{"id":13272,"date":"2016-09-02T12:08:26","date_gmt":"2016-09-02T16:08:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13272"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:20:35","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:20:35","slug":"quarantine-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13272","title":{"rendered":"Quarantine (by MissJudy)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0<\/strong>Adam is running the ranch alone while his family takes a spring trip to San Francisco. All has gone well, but a change in the weather heralds an unexpected chain of events that Adam must deal with. When Ben, Hoss, and Joe return, they find an empty ranch\u2026and a mystery.<\/p>\n

Rating:<\/strong> K \u00a0WC: \u00a030,700<\/p>\n

Quarantine<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

Adam was shivering so hard he bit his tongue. He could taste blood as he raised his fist to the sky and cursed the dark clouds rolling eastward across the Sierras along with the precipitation that was falling from them. Freezing, driving rain had already slithered into every entry point at the neck of his oilcloth slicker, and the clothing beneath had wicked the cold moisture through every layer until it had reached his skin and consumed any heat his body could produce. His lower pants legs were so saturated that they\u2019d formed their own weather system, generating a downpour on his feet and a swamp inside his boots. The mere thought of the icy water that had bubbled between his toes with each step he\u2019d taken for the last few hours made him start shivering again.<\/p>\n

Yet as bad as these things were, they were not the worst of his discomfort. He\u2019d had to dismount throughout the day while creating a fence out of brush to keep a herd of young steers confined in a box canyon. While away, puddles had accumulated in his saddle. He kept his leather well-oiled and that had protected it for a while. But after the prolonged exposure, the grain had begun to rise on the seat. His pants and long-johns had become soaked in a saddle-shaped pattern from sitting in those puddles, and the combination of wet clothing and rough leather had created the effect of a scouring brush being wielded against his tender parts with the ferocity of a woman scrubbing her floors before hosting a meeting of the Ladies\u2019 Benevolent Society.<\/p>\n

He was in a world of misery, yet he couldn\u2019t complain\u2026too much. \u201cC\u2019mon, boy.\u201d He urged Lightning ahead with a gentle nudge as a shiver rippled from his neck to his toes, and a minor readjustment of his position in the saddle reignited a burn in the raw flesh he was sitting on.<\/p>\n

His family had been away in San Francisco nearly three weeks already, and his thoughts turned to them. He could imagine them getting spruced up about now, before heading out for the evening. He\u2019d given the three of them his blessing for the extended trip, assuring them that he and the crew would handle the early spring ranch work in their absence.<\/p>\n

If he remembered correctly, they were going to a play tonight featuring a young woman From Virginia City. Little Joe had fancied her\u2026briefly\u2026before she\u2019d decided to try acting. His brother had laughed when he\u2019d heard of her success, saying that the drama she\u2019d created in every circumstance while they\u2019d kept company, must have been her rehearsal for this opportunity.<\/p>\n

Another oath exited Adam\u2019s mouth when an icy reminder of the weather seeped through the buttons of his coat after he dumped the contents of his hat brim onto his lap while looking down to check a flooded section of road. He was officially wet everywhere now. The house was still 20-minutes away, so he tried again to distract himself. His memories took him to back to what he\u2019d done over the winter\u2026and the reason he\u2019d had to send his family off without complaints.<\/p>\n

His father and brothers had managed the ranch from January through early March while he\u2019d<\/em> been in San Francisco working with his college roommate, Frankie Wadsworth, who had moved to Frisco after their graduation to run the West Coast division of their family\u2019s engineering empire.<\/p>\n

People in Virginia City knew of Adam\u2019s education and came to him with projects that kept him as busy as he could be with the demands of the ranch. But working at Wadsworth Engineering meant bigger and more demanding jobs that helped keep his skills sharp. He and Frankie always worked hard when he was there, but they also took advantage of all that the bigger city had to offer when the day was done.<\/p>\n

His family never resented his absence because they understood its importance to him. It wasn\u2019t \u201cwhether\u201d he could go that kept him home some years. He wouldn\u2019t leave until he\u2019d spent Christmas with his family, and the Carson pass through the Sierras could be snowed in by then. This year\u2019s trip had been a sure thing since the Pony Express had begun crossing the pass with daily mail service, and they kept a path open for their riders. There had been snow by the time he\u2019d left, but he\u2019d gotten across the pass without trouble thanks to their efforts. Once he\u2019d gotten to Placerville, he\u2019d left a hores at a livery, and caught a stage to San Francisco.<\/p>\n

There\u2019d been an early thaw this spring, but regular stage schedules hadn\u2019t resumed due to a last heavy snow in the mountains. Rather than wait, his family had decided to use the same method he had, and had ridden to Placerville a little over two weeks ago. They could travel light since Frankie kept \u201ccity duds\u201d at his house for all four Cartwrights, and had them delivered to the hotel when they came to the coast.<\/p>\n

Pa had been reluctant to leave him alone with so much to do, but he\u2019d been convincing in his promise that that there was enough crew to do every project they\u2019d discussed by organizing effort and resources. There\u2019d been no need to convince his brothers of anything, and they\u2019d finally gotten their father to go before things got summer-hectic.<\/p>\n

Work at the ranch had progressed as well as Adam had predicted for the first two weeks while good weather had blessed their efforts. They\u2019d managed to round up cattle from their winter pastures and move them to fresh grass. New calves had been branded and brought to grazing land near the house with their mothers, and a few hundred head had been moved to a fenced pasture to be fattened with hay and grain for a May delivery to the cavalry. A team of men had ridden fence lines and checked line shacks, and he\u2019d planned for repairs and restocking to be done in this final week before his family returned. The work had gone so well because he\u2019d chosen the best men for each task, and more probably, because he\u2019d kept them motivated by the promise of a free weekend before his father got back.<\/p>\n

He smiled as he mentally ticked off all the things they\u2019d finished on his list of projects, and then sighed as the rain began falling harder. He wouldn\u2019t take Lightning to a faster pace because he had no intention of repeating yesterday\u2019s near tragedy. Conditions hadn\u2019t \u00a0been nearly this bad the day before when Sport had been in full stride as his foreleg had dropped into a deep hole, camouflaged by water. The big horse had tumbled forward when he couldn\u2019t correct the imbalance, tossing Adam over his head as he fell. He hadn\u2019t been hurt in the landing, but he shivered with the remembrance of watching his faithful steed struggle to stand, and fearing the animal had shattered the leg that had born the weight of the fall. Sport had made it to his feet and there\u2019d seemed no serious injury, but he had limped heavily.\u00a0 Adam had walked home leading the chestnut to prevent further injury, and had left him in his stall to rest today.<\/p>\n

The wet, miserable man atop Lightning gave a deep sigh as he thought about Sport\u2014dry, fed, and being pampered by the ranch foreman\u2014while he was out in the worst spring weather he\u2019d seen in some years.<\/p>\n

The distance to the house continued to wane\u2014unlike the rain-and he tried not to think about \u201cgetting\u201d home. His thoughts went there anyway. He knew there\u2019d be no meal heating in the oven; neither would there be a fire in the massive hearth to chase away the dampness and warm his bones, nor dry clothing and \u201csaddle salve\u201d waiting in his room. He\u2019d given Hop Sing time off while his family was gone, and his reasoning had been sound\u2026at the time.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d known he\u2019d be away a good deal, and when he could get to the house at night, he\u2019d arrive late and leave early. His cooking abilities were the target of much humor within his family, but he could manage eggs and ham for his breakfast, and he\u2019d eat what the trail cook made for the men for the other meals. Hop Sing had promised to come out to the house every few days to straighten things, bring fresh laundry, and leave a meal Adam could heat when he did get home. The corner of his mouth pulled to a grin as he thought about Hop Sing\u2019s \u201ctime off.\u201d He usually worked even harder at his cousins\u2019 place than he did for his employer.<\/p>\n

His thoughts of Hop Sing turned the grin to a concerned frown. Things had gone as they\u2019d agreed for the first two weeks. But he\u2019d expected a visit yesterday and had been surprised when there\u2019d been no evidence that Hop Sing had been there. The rain would have made the trip uncomfortable, and it wasn\u2019t that he\u2019d ever expect an employee\u2026or friend\u2026to risk their<\/em> life to make his<\/em> life more pleasant.\u00a0 Yet Hop Sing was a loyal and conscientious man who would have come to honor his promise\u2026if possible<\/em>. Something was wrong; he felt it in his gut.<\/p>\n

The miserable rain and the conditions it was causing were irksome, but he sensed that the weather was only a harbinger of what had started going wrong a few days back: not the root of it.<\/p>\n

Another flume of water poured from his hat when he examined road ahead. It was sheeted with water, and he pulled Lightning to the boggy grass on the side to pass it. Once they were clear, he went back over the things that were contributing to his disquiet.<\/p>\n

Most of his crew had gone into town last Friday night and returned Sunday. They\u2019d lived up to their end of the bargain, and he\u2019d actually wanted them to blow off a little steam\u2014away from the ranch. A few of the crew\u2014the two in charge, and those with families\u2014had \u201cvolunteered\u201d to stay and keep working, asking for a cash bonus rather than time off. Adam had jumped at the chance, and they\u2019d managed to get even more done over the weekend.<\/p>\n

The revelers had returned in good spirits, talking about the revue they\u2019d seen at the Bucket of Blood. According to their reports, it had included a lot of singing and dancing done by \u201cpurdy\u201d girls. Adam suspected that the entertainment had relied on the pretty faces to keep the audience from hearing the off-key singing and clumsy dancing, as was the usual case with the traveling burlesques that made the rounds of saloons this time of year.<\/p>\n

He had gone to bed Sunday night with the hope of getting through every project on his list before his family returned next weekend. That hope had ended when he\u2019d awakened to the sound of pelting sleet and rain hitting his window. The temperature had dropped into the mid-30s on a brisk north wind, and although it hadn\u2019t been cold enough to accumulate, there had been snowflakes mixed in with the rest of the mess. The high spirits in the bunk house had plummeted as quickly as the temperature, and Adam had heard the men grumbling about the \u201cmiserable conditions\u201d when he\u2019d been a few feet from their door. He\u2019d agreed that their complaints were justified and rearranged his list to get projects done at the ranch instead of out in the fields. He\u2019d still had to send a few men to make sure the herds were staying put in weather that could have spooked them, but there\u2019d hadn\u2019t been much protest since he\u2019d taken on part of that assignment himself.<\/p>\n

Things had gone well enough on Monday. The rain had been sporadic, and things had gotten done.<\/p>\n

By Tuesday morning the rain was constant, even though light. The temperature had<\/em> inched into the low 40s, but the wind had picked up again, making it feel much colder. The worsening weather had been accompanied by other changes that had been more concerning. He\u2019d found several glassy-eyed men sitting around the table cradling their heads when he\u2019d taken the work assignments to the bunkhouse. Their pink cheeks had been the only color in their faces, and they\u2019d complained of feeling achy. He\u2019d sent those men back to their bunks, and suggested that those who were feeling well might want to avoid the others. As he\u2019d done a headcount, he\u2019d soon realized that those who\u2019d taken ill had been the men who\u2019d spent time in town. This had led him to believe they\u2019d been done in by their \u201cactive\u201d weekend, followed by working in the cold. He\u2019d been confident that a day of rest would put them back in order.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d set the healthy crew members to building new feed bins while he\u2019d ridden out to see if the fattening herd needed more hay. Sport had tripped on the way home from there, and that had left his nerves jangling. But what he\u2019d found at the house had made his anxiety grow even more. The crew\u2019s fevers hadn\u2019t abated, and some of them had started coughing. He\u2019d brought out the standard elixirs and potions his family kept in the house for illnesses to add to what the men had retrieved from the cook wagon, and he\u2019d again assumed that rest would put them right.<\/p>\n

The night had<\/em> brought changes, but not the ones he\u2019d hoped for.\u00a0 Hugh, the ranch\u2019s long-time foreman, had knocked on the door early this morning, bringing the bad news that the men were still ill, and now everyone else, except for he and Mike, his second in command, was feeling poorly too. He\u2019d prophesied that the men had a good dose of the sniffles from the change of weather, and that he and Mike were all right because they\u2019d bunked in the barn, and hadn\u2019t mingled with the men since the sickness had started.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s head had spun a little as he\u2019d taken in the information, not because he\u2019d felt sick, but because he\u2019d had to figure out how to run a place the size of the Ponderosa with three people. \u00a0He\u2019d finally decided to leave the two healthy hands at the ranch to keep an eye on the men and tend to the chores while he\u2019d gone back to ensure that the group of young, spooked beef that Mike and Hugh had moved into a box canyon on Monday, were staying put.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d gotten to them around mid-day after checking on a few other things along the way, and had found that several had strayed to the slippery rocks outside the shelter.\u00a0 He\u2019d ushered them back, and then blocked off the entry. The rain and muck had added time to his work and had gotten him to the miserable condition he was in now, but the canyon provided shelter from the howling winds, and his improvised barrier would keep them there.<\/p>\n

His thoughts and Lightning\u2019s slow, steady pace had closed the distance to home, and he began to look forward to his evening. \u00a0He felt fine except for being chilled and bone tired, and he agreed with Hugh\u2019s theory that minimal contact with the sick men would save him from whatever was going around the bunkhouse.<\/p>\n

The house became a hazy image in the distance, and he used his final minutes on the road to think about tomorrow\u2019s trip to town. He needed cash to pay for a bull and several heifers that were due in on Friday from the Thunderbird Ranch. That spread was 100 miles to the southeast, and he wondered if their weather was as bad, and if they\u2019d be delayed because of it. It didn\u2019t matter; they\u2019d want their money whenever they arrived.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Hugh came running from the barn when he saw Adam ride in, hot-footing it across the puddles like there were flames under his feet instead of mud. He\u2019d become the ranch foreman around the time that Adam had been old enough to start working cattle, and he\u2019d taught the boy the basics of herding; helped him through the hazing by the other hands; stood by him when he\u2019d faced a drover intent of hurting Ben Cartwrights by killing his son*, and later, he\u2019d experienced the same sadness as the rest of the family when Adam had left for school. The \u201ckid\u201d had returned as a young man seven years ago, and now he was Hugh\u2019s<\/em> boss. That didn\u2019t bother him. He took pride in having had a hand in how good Adam had turned out.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019re them beef doing?\u201d he asked, holding Lightning\u2019s halter as his boss dismounted with an audible groan. Hugh turned away and grinned wickedly, knowing exactly what was causing the man\u2019s pinched expression. He\u2019d done many a drive in wet clothes on a wet saddle, and just the memory of the rawness that resulted from it made him cringe too.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got them penned the best I could.\u201d Adam clenched his hands several times to get them working again. \u201cMy gloves were so wet that I went without them and now my hands seem frozen in place.\u201d He gave Hugh a good looking over. \u201cYou look like you\u2019re still feeling all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am, but then I don\u2019t get sick much. Never did as I recall.\u201d He drew a hissing breath through his teeth before adding, \u201cBut the men aren\u2019t any better.\u201d He returned the visual check he\u2019d just received, and gave his opinion. \u201cYou look a little rough around the edges. Are you feelin\u2019 poorly?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam sent a spray of water from his hat as he shook his head. \u201cNah, I just need to get dry and have a good night\u2019s sleep.\u201d He thought a minute. \u201cI\u2019m going to town first thing tomorrow. Why don\u2019t you ride along? We\u2019ll get Doc Martin to come out. You can head back with him, while I get my other business taken care of.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hugh nodded. \u201cI\u2019ll make sure that city-slicker doctor doesn\u2019t slide off the road on the way out here.\u201d Both men laughed while the foreman turned Adam around and gave him a push toward the house. \u201cYou go on inside. I\u2019ll get Lightnin\u2019 settled in, and oil that saddle so it won\u2019t be ruined. Mike is still healthy too, and we\u2019re stayin\u2019 put in the barn until this blows over. I might not get sick much, but I don\u2019t tempt fate either.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam had started to walk away in a wide-legged gait, but he turned back. \u201cHow\u2019s Sport doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hugh looked at his boots, and shook his head. \u201cHe\u2019s still favorin\u2019 that leg, so I\u2019ll saddle Lighting in the morning. We\u2019ve had a poultice on it most of the day, and we\u2019ll do another liniment rubdown tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another concern poked Adam\u2019s memory. \u201cWith Cookie being sick, have you or the men had anything to eat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMike\u2019s a better cook than Cookie is, but you can\u2019t never tell neither of them that I said that. Mike made us some chicken stew using the heat stove in the tool shed, and he took a pot of broth to the bunk house with some canned biscuits and fruit. I can\u2019t say the men are stomach-sick or nothin\u2019 like that, but it don\u2019t seem they have appetites either. They\u2019ll be fine until the doc tells us what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Adam made a stop in the bath house to shed his wet outer things before going inside. He sighed as he looked longingly at the tub, knowing he\u2019d warm up fast with a bath. Yet it would take longer to heat the water than it would to dry off and change clothes.<\/p>\n

One look around the kitchen confirmed that Hop Sing had not been there, and he was grateful for that since the hard rain had made the roads treacherous. Yet he couldn\u2019t keep the whisper of discouragement at bay as all the discomfort he\u2019d tamped down during the ride crowded in to be heard. He wished he could strip down right there in the kitchen, but he knew about the time he\u2019d be standing there buck-naked, Hugh would appear in the doorway with a question he\u2019d forgotten to ask. He headed slowly to the wood box, minimizing the irritation to the rash that now shot pain to some very interesting places with every step, and grabbed a few split logs to get the stove fired. A match and kindling brought a flame quickly. He warmed his hands over the budding fire, and then replaced the burner plate and continued his cautiously-paced walk up the steps to his room.<\/p>\n

The thought of tugging dry pants over the inflamed skin set his teeth on edge, so he detoured across the hall to his father\u2019s room and borrowed a nightshirt from the dresser. Hop Sing\u2019s jar of salve was in his father\u2019s room, and he grabbed that too. A quick look at his path confirmed what he should have realized would happen: his soaked boots were leaving a trail of wet footprints. He sat carefully on his chair, and exerted a Herculean effort to get the soggy footwear from his feet. He glanced up when he finished peeling off the wet socks, and grumbled as he saw the empty log caddy next to his fireplace. He\u2019d intended to bring firewood upstairs, but he\u2019d passed through the living area without a thought of stopping.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour memory is going, old man,\u201d he chided himself as he inched back down the steps and filled two log slings with enough fuel for the night. It didn\u2019t make sense to build a fire downstairs since a good blaze in his room would heat the smaller area quickly and warm his bed in the process.<\/p>\n

Once flames were dancing on the dry wood in his fireplace, he stripped out of his clothes, toweled off, and spread a goodly amount of salve onto the complaining sections of skin. The relief was immediate, and he sighed thankfully before sliding the nightshirt over his head and donning his robe and slippers. A rumble in his stomach reminded him to head back to the kitchen.<\/p>\n

His supplies were dwindling but he found a slice of ham and enough eggs and bread to make a meal. The coffee was left over, but he couldn\u2019t remember anything tasting so good\u2026especially after he added a goodly amount of whisky to the brown brew in his cup. He looked around until he found a tray and loaded it with his plate, cup, the coffee pot, and the bottle. A last glance assured him that there was nothing near the stove that could start an unintended fire before he snuffed the lamps, grabbed his meal tray, and went back upstairs.<\/p>\n

He could hear rain pelting the roof as he ate while reading a book he\u2019d started when he was still in San Francisco. It didn\u2019t take long before the food, liquor, and warmth of the room plied their sedative effects and he felt too drowsy to do anything but stoke the fire one last time, blow out the lamp, and crawl into bed. There wasn\u2019t a more soothing comfort after a long day of work. Pa had spent good money on the furnishings for this house, but he\u2019d spent the most on their mattresses. A good night\u2019s sleep at the Ponderosa could cure many ills. He settled onto his back, pulled the blankets up to his chin, and was snoring in seconds.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Adam stretched in the pre-dawn darkness as he walked to the window and smiled over how much better he felt. He could see the pines in the yard swaying in the wind, and the lack of moonlight or stars spoke to continued cloud cover. But the absence of rain was a distinct improvement.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d left a pitcher of water near the fireplace before he\u2019d turned in, and the water was still warm enough that he could wash comfortably. He dressed in his last set of clean clothes, and looked at the basket of things needing to be washed, considering whether he should stuff them in a bag and take them along to the laundry in town. The ride was going to be hard even with the improved weather, so he decided against having added bulk hanging from the saddle.<\/p>\n

After tugging his bedding back into some semblance of looking \u201cmade\u201d, he padded through the dark house in his socks and found little in the cupboards for breakfast. He didn\u2019t want to bother gathering eggs or fuss with making biscuits, so he opened a can of peaches to eat while he made a list of supplies he\u2019d get in town. He made coffee and heated water for dishes, and attempted to clean up his mess from the previous days. There wasn\u2019t time to finish, so he laid towels on the table and set the utensils out to dry. Yet, even his quick efforts had restored some order, and that lifted his spirits even more.<\/p>\n

He took a few minutes to write reminders of everything he needed to accomplish in town. The first was to find Paul Martin and get him out to the ranch, followed by stopping at the bank and feed stores, and checking on Hop Sing. He\u2019d finished writing and was sticking the folded sheet in his pocket when he heard a knock on the door.<\/p>\n

Hugh smiled as Adam swung the door open and invited him inside. \u201cYou look better this morning. I was worried I\u2019d find you coughing and fevered.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I was asleep within an hour of getting inside, and it\u2019s amazing what that much rest can do.\u201d He gave his foreman a head-to-toe perusal. \u201cYou seem to be holding your own as well. How\u2019s Mike?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re both fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cDid you check on the others?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMike stuck his head in. Some of them are feelin\u2019 a might better but most aren\u2019t. I hope we can get the doc out here right quick.\u201d Hugh shifted from foot-to-foot. \u201cI got the horses saddled. If you\u2019re ready, we can get started.\u201d The older man might have told Adam what to do when he was a teenager, but now the \u201cboy\u201d was in his late 20\u2019s and fully in charge of the ranch when Ben wasn\u2019t around. Hugh still offered his advice concerning the stock, but Adam had earned<\/em> his place as the head man through hard work and skill, and Hugh had no reserve about trusting his judgment. It didn\u2019t hurt that the kid was pretty danged smart too; could make a deal as good as his pa, and never hesitated when there was a tough decision to be made. \u201cI don\u2019t mean to rush you, sir,\u201d he stammered as he continued to fidget. \u201cIt\u2019s just that\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

The younger man\u2019s eyebrow dipped as he smiled. \u201cI must be getting old if you\u2019re calling me sir. I remember when you called me \u2018young Cartwright,\u2019 and I figured it was because you didn\u2019t know my actual name.\u201d He slipped into dry boots, grabbed his warm coat and a hat and poncho from inside the credenza. \u201cC\u2019mon, let\u2019s ride. The sooner we get there, the sooner you\u2019ll get back for our men.\u201d Adam touched Hugh\u2019s shoulder as they reached the door. \u201cI know I\u2019m not that kid you trained, and I have a lot more responsibility for the ranch operations, but you never have to call me sir. I owe you<\/em> that title, not the other way around. You taught me and protected me when I was a greenhorn, and helped Pa make sure I turned out right. I won\u2019t ever forget that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hugh sniffed loudly as he ran his coat sleeve across his nose.\u00a0 He met Adam\u2019s eyes and gave a quick nod before heading out the door into the lifting darkness.<\/p>\n

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

Keeping a watchful eye on the road allowed for little talking between the two men. Hugh had gotten out ahead as they\u2019d neared town, and came to a stop at the top of the final hill, surveying the scene ahead of him. He pointed as Adam rode up beside him. \u201cNow what do make of that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam removed his hat, using it to shield his eyes from the light mist that still hung in the air. Every street into town was blocked by makeshift gates of lumber and packing boxes, and was being guarded by men with rifles. The main thoroughfare had a line of wagons stretching from the barricade, back to a hundred feet from where Adam and Hugh had stopped. The ones at the front of the line were unloading their goods onto the ground while shouting to the appropriate recipient on the far side of the slapdash wall. An empty wagon was approaching them on its way out of town, and Adam hailed the driver.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWon\u2019t let nobody in or out of the city right now. We can leave our deliveries and the shop owners come out to retrieve \u2018em once we\u2019re gone, but we can\u2019t even get in to have a meal.\u201d The driver shook his head. \u201cI ain\u2019t never seen nothin\u2019 like it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hugh asked, \u201cDid they say why they got it shut down?\u201d<\/p>\n

Another shake of the head. \u201cSome sickness goin\u2019 around, but they ain\u2019t much for small talk. That sheriff keeps us movin\u2019 and don\u2019t allow for no dilly-dallying or question askin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks.\u201d Adam called back as he waved Hugh ahead toward the sheriff in question.<\/p>\n

Roy was directing efforts at the checkpoint but stopped to salute the pair as they came to a stop. He gave a few orders to the man who was helping him, and walked far enough away to talk across the barricade without disrupting the work.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad to see you and Hugh up an movin\u2019, Adam. We was wondering how the outlyin\u2019 ranchers were faring with this mess.\u201d He put his hand up as they dismounted and walked toward him. \u201cI have to ask you to stay back, fellas. We ain\u2019t supposed to have direct contact with anyone who ain\u2019t already in town.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that about?\u201d Adam asked as he pointed to the large board with red letters spelling \u201cQuarantine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roy shook his head. \u201cAn older woman here with that revue last weekend, died Sunday. Doc Pinkerton**\u2014that doctor from the mines the city hired\u2014tended to her and said she succumbed to a high fever and pneumonia. By the time she passed, most of the other women in that troupe were developin\u2019 fevers and coughs too. That made him suspicious, and by Monday mornin\u2019, the bartenders and saloon girls from the \u2018Bucket,\u2019 and some miners who were at the show, were comin\u2019 down with the same symptoms. The doc said he\u2019d seen something similar when he was in Boston, and knew it was no good thing. Flu, he calls it. The good news is that most of them girls are already feelin\u2019 better. It\u2019s the older folks, little tykes, and those who aren\u2019t so healthy to begin with who can die from it, and he said it would become an epidemic if it wasn\u2019t stopped in its tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam pursed his lips. \u201cI remember we had fever in the mines a couple of years ago. Paul said it was caused by the water. But this sounds contagious. Does Pinkerton think the showgirls brought it here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeems that way.\u201d The sheriff nodded. \u201cNo one in Virginia City was sick like this before the women got here, and the doc sent a telegram to Markleeville***<\/sup>, where the troupe last performed. The doc there confirmed a small outbreak of fever. Luckily it\u2019s a small town and it ended pretty quick. They had a similar spell of bad weather, and that kept everyone hunkered in their homes and it stopped with the few that had it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe older woman must have come in contact with someone who had it in Markleeville and she infected the girls while they were on their way to Virginia City. I suppose those ladies performed here even though they weren\u2019t feeling their best, and started the sickness going around to our fine citizenry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s about it. The doc figures some traveler brought it to Markleeville before crossing the Sierras. But he was worried because this flu can get more potent as it makes its way around.\u201d Roy looked down and shook his head as he chuckled. \u201cI know this ain\u2019t no laughin\u2019 matter, but I heard Paul said it was a good thing those women weren\u2019t in a choir that performed at the church instead of in the saloon. Those fine church-goers would have gone on with runnin\u2019 their businesses and mingling around town and would a spread it lots further. Most people from town stayed away from the Bucket on those nights because of the type of entertainment and the audience. I was lucky too. Clem was the one on duty last weekend, so I wasn\u2019t at the Bucket either.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam smiled wryly. \u201cI suppose Paul is right about that. It seems to be contained.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but just because there ain\u2019t a lot of cases doesn\u2019t mean there couldn\u2019t be. Doc Pinkerton talked to Paul and the other doctors in the city\u2026from a distance mind you, since he\u2019s the one who took care of the sick ladies. They all decided to quarantine the town until this runs its course.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hugh\u2019s color had paled with Roy\u2019s disclosure. \u201cWe came for a doctor because our crew is sick. It started with the ones who came in for the show, and now even those who weren\u2019t in town are getting\u2019 it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roy nodded. \u201cThat\u2019s exactly what the docs were afraid of. Those who were in town are spreading to those who weren\u2019t. The bartenders from the Bucket made up a list of which ranches had men there on the weekend, and I\u2019d planned to send someone to check on the Ponderosa later today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like Paul to go back with Hugh while I do some business in town.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roy laughed. \u201cNeither of those things is going to happen, son. The docs say no one in: no one out until there ain\u2019t any new cases for a couple-a-days.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what do we do for the men?\u201d Adam thought a moment. \u201cAnd I have to get to the bank and\u2026.\u201d His mouth dropped open as he considered a possibility. \u201cIs Hop Sing ill? He was supposed to come out to the house and he never showed up.\u201d<\/p>\n

The sheriff shook his head. \u201cDon\u2019t worry none about your cook. None of the Chinese have it. Hop Sing has tried to get past the check points every day but he can\u2019t leave anymore\u2019n you can come in.\u201d Roy saw a look of relief wash across the young man\u2019s face with the news. \u201cNow about your men. The docs in town have split up the work. Paul was away for the weekend, so he\u2019s carin\u2019 for people who haven\u2019t had contact with the sick\u2014you know, like the women expecting babies and such. Since Doc Pinkerton was already exposed, he\u2019s taking care of the sick. He says he might not get it anyway because he was around it before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a lot of work for one doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe gals that are feeling better are helpin\u2019 him. The troupe was stayin\u2019 at the Virginia City Hotel, so Doc commandeered the place for a hospital. He did the same thing with the Silver Dollar hotel and that\u2019s where he\u2019s puttin\u2019 those who had contact with them that are sick. That way, if they are gettin\u2019 it, they don\u2019t infect anyone outside this \u2018circle of contamination,\u2019 as he calls it. The rest of the people are stayin\u2019 away from both those establishments.\u201d He rubbed his chin. \u201cHow many you got sick on the Ponderosa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hugh answered. \u201cFifteen men. Mike and me are still all right, but we\u2019ve been around the others.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roy looked from Adam to Hugh. \u201cI want you to go home, bundle them up the best you can and get them in a couple of wagons with whatever else\u2014blankets, mattresses and such\u2014you can fit, and bring them in. You and Mike will have to stay at the Silver Dollar for a few days too.\u201d He saw Adam wince, cross his arms and look away. \u201cWhat about you? Were you tendin\u2019 to them too?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was in the bunkhouse for a few minutes on the first day when they were getting sick, but that was it. I still feel fine, and someone\u2019s got to keep an eye on our place.\u201d He sighed heavily. \u201cHow about I promise not to get close to anyone while I do what little I can out there alone? I\u2019ll come in if I feel ill. You know I\u2019m good to my word.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roy chewed his cheek and then sighed. \u201cI guess it\u2019s only fair to let you protect your property until this blows over.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam pulled Hugh aside as they made plans, and then he sent the foreman on his way. Roy was back directing the unloading process, and he motioned him over again. \u201cI know you\u2019re busy, but I need some things from town, and was wondering if you could help me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kind of things?\u201d<\/p>\n

He pulled his list of supplies from his pocket. \u201cI could use these\u2026.\u201d He looked around and realized that everyone on Roy\u2019s side of the fence was occupied. He grinned broadly at the sheriff before continuing, \u201c\u2026if someone<\/em> could run down to Cass\u2019s. I also need cash from the bank to pay for stock that might arrive tomorrow, and I\u2019d like to send a couple of wires.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roy chewed on his nail this time while he thought. \u201cI can help you with the supplies. We\u2019re allowing wagons to unload orders for the businesses in town. But you know that the money for the banks starts coming in on the stage from San Francisco this time of year, and we haven\u2019t been able to arrange a delivery with Overland. I think they\u2019ll be able to send a courier from Carson or a nearby way station on the weekend, but cash might be running a little low. How much you need?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked around. He and Roy weren\u2019t exactly shouting at each other, but they were standing far enough apart that he was sure others could hear if they had a mind to listen. He said, \u201cTwo thousand. And don\u2019t think I didn\u2019t see that look you gave me when I mentioned a delivery at the ranch. I won\u2019t get near them. In fact one of the telegrams I\u2019d like to send is to Thunderbird, telling them what\u2019s going on. With the bad weather, maybe I\u2019ll catch them before they leave. The other wire is to my family.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAren\u2019t Ben and your brothers taking the stage to Placerville?\u201d He saw Adam nod. \u201cI\u2019m sure Overland has signs posted about the quarantine, so your pa probably knows of the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey leave tomorrow, but I\u2019ll advise them to wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roy laughed loudly causing the others working around them to look up. He harrumphed and told them to get back to work. \u201cOnce Ben hears there\u2019s trouble back here, he\u2019ll probably start walkin\u2019 home. You can \u2018advise\u2019 him all you want, but it won\u2019t do no good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam smiled begrudgingly as a light blush colored his cheeks. \u201cI suppose you\u2019re right about that. Pa will charge into the fray if he even suspects<\/em> one of his sons is in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll take them a couple of days to make it back, so you should be in the clear\u2026or sick by then. It\u2019s only takin\u2019 a day or two to spread from one to another.\u201d Roy gave his friend a fatherly look. \u201cI know you wouldn\u2019t want to make your family ill, so you\u2019re gonna have to honor that promise to come back.\u201d Roy pulled a dog-eared piece of paper from his shirt pocket and rested it on a crate while he grabbed a pencil stub from his hatband. \u201cNow tell me what\u2019s on your list, what you want the telegrams to say, and I\u2019ll go do your errands.\u201d He looked up and grinned. \u201cBut don\u2019t get any idea that I\u2019ll do this ever again.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Ben had gotten up early and walked to the Overland office to verify their departure for the following day. He\u2019d finished quickly and was on a mission as he strode into the Cosmopolitan Hotel and acknowledged the desk clerk\u2019s greeting while making his way across the lobby. The Cartwrights were frequent guest of the fine establishment, and treated well because of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Cartwright,\u201d the clerk called out, stopping Ben as he neared the staircase. He nodded toward the adjoining room. \u201cYour sons are at breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks Nick. You saved me a trip up three flights.\u201d Ben headed in the opposite direction, giving Nick a salute as he passed him on the way to the restaurant, and then waved to Hoss when he saw his sons sitting near the windows on the far side of the room. Hoss and Little Joe were just digging into heaping plates of ham and eggs, and he motioned for the waitress; pointing to his empty cup with one hand while fishing in his jacket pocket with the other to remove a folded sheet of paper. He smoothed it out as he set it on the table.<\/p>\n

Little Joe read the first word. \u201cWhat\u2019s this about Pa?\u201d He used his fork to point to the word that had caught his attention. \u201cWhere\u2019s there a quarantine?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVirginia City.\u201d Ben saw the eyes of both sons pop open.<\/p>\n

Hoss finally managed to swallow, and picked up the paper to read the rest of the notice. \u201cDoesn\u2019t say much exceptin\u2019 that the stage won\u2019t be going in there until the quarantine is lifted.\u201d He stared at his father. \u201cDid you find out what\u2019s happenin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNathan, the head man at Overland, was at the office when I stopped by. He said there\u2019s sickness there, and Doctor Pinkerton and the rest of the doctors in town decided a quarantine would work best to keep it from spreading.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss had continued to eat as his father and brother had talked, and finally pushed his plate away, leaning his arms on the table. \u201cDo you think it\u2019s the same kind of fever we had back when we had all them men sick at the mines?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben blew on his coffee before taking a sip, and then shrugged. \u201cI don\u2019t think so. Paul didn\u2019t quarantine them back then; he quarantined the water.\u201d He sighed heavily and frowned. \u201cThis<\/em> must be passed from person-to-person.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2026it sounds like the docs have things in control,\u201d Joe said, trying to sound encouraging. He smiled at his father. \u201cI can see that you\u2019re worried, Pa, but he\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

A small smile replaced the frown. \u201cAm I so easy to figure out?\u201d he laughed as both boys nodded. \u201cI\u2019ll arrange for our suits to be taken back to Frankie\u2019s home. All we need do is toss our traveling kits together; we\u2019ll leave for home in an hour.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAin\u2019t you forgettin\u2019 somethin\u2019, Pa? Our stage to Placerville leaves tomorrow, not today.\u201d Hoss patted his father\u2019s arm. \u201cI know yer anxious to get back now, but we can\u2019t go until the stage does.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best news Nate gave me was that the regular stage schedules have started again. Since the Virginia City stop is out, they\u2019re sending that stage to Placerville and then across the Carson pass, rather than by the northern route it normally uses. Overland has mail and bank transactions for Virginia City and they\u2019re going to drop it at Carson City instead of a small way station that wouldn\u2019t be equipped to hold the cash or transport it the rest of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat makes sense, but what\u2019s that got to do with us?\u201d Little Joe pushed his chair back and crossed his arms.<\/p>\n

Ben smiled broadly. \u201cThat<\/em> stage leaves in an hour. Nate says there\u2019s only one other passenger.\u201d He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out three vouchers, \u201cNow there\u2019s four.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d best get movin\u2019 then.\u201d Hoss stood and stretched.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou boys go pack; I\u2019ll take care of the hotel bill and have the restaurant pack some food for the trip.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Art Finley looked over at his brother while reckoning that they\u2019d been sitting on their horses by this danged barricade far too long. They weren\u2019t getting inside Virginia City and it made no sense to sneak in; not with a sickness going around. He was anxious to move on up the road; procure a little cash and then buy a drink somewhere with a pretty girl to serve it to him. One town was as good as the next. They never stayed long since the method they employed to \u201cearn\u201d their wages couldn\u2019t be repeated without risk of being caught. He and his brother had worked real jobs in the long ago, but they\u2019d found an easier way to keep going.<\/p>\n

His impatience had become unbearable and he started to ask something of his brother, but only managed to utter, \u201cHey Colin,\u201d before he was hissed\u2026and waved to silence. A loud sigh signaled his annoyance as he drifted back into thought. He and Colin were nomads. Someone had called them that when they\u2019d shared a campfire and Colin had told the fellow traveler that the Finleys called no place home. Art had asked what the word meant, and the man had explained that nomads keep wandering, never putting down roots. He\u2019d liked that word enough to put in his memory. The guy at camp had said nomads were often traders who made their money selling goods. That wasn\u2019t quite like him and Colin though.<\/p>\n

When the Finley boys came to a town, they\u2019d watch the stores until there\u2019d be a good run of customers. Then they\u2019d go inside and look around while talking like they were going to buy a heap of goods. They\u2019d wait until everyone else was gone, and then Colin would lure the shopkeeper to the far side of the store with questions about some item. During the diversion, Art would slip to the cashbox and take just a \u201clittle\u201d of the contents so the absence wouldn\u2019t be discovered until that night when the receipts were matched to the cash. They\u2019d pull the same scheme at a however many stores were in the town; assuming that no one would report a missing pittance. With as little as they took, they truly expected that most owners thought they\u2019d given wrong change rather than that they\u2019d been robbed. This activity didn\u2019t make them rich, but it gave them enough to get to the next town, and it didn\u2019t lead to arrest. But this method couldn\u2019t net enough to replace what was wearing out, and they\u2019d been talking about finding work again and settling somewhere for a while to make ends meet.<\/p>\n

Colin was done with whatever had been holding his attention, and Art followed his brother as they moved their horses to a patch of grass away from the noise and activity. \u201cWhy\u2019d you shush me?\u201d Art\u2019s peevish tone did nothing to hide his grumpiness.<\/p>\n

The older brother shook his head. \u201cYou\u2019d do well to pay attention \u2018stead of driftin\u2019 off in thought like you do. The sheriff and that guy were discussin\u2019 a bank withdrawal.\u201d He looked upwards as he thought about his plan. \u201cYou know we barely get by with what we\u2019re doing. Most of these two-bit towns don\u2019t have more\u2019n one mercantile, and stores in bigger towns are gettin\u2019 them noisy cash registers, \u2018stead of using boxes. I\u2019d held out good hope for this here town cuz there\u2019d be lots of places to hit. We could have stayed a couple of days if we\u2019d a been careful. We\u2019ll go to Carson City now, but I\u2019m gettin\u2019 weary of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Art nodded. \u201cOur pockets do empty faster than we can fill them. Carson\u2019s as big as Virginny City, ain\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYup, but after that we\u2019re back to small towns and pennies.\u201d Colin looked over and focused on the person whose conversation had held his interest. \u201cThat guy,\u201d he pointed quickly, indicating the man standing alone at the blockade, \u201cjust asked the sheriff to get him 2000 dollars from the bank. The man he rode in with left already, so he\u2019s gonna be leaving out on his own with the cash.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo?\u201d Art shrugged. \u201cWhat\u2019s that got to do with us?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really are slow-witted.\u201d He gave his brother a chance to figure out the opportunity, and finally sighed. \u201cHe\u2019s gonna be carrying a lot of money, and ain\u2019t no one leaving here \u2018cept him\u2026and us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd a bunch a wagons,\u201d Art added.<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard some of the drivers talkin\u2019 about him after he showed up. That fella owns the biggest ranch in these parts. He\u2019ll take a main road for a while, but his property butts up to town, so once he\u2019s on his own land, we\u2019ll relieve him of his heavy burden,\u201d Colin laughed at his portrayal of the money pouch.<\/p>\n

Art\u2019s mouth dropped open. \u201cBut you always said we wouldn\u2019t never rob no one outright so we don\u2019t go to jail. And besides, this guy\u2019ll have people out lookin\u2019 for us in no time.\u201d The color drained from Art\u2019s face. \u201cUnless\u2026. You ain\u2019t talkin\u2019 about killin\u2019 him, are ya, Colin? We ain\u2019t never even hurt a livin\u2019 soul, except in their pocketbooks. I thought we was gonna look for jobs instead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colin was smiling ear-to-ear. \u201cI could hear enough of his talk with the sheriff to know that his men have to come to town because they got the sickness. And he was talkin\u2019 about his family comin\u2019 back from someplace, but not for a few days yet.\u201d He looked around to make sure no one had gotten near them. \u201cI been thinkin\u2019 this through some, and we\u2019ll have to take his horse with us for a while so he don\u2019t get anywhere too quick. He\u2019ll get back here or to his house after some time, but we\u2019ll have a good start by then. We\u2019ll cover our faces and change into our spare shirts so we won\u2019t match the description he gives.\u201d He could see that his brother was still not happy about his plan. \u201cListen, Art, we will get jobs, but this will give us what we need to get to where we\u2019re goin\u2019 without stoppin\u2019 at every waterin\u2019 hole to thieve a couple cents.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Adam watched Roy walked away, and smiled cheekily at the prospect of the sheriff doing his errands. He was still chuckling at the situation when he noticed the hint of a shadow on the ground in front of him and glanced upward to see that the low-hanging clouds were breaking up, revealing small patches of blue sky. There was still much to worry about, but a sense of relief replaced his cold unease as hazy sunshine created a skyscape worthy of a Michelangelo fresco. Streaks of light began to reach the ground, and the immediate warmth made him sweat inside his layers of clothing. He shrugged off his poncho and opened the buttons of his coat before pulling a book from his saddlebag. It was his habit to carry books in his kit to provide diversion during long hours keeping watch over the herd\u2026or waiting for his brothers to show up. Reading from his \u201csaddle library\u201d was prone to interruptions, so he usually chose works of poetry, novellas or collections of shorter works.<\/p>\n

But the current book was a novel by Wilkie Collins, called, Woman in White<\/em>. He\u2019d read stories of intrigue before, but this was touted as a new genre known as, \u201cmystery writing.\u201d Adam had enjoyed what he\u2019d managed to get through so far, and he was anxious to move further through the tortuous plot. He chuckled as he remembered where he\u2019d left off; a part of the story where a main character overhears a nefarious plan, but becomes soaked and chilled in the rain and contracts typhus before she can tell others what she knows. He grimaced at the similarity to his state of chilled wetness the day before, and the exposure to the illness his men had. \u201cLuckily I\u2019ve not heard of any misdeeds being planned, so I should be safe,\u201d he mumbled to himself. He led Lightning to a boulder that looked flat enough to use as a chair, and let his horse munch on the scrub grass next to it. He tossed his poncho over the damp rock to prevent a repeat of yesterday\u2019s rash and got as comfortable as sitting on granite would afford before opening to the new chapter.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

He\u2019d only read a few pages when he heard his name being called from the other side of the barricade. \u201cPaul,\u201d he called back, setting his book aside and moving closer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw Roy outside the Western Union office; he said you were waiting out here while he did you a few favors.\u201d The doctor grinned. \u201cThat\u2019s not something you see every day. He also said you seemed fine, but you were in the bunkhouse with your sick crew at one point, so I thought I\u2019d come check on you, even if it is from afar.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Paul, but I wasn\u2019t with them long, and I didn\u2019t check their foreheads for fever.\u201d He grinned back at his friend. \u201cRoy said most of the people in town are getting better. Hugh went back to bring our crew in, and I hope that\u2019ll be true for them soon.\u201d He saw a whisper of sadness cross the doctor\u2019s face as the man looked down at his feet. \u201cOut with it, doc. What didn\u2019t Roy tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul motioned for Adam to move farther away from prying ears, and spoke in a quieter voice. \u201cMost of them are getting better but there have been a few deaths.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen it\u2019s more serious than Roy let on?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes and no.\u201d Paul sighed and rubbed his hand across his forehead. \u201cThe younger, healthier men are recovering.\u201d He smiled crookedly. \u201cWhen it comes to cowhands and miners\u2026healthier is not an accurate description. But their body-wracking jobs and bad habits aren\u2019t taking a toll yet, and this flu runs its course pretty easy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cThere\u2019s a brotherhood in being \u2018ridden hard and put away wet,\u2019 as they call it. They\u2019re not all like that, but the allure of \u2018cowboy life,\u2019 where you owe nothing to anyone other than a hard day\u2019s work, draws a lot of loners and eccentrics.\u201d He paused as he thought about his crew. The men who lived and worked together 24 hours a day sometimes became a family of sorts. At other times the mix of personalities proved volatile, and he and his father would cull the crew of troublemakers with the same precision they used when they culled the herd to keep it strong. The current occupants of the Ponderosa bunkhouse were as good as it got in a crew, and the thought of losing any of them to this disease saddened him. He pulled from his thoughts to ask, \u201cWho didn\u2019t make it, Paul?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJess from the Triple B; Davey, the man who cleaned up at the Bucket for drinking money, and Slim from the mines.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I know who they are.\u201d He pursed his lips and closed his eyes as he offered a silent prayer for mercy on their souls. His eyebrows nearly met and his nose wrinkled as he pictured the three men. \u201cThey were all in their 70\u2019s weren\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d have thought so. They were gray-haired or bald, nearly toothless, and so stooped as to appear they\u2019d shouldered the weight of the world far too long\u2026but two of them were around your father\u2019s age, and Jess was even younger.\u201d He saw Adam\u2019s eyes shoot open as his jaw sagged. \u201cI know your father probably works just as hard as those men did, and when he gets done with outside work, he still has to do the ranch paperwork. I\u2019ve thought about this some, and have a theory. Ben has always seen his work as providing a legacy for your family. He relishes each day as a new challenge to make a difference. It keeps his mind young and active, and that reflects in his overall wellbeing. Jess, Davey, and Slim lived a minute at time, with no thought to the future other than collecting their wages and going on their next bender. I think that ages the soul as much as the body.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you are a good study of human nature, Paul.\u201d Adam smiled at the doctor. \u201cAnd you do know my father well. I\u2019d suspect most people think Ben and his boys live in the lap of luxury. We buy things that are made well, and that usually means they\u2019re more expensive. But Pa is a stickler for returning much of our earnings back to the land or for helping others who haven\u2019t had the success we\u2019ve had. I\u2019ve always admired his commitment to that mission.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s one of the reasons I think so highly of your family. And speaking of helping those who needed a hand, I\u2019m on my way out to see Mary and Emit Hendricks. Don\u2019t think they haven\u2019t told me how your family set them up with that place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve seen Emit and Mary since last fall when I went over to pick up our supply of fall vegetables.\u201d He considered Paul\u2019s reason for the visit. \u201cI hope they don\u2019t have this flu.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou probably know that they\u2019re expecting a baby, and it\u2019s due soon. I want to make sure they\u2019re aware of what\u2019s going on in town, and warn them to be careful.\u201d<\/p>\n

The conversation was interrupted as the two men heard shouting. Paul glanced over his shoulder and laughed when he saw Hop Sing trotting toward them carrying a well-packed basket. His braid was swinging back-and-forth with his uneven pace; his face was flushed with the exertion, and he was hollering, \u201cMissa Adam!\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul grabbed Hops Sing\u2019s arm, and yelled, \u201cwhoa!\u201d as he neared the barricade, figuring the Cartwright cook would scale it if he wasn\u2019t stopped. \u00a0The doctor knew this man was a lot more than an employee to the family on the Ponderosa, and a few boxes and fence rails wouldn\u2019t stop him if he was intent on getting to one of them.<\/p>\n

He thought back to when he first got to Virginia City and met the family of the Ponderosa Ranch\u2026and their powerhouse cook. It had been obvious that the man had cared for each of the Cartwrights and doted on then.<\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright had been one of the first residents to use his services. There\u2019d only been three Cartwright to care for then. But he\u2019d heard about another son who was away at school, and was \u201cpurdy durn smart,\u201d by Hoss\u2019s account. The missing child had arrived home a few years later, and Ben had brought Adam to the office to meet the \u201cnew\u201d doctor in town, and get him checked out. There\u2019d been nothing wrong with the returnee, and after he\u2019d listened to the young man\u2019s heart and thumped his chest, the two of them had spent that first meeting talking as they\u2019d extended the doctor-patient connection towards friendship. It hadn\u2019t taken many more meetings to feel like he\u2019d always known the college-educated, rancher-cowboy, who\u2019d lived up to Hoss\u2019s description and then some.<\/p>\n

Adam and Hop sing were still talking, so he let his thoughts drift to the problem of Adam being around his sick men. Illness was an infrequent visitor to the oldest Cartwright son, but when it paid a call, it came in hard and nasty. Paul couldn\u2019t say why that was, except that Adam would never \u201cadmit\u201d to being was sick until he had no other choice but to \u201csubmit\u201d to it. By that time his strength had been used in pushing himself to exhaustion. The other Cartwrights saw illness as an inconvenience they accepted grudgingly. They\u2019d take to bed and recover. But this one fought against it even when he was down; refusing to rest even then, and usually making himself worse for it. The young man also had a predilection for serious injury. He\u2019d always wondered whether it was Adam\u2019s bad luck to sustain them, or his good luck that had allowed him to survive.<\/p>\n

He pulled from his thoughts for a moment as he heard Hop Sing and Adam arguing about laundry. \u00a0The mundane topic made him smile because he knew that when Hop Sing was that adamant about clean clothes, it had a much deeper meaning. A cold chill breathed down his neck as he recalled what he\u2019d been pondering a moment ago. Adam had<\/em> been exposed to his sick men, and as usual, he was refusing to stop or even modify his activities during the incubation period. He sighed and shook off his concern, trusting that Adam had been truthful.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry to break in,\u201d he offered walking toward the pair. \u201cI should get going. Since the Hendricks\u2019 place is on Ponderosa land, I\u2019ll be using the same roads you did coming to town. How bad are they, Adam?<\/p>\n

\u201cSlick in spots, but passable. And with the sun and breeze now, they\u2019ll dry up fast except where there\u2019s standing water. Take a horse instead of your buggy. It\u2019ll be easier to avoid the potholes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can do that.\u201d He looked pointedly at the man across from him. \u201cIf you feel any signs of getting sick\u2014even if you sneeze or wake up with a headache\u2014you get back here! I shouldn\u2019t let you ride off today, but you won\u2019t rest if I keep you here either. Normally, you\u2019d be in the clear by now, considering how long ago you were exposed.\u201d He grinned. \u201cBut we both know you\u2019re not normal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam laughed as he nodded. \u201cYes doctor.\u201d His teasing tone turned serious. \u201cI understand how serious this is. Give my best to Mary and Emit.\u201d The grin returned. \u201cI\u2019ll be heading home as soon as Roy gets back. Don\u2019t worry; I won\u2019t come near even you even if I find you up to your ears in mud after your horse bucks you off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul shook his head and turned to leave, waving a goodbye over his shoulder as he walked toward town.<\/p>\n

With the trio reduced to a duet, Hop Sing picked up where he\u2019d left off. He set the basket on a crate and pointed to it, and then to Adam. \u201cTake with you. Not want you in dirty clothes. Fresh bread in bag. Take too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam directed Hop Sing\u2019s attention to the horse that was munching contentedly on grass. \u201cI appreciate your thoughtfulness, but I came on horseback. I can\u2019t get that basket home.\u201d Noting the look of sadness and forcefulness that had set on his friend\u2019s face, he finally conceded. \u201cLet\u2019s do this. You put out two sets of clothes, and I\u2019ll get those in my saddle bags.\u201d The smell of the fresh bread was drifting to him and his stomach rumbled. \u201cAnd I\u2019ll gladly take the bread. Just leave those things on that crate and I\u2019ll get them after you leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

It took only a moment for Hop Sing to separate the items Adam had asked for, although he grumbled the entire time. He finished and then looked up at Adam. \u201cRoy say our men sick and you maybe get it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo worry. I should be at house. Ben Cartwright not be happy he come home and find son sick while Hop Sing hide in town.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s smile was warm. \u201cI know you want to come home.\u201d He looked down as he tried to come up with a solution to give the cook something he could<\/em> do to keep his mind off what he couldn\u2019t<\/em>. It came to him in a flash. \u201cYou could help me in a different way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hop Sing\u2019s look went from melancholy to interest. \u201cYou talk to doctor and get me outta here and I help you any way you say.\u201d<\/p>\n

He laughed. \u201cYou have to stay put. But Hugh is bringing our crew to town for the doctor to treat. He and Mike have to stay here too, but at the other hotel. The men are going to need good food to recover, and they won\u2019t get it at those places. I\u2019d be grateful if you\u2019d make something every day and drop it off for them. I know they\u2019re pretty fond of your cooking.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Mandarin\u2019s smile turned downward along with his head, but he was grinning when he looked up again. \u201cI know they like Hop Sing\u2019s food. They wipe pot with bread before bring back. It so clean I don\u2019t wash.\u201d He chuckled at his joke. \u201cI make them well with good Chinese broth, homemade bread, and apple pie.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s perfect. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

He waited until Hop Sing had gone before moving forward to pick up his clothes and bread. One set fit in each saddlebag, and he was going to attach the bread bag to his saddle horn, but the aroma made his mouth water. He withdrew the loaf instead and tore off the end. He took the remainder along with him to his rock to eat while he read.<\/p>\n

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

Art had tired of waiting in the saddle. He\u2019d grabbed a piece of jerky and found a rock to sit on; much like the prey they were watching. That guy was reading and eating the bread the little guy with the funny clothes had brought him, and the thought of fresh food of any kind made Art\u2019s stomach ache. The brothers lived on trail food: beans and jerky mostly, with the occasional critter when they managed to shoot or snare one. But his teeth were so bad that chewing the dry, hard meat was becoming a problem. He gagged and grabbed his canteen to help with swallowing the piece he\u2019d manage to soften up with the molars he still had.<\/p>\n

His thoughts turned to his brother\u2019s plan. He didn\u2019t like the idea of putting themselves in a position where they might be caught and jailed. Two thousand dollars would let them live like kings for some time, and that possibility helped ease his fear some. That rich rancher might not even miss what they were taking from him, and they\u2019d be far better off for having it.<\/p>\n

He glanced over at his horse. The saddle did little to disguise the sag in the old girl\u2019s back. She was missing as many teeth as he was, and she didn\u2019t seem to be eating enough because of it. She was slow and coughed whenever he\u2019d push her a little harder, and he knew she\u2019d need to be replaced sooner than later. There was no way they could save enough of their pitiable takes at the stores to buy a different mount, and it would be hard to find work without a horse.<\/p>\n

When he looked up, he saw Colin walking toward him, wearing an eerie smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sheriff is back. He nodded toward the barricade. He\u2019s been gone a long time, but I s\u2019pose he got stopped a few times along the way.\u201d He looked longingly toward the pile of boxes. \u201cI wish I could get back close enough to hear what they\u2019s talkin\u2019 about, but that might make them suspicious. I did go closer when the man in the suit came by. I think he was a doctor and they was talking about other stuff, so I mingled in with the guys from the wagons.\u201d Colin reached down to give his brother a hand standing up. \u201cI think we best wait just a minute to see if the rancher leaves once the sheriff gets done talkin\u2019, and then we\u2019ll trail him until there\u2019s privacy to do our deed.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Adam looked up from the last page of a chapter to see Roy heading toward the edge of town. \u201cHe stowed his book and the remaining bread and walked to meet the sheriff. \u201cThat didn\u2019t take as long as I thought it might.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat fact may not be a good thing,\u201d Roy breathed deeply to catch his breath. \u201cThe telegraph line is down because of the wind. Jack sent men out, but they have to find the problem before they can fix it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not surprised.\u201d Adam sighed. \u201cIt was a longshot to catch either the Thunderbird crew or my family before they left anyway.\u201d He nodded toward the cloth bag suspended from Roy\u2019s shoulder. \u201cLooks like Cass\u2019s store was open for business.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI got what you wanted there, but it was a different story at the bank.\u201d He withdrew a flat envelope from his inside vest pocket. \u201cI was right about the cash. Mark said there was a small bank rush when people heard about the quarantine. Folks get skittish when there\u2019s any kind of problem, and want their cash instead of an amount written on a piece of paper \u2018sayin\u2019 what they got.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam bit his upper lip and nodded. \u201cI understand their rationale. Cash in the hand is always preferable during uncertain times. Was Mark able to come up with any money?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe gave you a bank draft for the full amount. He says the Ponderosa\u2019s reputation is so good and widespread that any bank\u2019ll cash it out as long as they know the person who offers it for redemption.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThunderbird insisted on cash\u2026.\u201d He closed his eyes as he thought about it. There was cash in the safe at home, but he\u2019d used much of it to pay out wages and then the bonus to the hands that had stayed behind on the weekend. He did a quick calculation, deciding there was enough there that he could offer some to go along with the draft as a sign of good faith. He completed his thought. \u201cThey\u2019ll have to understand that leaving with a draft is better than not completing the sale. I\u2019ll be persuasive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI bet you will.\u201d Roy laughed as he deposited the envelope and sack on a box. \u201cI have to get back to town. There\u2019s some trouble brewing with a few guests who think we\u2019re being unreasonable in not letting them leave. I need to check with the docs and see if they\u2019ll allow it since the folks weren\u2019t even close to the Bucket, and only had the misfortune of being in town when the sickness hit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if they don\u2019t allow it?\u201d Adam smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I might just have to move them travelers from the International House to the fine establishment known as the Virginia City Jail until the docs say different.\u201d He returned Adam\u2019s smile. \u201cI can be pretty persuasive too.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Adam was still chuckling at Roy\u2019s comment while he tightened the cinch he\u2019d loosened during the wait, and checked to make sure his parcels were secured before swinging onto the horse\u2019s back. \u201cC\u2019mon, Lightning, let\u2019s go check on those fat steers and then get home.\u201d He figured Mike would have finished most of the morning chores by the time Hugh had gotten back for the men, but he also knew that was all the help he was getting until his family returned. It didn\u2019t bother him; he\u2019d just prioritize things that had to be done. At least the stock was accounted for. He might need to get some feed out to the group he was going out to check, but Pa had once said that the Ponderosa could take care of itself for a little while, and that\u2019s just what it would have to do now.<\/p>\n

He rode along the main road from town until turning onto Ponderosa land. He could see the prints he and Hugh had made coming into town, and two sets heading out. He figured Paul had used a different exit point from town to avoid the congestion at the main barricade. The day had become cool and sunny, and he was able to bring Lightning to a trot as long as he stayed to the side of the road. The big horse\u2019s ears perked up at the same time Adam heard what sounded like a horse whinnying in the distance. He stopped and stood in the stirrups, surveying the countryside around him. Being on a rise afforded him a full view for some distance, but he saw nothing, and decided it was the wind.<\/p>\n

With the town quarantined, he was truly the only one on the \u201cloose,\u201d and that turned the left side of his mouth in a wry smile. He went on for several more miles and saw where Paul had turned off toward the Hendricks farm. The doctor used his buggy most times, but Adam knew him to be a fair hand with a horse. That was borne out as he considered that the depth and distance between prints from the doctor\u2019s horse indicated he\u2019d kept a good pace.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d gone for another few miles before noticing that he was very thirsty. A shake of his canteen confirmed it was empty. There\u2019d still been some in it when he\u2019d returned yesterday, and Hugh must have thought that would be plenty for the trip to town. But he\u2019d used that to wash down the bread he\u2019d eaten while waiting for Roy. \u00a0Luckily there was a spring fed pool not too far from where he was now, and he could cut overland from there to get to the herd. His decision made, he steered Lightning into the grassland to make the needed detour.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep that nag quiet!\u201d Colin gave Art a glare that should have struck him dead. \u201cThat voice\u2019a hers carries on the wind, and he\u2019ll hear us over here if we\u2019re not careful.\u201d The brothers slowed to widen the gap between them and their person of interest, while still keeping him in view.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe can\u2019t help it, Colin. She ain\u2019t feelin\u2019 well near as I can tell, and she don\u2019t do it much.\u201d He reached down and patted her mane. \u201cBessie was around fourteen when I got her; that\u2019s some equal years back already, and she ain\u2019t had an easy life with us.\u201d He looked his brother in the eye. \u201cWe got to see about replacing her when we get that money, or we\u2019ll both be riding on Jasper.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOr you can take up walkin\u2019,\u201d his brother snarled, and then laughed. \u201cYou\u2019re right about her. She has looked long in the tooth for some time.\u201d He giggled. \u201cOr at least in the couple teeth she\u2019s got left.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t talk mean about Bessie. She\u2019s been a real good horse, and I\u2019ll be sad to see her go. I know it won\u2019t be much longer.\u201d His doe-eyed look made his brother stop laughing. \u201cBesides, we can see that guy real plain and speed up once he gets to where he\u2019s goin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose you\u2019re right about that. It\u2019s pretty flat right here, so we\u2019ll stop a bit and talk about how we\u2019re gonna take that money when we get the chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Adam sneezed as he dismounted, and sneezed again as he walked toward the clear spring pool with his canteen. It\u2019s nothing<\/em>, he convinced himself. Just dust in my nose<\/em>. He also convinced himself that the increasing achiness in his back and shoulders was the result of sitting on the hard rock while he read, and the soreness he felt as he swallowed was from the crusty bread. He felt \u201cfine\u201d otherwise, so he refused to worry\u2026. The long draft of cold water brought a soothing relief to his dry, scratchy throat, and he remained on his knees to splash water on his face and top off the canteen.<\/p>\n

He was still leaning over the water when he noticed another reflection in the ripples of the pool. There was no mistaking what it was, and he blew out a resigned breath as he stood and turned around. \u201cOh.\u201d He smiled wickedly as he looked over the man standing there with a bandana over his face, holding a gun on him. \u201cA real, live bandit.\u201d He knew he was supposed to be afraid, but his fear had vanished when he caught sight of the handkerchief mask that was so wrinkled and crisp with use that it barely extended to the man\u2019s upper lip. A quick head-to-toe perusal ended with him looking at boot leather so paper-thin that it had already begun to peel and rip. Adam understood that this man was there for no good, yet he was moved to compassion as his gaze rose back up toward the bandits face, and he noted the threadbare shirt with frayed cuffs, and then the broken down horse standing some ways away.<\/p>\n

The mare was so thin Adam could see its bones, and it was breathing with such difficulty that the poor thing\u2019s ribcage nearly collapsed with the effort of each inhalation. He chuckled as the situation both touched a soft spot in his heart and brushed his funny bone. He\u2019d been thinking he was alone, but he\u2019d been pursued by this would-be bandit on a worn out steed. He nodded toward the horse. \u201cYou can rob me, but I think I can catch you on foot when you ride off on that sick mare.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHush up!\u201d the man commanded. \u201cI\u2019ll have that gun from yer holster and that envelope you got in yer jacket.\u201d After thinking a second, he added, \u201cAnd I\u2019ll take that horse you got too.\u201d<\/p>\n

The brothers had decided that Art would do the actual robbery. For one thing, the authorities would look for a single person instead of a pair then, and the other was that Art was tall-built, and far stronger-looking than Colin. They\u2019d caught up to their quarry little-by-little, but the guy had seemed so unaware of them that they\u2019d covered the last bit quickly when they lost sight of him over a sandy hill. His brother had veered off to stay out of sight, and Art had walked Bessie the last of the way when he\u2019d seen the man kneeling at the edge of the water. He\u2019d been even more surprised when he\u2019d been able to sneak up behind the guy.<\/p>\n

So far things were going the way Art had seen them in his head. He hadn\u2019t even thought about taking the guy\u2019s horse, but the comment about Art\u2019s inability to get away rang true. Bessie\u2019s breathing problems hadn\u2019t improved even when they\u2019d slowed their pace, and after pushing her for the last mile or so, she\u2019d wobbled and side-stepped to keep her balance when he\u2019d dismounted.<\/p>\n

He hadn\u2019t thought he could pull this off, but something had clicked in him when he\u2019d held that gun on the man and demanded the envelope. He\u2019d felt powerful for the first time in his life, and he\u2019d been able to think things through. Exchanging horses would give them a chance to get long gone before anyone could look for them, and they could alter the brand or sell it once they were far enough away. The horse he would get in this one-sided trade at gunpoint was a good one\u2014better than anything they\u2019d ever afford, yet there wasn\u2019t anything special about it to make folks question him having it. But even from a distance, Art could see the fine leather of the man\u2019s saddle, and he knew that would <\/em>bring attention. It wouldn\u2019t match the rider who\u2019d be sitting on it, and people might be inclined to wonder why an empty-pocket nomad would have one such a fine thing.<\/p>\n

The moment of exhilaration passed, and the reluctant bandit decided he didn\u2019t really like what he was doing, and on top of it, this man wasn\u2019t taking him seriously. Art towered over him by a number of inches, but that didn\u2019t seem to make him any more respectful than the gun that was pointed at his chest. Colin had told him to keep the upper hand, and he knew something had to change. He took a step closer to grab the man\u2019s expensive pistol, and then swung the butt of it against the guy\u2019s head, causing him to step back in surprise as it connected. Art snarled, \u201cYou taking me serious now, mister?\u201d Before the man could answer, he pointed toward the horse and shouted. \u201cTake your saddle off and put mine on that animal along with the bag of supplies. Then I\u2019ll relieve you of the two-thousand dollars you got.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam hadn\u2019t expected the pistol whip and his head stung as he walked ahead of the robber\u2019s gun toward Lightning. \u201cIt\u2019s okay, big guy,\u201d he soothed, as he slid the saddle from his horse. The gun was poking at his back as he moved to the sway-back to remove that saddle. \u201cYou poor old thing,\u201d he whispered to the failing horse as he patted her neck. \u201cYou deserve a rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

The leather he cinched on Lightning was nearly as worn out as the horse he\u2019d taken it from, and he turned toward his captor. \u201cI can tell by your horse and equipment that you\u2019ve had it rough for a while. You must have heard me talking to the sheriff to know how much money I\u2019d asked for, and it must seem a fortune when you\u2019ve been living on little or nothing. But you couldn\u2019t have heard what Roy said when he came back with the envelope.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019re you talkin\u2019 about?\u201d the bandit growled at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bank didn\u2019t have cash, and gave me a draft instead.\u201d He gave his mugger another thorough looking over, noting how badly the gun was shaking in his trembling hand. \u201cI don\u2019t think theft at gunpoint is something you\u2019re familiar with.\u201d He nodded toward the gun. \u201cA man who\u2019s made a career of robbing others wouldn\u2019t show his nerves like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHush up. We want that envelope! I don\u2019t want to hear no more of yer talkin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have an idea that will let both of us get on with our lives.\u201d He waited to see if there was any interest, and saw a moment of uncertainty in the man\u2019s eyes. \u201cI like horses, and the one you\u2019ve been riding deserves a few last days of good grass and cool water. I\u2019d like to give her that, so I\u2019ll trade you even up for the one your saddle\u2019s already on. I\u2019ll even write you a bill of sale, and you can go on your way. But if you take the envelope, then you\u2019ll be guilty of larceny, and what\u2019s worse is that you\u2019ll have nothing to show for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust give it to me. I know yer just lying about it so\u2019s you keep yer precious money.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam reached carefully into his jacket to extract the envelope and held it up. \u201cLook at how thin this is.\u201d He turned it around to prove that it wasn\u2019t holding much. \u201cTwo thousand dollars in cash would nearly burst the seams, but there\u2019s nothing in here except a piece of paper.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s probably a two-thousand-dollar bill.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no such denomination.\u201d Adam reconsidered the conversation. \u201cDo you know what a bank draft is?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt don\u2019t matter what\u2019s in there; we still want it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam sighed long and hard. It was obvious that this person had no idea what a draft was: probably never had more than a few dollars to his name. The situation made him more sad than angry. It might have been different if the draft had been made out for cash, but this one bore the name of the Thunderbird Ranch. \u201cAren\u2019t you going to look inside?\u201d he asked after the hard-up bandit grabbed the envelope. \u201cYou\u2019ll see what I\u2019m talking about, and maybe you\u2019ll reconsider my offer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI could shoot you right now and ride off with everything you got.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you won\u2019t. I\u2019m a pretty good judge of men most times, and I\u2019m betting this isn\u2019t the life you want.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t matter what I want or don\u2019t want. It\u2019s what we gotta do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it what your partner wants?\u201d Adam asked, and grinned wryly at the man\u2019s surprised expression. \u201cDon\u2019t bother denying it. You\u2019ve said we several times, but you\u2019re so used to being together that you don\u2019t even notice that you use those plurals. And I\u2019ve heard another horse snort off to our left a few times. You\u2019ll both end up in jail. That paper you took is worthless to you, but it still has a value of two-thousand dollars, and that\u2019s what you\u2019ll be charged with stealing\u2014along with horse theft.\u201d<\/p>\n

Art\u2019s grin pushed the dirty bandana up on his cheeks. \u201cBut you just said you\u2019d trade out the horses, so they can\u2019t get us fer that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did offer a trade, but you can\u2019t have it both ways. You can\u2019t rob me and still claim I gave you the horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was something about this man that Art trusted. \u201cWhy would you do this: I mean give us a way out?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a Cartwright. We give second chances when we think they might be in order. I doubt you\u2019ve had many breaks in your life; maybe it\u2019s time you got one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Art didn\u2019t know what to do. His brother was waiting and he had to make a decision. He\u2019d learned that men lied when it suited their purpose, and along with his inkling of belief, he had a larger fear that he was being played for a fool. He walked up to the man he now knew as Cartwright, and stuck the gun in his chest, pushing him backwards until he was standing near the edge of the pond. \u201cThank you for the horse, and we\u2019ll figger out how to get at that money, so thank you for that too. Now I gotta be on my way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cartwright made a grab at the gun as Art stepped away, but his height advantage and longer arms allowed him to hold the man far enough away that his efforts were worthless. Art finally gave the guy a good shove backwards, making him lose his balance at the edge of the pond and fall in. He swung atop his new horse and rode off laughing as his benefactor coughed and sputtered, while spitting out the water he\u2019d swallowed. There was no need to wonder how Cartwright felt about what had happened; his disgusted look said it all. Art waved and shouted, \u201cWhy do I get the feeling this ain\u2019t the first time you got someone so riled up they pushed you in the drink.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Adam was not happy with being drenched for the second day in a row. At least I have dry clothes and it\u2019s not raining<\/em>, he thought grumpily. Another thought hit him along with a loud, hacking cough. He wasn\u2019t supposed to have contact with others, and now he\u2019d just been nose-to-nose with someone, and he was pretty sure he\u2019d coughed on him during the struggle for the gun. There\u2019d been a few symptoms of \u201csomething\u201d going on for the last hour or so\u2026but\u2026it wasn\u2019t as though he was \u201csick.\u201d The word, \u201cbut,\u201d stuck in his throat like a ball of wool. Putting all his symptoms together were enough to make him at least wonder if something was brewing. And if so, he\u2019d just exposed another man who could carry it to his partner, and then to everyone else they met. The fear over the chain of events he might just have started made him move a little faster.<\/p>\n

The coughing started again as he undressed, and as he caught his breath, he tried to reassure himself that his robber had a covering over his face. But\u2026and there was that word again\u2026he\u2019d laughed when he\u2019d first seen the mask that hadn\u2019t even covered the thief\u2019s mouth. He knew he needed to get back to town and talk to Roy. He was feeling queasy now, but he wasn\u2019t sick, so there was no problem\u2026. He went with that conclusion for now to settle his mind, even while knowing that the two men had to be found and quarantined.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

He had no alternative but to walk. He was pretty sure the mare would fall over if he so much as put his saddle on her back. The trek back to Virginia City would take most of the day, but then he remembered that Emit and Mary Hendricks lived a mile or two west as the crow flies. He could borrow one of their horses\u2026 from a distance.<\/p>\n

The thieves had taken his gun and rifle, but thankfully, his canteen was still floating at the edge of the pond. He grabbed that and set off across a grassy field as he thought about where the two fugitives might go. They\u2019d have to ride toward a town. With the dire straits the one he\u2019d seen had been in, he knew they were going to have to get money soon. He assumed they were petty thieves; probably stealing from Peter to buy from Paul, and had thought they\u2019d hit the jackpot when they\u2019d figured to take a good sum of cash from a lone rider out in the wilderness. He thought he\u2019d convinced the one that there could be a better way out of their dilemma. There\u2019d been a spark of hope, but it had vanished, letting Adam know that this was not the member of the pair who made the decisions.<\/p>\n

He trudged through the field while considering the best way to handle this development. Roy could send wires to surrounding communities, warning them to be on the lookout for the duo\u2026and to keep their distance. He could give a description of at least one of them, and Lightning had a distinctive, gray-speckled patch on his rump that could be identified without getting too close. His heart sank as he wondered whether the telegraph lines were fixed, but that worry would have to wait.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d been walking for a while when he stopped for a drink. The weather had done a complete turnaround, and now it was sweltering hot. He\u2019d left his wet coat behind and had even rolled up his shirt sleeves a while back. A breeze stirred the grass around him, and it chilled him as it blew across his sweat-soaked skin and clothing, making him wonder if the air temperature wasn\u2019t as high as he thought it was. Maybe it\u2019s my temperature that\u2019s high<\/em>. He quickly turned his thoughts to other things and he smiled as he considered another possible outcome to the flight of his assaulters.<\/p>\n

With as hapless and inept as the one had seemed, the pair would probably get lost. They couldn\u2019t ride the roads for fear of someone recognizing Lightning, or wondering what they were doing out there. This section of the Ponderosa had easily ridden pastureland with plenty of fresh water and shady spots to rest, but that would change dramatically as they headed south. The areas between where they were and where they needed to be were unforgiving to anyone who wasn\u2019t familiar with them. His father\u2019s years on the sea had made him an excellent sailor on the land too, and he\u2019d taught all three of his sons how to use the sun and stars for direction. Chances were this pair had made their way by roads and dumb luck in the past, but that wouldn\u2019t be enough this time. He laughed loudly as he pictured them riding in circles until they were so lost they wouldn\u2019t be able to find themselves.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Little Joe opened one sleepy eye after nearly bouncing out of his seat when the coach hit a deep rut. He could hear Hoss still snoring next to him. Nothing seemed to wake the sleeping giant when he was in deep snorin\u2019 mode, but Joe could see that his father was still wide awake and staring out the window. \u201cHe\u2019ll be fine, Pa.\u201d He smiled and stretched. \u201cYou told us to get as much sleep as possible, but you aren\u2019t following your own orders.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben grinned sheepishly. \u201cI can\u2019t sleep. And I know\u2026if Adam isn\u2019t fine, there\u2019s not a thing I can do about it from here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExcept worry?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI worry about all three of you.\u201d His gaze returned to the window to watch the miles disappear between them and Placerville. \u201cYou know Adam,\u201d he prophesied without turning to face his youngest son. \u201cHe\u2019ll push himself even if he is getting sick.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I know. He reminds me of someone else in our family. You and Adam always fight being sick to a knockout\u2014where the illness wins handily.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben was grinning as he turned back. \u201cI\u2019ve been more willing to admit I\u2019m getting sick over the last few years. It was harder back when you boys were young and I had so much more responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you admitting that my brothers and I are a help around the ranch? I\u2019d assume that\u2019s what you meant.\u201d Little Joe leaned forward, grinning ear-to-ear, waiting for an answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose that\u2019s exactly what I mean.\u201d He rested his head against the seat. \u201cI also suppose I don\u2019t tell you how proud I am of all of you, and how thankful for your help\u2014at least not often enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe watched his father\u2019s face fall to a deep frown, and knew that his thoughts had turned again to the unknown state of his older brother\u2019s wellbeing. His attention was drawn to the windows just as his father\u2019s had been. He sighed. \u201cIt\u2019s too bad the telegraph lines were down. Maybe we can try again at Placerville.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gurgling and snorting indicated that Hoss was waking up too. \u201cA fella can\u2019t get no sleep with you two talking,\u201d he grumbled. He took one look at his father and knew what they\u2019d been talking about. \u201cWe\u2019ll get home soon enough, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs long as you\u2019re both up, I think we should talk about our plans.\u201d Hoss sat up straighter while Little Joe angled himself more comfortably into the corner of the seat. \u201cThe stage is making good time, and there\u2019ll be a full moon so we should be able to change out drivers and continue moving through the night. That will put us in Placerville by morning.\u201d Both boys expressed their gratitude for the speed, and especially for the room created when they\u2019d dropped the other passenger off shortly after they\u2019d started. Ben quieted them to continue. \u201cWe\u2019ll ride out immediately and keep going until we make the line shack at the far south of the Ponderosa. By then we\u2019ll need a few hours of sleep, and we\u2019ll go the rest of the way in the morning. I\u2019d bet we\u2019ll be home by noon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll be pushin\u2019 it a bit, but our horses should be in good shape. With a few stops and some hours to rest, we should make it by then.\u201d Hoss stretched and rubbed his stomach. \u201cSpeakin\u2019 of noon, didn\u2019t it pass twelve some hours ago? At least my stomach says it did. Where you got them sandwiches stashed, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul must be long gone by this time.\u201d Adam was talking to himself as he crested the last hill and saw the Hendricks house below. His verbal thought was confirmed by the absence of the doctor\u2019s horse in the yard. The barn doors and house windows were open, so he knew Emit and Mary were around. He continued walking until he got to the outer edge of their yard and hollered, \u201cHallo Hendricks.\u201d He waved when he saw the curtains flutter, indicating someone was looking out. \u201cIt\u2019s Adam Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have to ask you not to come any closer, Adam.\u201d Emit opened the door enough to stick his head out.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need a favor, Emit,\u201d he called out as he took a step forward.<\/p>\n

Emit stepped fully in the doorway holding a shotgun. \u201cStay there, Adam. I don\u2019t mean you no harm, but Doc Martin was here a little bit ago and told us about the sickness in town. He also said your men got it. That means you could have it too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam was sweating; his stomach was roiling either from hunger or something else, and he knew he would vomit if he thought about it too much longer. The wave of nausea was accompanied by a drum in his head. \u201cI know that, and I won\u2019t come any closer, but I was robbed a few miles from here. They took my horse, and I have to get to town.\u201d He didn\u2019t mention that he was thinking he might have to check in with Doc Pinkerton, because Emit\u2019s worry about him being \u201csick\u201d was a distinct probability.<\/p>\n

Mary slipped from the house and stood next to her husband. \u201cThe doc said that I shouldn\u2019t talk to anyone because if I get sick it might be bad for the baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mary\u2019s maternal \u201ccondition\u201d surprised Adam. He was glad Paul had reminded him that she was expecting or he\u2019d have been even more surprised. \u201cYou stay inside, Mary. I\u2019ll walk off a ways and Emit can saddle one of your horses and leave it in the yard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoc didn\u2019t say nothing about how close or far away you could be, just that we shouldn\u2019t let no one on our land until this sickness is done.\u201d Emit stepped further onto the porch and pointed his shotgun at his unwelcome visitor. \u201cI\u2019m askin\u2019 you to leave now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOr what\u2026you\u2019ll shoot me?\u201d Adam\u2019s voice was rising in disbelief and anger, but he calmed himself again, figuring it would be better to try a different approach. \u201cI know how important this baby is to both of you. But I talked with Paul in town just before he came out here, and we were no more than fifteen feet apart. He wasn\u2019t worried about catching anything from me at that distance. I really need your help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emit waved the shotgun menacingly. \u201cI don\u2019t want to shoot you, Adam, but no court in the land would hold me wrong for protectin\u2019 my family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reason wasn\u2019t working so he tried humor. \u201cPlease put that down, Emit. You know you\u2019re not a good with a gun.\u201d\u00a0 He relaxed into a lean and pushed his hat back on his head as he chuckled. \u201cSeems I went hunting with you last year and you nearly shot your foot off trying to peg that deer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was then, and this is now. You know I don\u2019t want to hurt you, but I got Mary and my little\u2019un to think of.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI need help, Emit, and you know I wouldn\u2019t put you in harm\u2019s way. I\u2019m not even saying you owe it to me; I\u2019m just asking as one human being to another.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was Mary who answered. \u201cBut if he goes out to where you was, then something might be out there that would get him sick, or maybe you\u2019ll get our horse sick.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pounding in his head was becoming a duet of base and tympani and it was accompanied by a sudden unsteadiness that was spinning his head and stomach. In spite of his increasing infirmity, he was silently berating the good Doctor Martin for overplaying his hand with these simple people. He\u2019d managed to make them aware of the danger, but he hadn\u2019t explained it well enough, and now they were applying their own flawed logic to the situation. \u201cThat\u2019s not how this works, guys. If you could just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Emit looked at Mary while Adam was talking, and said there was no reason not to give him a horse if he\u2019d go off a pace like he promised. But as he tried to lower the shotgun, he hooked the butt hard on his loose-hanging shirt sleeve, propelling the entire weapon forward. His natural reaction was to pull it toward him again, while forgetting that his finger was still on the trigger. The weapon discharged in a thunderous roar and flash of fire and smoke. Emit could hear his wife screaming as he untangled the gun from the fabric. When he finally looked up, his mouth fell open in horror. Mary\u2019s hysteria had become a keening moan as she repeated, \u201cWhat are we gonna do now.\u201d Emit sat down on the porch step, wrapping his arms arounds his bent legs and rocked until his wave of fear passed some. He had no idea what he was \u201cgonna do now,\u201d but he knew he better think of something fast.<\/p>\n

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

(Two days later)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hoss rode up next to his father and touched his arm. \u201cYou gotta slow down, Pa. I know you\u2019re anxious to get home, but ya gotta remember that these aren\u2019t our regular horses. We didn\u2019t want to leave Chubby, Cochise, and Buck in a public stable fer as long as we was gonna be gone. These fellas are good and strong as they come, but we rode hard all day yesterday. Maybe Joe\u2019s horse can handle it, but our two are carrying a might more weight\u2026\u201d He stopped when he received a withering glance from his father.<\/p>\n

The dismissive look dissolved into a grin. \u201cSo you\u2019re saying I\u2019m too fat for this horse?\u201d<\/p>\n

The middles son\u2019s cheeks blushed scarlet. \u201cBucks a bigger horse\u2019n this one. He knows yer riding style and would run his heart out for you. But these ain\u2019t used to saddle ridin\u2019 over long distances. We use them for a day or two when our horses need a rest or when we got company, but if we ain\u2019t careful, you and I\u2019ll be walkin\u2019 home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI get it son. There\u2019s a creek near the road up ahead. We\u2019ll stop for a few minutes.\u201d He grabbed Hoss\u2019s arm and gave it a squeeze. \u201cIt takes a good man to be honest. I do want to be home, but not at the cost of our animals.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Pa. I know you got bigger worries on your mind.\u201d The big man slowed his own horse until he was even with Joe again and leaned in to speak quietly. \u201cWe\u2019re gonna stop up ahead. But Pa\u2019s itching to be home like a man who used poison ivy to wipe his bottom.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The three returning Cartwrights rode into the yard and found the barn door open, general disorder, and the demanding cries of hungry animals. Ben\u2019s hands shook as he tried to tie his horse to the rail, and he finally let the reins drop without tethering them. He rushed through the house\u2014straight up to Adam\u2019s room. Things seemed \u201clived in\u201d as evidenced by used towels hanging on the wash stand, a bag of laundry standing near the door, mud-splattered clothing draped over a chair near the fireplace, and the remains of a fire. It was the same downstairs. Clean dishes were stacked on the table, and there were ashes in the stove. But the evidence of inhabitance wasn\u2019t recent. Towels were hard-dry and the ashes were cold. He knew that Adam had given Hop Sing time off, and the disorganization spoke to his absence. If he had to guess, he\u2019d say Adam had done these things a day or two ago, rather than this morning.<\/p>\n

Hoss and Joe had checked the outbuildings and met their father as he exited the front door. \u201cDid you find anyone?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Little Joe reported first. \u201cThe place is deserted, Pa. And what\u2019s even stranger is that the bunk house is empty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou said the no one was around, so of course the bunk house is empty.\u201d Ben\u2019s tone was edgy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not it, Pa,\u201d Hoss enjoined. \u201cIt\u2019s really empty. The bunks are there, but all the mattresses are gone and there\u2019s not a blanket anywhere. Either the men took everything along wherever they went or someone came in and raided the bedding. That don\u2019t make sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe pointed towards the pens and corral. \u201cThe animals haven\u2019t been tended, and the stalls need cleaning. Adam wouldn\u2019t leave things like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss added, \u201cSport\u2019s in the barn, and he\u2019s got a poultice wrapped around his leg. It\u2019s been there a while cuz it\u2019s dry as a bone. He seems fine, but he\u2019s not happy about stepping in his own muck and findin\u2019 only empty feed and water pails.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe shook his head. \u201cIt\u2019s like everyone vanished.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs anything missing beside the men and the mattresses?\u201d Ben asked as he looked around.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth buckboards are gone, and Lightning\u2019s missing from the near pasture.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you know that, Hoss?\u201d Little Joe shot his brother a questioning glance.<\/p>\n

The big man shrugged. \u201cDon\u2019t rightly know how I know; I just do. Buck, Cochise, and Chubby are out there. I\u2019m guessin\u2019 that with Sport laid up, Adam is using Lightning. He broke that horse some years back and always cottoned to him. He took Lightning over the pass when he went to Placerville in January, figurin\u2019 he\u2019d do better being stabled ther than Sport would.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head as he chewed on his bottom lip. \u201cI don\u2019t like this one bit.\u201d Every part of him wanted to ride off to town and see if anyone knew what had happened. But another part of him knew that they had to do a few things at the ranch first. \u201cHoss, you get our saddles moved onto our own horses; tend to the ones we came in on, and take care of Sport.\u201d A quick nod to his youngest son brought Little Joe to his side. \u201cGet the other animals what they need, but we\u2019ll wait on the rest of the chores until we get back from town.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019re you gonna do, Pa?\u201d Hoss had already loosened the first saddle and relocated it to the corral fence.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll look again to see if there are any clues we missed, and then write a note for Adam in case he comes back once we\u2019re gone again. Then I\u2019ll be out to help.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Mary stopped mid-way to the barn, and stretched from side-to-side to ease the pain in her lower back. She\u2019d noticed cramps in her sides and biting backaches when she walked any distance for the last couple of weeks now, and it was more pronounced if she was carrying something, like the basket of linens she had today. Dr. Martin had assured her it was nothing to worry about; it happened to most women as they neared their time and their muscles were straining to support the baby\u2019s weight. The pain eased and she continued on, setting the basket at the back of the wagon.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow much more we got?\u201d Emit asked as he tossed the tarp back over the stack of their worldly possessions already assembled on the buckboard.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got a basket of food, and you\u2019ve got the cradle and chair you made, but we\u2019re almost ready.\u201d Her husband\u2019s nervousness was evident as he paced the dirt floor, sending up a cloud of dust. \u201cStop doin\u2019 that, Emit. You\u2019ll get everything filthy. I still don\u2019t know why we couldn\u2019t just pull the wagon up to the house and load it there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Cartwrights might come by here before we\u2019re ready, honey, and I don\u2019t want them to know we\u2019re leavin\u2019.\u201d He noticed that Mary was leaning hard against a post. \u201cAre you feelin\u2019 all right? You look a might pale.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt ain\u2019t nothin\u2019, Emit. I\u2019m just plumb tuckered out. I know you want to get going, but I\u2019m going to have to take a rest first. We\u2019ll make it to my folks by dark as long as we leave by three.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emit just wanted to be gone after what had happened. Yet he\u2019d only been protecting his wife and unborn child. It didn\u2019t matter how he saw it, he was still pretty sure Ben Cartwright would see it very differently. His thoughts brought him back to how they\u2019d come here.<\/p>\n

The Cartwrights had been trying to grow their own garden crops on a farm they\u2019d purchased from a family that had to leave the territory in a hurry, but they hadn\u2019t been able to keep up with the work. When Ben had heard that Emit was looking for land and had plenty of farming experience, he\u2019d offered them the place. He and Mary had lived there free for a few years already in exchange for a goodly supply of vegetables and hay for the Ponderosa. The deal had included something Adam had called a clause, that said they could pay on a land contract once they were doing well enough, and one day the place would be theirs free and clear. Just the other morning he\u2019d done some figuring, and he\u2019d thought he could start making the installments with the next crop.<\/p>\n

Emit was the first to admit he wasn\u2019t a smart man, but he felt he made up for it with hard work and a knack for growing things. This land had been willing to produce, and while it had been hard getting started, things were looking good. He and Mary had wanted a child. There\u2019d been a series of miscarriages, but with this baby just weeks from arriving, he\u2019d begun to feel like he was king of the world. But wasn\u2019t that just what the Devil loved\u2014a proud heart. And he knew now that Satan had been at his side two days ago when Adam Cartwright had showed up looking for a horse.<\/p>\n

A fear had dug deep into his gut when Doc Martin had told them about the sickness in town. That fear had grown larger than his sense when he was faced with helping someone who might have the power to ruin what he and Mary had wanted for so long. Emit slapped the side of his head as he thought about how ugly he\u2019d been to Adam: the man who had helped them<\/em> so often. Adam had shown up to do repairs when they\u2019d first moved in, and helped design a system to get water out to some of the vegetables when it got too dry. He\u2019d known how unfamiliar Emit was with the area too, so he had taken him out to hunt and fish, and learn his way around the land beyond his farm.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s comment yesterday, about him not being a good shot was true. He couldn\u2019t hit the side of the barn at twenty paces. Adam had patiently re-explained the way to shoot true on every outing. He\u2019d remind him to keep his eyes open as he squeezed the trigger, and \u201canticipate\u201d the buck of the gun so he wouldn\u2019t raise the barrel as he fired. But he never got used to it. Adam had finally given him a shotgun instead of rifle, teasing that the shot might spread wide enough to hit something if he aimed in the general direction.<\/p>\n

He breathed deeply and exhaled in a moan. He was glad that Mary had gone inside so she wouldn\u2019t see him in this torment. The sudden move away was already wearing on her. He knew she loved him with all her heart and she was saying all the right things. Doc Martin had told them that Mary had a few weeks to go yet. That hadn\u2019t been important when he\u2019d said it, but by that afternoon it had become their saving grace.<\/p>\n

Emit kicked himself mentally for not getting the horse as soon as Adam had asked for it. He\u2019d let his fear build by listening to Satan whispering lies in his ears. He stomped his foot on the ground and shook his head. He\u2019d known they had to leave as soon as the gun went off. Things would never be the same with the Cartwrights now. He\u2019d taken care of what he could and then he\u2019d gotten Mary to organize the household things and start packing up. They were out of time now. Doc Martin had said Ben Cartwright was expected home by the weekend, and it was here.<\/p>\n

He took a deep breath and steeled himself to move forward and stop second-guessing his decisions. One day he\u2019d stand before Ben and make an accounting, but hopefully not today.<\/p>\n

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

The three men accomplished the needed chores at the ranch and made it to the outskirts of town in two hours. Ben pulled Buck to a stop at the back of a line of wagons waiting to drop their wares up ahead by a tangled bunch of posts and crates serving as a fence. He blew a hard breath. \u201cI knew the city was quarantined. But this\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks a lot worse than we imagined?\u201d Little Joe supplied. Ben and Hoss shook their heads in agreement. \u201cI think I see Roy\u2019s hat in the middle of the group that\u2019s pulling stuff inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben was already moving. \u201cLet\u2019s find out what\u2019s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t take the sheriff long to give the details, along with the reassurance that the crew from the Ponderosa, along with the missing bedding, was in town. He smiled broadly when disclosing that the quarantine would be lifted if there were no new cases in the folks of the town by tomorrow. \u201cRounding up those who\u2019d been at the revue from the ranches and mines did the trick. Your men will have to stay put a few more days, but it looks like our measures stopped this from spreading beyond those directly affected. I\u2019ll tell you true; I\u2019ll be glad when this is over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s good news, Roy. I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve had your hands full.\u201d Ben\u2019s pinched look had disappeared with the report. \u201cIs Adam well enough that he could come out here. Otherwise, could you let him know we\u2019re back and see if he needs anything?\u201d<\/p>\n

Roy\u2019s eyebrows dipped toward his nose. \u201cYou must not have stopped at home. Adam isn\u2019t in town. He was exposed to the sickness from your men, but he wasn\u2019t showin\u2019 no ill effects from it, so I let him go back to the ranch to take care of things. He promised to come in if he started feeling poorly, but I ain\u2019t seen him in two days.\u201d<\/p>\n

The worried look returned and was mirrored on the faces of Ben\u2019s sons. \u201cWe did stop, but he wasn\u2019t at there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe he was just out doin\u2019 some work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s head moved back and forth slowly as he frowned. \u201cThat might be true, but I\u2019d say no one has been at the house for at least two days.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roy removed his hat and scratched his head. \u201cI wish I could give you more information. He came to town for supplies and wanted money for some stock you was expectin\u2019. I did his errands and got a bank draft for Thunderbird, but I\u2019m not sure what his plans were after that.\u201d He paused, trying to remember something important. \u201cOh, the telegraph got fixed yesterday and a message came in from that ranch sayin\u2019 they aren\u2019t comin\u2019 until next week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss had been thinking during Roy\u2019s last statement, and broke in. \u201cI noticed prints going the opposite direction when we was riding in, Pa, but I didn\u2019t pay much mind to them.\u201d He looked over at Roy. \u201cHas it rained since Adam was here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot a lick, Hoss, why\u2019d you ask?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen them prints might just show us where Adam got to.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

It was easy to see three sets of horseshoe markings dried into the mud once they were back on the main road to the ranch. Joe observed the prints from atop Cochise, and then looked up at his family. \u201cI don\u2019t think they were riding together. Notice how they\u2019re on top of one another in most places. It could be that three people were riding single-file, but I\u2019m betting they\u2019ll separate at some point and we\u2019ll just have to see where each leads.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo we don\u2019t, Joe.\u201d Hoss got down from his horse and pointed out one print that hadn\u2019t been trampled. \u201cSee the notch in this one? I made that while I was shapin\u2019 Lightnin\u2019s new shoes, and hit the tongs with the hammer by mistake. It left a mark in the hot metal, but it didn\u2019t make no difference to the fit so I let it be.\u201d He took a satisfied breath. \u201cWe follow those to Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The first prints cut off on the road going toward the house after a few miles. \u201cI\u2019m guessing that was Hugh,\u201d Ben ventured. \u201cRoy said he went back to get the men, and we saw the wagon tracks when we went towards town earlier.\u201d He went silent as the suspicion hit him that wherever Adam had gone, he had never made it home.<\/p>\n

Once the second set left on another side road, the three men urged their horses a little faster to follow the only set that mattered. \u201cI bet he was going out to check the beef he was going to fatten in the pasture out this way,\u201d Ben hollered back to his sons. His heart slowed to a more normal rhythm as he decided it was possible that a problem with the herd could have made his eldest stay with them. \u201cIt would be just like Adam to get so absorbed that he\u2019d forget to go home,\u201d he whispered almost as a prayer. He finished this thought with an actual petition to the Almighty.<\/p>\n

Their journey to find Adam took another turn a few minute later when Lightning\u2019s track headed overland.<\/p>\n

The two brothers stopped behind their father, and Hoss gave Joe\u2019s arm a swat while leaning in to speak quietly. \u201cHe\u2019s gettin\u2019 worried again. I hope we find something soon.\u201d He raised his voice so Ben could hear. \u201cThere\u2019s a spring over that way, Pa. He might a took a detour to get water.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI doubt he\u2019ll still be there, but we\u2019ll know where he went after that.\u201d Ben turned and gave his sons a withering look. \u201cAnd I might be old\u2026and fat\u2026but I can still hear just fine, so stop talking about me behind my back.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, this ain\u2019t good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben heard the warning and turned Buck back to where Hoss had stopped. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I saw five sets of tracks outside town, Pa, but then it thinned to them three clear sets.\u201d He pointed down at two more sets of prints that crossed Adam\u2019s now. \u201cI think someone was following him\u2019 maybe ridin\u2019 over a ways, far enough that he didn\u2019t see them. But they joined up here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben nudged Buck to a gallop, covering the last half mile to the pond in seconds with Little Joe at his side. For the second time in an hour, the two men sat atop their horses; stunned by what they saw. Adam\u2019s black shirt, pants, and his mustard-colored coat were draped over scrub bushes, and his saddle was on the ground next to the oldest, most swaybacked horse they\u2019d ever seen. \u201cWhat in tarnation?\u201d Ben asked of no one in particular. \u201cI\u2019m assuming that someone rode in on that old nag, and left on Lightning. But where\u2019s Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss joined his father and brother after taking a good look at what the new prints might tell him. \u201cThem two riders split up right after they started followin\u2019 Adam. Looking at that old gal over there tells me why some of the footsteps looked like the horse was draggin\u2019 its feet.\u201d He nodded toward the aged mare. \u201cHer prints came here and the other set went off behind that sandy rise.\u201d He dropped from Chubby and walked the area. \u201cI\u2019m assumin\u2019 this guy got the jump on Adam, and that surprises me. He must not have been payin\u2019 attention; maybe he never considered there would be anyone else out here.\u201d He pointed to a scuffed-up spot in the dirt. \u201cThere was a struggle near the pool over there, and Adam\u2019s empty gun belt is over near the edge of the water by his clothes.\u201d He looked around the rest of the site.\u201d I get the feeling from that dried mud near the water\u2019s edge that Adam ended up in the pond and then changed into dry clothes. I remember Roy sayin\u2019 that Hop Sing showed up at the barricade with a basket of laundry.\u201d The saddlebag flap was open, and Hoss bent down to look inside. A set of clothes was stuffed in it, confirming his theory. \u201cOne thing don\u2019t make sense. Why did the guy change out saddles before leaving on Lightnin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2019s saddle is pretty distinctive. Others might not recognize Lightning, but they might recognize that.\u201d Little Joe went over to pat the old horse. \u201cShe\u2019s in bad shape. Someone rode her near to death.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think they took Adam with them: maybe rode double on Lightning?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Pa.\u201d Hoss walked to a spot on edge of the clearing.\u201d I saw boot prints in the grass over here. Adam left on foot. What\u2019s around here?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben surveyed the horizon and pointed west. \u201cThe Hendricks\u2019 farm is a few miles that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right!\u201d Joe mounted Cochise in one fluid sweep. \u201cWhat should we do about that sick horse?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss laughed. \u201cShe ain\u2019t got much time left on this earth, and in my way of thinkin\u2019 she\u2019s got water and grass, so\u2019s pretty nearly in heaven compared to what she musta been through. I\u2019ll come back to get her once we find Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe moved Cochise to the grassy spot Hoss had indicated. \u201cYou two can move faster on the road, but I\u2019ll follow Adam\u2019s tracks just in case that\u2019s not where he headed. I\u2019ll come get you if he veers in another direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

Twelve<\/strong><\/p>\n

Emit heard the horses approaching and a huge lump of fear lodged in his gullet. He had no doubt about who was outside. He\u2019d thought about what he\u2019d say if the Cartwrights came by before they were on the road, but just the thought of having to face Ben made his knees knock. He looked back to where his wife was waking from her nap. \u201cStay inside Mary, and be ready to go. We\u2019ll leave as soon as I get the Cartwrights on their way.\u201d<\/p>\n

His hands were shaking so hard that he stuffed them in his pockets when he stepped onto the porch. Hello, Ben; Hoss; Little Joe.\u201d He nodded to each as they walked to the steps. \u201cI heard you was away a while, so you can come up closer. Doc Martin said we had to be careful about lettin\u2019 anyone near us because a that sickness in town.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben felt the tremor in Emit\u2019s grip when he grasped the young farmer\u2019s hand in greeting. He thought it odd, but then remembered that he had been pretty shaky too as the time had neared for each of his children to be born. \u201cWe have a problem and think you might have an answer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emit produced a nervous laugh. \u201cWhat can I possibly help you with? The Cartwrights are the ones everyone else goes to with their problems.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben smiled as his left cheek rose to meet his eye. \u201cIs everything all right, Emit? You don\u2019t seem yourself today.\u201d<\/p>\n

The young man looked down at his shoes and tried to breathe more normally. \u201cIt\u2019s just that Mary; I worry about her. I\u2019d like to get back inside if you\u2019re about ready to be on your way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss had noticed the same skittishness and moved things along. \u201cWhat we need to know is whether you seen Adam in the last day or two? We followed his boot tracks to your property.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh that\u2019s what you wanted to know?\u201d Emit\u2019s smile was forced as he tried to act unconcerned. \u201cAdam was here two days ago. I talked to him, but we more so hollered back and forth. The doc said the men from the Ponderosa were sick and Adam said he didn\u2019t want to come no closer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did he want?\u201d Joe posed the question as he walked to the end of the porch and looked toward the barn.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe didn\u2019t tell me much about it, but said he\u2019d been robbed and they took his horse. He asked to use one of ours. I got Slipper saddled and brought her to the yard while Adam stayed a ways away until I got in the house, and then he got her and rode off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid he say where he was going?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cSaid he needed Sheriff Coffee.\u201d Sweat was trickling down the sides of Emit\u2019s face, and he made a quick swipe at it with his shoulder. He thought hard to remember what he\u2019d planned to say, and sighed gratefully as it came back. \u201cWhy\u2019re you asking me<\/em> about this instead of Adam?\u201d His gut hurt more as he witnessed the anguish settle over Ben\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

Hoss sent a quick glance toward his father before saying. \u201cNear as we can tell, you was the last person to see him, Emit. Did he take the road when he left?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was in the house by then.\u201d He hadn\u2019t meant for his tone to sound defensive, but it had, so he smiled, took a deep breath to calm himself and then shrugged. \u201cI checked on Mary first off, and he was gone by the time I looked again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben was anxious to follow the newest clue. \u201cThank you for the information. Give our best to Mary. And if my son should show up here again, please tell him to go home and wait there.\u201d<\/p>\n

The three men said their goodbyes and then moved far enough away that they wouldn\u2019t be heard. Hoss shook his head as he drew a hissing breath through his teeth. \u201cSomething ain\u2019t right. When we rode here, I saw just one set of tracks going back towards<\/em> town.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWouldn\u2019t those be Adam\u2019s?\u201d Little Joe\u2019s face contorted in confusion, but then settled into a knowing look. \u201cEmit said Paul had been here? Did you see any evidence that a buggy had come this way?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did not, and that\u2019s what\u2019s puzzlin\u2019 me. The tracks I saw going towards town were the same as the ones I seen comin\u2019 here; the same ones we saw turn off this way when we was following the original three sets. I\u2019m thinking those were Paul\u2019s.\u201d Hoss let that sink in. \u201cI know Adam loves to take shortcuts, but that road lays a pretty straight line from here to town so I can\u2019t see him foolin\u2019 around on some cross-country route that wouldn\u2019t save time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve made some good points, son, but we have to follow this lead.\u201d Ben walked to a spot in the yard where half-moon-shaped prints indicated a horse had stood and moved around. \u201cThis must be where Adam mounted up.\u201d<\/p>\n

The feeling that something wasn\u2019t right continued to nudge at Hoss. Before getting back on Chubby, he took a good look around and spotted something else that added to his unease. There was a wide drag mark from the near where the horse had stood, back toward the barn. Attempts to rough up the dirt did little to disguise it and he\u2019d have liked to examine it further, but Pa was calling him to hurry.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Emit had already hooked the team to the wagon while his wife had rested, and he\u2019d been thankful that he\u2019d been cautious enough to leave the rig in the barn\u2026just in case. His nerves had almost gotten the best of him as he\u2019d paced the floor of the nearly empty house while the Cartwrights had talked near where Slipper had left the yard. He\u2019d had to calm himself even more when he\u2019d looked out the window and had seen Hoss looking toward the barn, fearing he\u2019d come back to ask more questions.<\/p>\n

He helped Mary carry out the final necessities, and they were on the road as soon as the trio disappeared over the hill to the north. \u00a0He knew he\u2019d have to move fast to get away before the Cartwrights returned\u2014as he knew they would. The Hendricks\u2019 relatives lived due east of Carson City, and the trip by wagon could be accomplished in a little over two hours. He doubted they\u2019d be followed, but Ben Cartwright was a mighty man, and Emit wasn\u2019t sure just what he might do after he found the note they\u2019d left.<\/p>\n

He could hear Mary sniffling next to him as turned for one last look at their valley homestead and bid goodbye to what had been their future until 48 hours ago. As he gave the reins a good slap to hurry the horses along, he breathed normally for the first since Adam Cartwright had set foot on the edge of their yard.<\/p>\n

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

They\u2019d been riding for nearly an hour, and the frowns on all three Cartwrights had set like stone. Ben motioned for his sons to stop and leaned forward on the pommel. \u201cWe\u2019re riding in circles.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat horse does keep backtracking to this same spot of grass.\u201d Hoss shook his head slowly and sent a knowing look to his brother. \u201cWe done followed every roundabout path\u2026but one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, we even marked them so we wouldn\u2019t do them again. It seems to me that\u2026\u201d Joe waited a second to see if his father would come up with the conclusion he was edging toward. Ben\u2019s expression got even darker but he remained mute. \u201cNo one\u2019s controlling that horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben knew his sons were waiting for him to reply, but at the moment he was having trouble just breathing. It wasn\u2019t as if this was the first time he\u2019d been in this situation. There was a lot of country out here, and he\u2019d worried each time one of his boys had been delayed in returning. Most times they\u2019d showed up within a few hours of their expected arrival; but a few times they hadn\u2019t. The odds had been against him finding them on those occasions, but so far, he\u2019d been blessed in those endeavors. Here he was again, and somewhere deep in his soul, a dark shadow was taunting him, saying that his blessings had been paid out in full. Many memories whispered the confirmation of that possibility. He\u2019d assumed he couldn\u2019t possibly lose three wives, but he had. He\u2019d assumed that as his children got older, he wouldn\u2019t have to worry as much about them, but he did. And now the only clue to finding his son was a horse\u2014walking in circles.<\/p>\n

He looked up from his thoughts and saw the expectant looks. \u201cI agree, Joseph,\u201d he answered in a sigh. \u201cI have to wonder if Adam was getting ill when he was at the Hendricks\u2019 place, and became unable to control this animal.\u201d He held up his hand to silence Little Joe as his son opened his mouth to speak. \u201cI know, son. If Adam had dismounted or fallen off, we would have seen that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss broke in. \u201cThere\u2019s a last trail outta here Pa. Now that we got the rest of the tracks sorted out, I can tell that Slipper went somewhere and didn\u2019t come back. The prints sort of angle in the direction of Emit\u2019s place but we didn\u2019t see them when we was ridin\u2019 here. So maybe Adam was<\/em> feeling poorly and tried to get back there, but got off course, and ended up somewhere\u2019s else entirely.\u201d He moved Chubby to the final set of tracks. \u201cLet\u2019s finish this.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The tracks wandered a bit, but they finally headed toward the back of the Hendricks\u2019 homestead. Ben\u2019s face had reddened with anger as they neared the final downward path to the farm below. \u201cI thought Emit was acting oddly when we stopped before, but I can\u2019t figure out why he wouldn\u2019t tell us that Adam came back here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss wasn\u2019t sure he should share his suspicions, but decided they needed to be aired. \u201cPa, I don\u2019t think Adam \u2018came back\u2019; I\u2019m thinkin\u2019 he ever left.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s eyes opened wide in surprise. \u201cWhat makes you say that?\u201d<\/p>\n

The big man\u2019s cheeks began to color. \u201cI should\u2019a said somethin\u2019 right away, but I thought it couldn\u2019t be other than as Emit said.\u201d He cleared his throat. \u201cAdam ain\u2019t so big as I am, but two-hunderd pounds added to the back of any horse should deepen the print a might. I noticed that there weren\u2019t no difference in the depth of the prints between where it walked into the yard, and after Adam supposedly rode off on top of it. I put that off to the hard-pack ground around Emit\u2019s place. But I kept swallowin\u2019 down the uneasiness that there\u2019d just been rain, so the difference should have showed in the spots that were still a little wet. There was none.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s more, Pa,\u201d Hoss breathed. \u201cI seen that somethin\u2019 pretty good sized had been dragged away from the front yard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you say something!\u201d Ben\u2019s anger flashed, and then ebbed just as quickly. \u201cI know\u2026. There was no reason to suspect that Emit would lie to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The farm seemed deserted just as the Ponderosa had been. Two horses remained in the corral and Hoss checked their shoes, confirming that the gray dapple was the one they\u2019d been chasing. Ben Sent Joe to the house while he looked in the barn.<\/p>\n

They met in the yard where Ben reported, \u201cTheir big farm wagon and work horses are gone.\u201d He kicked the ground angrily. \u201cThey must have left as soon as we were out of sight. I wonder where they went\u2026and why.\u201d His look of anger was replaced by confusion. \u201cWhat\u2019d you find, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe house was empty, except for a bed and a few things that were there when they moved in, but I found this on the table.\u201d Joe handed him a folded sheet of paper with the words, Ben Cartwright,<\/em> printed on it.<\/p>\n

The sun\u2019s glare made it hard to read the light pencil on the brown store paper, so Ben moved into the shadow of the barn. His sons stood on either side of him as he unfolded it, and began to read aloud:<\/p>\n

\u201cDear Ben,<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI pray one day you understand why we aint telling this to your face.<\/em><\/p>\n

My Emit is not a smart man in the eyes of the world, but he is good, honest, and won\u2019t never hurt a soul, lest he thinks he\u2019s got no other choice. <\/em><\/p>\n

The doc had just told of the sickness in town. He said most ranches had men down with it, and the Ponderosa was no differnt. Doc didn\u2019t tell us how far to stay away or if touching something a sick person touched could do us in, so Emit decided we\u2019d just hole up at our place and not talk to anyone until we heard it was done.<\/em><\/p>\n

Adam came by soon after, and we didn\u2019t know what to do. Your boy was always good to us, but Emit thought protecting me and the baby was a higher call than helping Adam right then. He told him to leave, but Adam kept pestering him about using a horse.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s face had colored beet red and his hand was shaking so hard that the paper rustled noisily. \u201cPestering him?\u201d he shouted. \u201cA man comes for help, and she calls it pestering?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss placed his hand on his father\u2019s shoulder and squeezed. \u201cI ain\u2019t got words for how I\u2019m feelin\u2019 right now, and I think this letter is gonna have me ready to bust somebody into little pieces when it\u2019s done, but let\u2019s finish it so we know where Adam ended up.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a nod and a deep breath, Ben returned to the words.<\/p>\n

\u201cEmit held a shotgun on Adam. It weren\u2019t to shoot him, just to let him know he meant business about leaving. But we was moved to pity, and he was gonna get the horse. When Emit lowered the gun it got tangled in his shirt and it fired accidental. We didn\u2019t even know he\u2019d hit anything until we looked out saw Adam on the ground. <\/em><\/p>\n

There weren\u2019t nothing Emit could do, and I still didn\u2019t think he should get too near, so he put a tarp over him and rolled him up without never touching the body direct, and moved him to that cave we use to store the vegetables. Emit was sick inside, but said that just this once, we had to come first. He knows you\u2019ll make your way over here soon enough because you Cartwrights can track good as Indians, so he did something to throw you off in case you come looking before we\u2019re gone. I only tell you this so you know the whole story.<\/em><\/p>\n

Emit brought a horse out to where Adam stood, and then shot his gun to scare it. It tore off and came back about two hours later. If you did come here then you know that he said Adam was here, but he borrowed the horse to him, and showed you the tracks. Following them should a kept you gone long enough for us to get away so as we didn\u2019t have to face your anger just yet. <\/em><\/p>\n

About now you think us the biggest cowards ever lived, and you are right. He knows he done wrong, but if he owned up to it here, we\u2019d have to go to town to make our accountings, and that means I could get sick. We\u2019ll be to his folks place near Carson, and we will tell the sheriff over there what happened soon as we arrive. I\u2019m a witness to it being purely an accident. Emit weren\u2019t even aiming when the gun went off. I know your son would swear to that if he could. I don\u2019t guess my man will be charged with nothing more than being careless, and once the baby comes he will stand before you and listen to all you got to say.<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019m thinking you might be inclined to understand since I hear Ben Cartwright would walk to hell and back for one a his sons.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Ben continued to stare at the letter that concluded with both names. When his initial shock wore off, he folded the death notice of his oldest son, and tucked it carefully in his jacket pocket.<\/p>\n

Hoss walked away as he offered, \u201cEmit\u2019s not handy with guns and I can see it happening just as Mary wrote. What I can\u2019t understand is how\u2026they\u2026.could,\u201d He ran his sleeve across his eyes, unable to speak further.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet our brother lay there like a slab of meat while they sent us chasing our tails?\u201d Joe\u2019s face crumbled with the outburst and he lowered his head into his hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re simple people, boys. I doubt they\u2019ve ever faced anything so horrendous before, and could only see one way out. Leaving Adam didn\u2019t compare to what they thought they might lose if they stayed. I am as dumfounded and heartsick as you are, but I\u2019ll save my outrage for later. Now I need to take my son home.\u201d He turned toward the barn and steadied himself against it while allowing the watery haze that was clouding his eyes to clear.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

They walked slowly to the side of the rocky hill behind the barn. Hoss moved out ahead to reach the heavy wooden door that he\u2019d helped install on the cave opening. It had been Adam\u2019s idea to do this after he\u2019d realized the cave was cooled with mountain snow melt passing through the soil around it. It was downright cold in there this time of year, but remained cool enough year round to store crops and meat. Watching his father trudge up the incline to what was now a tomb broke Hoss\u2019s heart. He\u2019d assumed they\u2019d all run once they knew where Adam was, but their short journey had seemed more like a pilgrimage. He reckoned none of them wanted to put an end to this story\u2014not with this outcome anyway.\u00a0 He stopped his father at the door. \u201cLet me go in, Pa. I\u2019ll call fer you once I know if\u2026for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was enough light filtering through the open door that Hoss could see without a lamp, and he spotted what he\u2019d come for once his eyes adjusted to the dimness. On the far wall was a ledge\u2026with a body lying atop it. The tarp Mary had mentioned in the letter was partially pushed to the floor, while some of it still draped over his brother. He nearly tripped on the folds of the stiff canvas as he approached his brother and whispered, \u201cHey, Adam. We come to take you home.\u201d \u00a0The skin on Adam\u2019s forehead felt cool when he brushed the hair back from his brother\u2019s eyes, but it wasn\u2019t as hard or pale as he\u2019d thought it would be. He was grateful that Adam looked like he was sleeping rather than as he might have after being dead for a few days. \u201cIt must be the coolness in here,\u201d He mumbled aloud. He hadn\u2019t wanted his father to see his first son rolled up like a mummy in a dirty barn tarp, or disfigured by the toll of death, but this wasn\u2019t bad.<\/p>\n

Something about this scene began to stoke a fire in his gut. It seemed that Adam<\/em> had pushed the tarp aside because the edge of the fabric covering him was clenched within his hand. If that was true, then he hadn\u2019t been dead when he\u2019d been left here. His anger boiled. This may have started out as an accident, but had become something far different when Emit had run away, leaving Adam to die alone in this vault. He thought about Mary\u2019s assumption that there\u2019d be no charges against her husband, but that just might change.<\/p>\n

He blew out a long tortured breath as he pulled the tarp aside and he saw the evidence of the shotgun blast in the fan-shaped splatter of blood covering Adam\u2019s shirt. Something about this didn\u2019t seem right either, and he dabbed his finger onto one of the dark spots. The warm, wet stickiness made his heart start to pound, and he placed his hand flat on his brother\u2019s ribcage. \u201cPa, get in here,\u201d He yelled, turning his head toward the door.<\/p>\n

Ben rushed in with Joe a step behind. \u201cStop shouting, Hoss! Be respectful.\u201d He removed his hat and bowed his head as he saw what he\u2019d expected.<\/p>\n

The smallest of smiles turned the big man\u2019s lips as he said, \u201cLittle Joe should go get Paul Martin.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat can wait until we get Adam home, son. Let\u2019s all just be silent and offer our prayers.\u201d<\/p>\n

He peered over his father\u2019s lowered head to look directly at Joe. \u201cDo as I say, little brother. Ride for the doc, and hurry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben looked up with anger blazing in his eyes as he grabbed little Joe\u2019s arm and told him to, \u201cStay Put.\u201d He fixed his gaze on Hoss and demanded. \u201cWhat possible reason can you have for going against my wishes to bring Paul into this\u2026this\u2026misery?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s one good one, Pa.\u201d He nodded to his brother\u2019s shirt. \u201cDead men don\u2019t bleed.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Joe understood what Hoss was saying and was out the door and on Cochise\u2019s back in seconds. Ben stepped forward to do his own assessment, and looked back at his middle son with a crooked smile. \u201cHe\u2019s barely breathing, but I can feel a strong heartbeat. We better carry him in the house and get him warmed up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss moved his father aside and scooped Adam up, cradling him in his arms, and hurried toward the house, while repeating, \u201cHold on Adam. You\u2019re gonna be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

They\u2019d managed to warm Adam by building a fire and using the bedrolls Hoss had left on their saddles when he\u2019d relocated them earlier. \u201cHe\u2019s less cold now, and I don\u2019t feel a fever, so that\u2019s good.\u201d Ben smiled weakly at Hoss while holding his hand against his son\u2019s forehead.<\/p>\n

Hoss offered, \u201cMaybe now that we got that chill off, I can clean him up a little.\u201d With Ben\u2019s nod he pulled the blanket back, laid back his brother\u2019s shirt and gently washed the area around the pellet wounds. What he found under the blood and dirt made him breathe easier. \u201cLuckily Emit buys cheap shells that are light on powder and shot. The ones we use would have blown Adam\u2019s chest off. Most of these ain\u2019t all that deep.\u201d He looked at his father and shook his head. \u201cI can see this taking Adam down and hurting something fierce, Pa, but I can\u2019t understand how Emit thought he was dead. Adam\u2019s a tough bird. I can\u2019t even see him fallin\u2019 unconscious\u2014or stayin\u2019 that way for long if he did. Yet when I think about Mary and Emit, I got no reason to believe she was untruthful in her note.\u201d He began to wash Adam\u2019s face and pulled the cloth away as he gulped. \u201cLook here, Pa.\u201d He pointed to a rectangular shaped bruise on the side of his brother\u2019s head. \u201cMaybe that\u2019s more the reason he didn\u2019t put up a fight. Emit knocked him a good one too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe Emit would try to kill Adam when he didn\u2019t die from the blast. Still\u2026.\u201d Ben grew silent as he examined the bruise and sighed deeply. \u201cNone of this makes sense. Maybe Paul can figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The upheaval of the long day had exhausted father and son, and with Adam resting quietly, they dozed off too. Hoss jumped and was headed for the door as soon as he heard the pounding of hooves nearing the house. \u201cThey\u2019re back, Pa,\u201d he called as he went outside.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seemed like you was gone forever, but I\u2019m betting it wasn\u2019t more\u2019n two hours,\u201d he told his brother, pulling him aside as Paul Martin charged past them into the house. \u201cDid you talk to Roy while you was there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I did. I told him as much as I knew about the robbery and the Hendricks. Emit and Mary were true to their word though. Roy sent a quick wire about both things to Carson City, and got an answer almost immediately saying that the Hendricks were at the sheriff\u2019s office.\u201d Joe scrunched his face as he thought. \u201cDon\u2019t it seem odd to you that they didn\u2019t realize Adam was alive?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe and pa came to the same conclusion, and then I found evidence that Emit might have smacked him in the head with somethin\u2019 to put him down. Did Roy wire back for Sheriff Clark to hold Emit?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere wasn\u2019t any reason for that. Roy let them know that Adam is alive, and he\u2019ll ride over to question both of them once the quarantine is lifted. Maybe by then Adam will be able to tell us what happened.\u201d His puzzlement turned to worry. \u201cDo you think he\u2019ll make it, Hoss?\u201d I mean he looked so\u2026you know\u2026that I couldn\u2019t believe he was still breathing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTime will tell, Joe. That\u2019s the only thing I know for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Adam moaned and tried to move away while Paul dug shot pellets from his wounds, and he muttered something about \u201ctwo men,\u201d but didn\u2019t fully waken.<\/p>\n

Ben had sent Hoss and Joe home to get a wagon, and then had helped with whatever Paul told him to do. But his son was resting again, and he was done being patient. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t he wake up?\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul grinned. \u201cBecause he\u2019s Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that supposed to mean?\u201d Ben growled, and then grinned back. \u201cI suppose that could explain it. What\u2019s wrong with him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe good news is that he\u2019ll do better now that the shot is out, but there are other problems. A couple pellets went deep, and I think they packed enough of a wallop that they might have bruised ribs. I didn\u2019t notice any shifting as I wrapped his chest, but I\u2019ll presume that there\u2019s some damage. The pain from that might be one reason he\u2019s breathing so shallowly. But that brings up two more serious problems. His lungs are congested\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPneumonia?\u201d Ben cut in.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt could get to that. He doesn\u2019t have a fever, but that doesn\u2019t mean he didn\u2019t have one. I saw Adam a few hours before this must have happened. He said he\u2019d been exposed to your crew, and I noticed that his cheeks were rosy. He claimed he was fine as a fiddle, but he has to half dead before he admits he isn\u2019t well.\u201d Paul saw Ben nod. \u201cLittle Joe told me that Adam had been laid out on a cold rock slab since the other day, and although that sounds awful, it probably brought the fever down if he did have one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat seems good. You said there were two serious problems. What\u2019s the other one?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s that bruise on his temple. That might be the most serious injury\u2026and the reason he\u2019s not awake. The coolness should have helped with that too.\u201d He cleared his throat. \u201cI guess there\u2019s a third problem. After the first few hours, the cold in that cave might have started doing more bad than good. I\u2019ll know more once he\u2019s awake, but my best guess is that the flu had been creeping up on him for a day or two, and it probably hit him like a hard uppercut, taking him down for the count. He always does that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph mentioned something on the trip home about how Adam pushes against illness until he takes a knockout punch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul patted Ben\u2019s shoulder. \u201cYou know what this means, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s look bordered on panic. \u201cHe\u2019s not going to recover?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a leap, Ben.\u201d Paul laughed. \u201cI think he\u2019ll be fine, but I don\u2019t know right now if what I see is the result of the gunshot, the hit in the head, the flu\u2014or as usually happens with Adam\u2014all three.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI agree, Paul.\u201d Ben grimaced and chuckled. \u201cIt does seem like he can\u2019t ever be satisfied with having one malady at a time.\u201d He thought a moment and asked, \u201cYou said this means something?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe town has run its course with the flu and they want to open it for business tomorrow. For safety sake, I\u2019ll assume that some of what Adam\u2019s experiencing is from it, and that means we have new exposures: you, me, and your boys. Since the contact was made by a limited number of people, I think we\u2019ll quarantine the Ponderosa instead of extending it in Virginia City. I\u2019ll stay at the house too until the incubation period runs its course.\u201d He smiled and patted Ben\u2019s shoulder. I\u2019d say that since Adam has no fever, he\u2019s not infective any longer. It\u2019s just best to not take chances.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll have a room for as long as you need it, Paul, and if what you say is true, then it\u2019ll be more like a vacation for you. You can ride and fish while you wait it out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul\u2019s smile widened. \u201cI\u2019ll take good care of Adam, but I was thinking pretty much like you.\u201d The smile turned into a chuckle. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be surprised if Roy might find a way to spend the quarantine at the ranch too. He\u2019d probably like a vacation after all he\u2019s been through in town.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Ben walked into Adam\u2019s room to relieve Hoss. \u201cHow\u2019s he doing son?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam had been home for a full day, and while he seemed to be resting easy and even drank when a glass was put to his lips, he hadn\u2019t awakened.<\/p>\n

Father and son walked to the door. \u201cHe keeps mumblin\u2019 about them two guys, and he\u2019ll sort of go into a fit, trying to pull his covers off.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the two men continued to speak quietly about what needed to be done on the ranch, the man in the bed opened his eyes and croaked, \u201cAm I dead or alive?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben rushed to Adam\u2019s side. \u201cYou\u2019re home and doing just fine, son.\u201d He turned to Hoss. \u201cGet Paul.\u201d<\/p>\n

The doctor and Little Joe came running in together, and after a few minutes of prodding, asking questions, and listening to Adam\u2019s chest, Paul proclaimed. \u201cWelcome back, mister. You had us all worried again.\u201d He addressed Ben. \u201cThe congestion is clearing, so there\u2019s no pneumonia. But,\u201d he looked at the others, and then to Adam. \u201cI can say this now that he\u2019s awake and apparently unharmed. It\u2019s fortunate that you got back a day early and that you kept looking for him instead of assuming he\u2019d come home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy\u2019s that, Paul?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t want to add worry on top of concern, but his body temperature had gotten pretty low in that cave. I told Ben that was a good thing\u2014at first. As time went on, the coolness kept slowing his body down, and would have gotten to the point where he would have drifted away without ever waking up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard about how you can get so cold that all you want to do is sleep,\u201d Hoss offered. \u201cBut I thought it had to be real cold, like getting\u2019 caught out in a blizzard or fallin\u2019 in a freezin\u2019 lake.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would do it faster, but I checked on that cave while we were waiting for you and Joe to bring the wagon, and it was very cold in there. Adam was unable to increase his body heat by moving around and he\u2019d pushed the tarp away at some point, so he began to cool gradually, and eventually we wouldn\u2019t have been able to warm him up fast enough to counteract that. I\u2019d say a few hours more would have done it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you remember being cold, Adam?\u201d Joe asked the question and then chuckled at hearing a deep snore coming from the chilled Cartwright.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can wake him up again,\u201d the doctor advised. \u201cHe should drink something and try to focus so we know if there\u2019s any effect on his memory.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hop Sing had arrived home early that morning when the Virginia City quarantine had been lifted for those who\u2019d had no contact with the Bucket revelers. Roy had told him about the quarantine at the Ponderosa, but he\u2019d accepted the risk and headed out with the wagon of ranch hands who\u2019d recovered enough to go back.<\/p>\n

The cook appeared in the doorway carrying a tray with cups of tea and broth at the same time Paul had given his prescription. He shooed the family away from the bed as he told the patient, \u201cYou eat. I told you I come home last time I see you. This not happen if you listen.\u201d The broken English stopped, and was replaced by something he said in his native tongue.<\/p>\n

Adam nodded and gave a tired smile before saying something sounding like, \u201cSheyshey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss gave his brother a sidelong look once Hop Sing had gone downstairs. \u201cYou know what he said to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Another nod. \u201cI\u2019ve picked up enough Mandarin to understand if he speaks slowly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what\u2019d he say? And what was that word you said?\u201d Little Joe inquired.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe wished for my returning health, and I said thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we should talk about the last few days before you rest again. We need to know what happened to you and where, so we can decide what needs to be done.\u201d Ben sat next to his son. \u201cMaybe you can start at the beginning and tell us what you recall.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam gave the details about the crew being in town and getting sick, and the miserable weather that had made him organize the cattle as he had. He became agitated as he remembered that there were still several hundred head boxed in and looked to his brothers for assurances that they\u2019d get out there soon. Ben rested his hand on his son\u2019s arm. \u201cSome of the hands came back with Hop Sing, and they\u2019ve already given us a report. Now tell us what happened to you<\/em>. We were able to follow your tracks, so we know where you were, but not what happened in each place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI must have been followed by two men when I left town, and one approached me when I stopped for water. Did you see that old horse he left behind?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s out in the corral,\u201d Hoss assured him. \u201cI brought her here yesterday once you was settled. She\u2019s holdin\u2019 her own and eating up a sack of oats.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s eyes flew open. \u201cI remember why I went to Emit\u2019s place. I was starting to feel achy and coughing by the time I was robbed. The guy took my gun and clobbered me in the head with it, and when I tried to fight him for it, I coughed on him too. I wanted Roy to notify nearby towns to watch for those two, and get them isolated.\u201d He\u2019d risen onto his elbow as he\u2019d made his point, and collapsed with a cry of pain.<\/p>\n

\u201cMove a little slower next time,\u201d Paul cautioned as he checked the bandages around Adam\u2019s chest.<\/p>\n

Little Joe spoke up. \u201cI told Roy that you\u2019d been robbed and that one of them was riding Lighting, so he sent telegrams to surrounding sheriffs warning them to be on the lookout. Paul told Roy to mention the sickness and to keep them separate if they showed up.\u201d He nodded toward Paul. \u201cOur doctor friend had a pretty good hunch you\u2019d been coming down with that flu.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul added. \u201cRoy got a couple answers back while I was away getting my things to head out with Little Joe, and no one had strangers in town. And now that I\u2019ve heard about you being drenched and cold, I\u2019m positive you were coming down with something. Whether it was the flu or just exhaustion from your rain-day escapades doesn\u2019t matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss listened patiently and then asked, \u201cSo it was them robbers who hit you in the head?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cThey were hardly robbers. The one took my guns and the bank draft I had for Thunderbird, so he really didn\u2019t get anything. I even told him I\u2019d trade horses. You\u2019d have to see him to know why I\u2019d do that. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever come across a person more in need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben could see the tired look in his son\u2019s eyes and tried to speed the story. \u201cSo you got to Emit and Mary\u2019s place. They left a note saying you were dead. Do you remember any of that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt wretched by the time I got there, and wasn\u2019t sure whether it was from being sick or the knock on the head. Emit was afraid I\u2019d get Mary sick, and he even held a gun on me.\u201d He sent a scathing look towards Paul. \u201cThe good doctor had warned them to be careful, but they interpreted that to mean they couldn\u2019t even talk to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid he shoot you to keep you away?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNah, Pa. You know how clumsy Emit is. He was trying to put the gun down when it went off. This must be the first time he\u2019s hit anything, and he wasn\u2019t even trying.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did they think you were dead?\u201d Little Joe inquired.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t remember anything after hearing the gun about the same time the pellets hit. I blacked out, I guess.\u201d He looked around at the faces above him. \u201cDid Emit bury me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben pulled Mary\u2019s note from his pocket and handed it to his son. \u201cI keep forgetting you don\u2019t know everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

He shook his head and handed it back when he finished. \u201cI didn\u2019t think Emit was capable of all that diversionary planning. I remember waking up once. Something tight and earthly smelling was over my face and I pulled at it until I got it off, and then it\u2019s all a blank again. I honestly thought I was buried alive, and might have even hollered some, but I was too weak to do anything about it. I guess I was partly right.\u201d He grinned sleepily. \u201cI can understand Emit clearing out before you got there, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell I can\u2019t. An honest man would have owned up to what he\u2019d done, instead of running off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot if owning up meant facing you.\u201d Adam yawned loudly and ended in a groan from his unexpected deep breath. \u201cIt takes a pretty solid man to face you, Pa. Emit will get there if you give him a chance. He has to learn that Ben Cartwright will listen before hollering, at least when it\u2019s someone other than his sons doing the talking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s anger wasn\u2019t diminished by Adam\u2019s attempt at humor. \u201cEmit will not get anywhere near our ranch again. I don\u2019t abide cowardice. You know that, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think Emit\u2019s a coward; he\u2019ll face you just as Mary wrote. Maybe we need to take away his guns so he doesn\u2019t hurt himself or anyone else, but he\u2019s always just wanted to be a farmer; he\u2019s good at that, and we should let him be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul called an end to the conversation as he saw evidence of increasing discomfort in Adam\u2019s grimaces. He gave him a dose of laudanum and cleared the room.<\/p>\n

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

Adam slept until the next morning when he felt well enough to want to get up. Hoss helped him dress and served as a crutch as the two brothers took the steps\u2014one at a time. \u201cThanks,\u201d the older of the two hissed as he eased into the red, overstuffed chair.<\/p>\n

His family and Paul brought their breakfast plates over to the square table in the living area so they could join him, while Hop Sing quickly relocated the extra eggs, bacon, and toast, and then brought the patient a bowl of oatmeal with cream. \u201cYou eat this. No want other food yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAin\u2019t you hungry? Hoss asked as he loaded enough on his plate to feed both of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI sure am, but I think Hop Sing\u2019s right. I might have some of that toast if I finish the cereal, so don\u2019t eat it all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst come, first served, is what I hear.\u201d Hoss winked at his brother. \u201cYou just go ahead. I\u2019m so glad to see you up and around that I\u2019ll go make you toast if there\u2019s none left.\u201d\u00a0 He dug into his meal and then stopped to ask, \u201cWhat happened to Sport. He was limping some.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam frowned and sighed. \u201cI forgot about that. He stepped into a pothole, got off balance and fell. If he\u2019s still limping, he might be hurt more than I thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t see nor feel nothin\u2019 wrong in there. I\u2019ll do more liniment on that leg and then walk him to get the stiffness out. I brushed that old gal down too and gave her a wash. She ain\u2019t no young filly, but she\u2019s lookin\u2019 lots better. No one should ride her again, but she\u2019ll have some good days out in the pasture yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

With his family working outside and Paul in the guest room pouring over paperwork he\u2019d brought along, Adam was able to finish the book he\u2019d been reading a few evenings ago. His chest still hurt, but with a small dose of pain elixir, he was able to stand and sit on his own. He\u2019d dozed off and was startled when Hoss charged through the front door.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam! There\u2019s a rider coming towards the house. He\u2019s on Lightnin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust one?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a ways away still, but I just see one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was sure there were two of them.\u201d Adam\u2019s face fell into a deep frown as several thoughts ran through his mind. \u00a0He\u2019d probably been right about them getting lost, but with just one rider coming, had the other one taken sick after the contact they\u2019d had at the pond, or was this a ruse? Was one of them coming in to talk, while the other snuck in a different way, waiting for the opportune moment to show himself? None of his questions could produce an answer. \u201cI guess we\u2019ll have to wait until he gets here to find out what he wants. Tell Pa not to say anything away about recognizing the horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

He smiled as his brother walked out the door. No one would be able to tell that the approaching horse was Lightning from the distance he must still be out\u2026except for Hoss. And with Sport under his care for two days, he\u2019d seen the tall chestnut prancing in the corral like a young stallion.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cBen waved the rider to a stop as he entered the yard. \u201cDon\u2019t come any closer. Our house is quarantined.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man on Lightning nodded and dismounted. \u201cYou mean like Virginia City was?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. There\u2019s a chance that someone here had that flu.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stood holding the reins, pursing his lips while he took several deep breaths. \u201dWould there be a man named Cartwright that lives here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all Cartwrights,\u201d Ben explained. \u201cHow might we help you?\u201d<\/p>\n

The stranger gave them all a good looking over. \u201cIs there another that ain\u2019t out here? The one I\u2019m lookin\u2019 for is dark-haired, younger\u2019n you, but about your height, mister.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou must mean, Adam. He\u2019s inside. What do you want with him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy name is Art Finley, and I come to make amends to A\u2026\u201d He stopped talking and looked across the yard as he heard a familiar whinny. \u201cAw, Bessie!\u201d He ran past the others to the corral. The old horse had walked to the fence and nuzzled Art\u2019s outstretched hand. He stroked her nose and laid his head on her long snout, before turning back to his audience. \u201cShe looks good. Thank you for helpin\u2019 her out. I couldn\u2019t take care a her like I wished I could, and I thought she was dead for sure when I left her.\u201d Tears streaked down his cheeks as he focused again on his horse.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can stop the pretense,\u201d Ben declared. \u201cWe know what you did to my son. The reason the ranch is quarantined is that he might have been getting sick when you robbed him, so you will have to remain here until we know whether you have it too. We were wondering where\u2019d you\u2019d gotten to, and I\u2019m relieved you\u2019ve showed up. But I have to admit I\u2019m curious as to why you did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got lost, for one thing. This land of yourn is so big we got turned \u2018round and kept passin\u2019 the same rocks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam had positioned himself by the door and laughed at the admission. He stepped outside and called, \u201cSo your name is Art. I have a pretty good idea why you\u2019re here, but I also have two questions. How\u2019d you find the house, and where\u2019s your partner. He needs to be quarantined too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Art left Bessie as the crinkled hanky from the robbery made an appearance to dry his cheeks, and walked to the porch where Adam was standing. \u201cMy partner is my brother, Colin. He\u2019s in the clump a trees out a distance waiting to see what\u2019ll happen. He was afraid you\u2019d string us up for horse thieven\u2019, but I said you\u2019d give me a chance to talk.\u201d He thought a minute. \u201cOh, I got here by lettin\u2019 that good ol\u2019 horse you traded for Bessie, bring me. I gave it a kick, let the reins loose, and it came home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben, Little Joe and Hoss had made their way to the porch as well, and laughed along with Adam.<\/p>\n

Adam nodded towards his family. \u201cThat guy who\u2019s about your size, is my brother, Hoss. He trains our saddle horses to come back. When one of them rides in without us, the others know that person\u2019s in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss smiled shyly. \u201cIt ain\u2019t so much a matter of trainin\u2019. I think them horses know where they\u2019ll find hay and a bucket of oats.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re all related?\u201d Art asked as his gaze shifted across the Cartwright faces.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy father, Ben Cartwright,\u201d Adam indicated the introduction with a nod. \u201cAnd my brothers Hoss and Little Joe.\u201d The pain in his chest was starting to throb again. \u201cI want you to ride out with Hoss and Joe and bring your brother back. You both have to stay here a few more days to make sure you aren\u2019t getting sick. You can tell me why you came to find me when you get back.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Ben followed Adam into the house when the others rode away; taking his arm as they entered. \u201cI understand that those two will have to stay here for a while, but then you\u2019ll let Roy have them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to hear what they have to say first, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe stole from you, and nearly killed you. I was talking to Paul, and he\u2019s leaning toward your near demise coming from that blow to your head.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd a chest full of lead.\u201d Adam grinned and then grimaced. \u201cCan we continue this once I\u2019m sitting?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben walked with his son to the living area and waited until he was comfortable. \u201cYou said Emit shooting you was an accident. But this\u2026Art\u2026, he knew what he was doing. He has to be held accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just have a feeling about him. I know what he and his brother did was wrong, but they were so bad at it that I also know it wasn\u2019t something they\u2019d done before. Maybe a little leniency could get them on their feet again and give them a different way to live.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSecond chances should be given by the law, not us,\u201d Ben growled as he pushed the logs around in the grate to add warmth to the room. When he turned back, he saw Adam grinning. \u201cWhat\u2019s so funny?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was just recalling a conversation that you and I had right here a few years ago when Jeb Drummond tried to take our land for his sheep. I wanted to bring in the law, while you said we should handle it ourselves. And as I recall, a kid named Billy would have put a hole in my chest except for his gun jamming. He also participated in my kidnapping\u2026yet\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, I know.\u201d Ben sat across from his son. \u201cWe gave Billy a second chance because we thought there was more good in him than bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m pretty sure Art clunked me in the head because I laughed at him. He made such an incongruous thief that I couldn\u2019t help myself. He was a big man with a strip of cloth covering his nose as a mask, and a broken down horse I could have outrun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben laughed. \u201cSo you poked a bear and he poked back.\u201d A sigh. \u201cI suppose we can wait for judgment.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Ben apprised Paul of the new developments and he examined the Finley brothers before they could begin their story. \u201cNeither of you have fevers, and since it\u2019s been a while since you were in contact with Adam, I think you\u2019re in the clear.\u201d He addressed Adam. \u201cI honestly don\u2019t think you had the flu<\/em>, but since I don\u2019t know for sure, we\u2019ll keep everyone here for another few days.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the exams complete Ben looked towards Hoss and Little Joe. \u201cPerhaps we should leave so Adam can speak privately with our\u2026guests.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo need for that, Pa. I\u2019ll want your opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hop Sing had been waiting for Paul Martin to finish and brought out a tray with coffee and sweet bread, telling everyone to, \u201cEat!\u201d before returning to the kitchen.<\/p>\n

Art had been looking around the room with his mouth open in awe, and he eyed the bread hungrily. When the plate made it to him, he grabbed two slices and downed them in two bites, washing them down with coffee. \u201cI ain\u2019t had nothing this good in so long, I can\u2019t recall. We ain\u2019t had coffee for some time either, exceptin\u2019 sometimes when we\u2019d go to a restaurant.\u201d He looked at his brother and laughed.
\n\u201cWell we didn\u2019t so much go there as watch from the windows \u2018til the waitress went into the kitchen. Then we\u2019d hurry inside and make a quick round of the tables to finish the coffee people left in their cups; grab left-over food from their plates, and hightail it out again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam shot a knowing look towards his father before asking, \u201cHow did you two come to be in such straits?\u201d<\/p>\n

Colin had sat quietly and blushed deeply at Art\u2019s admission. He cleared his throat; his shaky voice betraying his nervousness as he began speaking. \u201cWe had a nice life in Missouri until our ma and our baby brother died at his birthin. Somethin\u2019 went horrible wrong. Art nor I saw what happened, but we heard Ma screaming in pain, and then she went quiet, forever. \u00a0We was eight and six at the time. Pa worked at the mill, and we took care a things at home the best we could. Me and Art helped clean at stores in town for extra money, and things was all right. We never had much, but we had enough.\u201d He looked over at his brother with a proud smile. \u201cI never went to school, but I made sure Art got some grades in; enough that he can read and do figures.\u201d<\/p>\n

Art picked up the story. \u201cPa weren\u2019t around much. His grief at losin\u2019 Ma was fierce and maybe we just reminded him of her. He weren\u2019t never mean to us or beat us like some pa\u2019s did, and he made sure we had our needs. But when we got to be twelve and ten, Pa came to us and said he was takin\u2019 a new, young wife, and she didn\u2019t want to raise no other woman\u2019s offspring. Then he said we was old enough to move along and gave us enough so we could buy a couple horses and get gone. He didn\u2019t even want us stickin\u2019 around town.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere did you go?\u201d Adam asked as he noted the tiredness in both men\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe bought Bessie and Jasper and hit the road.\u201d Colin\u2019s tone gave no evidence of accusation or anger. \u201cWe took odd jobs like we\u2019d done back home at first, but we was either too young or too old it seemed. Art was still a kid, but he was a big kid and folks expected more of him that he could give, and they was mean as mountain cats to him.\u201d A shudder shook Colin\u2019s body. \u201cWe had to do some horrible jobs to make enough to get by. It seemed people knew we was desperate and I think they just wanted to see how far we\u2019d go to earn a few cents.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben asked, \u201cHow long ago did you leave home?\u201d Colin\u2019s answer of ten years made his jaw drop. He\u2019d expected that these men were in their late 30\u2019s rather than in their mid-twenties. He saw his sons\u2019 surprise as they made the same calculation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did you come to find me?\u201d The question came from Adam.<\/p>\n

Art met Adam\u2019s eyes. \u201cWe ain\u2019t never robbed no person like that, and it made me stomach sick when I thought about what I done to you. Life\u2019s been hard, but we ain\u2019t never done to another what\u2019d been done to us. Yer brothers told us what happened to you after we left, and I am purely sorry because I started them bad things.\u201d He waited for a reaction or Adam\u2019s anger but saw none, and continued. \u201cI kept thinkin\u2019 about what you\u2019d said about givin\u2019 us a chance, and convinced Colin that you\u2019d spoke the truth. We had a few days to contemplate it while we was lost, and decided to see if you was honest like I thought.\u201d He pulled the dog-eared envelope from his pocket, and handed it to his host. \u201cSince we brought the horse back and gave you this thing, might you work out a deal on a different horse that ain\u2019t worth so much? I\u2019d be proud to work off the price. Colin\u2019s done ranch work, but I was too young when he done it to get the hang of it. I might learn it good now, or I can muck stalls and do whatever you got needs doin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d do the same if you\u2019d have me,\u201d Colin added. \u201cWe\u2019re both sorely tired of livin\u2019 as we are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam saw his father\u2019s imperceptible nod from the corner of his eye. \u201cYou\u2019ll keep Lightning. You\u2019re a man of some size and you need a big horse. I\u2019ll have my brothers get you started on some work that needs doing. You\u2019ll stay in the old bunkhouse for now and our cook will provide your meals.\u201d He grinned. \u201cYou both look like you could use some decent food.\u201d<\/p>\n

Art\u2019s grin brightened his entire face. \u201cYou got beds in that bunk house?\u201d When all four Cartwrights nodded, he laughed. \u201cI ain\u2019t never slept in a bed in my life. We had blankets on the floor when we was kids, and no one ever gave us board when we worked for them, so we hunkered in barns or out on the ground.\u201d He shook his head. \u201cWe don\u2019t deserve none of this, but some angel must a sat on yer shoulder and told you we\u2019d be good for a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know about angels, but all of us Cartwrights can recognize a man who wants to do better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019ll train us as cowhands?\u201d Colin asked shyly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have something else in mind for now.\u201d Adam motioned his father over and they spoke quietly before he returned his attention to the Finleys. \u201cThere\u2019s a man who runs a farm for us. His operation is growing and he\u2019s going to need help. You\u2019ll work with him over the growing season and then stay here during the winter. You can pick up herding skills then. Once you\u2019ve paid for Lightning and have a few dollars saved up, you can decide whether to stay or move on. You\u2019ll be able to find work anywhere by then.\u201d He watched for a reaction and saw relieved smiles on both brothers. \u201cIf we have a deal, Hoss and Little Joe will get you settled in. We\u2019ll all have lunch at noon. I have a feeling that Art will rival Hoss in consumption, and that will make Hop Sing very happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The house had emptied, except for Adam and Ben who\u2019d remained sitting near the fire.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were right about those two deserving a second chance, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThose two never had a first chance, Pa, and only time will tell if they\u2019ll be able to turn their lives around. But I\u2019m betting on<\/em> them, not against them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben rose from his fireside perch. \u201cI\u2019m going to do a little bookwork while you rest until lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam reached for his father\u2019s arm as he passed the chair. \u201cDon\u2019t think I didn\u2019t notice the similarities in the circumstances between the Finley boys and the Cartwright boys. It would have been easier for you to have left me with Uncle John or Grandfather back when you were heading out here, or sending Hoss and I back to live with your family after Inger died. I don\u2019t know what makes men so different, but I realize I was given the gift of a loving and honorable father. The best way to appreciate that is to recognize when others aren\u2019t so blessed, and offer them a little of what I have because of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

The Ponderosa quarantine was lifted ten days from the time the three Cartwrights had first been exposed. No one had so much as sneezed during that time, and the Cartwright and the Finley brothers had accomplished all of the chores Adam had to postpone when the bad weather had hit.<\/p>\n

Emit Hendicks came calling a week later, announcing the birth of their baby boy and shaking from head to toe as Ben led him into the house to talk.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry for how things went that day, Mr. Cartwright.\u201d He addressed the man who\u2019d sat behind the desk, and then looked to Adam who was leaning on the chair where his father was sitting. \u201cThank you for tellin\u2019 the sheriffs that it were an accident, Adam. I can\u2019t tell you how happy and surprised I was to hear you was alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI could say the same thing, Emit.\u201d Adam smiled wryly. \u201cWhat made you think I was dead?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t want to touch you, but I stared at you for the longest while and saw no rise nor fall of yer chest. That shot hit you pretty much dead center.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour shells were loaded light,\u201d Adam explained. \u201cThat fact might explain why you never take down any birds with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand it was an accident.\u201d Ben steeled his gaze on the young farmer. \u201cBut you nearly did cause Adam\u2019s death with the delay in us finding him, driven by your cowardice. That\u2026I do not understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emit blew out a long breath and then met Ben\u2019s glare. \u201cI ain\u2019t never even seen a dead body before, and it spooked me somethin\u2019 awful, especially because a who it was. I knowed I did something awful, and could only think of gettin\u2019 Mary safe. There\u2019s no good answer to what I did, but those are the ones I give you.\u201d He broke eye contact. \u201cThe sheriff says Adam don\u2019t want no charges brought even though they might a figured out some that would work. I am thankful for that as well. We\u2019ll be staying with my folks and helpin\u2019 them with the farm, so you won\u2019t need to see me no more after this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, we\u2019ll see you all right!\u201d Adam adopted the squared off, hands-on-hips posture his father used when making a point. \u201cYou will get yourself back to your farm as soon as possible, and since you\u2019re behind with the planting, I\u2019m giving you two of our new hands to help with whatever needs doing. You\u2019ll turn your woodshed into a bunkhouse, and they\u2019ll stay at your place until winter.\u201d He laughed at Emit\u2019s surprised expression. \u201cHow soon can you be back?\u201d<\/p>\n

He stuttered, \u201cI\u2026I\u2026um\u2026I can come back tomorrow. Pa and Ma\u2019ll have to bring Mary and Jimmy over when they\u2019re a little stronger.\u201d A crooked smile preceded his question. \u201cWhy are you giving us another chance?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam turned to his father and smiled. \u201cWe\u2019re Cartwrights; it\u2019s what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

*This gunfight is in a series of stories I wrote about Adam\u2019s last year home before going away to college. He encounters a hand who takes a particular dislike to the Cartwrights and gets young Adam to agree to a gunfight to save Ben. The drover \u201csays\u201d he\u2019d rather fight Ben, but plays to Adam\u2019s sense of honor and protectiveness by claiming that his father is so old and slow that he\u2019ll die for sure. Adam doesn\u2019t carry a gun yet, and has to trick his father to help him practice with a hand gun, and then takes it without permission. You\u2019ll have to read the story to find out what happens.\u00a0 The series is called, It\u2019s Just a Year<\/em>, and this story is in The Worst of Consequences<\/em>.<\/p>\n

**Dr. Thomas Hamel Pinkerton came to Virginia City as the first surgeon and worked for the Ophir and Gould and Curry mines and was appointed the City Physician of Virginia City. He helped with the building of the first hospital there, and stayed until 1866. (Source: “The Bay of San Francisco,”\u00a0Vol. 1, page(s) 505-506, Lewis Publishing Co., 1892.)<\/p>\n

***Markleeville was a small town located about 50 miles south of Virginia City. It was started by Jacob Marklee who owned property and set up a toll bridge to cross the Carson River. The small town and bridge took advantage of the mining industry, although there was never as much ore found near this area as further north in Virginia City. I use it only as a place that works for the showgirls to have been, not for any other historical significance.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags:\u00a0 Adam Cartwright<\/p>\n

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

Summary:\u00a0Adam is running the ranch alone while his family takes a spring trip to San Francisco. All has gone well, but a change in the weather heralds an unexpected chain of events that Adam must deal with. When Ben, Hoss, and Joe return, they find an empty ranch\u2026and a mystery.<\/p>\n

Rating: K \u00a0WC: \u00a030,700<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":14922,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","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_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[23,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-hurtcomfort","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-41-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/quarantine.png?fit=307%2C108&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13272","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\/82"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13272"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13272\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14922"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}