the unrelenting snow.\u00a0 He could give a name to each one of \u00a0them, then became aware of one man, Hunter, riding away, his body hugging close in the saddle.\u00a0 Anger surged \u00a0through Duggans brain, how dare the man leave, he swung round and tried to raise the gun in his hand, but weakness was taking over and he was sinking down.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Two more men approached, rifles cradled in the crook of their arms indicating that the fight was over.\u00a0 Duggan shook his head \u2026how could it be over?\u00a0 He was on the winning side wasn’t he?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam Cartwright was walking towards them with Sofia in his arms, a smile on his face and brown eyes twinkling as he \u00a0stretched out a hand to be shaken by his father.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Good timing, Pa.\u00a0 We were down to our last bullets.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded, the pleasure and relief at seeing them overwhelmed him momentarily so he turned his attention to Sofia “I know two children will be pleased to see you.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She held out her arms to him and buried her face into the collar of his coat.\u00a0 She couldn’t find words, everything was too overwhelming.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The brothers were shaking hands, teasing one another, while Roy checked over Luke’s shoulder and fixed up a sling.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With a light touch of his hand on his father’s arm Adam drew Ben a little aside “Thanks Pa.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Seems like it was a close run thing, son. \u00a0 Just glad \u00a0Joe felt well enough to come this morning.\u00a0 We were going to set out earlier but he insisted on being with us.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Is he alright, Pa?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben cast an anxious glance over to where Joe was laughing at something Hoss was saying, he nodded “Yes, he was quite ill. I thought we’d lose him at one stage but he rallied.\u00a0 The Cameron’s have been good friends.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, smiled “Well, \u00a0best get back to them.\u00a0 We can start for home tomorrow.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben hugged Sofia closer “How about that family Cole mentioned ,..the Royales?\u00a0 Were they any help?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam grinned “I’ll tell you all about them later, \u00a0let’s get to Cole’s before we freeze.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe came sauntering as best he could through the flattened snow, he tweaked Sofia’s nose and then looked at Adam with a grin, his hazel eyes sparkled “Came through unscathed this time, brother.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They shook hands again, Joe glanced across to the bodies and frowned “A sad shame to end it like this … The grounds as hard as iron ,,”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The implication was clear, they would be unable to bury the dead.\u00a0 Flash backs of Rostov and young Jack Lawson lying in the Alaskan tundra shot through Adams memory, he turned away from the sight of the \u00a0dead men and lifted Sofia back into his arms.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They were safe and soon, Sofia would be home with her mother, her brothers, those who really loved her.\u00a0 Roy came and strode along beside him, hands shaken, nods of the head, no words spoken, none were needed.<\/p>\n

………….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Marcy watched as Ezra rode away, and then slowly closed the door behind her to enter back to the warmth of her kitchen.\u00a0 She remembered reading Olivia’s note the previous day with such joy that it had made her dizzy and Ezra had had to take her by the arm and set her down on the settee.\u00a0 What a joy!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She had re-read the note and then looked at poor Ezra standing there with snow on his boots, his clothes and even clinging to the stubble on his weathered old face \u00a0“Ezra, take your boots off, sit down by the fire.\u00a0 You need some food inside you”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He had thanked her humbly as he’d removed his gloves, then after looking tentatively at her to make sure she meant what she said he pulled off his boots and settled down by the fire. \u00a0 It had hardly seemed anytime at all when she was shaking him awake to tell him there was food ready for him to eat. \u00a0 \u00a0Best of all she had shared the meal with him and had listened to his stories as though his company was really a pleasure for her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She had insisted on his staying \u00a0overnight, for which he had been very grateful.\u00a0 Early morning and he saw to it he had done the chores for her, as best as he could, and been rewarded with breakfast washed down by strong coffee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So now he was gone and the house settled back into silence. Marcy removed the platters from the table and took them to the sink. She leaned against it and looked out of the window to see the snow beginning to drift down, slowly, so that it made one see only the beauty and forget the danger. She thought of Ezra and hoped he would get home safely, that the pass was still going to be clear for him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Then she thought about her husband and the joy Olivia must be feeling in knowing her daughter was safe at last except …. She looked out of the window again and took a deep breath as she wondered if her friend had given any thought to the fact that their loved ones now had to reach home and seeing the snow falling she could only pray for their safety.<\/p>\n

\u2026………..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole Cameron opened the door wide his smile just as equally wide as he ushered everyone inside.\u00a0 Sofia, wrapped in her quilt, clung to her father as though her life depended on it. \u00a0 \u00a0More new faces, new surroundings … She wanted to cry, tears began to trickle down her face, but she tried bravely not to sob although her arms tightened more so around Adams neck.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But there was warmth, pleasant smells of hot cooked food, a pleasantly faced lady who smiled at her and waggled a little rag doll at her.\u00a0 It wasn’t Clarabelle but good enough, she reached out for it, snatched at it and hugged it close.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Poor little mite, she looks in need of something hot inside her”.\u00a0 Mrs Cameron said<\/p>\n

“Will you come to me for a cuddle, Pet, and let your Pa take off his coat now.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia wasn’t sure, cringed away and whimpered a little when Adam handed her over while he shrugged off his coat. Holding the doll close with one hand she reached out for him immediately in order to be back where she felt safest.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hot food was served up and she sat on his knee to eat at the table.\u00a0 Outside it was dark, stars sparkled and twinkled and seemed so close it seemed possible to reach out and snatch a handful.\u00a0 Upstairs in their cots the Cameron children slept soundly as the muted voices of the men drifted through the floorboards into the rooms above.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was a lot to talk about, gaps to be filled in on what Adam \u00a0didn’t know, and like \u00a0wise with Ben, Joe and Roy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia was asleep so didn’t hear much of what had befallen them all in their search for her.\u00a0 She never got to hear how ill Joe had been, and how they had feared for his life at one point.\u00a0 Nor about the kindnesses of strangers in a town as lawless as Bodie.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was early morning when the chatter stopped, the fire banked, lamps extinguished for all to settle into sleep. She slept in her father’s arms, the beat of his heart close to her ear and if it were of some inconvenience he never said, nor did anything to change it.\u00a0 It was just a reassurance that she was there, with them, and safe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 67<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Laughter from children is like music from heaven and nothing pleased the men crowded in Cole’s cabin more than the sound of Sofia’s giggles as she played with Cassie and her brother, Andy.\u00a0 The footsteps running up and down in the room above their heads were a sure indication that some energetic game \u00a0was underway.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy leaned back in his chair and smiled over at Adam “Seems to be recovering well from her ordeal.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded although he frowned slightly and glanced over at his father who looked thoughtfully over at him \u00a0“What’s on your mind, Pa?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The question got the attention of Hoss and Joe who leaned in closer as though they didn’t want to miss a word of what was going to be said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I was merely going to ask if you really knew exactly why Mrs Royale was so determined to have Sofia.\u00a0 Even the fact of her going to the extent of sending Duggan after you . \u00a0it defies logic.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe grinned “Well, I guess that answers your question for you, Pa.\u00a0 She was crazy, she wasn’t able to be logical.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss nodded in agreement and looked over at Luke who was also listening. \u00a0 With a sigh Luke replied how she was always a strange woman.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

” At the Fort you soon learned not to cross her.\u00a0 The other women avoided her as much as possible although at times she could be really charming.” he toyed for a moment with a spoon that lay unused upon the table “Her husband adored her, so, if you fell out of favour with her he would come down heavy on you as a result of the lies she’d spin,”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Is that why you left the army?” Joe asked as he reclined back in his chair, his face thoughtful as he tried to imagine what this virago actually looked like.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I left before I was kicked out ..” Luke shrugged and tossed down the spoon so that it rattled a little way down the length \u00a0of the table “I was paying too much attention to Katherine …or so her mother thought.\u00a0 It was Clifton Reid who warned \u00a0 me that trouble was heading my way.\u00a0 I was just a scout, expendable in their eyes as I wasn’t contracted to the army. I quit, rode out of there and not long afterwards met my future wife.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was a lull in the conversation as he finished talking, \u00a0and it was Adam who picked up the spoon and began to turn it around between his long fingers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Can’t she be arrested for kidnapping?” Hettie asked as she came from the stove with the steaming coffee pot in one hand. \u00a0 With her usual dexterity she poured out coffee for everyone as she walked around the long table.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“She didn’t kidnap Sofia, in fact she saved her life and from what I could see Sofia lacked for nothing.\u00a0 Good clothing, toys, even a friend to keep her company.”. Adam sighed, and shrugged “I guess we’ll never know the answer of what was going on in her mind.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy sucked coffee from his moustache and nodded “Well, seems to me the law may disagree with you on that point. \u00a0 She made no attempt to find out where the child came from, tried to change her name keep her there against, if you don\u2019t mind my saying so, against the wishes of the family to whom she belonged. Soon as I get back to town I’ll get in touch with the Governor about seeing that some law gets sent to Bodie.\u00a0 Seems it needs a firm hand.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You ain’t tempted to take on the job as law man are ya?” Hoss grinned giving Roy a friendly punch in the shoulder which nearly sent the old man toppling over the back of his chair.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, my days of wearing that badge \u00a0are over now.” Roy stared sadly into the depths of his cup and sighed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was the clatter of feet upon the stairs and the three children burst into the room with giggles and rosy faces. Cassie ran up to Hettie and flung her arms around her mothers skirts which caused Hettie to say something about cupboard love and no doubt they wanted cookies.\u00a0 The clamour that greeted that remark proved her words to be correct although everyone shared in a grin when Hoss cried “Me too ..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was good to relax now and there was a lot of teasing and banter going on until Ben rose to his feet and declared it was time for them to take their leave. \u00a0 Cole nodded and shook his hand, assured them that the buggy had been repaired and patched up as best as he could do it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’m more \u00a0than glad things worked out, Adam,”. Cole said sincerely as he shook Adam’s hand “Just sorry that you all had to go through so much.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No more than you would if she had been your daughter, Cole.”. Adam smiled and the brown eyes softened as he saw the gentle look pass over the other mans face. They shook hands again and parted<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cassie looked sadly at her new friend and pouted rather for it was seldom that visitors came to such an isolated area especially visitors with children.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Will you come again?” she asked Sofia as they walked to the door.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I don’t know.\u00a0 Maybe.” came the honest but not exactly welcome reply.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Can’t you try to come in the spring?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Well,” Sofia’s brow crinkled a little, then she smiled “You could come and stay with us at the Ponderosa.\u00a0 That would be fun.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cassie nodded rather doubtful as to whether or not that would ever happen.\u00a0 Sofia, upon seeing her little friends face drop \u00a0still more wondered how she could put a smile back on Cassie’s face.\u00a0 They were almost at the doorway now and Joe was waiting to lift her up into the buggy.\u00a0 Due to his recent illness he had been elected to ride alongside her.\u00a0 She paused and turned to look at Cassie,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I guess I have to go now. \u00a0 It was nice meeting you, Cassie.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Good bye then, Sofia” the little girl said and raised a hand to wave her friend farewell.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Hurry Sofia, we’re waiting for you.” Her Uncle Joe called out and she watched as he shook out the quilt ready to wrap her in.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Impulsively she lifted the cord of her fur muff from around her neck and passed it over the other child’s “There, that will keep your hands warm, Cassie.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She said nothing more but ran towards her Uncle who caught her and promptly bundled her up.\u00a0 She wasn’t able to see Cassie again as she was seated in the wrong position. Had she been able to do so she would have seen how the little girls face lit up with delight as she slipped her hands into the luxurious warmth and gazed up at her mother as though in disbelief that someone could have shown her such kindness.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The little convoy turned into the direction they knew would lead home. \u00a0 Ben and Roy took the lead while behind them came the buggy with Adam riding alongside close to his daughter. Joe held the reins of the horses between his strong fingers, and with a slight smile on his face as he carried the memory of Sofia giving away such an expensive item to Cassie.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke rode by Hoss’ side, his thoughts drifting back to the past when he had first encountered the Royale’s.\u00a0 They had been turbulent years after the war between the States.\u00a0 He glanced over at his companion who seemed deep in thoughts of his own.<\/p>\n

The sun shone from a blue sky and when Hoss gazed upwards he was reminded of Hester’s eyes, and with a slight shake of his head he wondered how she was faring.\u00a0 It seemed so very long since he had seen her and held her in his arms.\u00a0 Doggone, but he sure missed her \u00a0so.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 68<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The men all felt a lightness of heart that made their journey appear so much easier.\u00a0 The weather was just as cold, their aches and pains just as painful, their teeth ached from the intensity of the low temperature just as it created a painful band around their brows.\u00a0 But their hearts were light, the threat of pursuit gone, and they were on their way home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Uncle Joe, do you know that Alice fell down a rabbit hole?” \u00a0Sofia whispered as she snuggled closer to her Uncle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, I didn’t, sweet heart?\u00a0 Why did she go and do a dumb fool thing like that?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“She saw a rabbit wearing a waistcoat … What’s a waistcoat , Uncle Joe?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe’s brow creased in concentration “Well \u00a0I guess \u00a0its a coat worn around the waist.”. \u00a0he thought a moment seeing the doubt on his nieces face “Have you been reading a book, \u00a0Sofia?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded, “Phoebe read it, and he was carrying a watch too.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Who was?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“The white rabbit?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“How’d you know he was a white rabbit?\u00a0 Could have been black or grey?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She shook her head, “No, he was white, he kept saying ‘It’s late”, Phoebe told me. \u00a0 She read the story.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe nodded solemnly “I see.”. he frowned again, \u00a0while his eyes strained on the vast expanse ahead of them and the figures of Ben and Roy urging their horses on through the snow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After some minutes had passed he looked down at the little girl and smiled “Who’s Phoebe?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Beside the buggy Adam listened to the snatches of conversation that drifted through to him.\u00a0 The air was very still, frigidly cold and the voices of his brother and daughter seemed almost an intrusion upon the silence.\u00a0 A strange silence because it wasn’t really like that at all, the sound of the horses plunging through the unbroken virginal snow, their heavy breathing and snorting, the creak of leather saddles along with the swish swish of the runners that bore the vehicle along all created noises that disturbed the peace,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He looked behind him, the coil of smoke from Cole’s chimney was long gone now, not even a speck upon the white horizon. \u00a0 \u00a0Luke pulled his muffler higher to protect his face, grateful indeed for the fact that there was a lull in the wind.\u00a0 He thought over his experiences of the past few days, of the bodies they had to leave \u00a0contorted by the ice. He shivered at the memory while grateful to still be alive.\u00a0 His arm ached, a reminder of the wound he had received, but what did that matter, it was proof that he had survived.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His thoughts turned to Katherine, regrets now that he had been unable to help her escape from Bodie, from Rosemarie. He resolved to try something once he had discussed it with Marcy. \u00a0 His heart danced a little at the thought of his little wife, a smile lingered across his lips …he would soon be home, with Marcy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Riding by his side Hoss was deep in thoughts of his own, thinking of the Cameron’s with their children living in such an isolated area.\u00a0 It reminded him of his own childhood, of how dependent he \u00a0had been upon his father, brother and Hop Sing for companionship and love.\u00a0 Somehow he had never felt deprived of either.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy and Ben plunged onwards until Roy stretched out his arm towards his friend who recognised the look on the older mans face and drew Cinnamon to a halt. \u00a0 Behind them Joe pulled on the reins and the buggy swerved a little before coming to a stop.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What’s wrong?”. he yelled, and glanced across to Adam, Hoss and Luke as they rode up \u00a0abreast of them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Time for a break, some of us arn”t as young as we once were ” Ben said with a nod of the head to emphasise his words.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Good, I’m starving!”. Hoss declared and rubbed his hands together with glee “Time to break open the supplies.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cole and Hettie had been generous in providing for the travellers and all of them ate sufficiently.\u00a0 Sofia was encouraged to “stretch her legs” while the sun shone and the wind was still and calm.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was slow progress, horses needed to rest, the snow was softer in some places than others. \u00a0 Within no time at all the sun began to dip.\u00a0 Shadows stretched long slow moving shapes that caused Sofia to cling closer to her Uncle Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was night and time to sleep.<\/p>\n

\u2026………..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia put a match to the candles that she set upon the window cills.\u00a0 Will he come home tonight?\u00a0 She stood for a moment looking at her reflection in the glass darkened by the blackness of night. \u00a0 She knew that in their homes Hester and Mary Ann would be lighting candles too, welcoming beams of light to guide their menfolk home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben stared up at the ceiling and watched shadows flickering back and forth.\u00a0 Then he bowed his head and put his hands together as he always did when he said his prayers.\u00a0 A draught blew from under the door and trickled over the boards to tease around his nightshirt.\u00a0 He ignored it, he wanted to talk to God and tell him to bring his Pa and Sofia home.<\/p>\n

………..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In his room Hop Sing burned his incense and bowed to his ancestors. \u00a0 He had watched Missy Hester growing thinner and it didn’t suit her not a woman of her build.\u00a0 She didn’t even seem to enjoy the good food he was making her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Throughout the day the snow had drifted down and then stopped, then the sun had shone until the winds came again bringing more snow to pepper the glass and blot out the light.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tonight the temperature would drop again, the wind would growl around the house and the snow would be subdued into ice.<\/p>\n

……….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary Ann sat in the rocking chair and fed her baby.\u00a0 She stroked back the fuzz of hair, and smiled down at the blue eyes turned up staring back into her face. \u00a0 Such trust, such confidence, and she felt tears trickle down her cheeks even though she kept the smile fixed on her face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Not long now, my darling, and daddy will be home.\u00a0 You’ll see, he’ll be so happy to see us all again.”. she dropped a kiss into the baby’s smooth brow “We’ll be so happy too, \u00a0won’t we?”<\/p>\n

………….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy approached the younger man, and placed a hand upon his arm “Not long now, Adam.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded, smiled and looked fondly at the old man. He knew what Roy meant, it gave him a feeling of contentment to hear someone say the words out loud.\u00a0 Words that had become like a mantra repeating itself inside his head.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Thank you for coming along, \u00a0Roy.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He held out his hand which Roy took in his own and shook warmly. “I didn’t do much, son, wasn’t really much help.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You were with my Pa.\u00a0 He knew you were there to back him should he have needed it.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy sighed and shook his head, gripped Adams \u00a0hand again before looking up at the sky.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Morning already. \u00a0 We need to move on.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 69<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The small convoy passed by Fort Independence that had been abandoned as a military outpost in July 1877. It was just visible with its backdrop of mountains.\u00a0 The flat lands over which the Fort had presided with its thick covering of snow made the eyes ache as the sun light gleamed down creating so much shimmer that Roy had to remove his spectacles.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam couldn’t even recall riding past it previously, although they must have done.\u00a0 Maybe it had been during one of the snow storms that could have been the cause of Joe’s illness.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The mid day meal was more frugal than previously, they ate snow to moisten the food because there was no fuel for a fire. \u00a0 Sofia was quiet and coughing hugging into Joe for extra warmth and her eyes constantly fixed upon her father.\u00a0 Everyone’s thoughts now was on getting home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They passed the junction of the road where Sofia had been found by the Royales and Reuben by Candy. \u00a0 The river ran faster as snows from the hills fed it so that it was engorged with the extra \u00a0volume of water.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Finally the turning where Luke would leave them.\u00a0 Sofia bade him goodbye with a hug, the men shook hands along with murmurs of thanks. Adam was most vocal in expressing thanks to his brother in law, which Luke brushed aside with a wave of the hand and strangely shy smile.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“It was an adventure” he eventually said, “and a pleasure. Marcy and I would never have forgiven ourselves if we had sat by and done nothing. \u00a0 Tell Olivia we’ll come by as soon as we can \u2026” \u00a0he shook Adams hand again and then turned his horses head toward home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Towards Marcy.\u00a0 The emotion welled up and caught in his throat.\u00a0 He had never realised how much little Marcy meant to him as he did at that moment.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They continued on, past the cottage where Fitz had taken the children that fateful evening.\u00a0 It was a mere silent shack laden with snow, \u00a0resembling the kind of scene one would find in one of those little glass domes with the winter scenes. Turn it upside down, give it a shake and turn it right \u00a0side up again to see the snow fall.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Will we be home soon?” Sofia asked quietly, timid now at the sight of the cabin and the memories it evoked.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Her Uncle Joe smiled and nodded “Won’t be long before you will be back with Reuben and Nathaniel.\u00a0 Your Ma will be more than happy to see you, my dear” and he blinked back some tears of his own at the thought of Olivia’s joy.\u00a0 Joe was never able to keep his emotions locked up behind a poker face.\u00a0 The very thought of how Olivia would react on seeing her daughter again \u00a0brought a rush of joyful excitement through his while body.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Not only that but to see Mary Ann again, and the children.\u00a0 Why, if anyone had dared to take either child he would not have been able to restrain himself from killing them, with his bare hands if necessary.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Uncle Joe, is it much further now?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He looked down at the upturned face and smiled, nodded “Not much further.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She settled back into the quilt, scrunching herself into as small a figure as she possibly could to be as warm as possible,.\u00a0 Uncle Joe was a skinny lean man and didn’t give off the same amount of body heat as Uncle Hoss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They were on a ‘public’ thoroughfare now.\u00a0 The snow was packed down tight by the amount of traffic that had passed to and from Virginia City. \u00a0 The battered buggy glided along so easily and the horses no longer struggled to push through \u00a0the frigid snow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Close to the turning into the pass which led home stood a lonely figure on horseback. He stood out like a dark cut out silhouette against a backdrop of blue sky and white snow. At first glance he was unrecognisable \u00a0but soon revealed himself as Candy who upon seeing the small convoy gave a whoop and set his horse into a canter \u00a0to meet them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If anything could have confirmed how close they were to home it was the sight of Candy’s generous grin, twinkling blue eyes as he greeted them. \u00a0 \u00a0Hands were shaken, greetings exchanged.\u00a0 To the question as to why he was there he explained that once he knew they were on the way home he had decided to come for an hour before dawn and an hour when he could spare it later in the day, just in case they came, so he could see that they really had got Sofia, really were home, and to escort Roy back to town.\u00a0 Part of his duties as sheriff, of course!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy shook his head and muttered he didn’t need no wet nursing, he knew \u00a0his way home, wouldn’t need a sheriff to ride in with him! Folk would think he was under arrest!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They indulged him with laughter, Sofia waved her hand and called out “G’bye, Uncle Roy.” so sweetly that the old man tugged his moustache and nodded as he rose a hand to wave them farewell.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy rode closer to Ben and Adam, leaning towards them \u00a0he nodded over towards the direction of the Ponderosa “The pass is not good, we’ve had so much snow that its just continually building up. \u00a0 Avalanches are more than possible just now. \u00a0 Do you know other routes home?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam and Ben glanced at one another but it was Ben who answered for them by saying they’ll risk the pass, as all other routes would be just as difficult to navigate. Candy nodded “Just take care. \u00a0 I thought you should know…” he paused a moment “You wouldn’t think of coming into town at all, would you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He looked warily over at Sofia hoping she hadn’t heard the conversation.\u00a0 The last thing he wanted was to put more worries on the child’s shoulders.\u00a0 Adam shook his head “that wouldn’t solve things Candy.\u00a0 My wife needs her daughter home.\u00a0 How’s she know we were even this close if we go into town and wait for the thaw?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss pushed his horse forwards to hear the conversation more clearly, “I could go ahead and tell her…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben looked at him, then at Adam. He could see the conversation was irritating his eldest son but before Adam could speak he shook his head \u201cNo, we go together.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss nodded agreement and glanced at Adam and Joe, who nodded in acceptance of their fathers statement. \u00a0 Without pausing thereafter the big man nudged Sam forwards into the pass.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 70<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Watching as his brother rode on into the pass \u00a0Adam pondered over the risks they were undertaking.\u00a0 Each of them were well aware of what could happen were there to be an avalanche.\u00a0 They knew only too well that few survived the downpour of snow, ice and rock that could cover and fill the pass.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He thought of Sofia, frowned and then became aware of his fathers dark eyes looking at him. Ben nodded as though in understanding of his fears, but no word was spoken between them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After some moments Ben rode \u00a0forward, passing the buggy and giving Joe a nod, a smile, before he went on his way.\u00a0 Before Joe could pick up the reins, however, Adam was dismounting and walking to wards them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Joe, I’ll come along with you. \u00a0 Best to stay together.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe nodded, and edged further along the seat to make room as Adam carefully lifted Sofia up and settled her back onto his lap.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Well, pumpkin, we’ll be home soon.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia nodded, the smile illuminated her face, both men smiled in return. \u00a0 Adam \u00a0rather fussily \u00a0tidied the quilt more tightly around her, then his face became stern \u00a0as he looked at her very intently.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Sofia, I want you to listen to me very carefully.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded “Yes, Daddy.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Once Uncle Joe starts driving along the road I want you to be very very quiet.\u00a0 Not one word, do you understand?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She knew he was serious, her little heart fluttered and she looked anxiously over at where Ben was now some distance from them.\u00a0 She returned her gaze to Adams face and nodded.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He stroked her cheek “No calling over to Grandpa…no chattering. You do exactly what we tell you. Understand?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded “Is it dangerous, daddy?”. she said in a whisper.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“It might be,” he replied, and looked up at his brother who was staring ahead at Ben’s back “Are you alright, Joe?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe nodded “I’ll make sure we get home safely, Adam. “”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I know you will,” came the instant reply followed by a shake of the hand.\u00a0 He then looked again at Sofia, smiled and tightened his hold around her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia wasn’t really scared.\u00a0 She felt warm, safe. \u00a0 In her fathers arms and snug in the quilt all she had to do was sit still and enjoy the beauty all around her. \u00a0 She thought she had seen enough snow to last a lifetime but the vast white shapes created by the wind upon the high bluffs of the mountain pass were awesome.\u00a0 She didn’t understand what there was to fear, after all, she was in the best place of all.\u00a0 The world around here was snow white with a blue sky darkening to denim and everything was quiet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She could see her Uncle Joe’s jaw tighten, a little nerve throbbing at his temple.\u00a0 He pulled his hat lower as though to shield his eyes and then turned to smile down at her<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Alright, Sofia. Here we go…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A nod of the head to his brother and then a flick of the reins and \u00a0the buggy slipped across the packed down snow as elegantly as a swan on land!\u00a0 Adam had every confidence in his brothers abilities in handling the vehicle.\u00a0 As for the horses, they had proven their value time and again on the journey.\u00a0 He sat holding onto his daughter with his eyes scanning the plump cushions of snow balanced so precariously upon the top of the rocks.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe kept his eyes on his fathers back, and just beyond was Hoss.\u00a0 When Hoss slowed and raised a hand they all stopped.\u00a0 It seemed then that all any of them could hear was the sound of their own heart beats.<\/p>\n

\u2026……..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester stood in the doorway and stared all around her.\u00a0 It hadn’t snowed for most of the day now and the sky was losing its bright blueness as it slowly edged towards evening. \u00a0 Hop Sing came to stand beside her, everything was so still, so very very quiet. \u00a0 It was the strangeness of this silence that always \u00a0captivated him, so profound, so deep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Do you think they will be home today?” Hester asked and pulled her shawl closer around her body for the air was bitterly cold.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“They come soon.”. Hop Sing nodded, “you come in, too much cold.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hannah heard the door close and looked at her mothers face.\u00a0 There was no point in asking the question, she could see the answer for herself in her mothers still, expressionless face.\u00a0 The child scrabbled to her feet and ran to wrap her arms around the woman’s skirts and hugged her tight.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hope ran up, her arms wide and her face anxious “Pick up.” she cried as she hurried towards her mother “Pick up…..”<\/p>\n

………<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Charlotte was a pretty baby.\u00a0 She was the kind of infant artists loved to sketch and paint under the titles such as Innocence or cherubic.\u00a0 Mary Ann pulled the blanket carefully around her before stepping away from the crib.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel left his tower of bricks and ran over to her, so much like his father that Mary Ann just had to swing him up in the air and hug him to herself.\u00a0 Chubby arms wrapped around her neck and wet lips kissed her cheek in his exuberance of having her all to himself.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Story?”. he asked with big hazel green eyes twinkling at her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Not now, young man, its time for you to go to sleep.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, no…Dan have story.\u00a0 Peese momma?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You’re a rascal, do you know that?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Dan wascal.”. he nodded but his laugh gurgled out and he began to giggle “Wascal.\u00a0 Daddy wascal too?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary Ann said nothing to that but held her son closer as she made her way downstairs to wards where the fire blazed and the lamp flickered. \u00a0 She sat down with him on her lap and together they watched the flames dancing in the hearth, red sparks crawled up the back wall like so many soldier ants. They watched them together until he yawned and then repeated his request for a story.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She counted his fingers and played This little piggy …until his giggles when being tickled were becoming too shrill. Then it was The story of the three pigs which he knew so well that he was able to cry “Huffin’ an’ puffin’ all house down.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As his eye lids drooped she just sat in the rocking chair, humming a tune beneath her breath, just loud enough for him to hear.\u00a0 Even when he was asleep she rocked back and forth, hummed the tune and thought of her Joe, and wondered where he was now.<\/p>\n

\u2026……..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nathaniel could see no reason why he was going to bed when it was not really dark.\u00a0 He shook his head and threw his bricks across the floor as he cried “No, no, no.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His mother said “Yes, yes, yes.” and made a grab for him but he scuttled off too quickly and was out of reach before she could get near him. \u00a0“Reuben, get your brother!”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben immediately got off his chair and ran after the little boy who thought this a wonderful game and began to laugh at their efforts to catch him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He reached the big table and darted beneath it just as Reuben caught him by the foot.\u00a0 One slight wriggle, a chuckle of delight, and Reuben was left in possession of his brothers sock.\u00a0 Nathaniel giggled and emerged on the other side of the table, scampered into the laundry room and hid himself among the clothes hanging on an airer to dry.<\/p>\n

He was highly delighted at this game, his giggles made it easy to find him and he waited for the discovery with excitement. \u00a0 He was dismayed to hear his mothers voice saying very clearly “Too bad, Nathaniel won’t be able to have \u00a0any candy . \u00a0 Come along, Reuben, we can have some though.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Candy!\u00a0 Nathaniel’s eyes widened in dismay at the thought of missing out on candy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I is here.”. he cried crawling out from under the damp clothing “Me have candy.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia turned round and bent over to look very sternly at her son. “Candy is only for good boys.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I is good.”. Nathaniel nodded, his big brown eyes so like his fathers as they looked in appeal up at her.\u00a0 He held up his arms and wriggled his fingers, dimples in his cheeks as he gave her a hopeful smile.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben sighed and shook his head as he returned to his chair and sat down.\u00a0 It seemed to him Nathaniel had their mother wrapped round his little finger. \u00a0 He had just picked up his book when his brother tugged at his leg, and with a twinkle in his eye clambered up into Reubens lap, sat down and leaned his dark curly head upon his brothers chest<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Me lubs Boo.Boo.”. Nathaniel declared with a contented sigh.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben put his book to one side and hugged the little tyrant tightly against him so that Nathaniel clapped his hands in delight.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia looked at her boys with pride, what a blessing they were to her now.\u00a0 Her smile softened her face, so often touched by sadness lately. \u00a0 If only Adam could see his boys now, he’d be so proud.<\/p>\n

………<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss raised his arm and stopped Sam his tracks…within minutes Ben was at his side to observe the mound of snow blocking their path.\u00a0 He glanced up at the crags and boulders and pointed wordlessly up to where a small avalanche had taken place already as a result of a top heavy mass toppling over the edge.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The buggy came to a stop and both men clambered down to join the other two.\u00a0 It was obvious that the buggy would not get through, and to complicate matters further evening was closing in.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam glanced up at the trail the avalanche had created along its descent.\u00a0 He could judge quite accurately the amount that had now blocked their path. \u00a0 Had the track not been enclosed on both sides the falling debris would have continued over and down the other side taking at least two thirds with it.\u00a0 But here, in a pass, it had gathered and massed together.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They were all thinking along the same lines, no word being spoken but understanding what each was thinking.\u00a0 Ben had dismounted now to stand beside his sons, only Hoss remained seated looking thoughtfully back to where he could see Sofia’s pale face peeking over the apron at them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam now glanced back too, saw Sofia and put a finger to his lips to remind her to be quiet. \u00a0 As she sunk back into the quilt there was an ominous rumble and a complete shelf of snow began to teeter from the edge of the cliff face.\u00a0 It trembled for a moment then began to slide slowly down the cliff face, gathering momentum as more and more snow was clustered together in its descent.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The horses harnessed to the buggy lunged forwards, hurling themselves towards where the four men were bunched together watching as the beasts came closer and behind them the first of the snow hit the track with a dull but explosive boom.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 71<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Each man there thought the same thing and that was to save Sofia, to somehow miraculously snatch the buggy to safety.\u00a0 But thought acts faster that numb frozen bodies can although each put forward superhuman efforts to reach the horses and slow their frantic progress<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia felt the buggy bounce and lurch which toppled her onto the floor. As she was still in the quilt she suffered no harm although fear caused her to scream in panic.<\/p>\n

The sound of her voice was drowned by the roar of the tumbling blocks of snow and debris.\u00a0 The horses eyes rolled, they snorted, whinnied and put their heads down to plunge forwards in order to avoid the death dealing tumbling mass of destruction.<\/p>\n

It was Hoss, still mounted, who succeeded in reaching them and by driving Sam close grabbing at the reins, gathering them in his fists and hauling hard on them. \u00a0 The presence of the big man, and his mount, went a long way to slowing them down and preventing a total wreaking of themselves and the lumbering vehicle they were hauling behind them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The buggy was battered, the runners broken but when Adam reached in to find Sofia he found her unhurt and looking around with dazed blue eyes. \u00a0 It had all happened so quickly, so rapidly, \u00a0that she had had barely any time to feel anything worse than the initial fall at the start.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam lifted her out and stepped away from the buggy. It teetered and wobbled a little before righting itself but had obviously reached the stage of abandonment.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Are you alright, Sofia?\u00a0 No bumps or bruises?”. \u00a0he was smiling, trying to alleviate the situation for her by forcing some lightness into his voice and she hugged him more tightly before assuring him, in a whisper, that she had just one tiny bump..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A haze of snow mist was drifting over them as a result of the avalanche and as he walked back to the others he scanned the burgeoning masses of snow \u00a0that hung overhead.\u00a0 The other men were doing the same.\u00a0 Hoss had dismounted in order to unharness the horses from the buggy and check on Adams mount who had succeeded in freeing himself from the vehicles back axle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe pushed his hat to the back of his head, and shrugged “What now? \u00a0 Any suggestions?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They turned to look at the mass preventing them from continuing. \u00a0 Adam set the child down but held tight hold of her hand.\u00a0 The temperature was falling, soon everything would be getting iced over by frost.\u00a0 Hoss \u00a0had remounted into the saddle and now leaned forward “You know we ain’t so far from home.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Your point being?” Joe asked placing his hands upon his hips and looking up at his brother \u00a0hopefully.\u00a0 Ben and Adam also turned to give Hoss their attention.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Wal, \u00a0all we got to do is get over that there.”. He nodded and pushed back his hat much in the manner that his younger brother had earlier “The horses can carry us over.\u00a0 They’ve done pretty well so far.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That much was true, through vast amounts of flat snow laden terrain to carefully stepping their way through rocks and boulders the sure footed creatures had done really well.<\/p>\n

Ben looked thoughtful, then nodded.\u00a0 He approached Cinnamon and mounted into the saddle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’ll go first. Adam, do you want me to take Sofia?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The tightening of Sofia’s hand in his confirmed the fact that the child preferred to remain with her father. Declining his father’s offer Adam mounted his horse then with Joe’s help got her up into the saddle with him. \u00a0 Joe clambered on to the broad back of one of the other animals.\u00a0 Being such an expert rider being without a saddle was no problem to him.<\/p>\n

Ben had disappeared by the time Hoss had urged Sam to go forward.\u00a0 Followed by his brothers and the spare horse trailing behind them. \u00a0 The horses, intelligent creatures that they are, stepped forward cautiously as though more than aware that a misstep could put them into danger.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Stepping onto newly formed ‘ground’ created by rockfall, \u00a0debris, snow and ice meant the way was totally uneven, \u00a0unpredictable and often not solid.\u00a0 It took time and patience to negotiate over it and slowly wend their way back onto the track.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Each of them could feel the sweat cooling on their bodies as they paused to look around them.\u00a0 Hoss grinned “I reckon another hour and I’ll be giving Hester \u00a0the biggest hug of her life.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He would have whooped aloud if it hadn’t been for the subtle \u00a0slithering of pellets of snow coming down the sides of the pass.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Does that mean we’re nearly home, Daddy?”. Sofia whispered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“It does, not long now, Princess.” he smiled down at her and his eyes looked different it seemed to her, as though worry and stress had been washed out of them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She settled her head upon his chest and closed her eyes. It was alright now, she could go to sleep and when she woke up she would be home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe nudged the horse forward with thoughts of his wife drifting through his mind, and of hot food, a warm fire.\u00a0 His lips drifted into a dreamy smile, he had felt so cold for so long that the thought of sitting by a fire with Mary Ann in his arms almost thawed the ice in his blood right there and then.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now new smells were drifting on the air, the smell of woodsmoke and other aromas associated with human habitation, \u00a0the clean unpolluted air of their journey over the past week had made their senses more perceptive to the very first indication of their nearness to home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They were free of the pass and its dangers, they were at long last on the home stretch. \u00a0 Soon would be the turn off to Adams home, then to the Ponderosa itself, and then Joe would take the last mile alone. It would seem the longest but shortest journey of his life!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The moon played hide and seek with the clouds, stars joined in the game, the sky itself was a deep purple blue.\u00a0 Shadows stretched and rode alongside them and in his arms the child they had sought, slept soundly.\u00a0 Adam hugged her close, cleared his throat wherein \u00a0deep emotion had gathered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben turned in the saddle and waited for his eldest son to join him.\u00a0 Hoss and Joe came up alongside them.\u00a0 No words spoken, none were necessary.\u00a0 They shook hands, smiled and parted.\u00a0 The three horseman watched as Adam turned into the track leading to his home.\u00a0 They could see, as did he, the orange glow of the lamps from the main room and also the brave flickering flame of a candle from the window above.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It would be the same in their own homes ..that solitary little flame that would have been a symbol of hope \u00a0to the women who waited their husbands return.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They rode onwards and the shadows rode along with them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 72<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke Dent pushed open the door to the house very carefully and closed it behind him as slowly \u00a0as possible. No burglar could have acted with less caution than he at that moment. He stood for a second or two as a man would who was drunk and needed to steady himself, but for Luke it was because, now that he was finally home, the cold and exhaustion had suddenly become more than he could bear.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sounds of movement propelled him forwards into where Marcy was and where warmth flowed towards him from a blazing fire.\u00a0 The heat wrapped around him like a cosseting blanket and yet it caused him to shiver.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Marcy was standing at the table very carefully trimming the wick of a lamp.\u00a0 Luke watched as she bent over her task, nimble fingers snipping away the scorched stuff and then turning the wick as low into the bowl of the lamp as possible in order for the kerosene to soak it through. \u00a0 Next she replaced the cleaned funnel after which the glass bowl with the etching of flowers running through it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He watched her with the rapt attention of a lover, noticing every movement of her slim fingers, every turn of her body and curve of her neck.<\/p>\n

Marcy swept up the burnt remnant of the wick and walked to the fire and cast it to the flames.\u00a0 After brushing her hands together she turned back to the table and that was when she saw him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With a cry of joy she ran towards him, \u00a0flung her arms about him, felt his arms around her. \u00a0 Whispered words tumbled from their lips, to be silenced by their kisses.\u00a0 Then she took him by the hand and \u00a0led him to wards his chair by the fire, removed his outer clothing and knelt before him in order to remove his boots.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luke \u00a0felt dazed, moments came and went without him knowing what was happening.\u00a0 Suddenly he had a mug of hot coffee with something alcoholic in it but was unaware of how it came to be in his hands.\u00a0 He raised it to his lips and the warmth of the steam misted his face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She was kneeling by his side, chafing his hands, he wondered what had happened to the mug although he knew he must have swallowed it down from the taste in his mouth.\u00a0 Warmth was beginning to tingle \u00a0through him, her warm hands continued to massage his fingers.\u00a0 How anxiously she gazed up at him, how pretty she looked.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’m alright now, sweetheart.” he whispered “I’m alright now I’m home with you.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Her fingers caressed his face, were prickled by the stubble of beard but he caught her hand in his and kissed each finger.\u00a0 She listened patiently as he told her about finding Sofia until his voice became too hoarse.\u00a0 She listened even though she \u00a0was willing him to stop so that she could tell him her news, their news.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He leaned down and kissed her, a long sweet kiss and then she told him that come the summer they were to be blessed with a son,or perhaps a daughter. Then she was silent and watched his face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A son or daughter.\u00a0 The words filtered through into his head and made sense.\u00a0 How often during that journey had he thought of his poor innocent boy whom he had loved so much, and now he wondered why it was he had been so longing for the child again.\u00a0 But he knew now, it all came together so perfectly.\u00a0 It was because of Marcy, \u00a0he had so wanted a child from Marcy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Don’t cry,” she was saying in alarm “Its good news, isn’t it? Don’t cry, Luke.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Was he crying?\u00a0 He didn’t know if he was or not, but his heart was so full of love for this sweet young woman that it had to overflow \u00a0somehow.\u00a0 He kissed her face, her lips<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I love you, Marcy.\u00a0 I love you so much.\u00a0 I’m just about the happiest man in the world right now.\u00a0 Oh Marcy, I haven’t the words to tell you …”<\/p>\n

So he said not another word but drew her up onto his lap, held her close in his arms and kissed her again until she was quite convinced that he really was whom he claimed to be, the happiest man in the world.<\/p>\n

…………..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When Joe pushed open the door of the house he paused a moment to think back to when<\/p>\n

he had left his father and Hoss to make this last solitary mile home. \u00a0 It had given him time to think over the events of the journey, of new friends made, the kindness of strangers to a sick man.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Emotional as always but now exhausted he leaned against the frame work of the doorway and closed his eyes. \u00a0 He remembered telling his father that he felt a failure, he had achieved nothing except to have become another burden by being I’ll.\u00a0 What help had he been in finding Sofia, in giving Adam valuable back up?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The last fight against nature as they had sought to escape with those snows poised to topple down would give him nightmares for years to come. \u00a0 That wild trek across the broken shards of ice, snow and rock and the night drawing in ever closer had caused every bone in his body to ache from weariness and cold.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He had almost fallen out of the saddle as soon as he had entered the stable and had stood wearily leaning against his trembling exhausted horse wondering how he was ever going to make the walk to his house without collapsing in a heap in the snow covered driveway.<\/p>\n

It was while he stood in such dejection that Hank appeared from the hayloft above. Hank who had made his home above the stalls in order to be closer to the horses he loved quietly descended …rifle in hand. …to see who was intruding \u00a0below.\u00a0 His hand suddenly clapping down on the young mans shoulder nearly gave Joe apoplexy!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So while Hank attended to the horse Joe had sat on a hay bale and drank the hot bitter stuff that the old man called coffee.\u00a0 It had tasted foul but it had put some life into him, soothed the jangled nerves enough for him to make that walk and push open the door to his home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary Ann was playing the piano, very softly.\u00a0 He could remember it was one of her favoured pieces and as he listened to it he thought himself to be truly blessed.\u00a0 Even if he felt \u00a0he had been more hindrance than help he had, at least been there.\u00a0 At that final shoot out he had stood shoulder to shoulder with his father and Roy, he hadn’t failed them then, and he knew as long as he had breath in his body failure would never really be an option.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He walked quietly into the room where she was playing her music, her fingers drifting over the keys and her eye’s half closed as she looked straight ahead and yet saw nothing except those images conjured up by her music.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She looked beautiful and Joe felt his throat tighten as the feeling gathered like a knot and he had to cough to clear it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Joe?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She stopped playing, turned to look at him, rose slowly to her feet so that she could walk towards him and reach out for his hands.\u00a0 Then her fingers touched his face, very gently, then her lips kissed his, very tenderly<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Oh Joe, I missed you so much.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He held her to him as though she were fragile and precious.\u00a0 He kissed her lips, then her throat, whispered how much he loved her, missed her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gently she pushed him away from her, her gray eyes always so expressive, scanned his face, looked into the hollows of his eyes and then gently brushed aside a recalcitrant lock of hair from his brow “Joe, you’ve been unwell.\u00a0 What happened? \u00a0 No, don’t say a word …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A finger to his lips and then she was pulling off his clothing, and rubbing his hands, all the time whispering words of endearment and comfort.\u00a0 Finally she led him to their bedroom, sat him down on the bed as though he were a child, knowing by the instinct of a lover that his greatest need now was the warm comfort of his bed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe allowed her to fuss, her caresses, words of love, were a healing in themselves.\u00a0 Every word every touch soothed the aches he had been feeling, reminded him of his strengths, confirmed his love for her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was so grateful to be home and finally he grabbed at her hands,held them tightly within his own and drew her closer to him so that they were at eye level. He pulled her closer<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I love you, Mary Ann, I love you so much.”. he leaned forward, just a little, “I missed you every moment of every day.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She smiled then, her gray eyes sparked with all the feelings she held for him “My darling Joe …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was still cold, he shivered, he pulled her closer so that together they fell back onto the bed. \u00a0 Joe had never felt so grateful for his blessings as he did at that moment.<\/p>\n

………….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When Ben dismounted from Cinnamon he thought his legs were going to buckle beneath him.\u00a0 It was Hoss’ hand grabbing at his arm that prevented him from actually falling and it was Hoss who led him to where he could sit and rest while he himself dealt with the horses.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I must be getting old,” Ben said ruefully, but hoping that his son would deny such a suggestion with enough vigour to even convince himself.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Shucks, Pa, we ain’t exactly been on a Sunday stroll through the park.”. Hoss carried a saddle to the cross bar of the stall and set it down.\u00a0 His hands were numb with cold, his fingers felt like putty and were clumsy as he fumbled to unbuckle the cinch strap<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben leaned his head against a post, and closed his eyes.\u00a0 The smells of the stable and its warmth wrapped around him comfortably.\u00a0 He felt that if he could just drift off to sleep now he would be only too happy to do so.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mr Cartwright?\u00a0 Hoss?\u00a0 You’re back?”.\u00a0 Ezra’s voice, and there he was, holding a lamp aloft and looking as though he couldn’t believe his eyes.”Miss Hester sure is going to be happy to see you, my word, she sure is..here, I’ll see to the horses.\u00a0 You jest go on inside..”. he paused as he stood beside them “How’s the little girl?\u00a0 Is she alright?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“She’s well, \u00a0Ezra.\u00a0 Reckon her Ma is about having the surprise of her life right now.”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss smiled affably and after thanking Ezra for taking over the care of the two horses, helped Ben too his feet “C’mon, Pa, I got someone I want to see …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The door opened as Hoss lifted the latch and stepped into the room, followed by his father who was removing his hat.\u00a0 Having closed the door both men stepped further inside, removing coats and hats as they did so.\u00a0 It was so quiet in the big room that Hoss felt nervous.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The fire was burning brightly, lamps were shining around the room, but there was no sign of Hester, or the girls, not even of Hop Sing although a sudden clatter in the kitchen indicated his presence.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben opened his mouth to call for Hester but just as he did so the clock struck the hour making Hoss \u00a0jump and as his hands were still numb and sore he dropped his gun belt onto the floor. \u00a0 It didn’t really make much \u00a0noise but evidently enough \u00a0to bring Hester hurrying from the upstairs landing where she stood staring down at them both as though she couldn’t believe her eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hop Sing also appeared from the kitchen, a large meat cleaver in one hand but, like Hester he stopped in his tracks, lowered his arm and stared in disbelief at the two men.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Do we look that bad?”. Ben muttered and looked at Hoss as though seeing him for the first time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No,” Hester’s voice wavered down to them,”No, you both look …wonderful.”. she clasped her hands together and pressed them to her chest, shook her head “I ..I can’t get … I can’t speak.\u00a0 The words won’t come out.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Aw, honey,” Hoss cried “jest you don’t say a word. There aint no need.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Oh, Hoss, oh, Hoss …” she was sobbing, and still unable to move, her legs wouldn’t move even though her mind was urging her to run down those stairs and into his arms.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben grinned, set down his gun belt, and coat “Hop Sing, some of your coffee. \u00a0 What are you cooking for supper?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Despite his legs being as wobbly as his daughter in laws Ben \u00a0made his way to the tantalis and poured brandy out \u00a0into three glasses.\u00a0 He gulped down one, refilled the glass and then turned to see Hoss and Hester in an all embracing hug.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss was a sensitive man, as tender hearted as any man could be.\u00a0 He \u00a0blubbered copiously when a new little creature was born, at words of some soppy song, seeing tender scenes of Hester and his girls. But seeing Hester after so long was not something he could cry over.\u00a0 It was just so right, so natural, \u00a0so wonderful to hold her in his arms and kiss her, even though she was weeping enough for the two of them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben waited until they parted, then gave them both a glass of brandy while Hop Sing came in with a tray which be set down. \u00a0 He beamed at them “Good you back now.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Thanks, Hop Sing.\u00a0 It’s good to be home.”. Ben smiled, his fingers were tingling. Blood was warming, flowing through cold flesh.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester broke away from Hoss and took the brandy, sipped it and then turned to her husband “Adam? \u00a0 Sofia?”.\u00a0 Her eyes flicked from one to the other “Are they \u00a0alright ?\u00a0 Joe?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“All’s well, sweet heart.” Hoss gently caressed her face with his hand which she seized in her own and kissed, feeling the cold flesh between her warm fingers. “They’re safe.\u00a0 Everyone’s safe.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded agreement as he settled into his chair, the warmth of the fire was almost too suffocatingly hot but it was good to feel even though waves of extreme fatigue was washing over him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Sofia?”. Hester settled beside her husband “Is she safe?\u00a0 Is she. …alright?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss \u00a0kissed his wife on the brow, “Sofia is a brave little girl, and considering ..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He paused as there came the sound of breaking crockery, both he and Hester looked at in amazement at the sight of Ben Cartwright sound asleep, and snoring, in his chair. The cup and saucer in pieces upon the hearth .<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester shook her head “He looks exhausted,” she whispered, “Poor Pa.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss nodded, his eyes lingered upon the weary, haggard face of his father, appreciated once again the older mans courage, determination to keep going among those \u00a0younger by so many years.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester was carefully covering Ben with a blanket, then turned to her husband “Sweet heart, let’s get to bed before you collapse.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss smiled, he really couldn’t think of anything better. He was so doggone tired!<\/p>\n

……………<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Home, daddy.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yes, Princess we’re home”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The horse made its way its way to the stable and Adam slid from the saddle \u00a0to open the door and lead it inside.\u00a0 Sofia looked around her, familiar sights, smells. She felt strange as she clung to the pommel of the saddle and allowed the horse to enter the stall Adam led it to. \u00a0 He turned then, smiled at her and lifted her down “Wait until I see to the horse.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She nodded, held the quilt close around her and waited until the horse had been unsaddled, unbridled. \u00a0 She swayed on her feet though, the warmth of the stable filled her head, made her eyes feel heavy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam caught her before she crumpled and picked her up.\u00a0 His arms ached, terribly so.\u00a0 Her body weight seemed heavier now and he accepted that weariness had stretched him to its limit. \u00a0 But it wasn’t much further now, just to the house and he turned to carry his daughter home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia was standing in the doorway with a shawl around her shoulders, her hair loose around her shoulders and a lamp in her hand which glowed like a halo around her head.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I saw, from the window …”. she whispered<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He smiled, slowly, his eyes watched her face as he walked towards her with the child asleep in his arms.\u00a0 Finally he stood before her, “She’s very tired, Livvy.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He realised then that she was crying, her cheeks wet with tears. She reached out and the child was passed over to her, she could only nod, look at him, \u00a0look at Sofia, and then her tears became sobs so that Adam leaned forwards drew her close into his arms and kissed her brow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Between them Sofia wriggled, opened her eyes and recognised her mother. \u00a0 It was alright now, she really was safe.\u00a0 When Olivia kissed her, Sofia flung her arms around her mother’s neck, “Oh mommy mommy”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam stepped back to give mother and daughter room to move, to hold and hug, to kiss and weep.\u00a0 Once or twice Olivia glanced up at her husband, caught his eyes as he gently, fondly kept looking down upon her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Time to move on and it was Adams arm that shepherded them from the stables, he closed and barred the stable door and followed them across the yard to wards the house.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reuben was running towards the front door when Adam pushed it open. \u00a0“PA!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Such an excited cry of delight from the child and Adam had just enough time to prepare himself as the boy launched himself into his fathers arms. “Oh Pa, I knew you’d find her, \u00a0I knew you would.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sofia, snug in her mothers arms reached out to grab at Reubens hand, laughed as he caught hold \u00a0“Sofee, I’m sorry …I didn’t mean for you to get lost.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I wasn’t lost, Boo.Boo.\u00a0 I was found.” \u00a0she sighed and settled her head upon her mother’s shoulder “Mommy, daddy found me.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia nodded, overwhelmed by so many feelings. Adam hugged Reuben and then put him down, too weary now to carry the boy further.\u00a0 He placed a hand upon his \u00a0wife’s shoulder and was warmed by the adoring look of gratitude she gave him. \u00a0“Adam..”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But he put his finger upon her lips, shook his head.\u00a0 Like her, he felt overwhelmed not only by the fact that they were all home together but from her emotion, from the cold and the exhaustion of so many days fighting the weather.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Children are great for bringing things into perspective, once Sofia was on her feet Reuben was telling her all about his adventures and she, gabbling nonsense about white rabbits and a girl called Ella.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam now led his wife to the big settee by the fire, where they sat, together, his arm around her shoulders.\u00a0 She looked anxiously at him, her fingers touched his face, stubble prickled her fingers. “You look exhausted, Adam.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He smiled wearily, “I am, but the sight of you, meant more than anything in the world to me. \u00a0 I love you, Livvy.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She leaned in towards him, kissed him “I love you too… So much.” \u00a0she turned her head away from him so that he reached out a hand to caress her neck.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What’s the matter, sweetheart?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Nothings the matter\u2026nothing ..I just can’t stop crying.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was about to speak when a little body launched himself upon him and settled into his lap “Daddy ..I is here”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The triumphant cry of a tousled headed little toddler was followed by chubby arms hugging him tightly and a little body bouncing up and down “I comed \u00a0down.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“So I see…give me a hug.” Adam laughed and Nathaniel hugged him close then drew back looking farther puzzled.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Not nice.” he grumbled and pointed to the prickly stubble on his father’s usually smooth face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam swung the toddler down onto the floor where Nathaniel ran off crying in delight at the sight of his sister. His voice “Sofeeee. \u00a0 Sofeeee” \u00a0 echoed round the room bringing the smiles of ‘look what we’ve achieved, aren’t we clever’ upon the faces of their parents.<\/p>\n

…………..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was hours later when Adam opened his eyes.\u00a0 He was unsure as to how or when he fell into bed, he rather suspected that he had navigated the the stair’s in his sleep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia was looking down at him with her green eyes dark with love for him.\u00a0 As soon as his eyes locked onto hers she dipped her head and kissed him, deep and long.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Sleepy?” she whispered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Not now…” he murmured as his fingers followed the contours of her face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“That’s good.”. she smiled, “nor am I.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He dug his elbows into the mattress and sat up, his chuckle was deep, his eyes dark like molasses, “You’re wearing …”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Do you like it?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“There isn’t much of it, is there?”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She laughed, \u00a0“I don’t think there was meant to be.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As he leaned towards her to kiss her yet again she moved slightly beyond his reach, her face became serious “Adam, thank you.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“For what?” he widened his eyes sounded surprised,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You know for what..for finding, for bringing…” \u00a0he stopped her then, a long kiss which left her breathless<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Don’t forget, my Darling, she’s my daughter too.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t a rebuke, not even a reminder\u2026 it was just a statement of fact, sealed with a kiss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

.Conclusion…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hop Sing nodded his head and inwardly thanked his ancestors as he placed food upon the table and counted the number of Cartwright’s who were in the room.\u00a0 He noted each one like some venerable old shepherd counting his sheep to make sure none were missing or gone astray.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They had arrived as though it were all prearranged, this gathering at the ‘old’ house.\u00a0 It was though each had to seek out the others to ensure there were, indeed, no casualties from their past adventure.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hester came bustling from the kitchen bearing aloft the cake she had ‘whipped up” and placed it on the table.\u00a0 She smiled with satisfaction, then turned to Hop Sing and squeezed his hand gently. “Thank you, Hop Sing.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He wasn’t sure why she thanked him. \u00a0 Perhaps for letting her cook the cake in his pristine kitchen?\u00a0 It would be a mess, Miss Hester was a very untidy cook.\u00a0 Perhaps for preparing so much food in readiness for uninvited guests. Maybe because she felt there was just so much for which to be grateful and thanks were overflowing!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He tweaked the corner of the tablecloth and smoothed it down. \u00a0 At least she was eating again.\u00a0 Evidence of the “snack” she and Hoss \u00a0had eaten in the early hours of morning proved that \u00a0… and a whole jar of raspberry jelly gone!\u00a0 She hadn’t done that since she was expecting Hope.\u00a0 Perhaps ..he reprimanded himself, he had momentarily forgotten,<\/p>\n

Miss Hester would never have more children.\u00a0 A sad shame in Hop Sings opinion.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was Joe holding baby Charlotte in his arms with Daniel tugging impatiently at his fathers jacket and hopping from one leg to another. That child was always wanting to pee, Hop Sing had never known a child so full of pee in his life!\u00a0 Ahh, Missy Mary Ann to the rescue and with an adamant nod of the head Hop Sing watched \u00a0as she bore the little boy away to the bath room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was anxious for Joe, Little Joe as he would always think of him. \u00a0 The young man had been unwell, he had lost weight.\u00a0 But then, \u00a0they all had …he shook his head, and began to pour wine into the glasses.\u00a0 He could remember when Missy Marie had brought the crystal glassware to the Ponderosa. \u00a0 \u00a0Goodness, the look of wonderment on the boys’ faces at the sight of them! \u00a0 Such delicate beauties in their rustic surroundings was a wonder to behold. Hoss had been almost mesmerized by them and more than once had his fingers smacked for daring to touch them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Alright, Hop Sing?”.\u00a0 Ben asked as he took one glass from the table, “You’ve done us proud as usual.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Very important day, Mr Ben,”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yes, it is.”. Ben sighed and turned to look at his family with a whimsical smile on his face “How did you know they’d be here today?\u00a0 You were cooking from early this morning .”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hop Sing didn’t like to correct his employer and friend, for that was a slight exaggeration.\u00a0 Only from mid.morning had he got preparation under way for the feast.\u00a0 He smiled and bowed “Hop Sing know family very well now, Mr Ben.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben chuckled and nodded, “Well, thank you.\u00a0 I’m more than glad you do.”. \u00a0he sighed and sipped some wine “Time goes too quickly, my friend. \u00a0 Too quickly…”. he frowned and the black brows came together to hood over the dark eyes “No regrets, Hop Sing?\u00a0 You don’t regret coming on board with us all those years ago?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hop Sing smiled, bowed slightly “No regrets, Mr Ben.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Of course there were the things he would have liked to have changed …Missy Marie should not have died so young, for a start.\u00a0 If she were still alive then Mr Ben would have had someone of his own to have come home to, as his sons had done. \u00a0 He sighed, no regrets but some things could have been changed for the better.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He looked at Joe again and frowned. \u00a0 He would get \u00a0some echinacea for him, and something that would boost his appetite.\u00a0 Hop Sing picked up the tray with the wine glasses on and carried it to where Ben was talking to Adam.\u00a0 Just home and already talking about fencing down on the south pasture. Hop Sing shook his head and fixed Mr Adam with a stern look as the younger man turned to take a glass<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“We could have done with you on this trip, Hop Sing.”. Adam smiled, the dark eyes looked kindly at his old friend and before Hop Sing could speak a word he added a few words in Cantonese that amounted to “Thank you, you’re a good loyal friend, you’re much valued”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Well, Hop Sing sighed, they chose to take that old man, the goat faced sheriff instead!\u00a0 It’s a wonder he hadn’t turned up today as well.\u00a0 But, he smiled smugly, he couldn’t, the pass was sealed off by the avalanches.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Olivia smiled \u00a0as she took a glass but her eyes were watching her daughter even though Missy Hester was talking to her.\u00a0 Hop Sing sighed and knew that for a while Missy Olivia would not want the child out of her sight, no, not even for a moment.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It had been the same way with Marie when Little Joe had got lost on Eagle Mountain all that time ago.\u00a0 Just a little scrap of a child he had been then, but self willed and determined to get his own way.\u00a0 Well, he \u00a0suffered for it as a result because his mother never let him out of her sight for months.\u00a0 Suffocated him with her fears and guilt.\u00a0 In his opinion it was that which caused the child to suffer from fear \u00a0of heights.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss took his glass and gave Hop Sing his usual wide grin. It was going to take some while to get him to put back the weight he’d lost, Hop Sing lamented.\u00a0 Then he remembered the midnight snack and smiled, well, \u00a0perhaps not!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So, here they all were, safe and sound.\u00a0 No more fretting, no more worrying.\u00a0 His dark eyes watched as Sofia hugged Clarabelle and held tightly to Hannah’s hand.\u00a0 One so fair and the other so dark, clearly devoted friends.\u00a0 Hope was building a tower of bricks closely observed by Nathaniel who was removing bricks as quickly as she was putting them together.\u00a0 No doubt he would knock the whole thing over soon, he always did.\u00a0 She would forgive him of course, she always did.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hop Sings eyes roamed the room and located Reuben,of course, standing close to his father.\u00a0 Hop Sing wondered if the boy would ever realise just how like Adam Cartwright he was becoming? \u00a0 He would carry the guilt of his sisters \u00a0loss until the actual event was a mere family story but, like Adam, he would retain that feeling. \u00a0 It would haunt him because he was of \u00a0that mould, more of a Cartwright than a natural son.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hop Sing returned to his place by the table and listened to the rise and fall of the voices around them.\u00a0 Not a word about any avalanches, or a lost child, not even of a mad woman who wanted Sofia as her own.\u00a0 It was enough that they had accomplished what had to be done and now they were home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben raised his glass and light from the central chandelier caught the sharp edge of the pattern cut into the crystal creating, for those observant enough, a brief prism of colour.<\/p>\n

Hop Sing bowed slightly and smiled.. It just proved that \u00a0after the storms there were always rainbows.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Shetland Islands 1st March 2016….<\/p>\n

Tags:\u00a0 Family,\u00a0wife \/ wives<\/p>\n

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

Summary : \u00a0It is the winter of 1877 and two of Adam and Olivia’s children are lost during the blizzards. This story is about the iron like qualities the Cartwrights need in order to find a child.<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 K+\u00a0 (182,450)<\/p>\n

Home is the Sailor Series, links to stories within the series are included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":145,"featured_media":5894,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[2,7,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-actionadventure","category-a-u","category-drama","wpcat-2-id","wpcat-7-id","wpcat-23-id"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Lake-Tahoe-Sunset-Blue.jpg?fit=300%2C600&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12645","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/145"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12645"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12645\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5894"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}