Summary: <\/b>\u00a0Ben comes home from San Francisco early because he has an uneasy feeling about his home and his sons. But is it just his imagination or is there really something to worry about?<\/p>\n
Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (16,500 words)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
My most grateful thanks must go to all those without whose assistance this story would never have been finished-especially Gwynne, who chases those errant commas for me, and Brenda, who lets me bombard her with emails. Also, to those people whose constant encouragement keeps me going.\u00a0 And to Irish, for the title.\u00a0 <\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Distant Fears<\/strong><\/p>\n The ship, tossed by the waves, pitched and rolled as the storm grew worse. The Captain, a silver haired man in his prime, was gripping the wheel firmly, trying to keep the ship on course. A dark haired younger man was up in the rigging, tying down the topsail where the storm had broken its lashings.<\/p>\n \u201cAll secure, Captain,\u201d he called.<\/p>\n A large young man, sandy haired, anchored the rope securing a much younger man-not much more than a boy\u2013as he tried nervously to climb to the masthead.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve still got too much sail, Joe,\u201d yelled the captain. \u201cReef that jib, boy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet me take the helm, Captain,\u201d the darkhaired man joined the Captain. \u201cI can help you.\u201d<\/p>\n Another man he seemed to recognise but couldn\u2019t quite remember came up behind the dark haired one. \u201c That\u2019s my job, Cartwright. You ain\u2019t gettin\u2019 in my way again.\u201d He shouldered the dark haired man aside and made a grab for the wheel.<\/p>\n \u201cGo below,\u201d the Captain ordered. \u201cI don\u2019t need you. I have my sons.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can fix that,\u201d the other responded. He pulled a knife and lunged towards the young man, but the younger man grabbed for his knife hand. The Captain couldn\u2019t see what was happening as they grappled, but finally the younger man rose unsteadily to his feet, blood running down his arm.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam!\u201d the Captain exclaimed in fear. \u201cAdam! You\u2019re hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m all right, Captain,\u201d he said. \u201cTake care of the ship.\u201d<\/p>\n A wave took the ship and swept Adam overboard. He vanished beneath the waves. \u201cNo!!!\u201d the Captain shouted.<\/p>\n \u201cNooooo!\u201d The cry woke Ben Cartwright suddenly. He shot up, heart pounding, tangled in his bed linen, not sure for a moment just where he was, or who had cried out. He stared around the room and relaxed as he realised he was in his bed in the hotel where he\u2019d been for the last two weeks. He breathed a sigh of relief. It was a long time since he\u2019d been on board a ship and even longer since he\u2019d had only a sailor\u2019s berth to call his own. He\u2019d woken himself with his own cry. Ben\u2019s heart slowly stopped racing. It was the third night in a row that he\u2019d had a dream about his time at sea. He\u2019d loved being a sailor, but it hadn\u2019t been easy work and there had been some unpleasant times aboard ship. But this was the first time his sons had appeared in his dream. No, not a dream \u2013 a nightmare. Ben shook his head to clear the cobwebs. It was almost dawn. Too late to go back to sleep, he decided. He\u2019d get up and see if perhaps he could find an early morning cup of coffee.<\/p>\n The manager of the hotel, one of San Francisco\u2019s best, looked unsurprised but pleased as he saw Mr. Cartwright appear in the lobby. Mr. Cartwright was frequently an early riser, and they had developed a polite acquaintanceship over early morning coffee during Mr. Cartwright\u2019s many sojourns at the hotel.<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning, Mr. Cartwright. I\u2019ve just had a fresh pot of coffee made. Won\u2019t you join me?\u201d he asked, knowing that what Ben Cartwright wanted most just now was a cup of strong black coffee.<\/p>\n Ben smiled. \u201cMorning, Mr. Judd. Just what I wanted. I\u2019d be most happy to join you.\u201d\u00a0 Sipping gratefully at the coffee, he began to relax. He sighed.<\/p>\n The hotel manager heard the sigh and looked at him with concern. He liked the Cartwrights. There was a member of the family here at least every couple of months. They were polite, respectable guests with good reputations and deep pockets. Clients like that were worth keeping. Usually it was Mr. Cartwright, or the oldest son, Adam, but occasionally the two younger ones were also guests at the hotel.<\/p>\n \u201cIs something wrong, Mr. Cartwright? Is there anything I can do?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head. \u201cNo, I just woke myself up and couldn\u2019t get back to sleep. Had a strange dream about my boys.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd how are they?\u201d Mr Judd asked. \u201cIt seems like some time since we\u2019ve had the pleasure of their company here.\u201d<\/p>\n They were nice boys. Adam was suave and sophisticated, well educated and very comfortable in the city. The younger two were obviously country lads, without their brother\u2019s sophistication, but enjoyable to have around. The kitchen staff loved feeding Hoss, and Joseph, the youngest one, was always brimming over with infectious excitement and mischief. It was no wonder his father and brothers watched him like a hawk.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are fine, thank you. It\u2019s always busy on a ranch.\u201d Ben finished his coffee and rose. \u201cThank you for the coffee,\u201d he said as he left. \u201cI\u2019d best get myself ready for my meetings.\u201d<\/p>\n In between his meetings with the army and the shipyards, Ben liked to stroll along the seashore to stretch his legs. Much as he loved the Ponderosa and the wide expanses of the Sierras and Nevada territory itself, he sometimes missed the salt tang of the sea in his nostrils. Ben Cartwright came from a long line of seafarers. He smiled to himself as he thought of his first trip at sea. He had been fifteen when he had signed on as cabin boy on the Starlight. He had liked Captain Darren, who had been strict but fair. Oh, he had landed himself into trouble more than once, as cabin boys regularly do, but there had only been once that he thought the Captain had been unfair.<\/p>\n Ben Cartwright moved stiffly as he carried the captain\u2019s hot water into his cabin. The Captain eyed him with some amusement and a little compassion. His fifteen-year-old cabin boy was undoubtedly still smarting from the sound thrashing the first mate had given him at the captain\u2019s orders.<\/p>\n \u201cI trust you have learned your lesson, young Cartwright,\u201d Captain Darren said. \u201cYou have to keep that temper of yours under control.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir,\u201d the boy replied. He didn\u2019t look at the captain but spoke to his feet instead as he put the bowl down with exaggerated care.<\/p>\n The Captain stared at the boy\u2019s sour expression in surprise. It wasn\u2019t like Ben to be sullen. The boy usually accepted his punishment and moved on.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you have a problem with your punishment, young man?\u201d the Captain asked him.<\/p>\n Ben pulled a face. \u201cNo sir, not exactly, but \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben hesitated a moment. \u201cJeb Holloway started it,\u201d he burst out. \u201cHe was cheating. It wasn\u2019t fair\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The Captain frowned at him. \u201cFair has nothing to do with your behaviour. I am concerned with you. There will be no repetitions. Is that clear?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded. \u201cAye sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Ben, keep in mind, Holloway is five years older than you and is entitled to the respect you owe your elders.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben Cartwright braced himself for an argument. \u201cNo, sir,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s not. No man gets my respect until he earns it. And Mr. Holloway hasn\u2019t earned it.\u201d<\/p>\n The Captain sighed. He liked his young cabin boy very much, but sometimes he was a trial. \u201cThat stubborn streak of yours will either get you hanged or into a Captain\u2019s chair, one day.\u201d He smiled affectionately at the boy. \u201c Just beware of him, Ben. He will make an uncomfortable enemy.\u201d<\/p>\n Now what, he wondered, had made him think of Holloway? He hadn\u2019t thought about Holloway for years. The Captain had been right \u2013 Jeb Holloway had been an uncomfortable enemy. He had done his best to make Ben\u2019s life a misery, but the Captain had kept him safe. Perhaps it had been his visit to the shore that had reminded him of it. A visit to the sea usually gave him comfort and refreshment but not this time. This time he seemed to be haunted by it.<\/p>\n Four days ago, he had been walking through the shipyards discussing the timber needed for the contract when he had been suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of anxiety. He had been plagued by nightmares since then, and he didn\u2019t seem to be able to shake off that anxiety. That last dream must be some kind of warning. There was some threat hanging over his sons or his land. He could send a wire, he mused, but it wouldn\u2019t be any good. By the time the wire got out to the ranch and a reply was sent, he could be half way home. Besides, Adam would just say, \u201cEverything\u2019s fine, Pa,\u201d which would leave him none the wiser anyway. Even if the ranch were falling about his ears, Adam would never send him a wire that would worry him unless it was absolutely unavoidable. No. He needed to go home.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like my bill, please. I\u2019m checking out,\u201d Ben told the desk clerk at his hotel later that day.<\/p>\n The desk clerk was startled. \u201cI trust there isn\u2019t anything wrong, Mr. Cartwright?\u201d He signalled the manager who came rushing up in time to hear the reply.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, there\u2019s nothing wrong. I\u2019ve finished my work here, and I want to go home. I will catch the afternoon ferry to Sacramento.\u201d He glanced up pointedly at the clock.<\/p>\n \u201cIf there is anything\u2026\u201d the manager said. The Cartwrights were valuable clients, too good to lose because of some error by an employee. Mr. Cartwright hadn\u2019t said anything about leaving this morning when they\u2019d had coffee together.<\/p>\n Ben smiled, shaking his head. \u201cNo, no, everything\u2019s fine. I just want to go home.\u201d<\/p>\n His reassurance seemed to comfort the manager, who offered, \u201cMay I have your bag taken to the depot?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben picked up his carpetbag. \u201cNo, I\u2019ll manage. Thank you for a most pleasant stay,\u201d he said as the manager hastened to hold the door open for him.<\/p>\n The wind, the last remnant of a storm that had dogged Ben\u2019s trip, whistled around his ears as he rode swiftly towards home. It had been a long and tiresome journey, especially for a man in a hurry. The trip had gone smoothly enough, although the unseasonable storm had made the trip a lot more unpleasant than it ought to have been. The ferry to Sacramento had run on time, and then he had taken the stage to Marysville. It had lost a wheel just outside the town, and rather than wait for it to be fixed and to make its laborious way to Virginia City, he had gone to the livery stable to hire a horse. The owner had been reluctant to hire out a horse to go all the way to Virginia City, so Ben had bought it. Unaccountably, the feeling of anxiety was even greater in this little town than it had been in San Francisco, so he didn\u2019t quibble about the cost. Horse and saddle had only cost twice their value, but his urgency would have made him buy a horse at almost any price. He went cross country to get home as quickly as he could. The feeling of unease grew stronger and stronger as he rode towards his boys and his home.<\/p>\n He arrived in the yard, looking about him for any sign that something was wrong. There didn\u2019t seem to be \u2013 he could hear the usual noises around the place \u2013 but there was no sign of his sons. He started towards the house, hurriedly, leaving the horse standing. The horse snuffled, protesting a little at this cavalier treatment.<\/p>\n Ben turned back to him, patting the horse\u2019s neck gently. \u201cI\u2019m sorry;\u00a0 I\u2019ll just be a minute. I want to check inside. Then I\u2019ll take care of you.\u201d He\u2019d ridden him hard today.<\/p>\n The feeling of unease settled into the pit of his stomach like a stone as he approached the house. Opening the door slowly, he peered inside. Everything seemed to be normal. The room was as he expected; clean and quiet except for the slight crackle of flames in the fireplace. There were the sounds Hop Sing made as he worked in his domain, but other than that \u2013 nothing. He frowned to himself. He knew it was irrational to expect the boys to be here to meet him since he wasn\u2019t due back for a couple of days yet, but he was disappointed all the same.<\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing!\u201d he called, going toward the kitchen. \u201cHop Sing!\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing came out of the kitchen, surprised to see his employer. \u201cMista Cartwright. You home early. Boys be very glad to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy? What\u2019s wrong?\u201d Ben demanded, certain that Hop Sing was about to tell him of some disaster.<\/p>\n Hop Sing looked puzzled. \u201cNothing wrong. Boys always happy to see father home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere are the boys?\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing looked even more mystified. \u201cBoys working. You want coffee?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, later thanks. I\u2019ll bed the horse down.\u201d He went out to the barn.<\/p>\n A horse trotted into the yard. Ben listened for a moment then smiled with the pleasure of recognition. Not Joseph \u2013 far too sedate for Joe! Not Hoss either \u2013 Chub was a heavy horse, built for a big rider, but stolid.\u00a0 It was Sport \u2013 a big horse too but more skittish, capable of carrying a big man, and Adam was a big man. Not as big as Hoss, but big all the same. He came out into the yard to greet his son. Adam saw the silver-haired man as he dismounted. His usually serious face lit with the swift smile that passed over it as he hurried over to his father.<\/p>\n \u201cPa! You\u2019re early! Welcome home! Did you have a successful trip?\u201d<\/p>\n Business associates sometimes seemed intimidated by Adam\u2019s cool, hardheaded style. He kept his feelings and beliefs to himself, and they thought him emotionless. Just showed how little they knew of him. Adam Cartwright didn\u2019t wear his heart on his sleeve, but his passions ran as strong as his brothers\u2019. They were just held firmly in check most of the time. He adored his father. That didn\u2019t mean he didn\u2019t butt heads with him about all sorts of matters, but, deep inside, the love and respect he bore for the man standing in front of him, his hand outstretched in warm greeting, was as unshakeable as the land on which they walked.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s pleasure was as palpable as Adam\u2019s. A special bond these two had, born from the terrible hardships and pain the two had suffered on their long trip out west; Adam travelling by Ben\u2019s side, not just his son but his confidant and fellow traveller, even as a toddler.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam!\u201d Ben exclaimed. He grasped his son\u2019s arms eagerly, and Adam returned the clasp with equal enthusiasm. \u201cAdam, is everything all right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa, why?\u201d Adam took in Ben\u2019s worried face. \u201cHonestly, Pa, as far as I know, everything is just fine. Hoss and Joe are finishing up the fence out by the East meadow.\u201d \u201cThey didn\u2019t really want to do it today,\u201d he said, his lips quirking. \u201cI suggested it would be better if they did.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben smiled back. Just as he\u2019d expected \u2013 \u201cEverything\u2019s fine, Pa.\u201d He didn\u2019t know how Adam had coerced Joe into doing a task that was very low on his favorite job list \u2013 in fact about the only thing Joe hated more was paperwork \u2013 and he wasn\u2019t sure he wanted to know, either. Adam could be very persuasive when he chose.<\/p>\n \u201cPa? What\u2019s wrong?\u201d Adam asked, made uncomfortable by Ben\u2019s anxiety.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing, \u201chis father replied. \u201cAt least I think nothing. I\u2019ve been feeling uneasy about you boys for the last few days. That\u2019s why I came home early.\u201d He paused for a moment. \u201cI think I\u2019ll go meet your brothers. Let them knock off early and we can have a pleasant evening together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll come with you.\u201d<\/p>\n They rode in silence for some time, then as Ben began to relax again, he started to ask questions about what had been going on while he had been away. Adam was used to this. He always gave his father a clear and concise report, having been taught to do so by his father very early. A sailor didn\u2019t have time for drawing out or embellishing his report, and Ben had always expected Adam to give the clearest and most concise answers he could to questions he was asked. Ben smiled a little, remembering those early lessons.<\/p>\n Adam came carefully down the little hill. Pa had sent the four year old up to the top to see if there was a creek somewhere. In fact Ben knew there was one, but he thought it important for Adam to learn the signs of water nearby.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWell, son?\u201d Ben asked.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s water over there,\u201d the little boy said, pointing.<\/em><\/p>\n Ben smiled. \u201cRemember you have to tell me which way to go?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The little boy nodded. \u201cJust like a sailor, Pa?\u201d He looked up towards the sun, then turned towards the water. \u201cWest, Pa,\u201d he hazarded, a little doubtfully.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cClose enough,\u201d Ben smiled. It was actually southwest, but the child was only four. \u201cHow do you know there\u2019s water, Adam?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s trees and things.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Ben raised an eyebrow. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t tell me much, does it, son?\u201d he asked. \u201cThere are trees here.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Adam bit his lip. \u201cThe trees are growing in a line, and I can see the sun shining on something. The little boy looked up at his father, waiting for the verdict. Had he told Pa enough? Pa had told him that sailors had to tell the Captain enough or he couldn\u2019t work out what to do. Pa was the captain of their wagon-ship, and he had to give a proper report.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cA good report, Sailor!\u201d Ben said and swung the boy up onto his shoulder. \u201cCome on, let\u2019s go find it,\u201d he said. The little boy beamed with pride.<\/em><\/p>\n Adam raised an eyebrow, and his lips lifted into a quizzical smile. \u201cDid I say something funny, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben smiled back. \u201cNo, I just remembered when you first learned to give me directions. You could give a proper report before you could climb on a horse without help.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam grinned, the memories alive in his mind. \u201cAye Aye, captain!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben chuckled in reply. \u201cWhat made you think of that, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t really know,\u201d he replied, a little puzzled himself. Memories seemed to be crowding his mind lately.<\/p>\n Ben was surprised by the strength of the wave of relief that washed over him as he saw Hoss and Joe working on the fence.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re all right!\u201d he murmured.<\/p>\n Adam raised an eyebrow. Something was really worrying his father, that was for sure. \u201cSee, Pa, they\u2019re fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa!\u201d Joe yelled; his face lit with pleasure. \u201cYou\u2019re early!\u201d He rushed over to greet his father, followed at a more sedate pace by his older brother.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s good to see you boys,\u201d Ben said, uncharacteristically effusive. \u201cI thought you might like to finish early, and we could catch up.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe and Hoss needed no second invitation. In less than ten minutes they had packed up their gear and were headed towards home.<\/p>\n \u201cI want you all to stay around the house today,\u201d Ben announced to his sons over breakfast the next morning.<\/p>\n His brothers stared first at their father and then at Adam, leaving him to ask the question that was on all their minds. He didn\u2019t disappoint them.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy, Pa? I have to go into Virginia City today anyway. And Joe and Hoss have to finish the fences.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just want you boys close to home. Why do you always insist on questioning my decisions?\u201d his father snapped querulously.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry,\u201d Adam replied automatically. \u201cI just wanted to know why.\u201d<\/p>\n It was a reasonable question, Ben thought. It was a pity he didn\u2019t have a reasonable answer. \u201cI\u2019d just be happier if you three stayed close to home.\u201d Ben took in their puzzled faces. \u201cI\u2019d count it as a favor, boys.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe and Hoss glanced at each other. Hoss shrugged slightly. \u201cSure, Pa. I wanted to check on that little filly anyways.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben caught Joe\u2019s expression and smiled. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Joseph, you won\u2019t be bored. There\u2019s plenty of wood that needs chopping, and I\u2019m sure Hop Sing would appreciate some help.\u201d<\/p>\n Before Joe could reply, Adam said, \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa, I can\u2019t. I\u2019ve got an appointment with the railroad people in Virginia City today.\u201d He cocked his head to one side as an idea occurred to him. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you come with me?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben frowned. \u201cI need to \u2026\u201d he stopped himself. How could he tell his sons about the nebulous fear that plagued him? How could he tell them he wanted them all close under his eye? He was torn, but then he decided. Joe and Hoss would be safe at home with Hop Sing and the ranch hands nearby. If he stayed with Adam then he could watch out for him. \u201cAll right. I\u2019ll come with you. I have a few things I need to do in town, too.\u201d<\/p>\n The ride into town was uneventful, but it was a good opportunity for father and son to talk; an opportunity both relished. They arrived in Virginia City content with their conversation.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam,\u201d Ben said as they left the livery stable, \u201cI don\u2019t expect your meeting will take much more than an hour. Why don\u2019t you meet me at the saloon for a quick drink before we head for home?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like that.\u201d Adam considered his father for a moment; unsure whether he should make some comment about getting home quickly. He decided against it. No need to stir Pa up again. \u201cI\u2019ll see you later,\u201d he said, tugging his suit jacket straight and touching his hat to his father as he strode away.<\/p>\n Ben watched him with a mixture of pride and anxiety. Surely he would be all right at a business meeting. They\u2019d known the railroad agents for years now.<\/p>\n A touch on his shoulder startled him. \u201cBen! Good to see you again!\u201d his friend Roy Coffee exclaimed.<\/p>\n Ben reluctantly dragged his eyes from the retreating form of his son and turned to Roy.<\/p>\n Roy grinned at him as they shook hands. \u201cYou can\u2019t have missed the boy so much that you can\u2019t take your eyes off him,\u201d he laughed. He knew Ben Cartwright very well indeed, which gave him the right to poke gentle fun at his old friend.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s smile didn\u2019t quite reach his eyes. \u201cOh, hello, Roy. I did miss the boys, as you well know. Roy, has there been anything strange or unusual happening around here?\u201d<\/p>\n Roy shook his head. \u201cNot that I\u2019m aware of, Ben. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAny strangers? Anyone new in town?\u201d he pressed.<\/p>\n Roy stared at him. \u201cNup. At least none that I\u2019ve heard about. What\u2019s got into you, Ben? You\u2019re as jumpy as a cat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, Roy,\u201d Ben confessed. \u201cI just have this feeling that there\u2019s some problem that I don\u2019t know about.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201dAn\u2019 Adam won\u2019t tell ya, huh? Typical.\u201d Roy smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not sure that there\u2019s anything to tell,\u201d Ben said. \u201cAdam just says\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Everything\u2019s fine, Pa,\u201d Roy chimed in with Ben, repeating Adam\u2019s favourite expression. \u201cI ain\u2019t seen nothing unusual, Ben, but if I do, I\u2019ll let you know,\u201d he promised as he shook hands with Ben and went on his way.<\/p>\n Unsatisfied, but unable to say why, Ben went to do the various errands he had and was at the saloon long before Adam. He had started to worry afresh when Adam came in. Adam greeted his father enthusiastically.<\/p>\n \u201cI can see your meeting went well,\u201d Ben teased him gently.<\/p>\n \u201cIt certainly did, Pa. They agreed to everything! I\u2019ve signed the contract, and we should have no trouble fulfilling it. It\u2019s what I wanted,\u201d Adam confided, \u201can on-going contract that will give us a guaranteed income.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben clapped him on the back. \u201cI\u2019m proud of you, son. Any particular reason for wanting the guaranteed income?\u201d<\/p>\n His son grinned. \u201cI do have an idea, but I\u2019ll tell you about it on the way home. Mind taking a little detour with me? We can skip the beer,\u201d he offered.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we can take ten minutes to celebrate your success, \u201c Ben said, not wanting to spoil Adam\u2019s moment, \u201cbut I am curious about your detour.\u201d<\/p>\n Halfway along the road home, Adam led his father to an area of the Ponderosa that was too dry for any ordinary use. \u201cI want to try out a new irrigation scheme, but the upkeep will require an on-going commitment of funds. If we use the money from the railroad, then it won\u2019t be a drain on the ranch\u2019s operating costs.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked hopefully at his father. Ben smiled. When Adam desperately wanted something now, the expression on his face was little different from that on the face of a much smaller Adam when he desperately wanted a new book. \u201cIt seems like a good idea,\u201d he said, not wanting to squash Adam\u2019s excitement, \u201cbut have you done any sums yet?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSome. I don\u2019t have a firm proposal yet. I wanted to see if we got the contract first.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen do your calculations, and I\u2019ll see about it.\u201d Ben saw the brief flash of disappointment, hastily hidden. \u201cI\u2019m not rejecting the notion, Adam;\u00a0 I just want to be certain it\u2019s the right thing to do.\u201d He patted Adam\u2019s arm reassuringly.\u00a0 Adam just nodded. He hadn\u2019t expected his father to react any differently, but he was still disappointed.<\/p>\n They were just turning back onto the road when there was a sudden loud crack. A tree branch fell, missing Adam by inches. Sport reared, spooked by the sudden movement, and took off. It was only by Adam\u2019s efforts that the horse was brought under control some distance down the road. He reined the horse in and waited as Ben rode up, Buck sweating almost as much as his rider.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam! Are you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure,\u201d Adam said, unbothered by Sport\u2019s panic. \u201cSport was scared by the branch. Nothing to worry about.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to have a look at that branch,\u201d Ben frowned. \u201cIt\u2019s rare for tree branches to come down like that. Did the storm come through here while I\u2019ve been away?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shook his head. \u201cNo. It was just an accident, Pa. Don\u2019t worry about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben wasn\u2019t convinced. The knot of unease settled more firmly into his stomach. He didn\u2019t say anymore. Adam had already turned the horse for home. And perhaps Adam was right. No one had known about the proposed detour. Any suggestion that it was anything other than an accident was absurd. Wasn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n Nothing untoward happened for the next few days, and even patient Adam was beginning to go stir-crazy. Ben came downstairs one morning to find an all out brawl going on between his sons.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam! Hoss! Joe!\u201d he bellowed. \u201cStop this at once!\u201d<\/p>\n The sheer volume of his voice stopped them in their tracks. He took advantage of their surprise to separate them, pulling Adam roughly to his feet.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on here?\u201d he demanded. There was silence. \u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2026er\u2026we were\u2026er\u2026just rough housing,\u201d Adam said. He gave his father an embarrassed grin and turned to help his little brother up too. Hoss was straightening the furniture, careful not to catch his father\u2019s eye. Much better to leave this to Adam, he thought.<\/p>\n Ben raised an eyebrow. \u201cI would have thought you\u2019d have more useful things to do with that energy than to act like children,\u201d he scolded.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s just it, Pa,\u201d Adam said, taking advantage of the opening his father had given him. \u201cWe don\u2019t. We\u2019ve been hanging around the house and yard for the last few days. The books are up to date; we\u2019ve whitewashed the cellar; we\u2019ve done all the chores we can think of around the house and barn and yard. Even Hop Sing has run out of things for us to do. There\u2019s so much to do on the rest of the ranch. I need to get some of that work done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Pa,\u201d Joe chimed in. \u201cI\u2019m so bored I\u2019m even lookin\u2019 forward to going back to the fences. It\u2019s worse than when I got restricted as a kid. At least then I knew what I\u2019d done. Even deserved it sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnly sometimes?\u201d Adam asked, amused. Joe grinned at his older brother\u2019s question.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy do you want us ta stay here?\u201d asked Hoss. \u201cWhat\u2019s worryin\u2019 ya, Pa?\u201d he added, displaying once again his uncanny perception regarding his father.<\/p>\n Adam looked thoughtful for a minute, an idea triggered by Hoss\u2019 words. He should have realised what was bothering his father.<\/p>\n \u201cPa, whatever you thought was wrong when you came home obviously wasn\u2019t, so can we get back to normal life, please? Or at least what passes for normal\u2026?\u201d He waited for his father to glare at him and grinned when he did. That was better.<\/p>\n Ben considered what the boys had said. Certainly everything seemed to be all right.<\/p>\n He nodded. \u201cVery well. But please don\u2019t go anywhere without letting someone know where you are going. And try not to be alone.\u201d He paused and smiled just a little, watching their faces. \u201cWhat are you hanging around here for? I thought you were in a hurry to get to work?\u201d His sons were out of the door before he could change his mind.<\/p>\n Later that week Ben decided to check out the logging operation. Although Ben mostly left Adam\u2019s running of the timber operation alone, he wanted to make sure the contracts for the shipyards were well under way. He asked the boys to come with him. While Ben spoke to the foreman, Adam took his brothers over to his newly built flume to show off his handiwork. They were just about to climb up to the top when Ben called, \u201cAdam! Come over here for a moment, would you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw, shoot,\u201d Hoss muttered. \u201cNow we\u2019ll never be finished and get back in time for lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Joe agreed.<\/p>\n Adam grinned at them. \u201cI\u2019ll just be a minute, Hoss.\u201d Adam squeezed his brother\u2019s shoulder gently in passing. Hoss wasn\u2019t convinced. Those \u2018minutes\u2019 of Pa\u2019s and Adam\u2019s sometimes seemed to go on for hours.<\/p>\n \u201cYou go have a look at the construction work, and I\u2019ll be with you soon.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss nodded as Adam headed over to join his father, standing near a pile of logs ready to be shipped. He was almost there when there was a sudden rumble as a log fell from its place on the top of the pile. The log headed straight for where his father had been standing, but before Adam could even yell, \u201clook out!\u201d Ben was already out of its path as he checked over the worksheets. He looked up surprised at the sudden eruption of noise and activity swirling around him as the log rolled harmlessly on.<\/p>\n His sons ran over to him. \u201cPa! Are you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I am,\u201d he replied. \u201cIt was just an accident.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Hoss sighed with relief. \u201cIt\u2019s a good thing Adam stopped to show me the best way up to the top of that there flume, or he would have been squashed flat!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlways knew that being helpful would have its benefits,\u201d Adam laughed.<\/p>\n Ben paled. There was nothing funny about it. Hoss\u2019 words rang in his head. \u201cAdam would have been squashed flat\u201d\u2026.another accident? With Adam as a possible target? He decided he was going to make a detour to check out that branch that had fallen.<\/p>\n \u201cCheck out the branch?\u201d Adam echoed. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause that\u2019s two accidents too many in less than a week,\u201d Ben said, \u201cand I want to be sure that they are accidents. Are you sure nothing unusual happened while I was away?\u201d he asked, probably for the fiftieth time.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m certain,\u201d Adam repeated. \u201cWhy would I keep anything like that from you anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s brown eyes were fixed unwaveringly on his son. \u201cTo stop me from worrying. And it wouldn\u2019t be the first time either. So tell me the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026am\u2026telling\u2026you\u2026the\u2026truth,\u2026Pa.\u201d Every word was clear and distinct, delivered in a tight, level tone. Adam felt like a little boy again under that steely gaze. But he wasn\u2019t a small boy trying to cover up a misdemeanour. \u201cThere isn\u2019t anything to tell. Is there, Hoss?\u201d He turned to his brother for confirmation, knowing that the whole family knew how bad Hoss was at covering things up.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Pa, Adam ain\u2019t tryin\u2019 ta hide anythin\u2019 from ya.\u201d Hoss said, his open countenance reassuring his father.<\/p>\n Ben let it go. If both Adam and Hoss said there was nothing wrong, then he had to accept that. \u201cI still want to check out that branch,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Adam rolled his eyes at his brother behind Ben\u2019s back but followed Ben down the road. It didn\u2019t take long to get to the place where the branch had fallen, but to their surprise it wasn\u2019t there.<\/p>\n \u201cGuess someone picked it up for firewood or somethin\u2019,\u201d Hoss suggested.<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose so, although this road isn\u2019t very well travelled.\u201d\u00a0 Ben was doubtful. He looked up at the tree where the branch had fallen. The stump of the branch showed clear signs of having been partially cut.<\/p>\n \u201cI was right. I told you that was no accident. Someone cut that branch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut that doesn\u2019t mean it was aimed at me, Pa,\u201d Adam argued. \u201cHow do you know we didn\u2019t just come past when they were taking a break or something and then came back to finish the job?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose it\u2019s possible,\u201d was Ben\u2019s grudging reply, \u201cbut what about that log?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat was purely an accident-and anyway, I was nowhere near it. You were closer than I was.\u201d Ben scowled at him. Adam was making a good point, but that didn\u2019t eliminate the anxiety he felt.<\/p>\n Adam refused to allow his father to keep him close to home, but he couldn\u2019t stop Ben appointing escorts for him wherever he went. As far as Ben was concerned Adam was to be accompanied by his family wherever and whenever possible. Even ranch hands weren\u2019t deemed sufficient protection. Things came to a head one day.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going out to that stand of trees to start marking the ones to be felled,\u201d he remarked at breakfast one morning.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe, you go with him,\u201d Ben ordered immediately.<\/p>\n Joe sighed. He had planned to go into Virginia City today. Adam caught his little brother\u2019s expression. He sympathised. And he didn\u2019t want company. He needed his space.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is ridiculous, Pa!\u201d Adam\u2019s annoyed voice rose in protest. \u201cI don\u2019t need a nursemaid every time I go out. And I\u2019m sure everyone else has better things to do than tag around after me!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stared him down. \u201cDon\u2019t raise your voice to me, Adam. I have only your welfare at heart.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam flushed. \u201cI know. I\u2019m sorry, Pa, but I really don\u2019t believe I am under any kind of threat. You\u2019ve been home for two weeks now, and apart from those two accidents, nothing\u2019s happened.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why I want you to be with someone. I wanted to look at those trees myself. Why don\u2019t you all come, and we\u2019ll have a picnic at the lake? We can go fishing,\u201d he offered. Adam wanted to yell, loudly, that he wasn\u2019t a child and he didn\u2019t need to be placated by the offer of a picnic as a treat. But he didn\u2019t. Both his brothers had brightened at the idea of a bit of time off, so he kept silent. He didn\u2019t seem to be able to convince his father anyway.<\/p>\n Only Hoss and Joe were talkative that morning. Ben was on the alert, watching for any possible sources of danger. Adam was silent. Joe considered making some remark about Adam sulking, but he decided against it. A mid-week picnic and afternoon spent fishing was worth putting up with Adam\u2019s bad mood, and at least Adam wasn\u2019t snarling at him. They spent the morning marking trees and made good progress with the four of them working, so Adam didn\u2019t argue as they headed off for their favorite spot at Lake Tahoe. He had simmered down by now and he was looking forward to the picnic just as much as his brothers were. He still thought it was unnecessary, but it was a pleasant day, and it wasn\u2019t, he\u2019d decided, a bit of use spoiling the day by brooding about something he couldn\u2019t change. At least not now. By the time he got there with Ben, Joe and Hoss had unpacked the picnic and Joe was taking his shirt off in preparation for going swimming.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you crazy?\u201d Adam asked. \u201cIt\u2019s too cold for swimming. That water will be freezing!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe grinned. \u201cNot for me,\u2019 he bragged.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be silly, Joseph,\u201d Ben said. \u201cIt\u2019s too cold for swimming.\u201d Joe pulled a face but did his shirt up again. There was no point arguing with Pa when he used that tone.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, it\u2019s time to eat,\u201d Hoss said, already tucking into a thick and juicy roast beef sandwich.<\/p>\n Lunch over, they sorted out fishing poles and lines and lay back in the sunshine fishing. Ben drifted off to sleep while the boys fished. He was woken sometime later by a whoop from Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cI won,\u201d he crowed, displaying his huge fish.<\/p>\n \u201cI caught more than you did, though,\u201d Hoss protested. \u201cDidn\u2019t I, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam laughed. \u201cDon\u2019t bring me into this,\u201d he said, holding up his solitary fish. \u201cI\u2019m not in the game.<\/p>\n Still laughing they packed up and started for home, Adam and Joe in the lead, Hoss and Ben just following a little way behind. Adam was feeling much more relaxed and happy this afternoon. It had been a pleasant interlude. They were just under the canopy of the trees when Joe suddenly grinned at his brother and leaned over and slapped Sport\u2019s rump.<\/p>\n \u201cRace ya!\u201d he yelled and took off. Even if Adam hadn\u2019t wanted to, Sport had other ideas, and they took off after Cochise. Joe didn\u2019t have much of a lead on Adam, so with Sport fast coming up behind, he urged Cochise to go faster. The race was on in earnest. Ben and Hoss watched indulgently as the two disappeared down the path and out of sight.<\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s gonna win?\u201d Hoss asked his father.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head, smiling. \u201cI don\u2019t know, but one thing\u2019s certain \u2013 neither of them will let the other win if they can help it! We\u2019d better keep up with them \u2013 they are sure to want a referee.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss laughed and they sped up a little. They rounded the bend to see Joe, still ahead of Adam, turn, laughing, to see where his older brother was. Cochise was maybe fifty yards ahead of Sport when to the family\u2019s consternation he slipped on something. The damp leaves underfoot made the horse stumble and Joe went flying.<\/p>\n Adam reined Sport in, so quickly that Sport had difficulty keeping to his feet. Adam almost fell from his horse in his haste to get to Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe! Are you hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m ok; gonna be a bit bruised though.\u201d Joe rubbed his shoulder ruefully.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re hurt. Let me look at it.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben hurried over to his sons. \u201cJoe, are you all right?\u201d He didn\u2019t wait for Joe to reply but was checking him out even as he spoke. Joe twisted away from him.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m okay, \u201che repeated, not wanting his father to fuss over him, \u201cbut is Cochise all right? What did he trip on?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s fine,\u201d Hoss reassured him, having checked the horse over. He and Adam were poking about trying to find the cause of the accident. \u201cIt looks like he slipped on them leaves over there.\u201d Hoss pointed.<\/p>\n \u201cCochise is usually more sure-footed than that.\u201d Ben frowned a little, his anxiety making him suspicious. He helped Joe to his feet and came over to the scuffed up leaves. His poking around in the leaves revealed a piece of old wood. \u201cThat\u2019s not a log-that\u2019s a fence post, and it\u2019s been moved.\u201d He sounded as apprehensive as he looked.<\/p>\n Adam stared at him, astonished and troubled. Surely his father didn\u2019t really think that someone had deliberately set a trap?<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right, Pa, it\u2019s just an old fence post. It must have moved when Cochise stumbled. It\u2019s probably left over from that time you wanted to try building a temporary corral up here.\u201d He spoke soothingly, as if to a child.<\/p>\n Ben wasn\u2019t soothed. \u201cYou could both have been hurt,\u201d he snapped, his worry making him edgy. \u201cIt would be very easy for someone to set up a booby-trap like that. If you\u2019d been out here by yourself you could have been killed. You can\u2019t tell me someone isn\u2019t out to get you. That\u2019s it. We\u2019re going to see Roy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c Oh, come on, Pa. You can\u2019t be serious. There\u2019s no need to bother Roy. Joe was the one that was injured, not me. And I don\u2019t see why someone would go to such peculiar lengths to cause accidents. If they wanted to hurt me \u2013 all they need is a rifle.\u201d It wasn\u2019t at all a helpful thing to say, he mused as he saw his father\u2019s sudden pallor. \u201cIt was just an accident, Pa,\u201d he said, trying to reassure his worried father. \u201cThere wouldn\u2019t have been a problem if we hadn\u2019t been racing. Come on, Joe, let\u2019s get you home.\u201d He held Cochise while Joe mounted.<\/p>\n Roy Coffee looked from one Cartwright to the other. \u201cNow come on, Adam, you must have some idea of who is after you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I haven\u2019t. And I don\u2019t believe that there is anyone after me. I think Pa is overreacting.\u201d\u00a0 He faced his father, arms folded across his chest, his back rigid, clearly showing his annoyance.<\/p>\n \u201cI am not overreacting,\u201d Ben snapped. \u201cThere have been two, possibly three, attempts on your life, and I want to find out who is at the bottom of it. Who knew you were planning to go out that way today?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone. No one. Oh, come on, Pa.\u201d Adam was tired of having this argument with his father. \u201cYou came back from San Francisco jumpy, and now you\u2019re making mountains out of molehills. All the ranch hands and most of the loggers knew about the tree-marking. You don\u2019t think it was one of them, surely? And they didn\u2019t know we were going to go to the lake. How could they? Those accidents were just accidents. Any threat is all your imagination.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben glared at his oldest son. \u201cIt is not my imagination,\u201d he retorted. \u201cI\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Roy intervened before the argument between the two became acrimonious. \u201cI\u2019ll keep my eyes and ears open, but I don\u2019t want you going off half-cocked, Ben. I\u2019m the law around here, and it\u2019s up to me to see that justice is done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, Roy,\u201d Ben said. \u201cI want my sons safe, but I want to see justice done too.\u201d He suddenly remembered another man who had told him to leave justice to him.<\/p>\n Ben Cartwright glared at Jeb Holloway. \u201cCut it out, Holloway,\u201d he ordered.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMind your own business, Cartwright,\u201d the other snarled. \u201cYou ain\u2019t got no right ta tell me what ta do, and I reckon Grives here has got it comin\u2019.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIf Grives has been into your stuff, then it\u2019s up to the Captain to decide what should happen, not you. You can\u2019t take the law into your own hands, and you\u2019ve got no proof it was Grives, anyway,\u201d Ben doubled his hands into fists, ready to take Holloway on. Holloway dropped Grives and squared up to Ben. He wasn\u2019t worried; he was both bigger and older than young Cartwright. It wasn\u2019t the first time he\u2019d fought with him, either.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOkay, then, Cartwright, I\u2019ll give you the thumping you\u2019re lookin\u2019 for,\u00a0 an then I\u2019ll teach Grives not to touch my stuff.\u201d He pulled back his fist.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cCartwright, Holloway, report to the Captain\u2019s quarters immediately,\u201d roared the first mate, Mr. Bond, standing at the top of the gangway.<\/em><\/p>\n Ben and Holloway stood facing the Captain. \u201cYou know I have forbidden fighting on board my ship,\u201d he said, mildly, after hearing their story. Neither man took comfort from his tone of voice \u2013 the Captain rarely shouted. He looked from one to the other. \u201cWell?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir,\u201d they said. There was nothing else to say.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cCartwright, you will take the masthead watch for the next three days,\u201d the Captain told Ben, \u201cand if it happens again you\u2019ll miss out on your next liberty. Understood?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAye, sir,\u201d Ben said. It wasn\u2019t too harsh a punishment, on the whole. He exhaled softly with relief. The first mate would have been much tougher. Holloway didn\u2019t get off so lightly.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHolloway, you have already been flogged several times this voyage. You will spend forty-eight hours in irons, and you will miss your next two liberties. If it happens again you will be flogged.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Holloway was led away, cursing Ben under his breath. Ben was left facing the captain. \u201cThe only reason you aren\u2019t spending time in irons, sailor,\u201d the Captain said, \u201cis that I admire a man who is prepared to stand up for justice and right. But on this ship I am justice, and you will leave it to me in future. Understood?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAye, sir,\u201d Ben said.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAnd Ben?\u201d Ben was surprised. He hadn\u2019t even known the Captain knew his first name \u2013 he\u2019d only been on board the Heron a short time.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSir?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI think you have the makings of a fine sailor \u2013 possibly even the Captain of your own ship. But you must learn to follow orders before you can give them. I\u2019ll be watching you, young man.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Captain Ingleton had watched him, uncomfortably closely sometimes. So did the first mate. When the second mate took ill, the Captain appointed Ben to take his place, but left him to find his own way. Ben was only nineteen, but he had a strength of character that had impressed the Captain and his martinet of a first mate.\u00a0 Holloway resented Ben\u2019s appointment bitterly. He was older and more experienced than Cartwright. He thought the Captain should have appointed him. Holloway had not been a pleasant shipmate during the rest of that voyage either.<\/em><\/p>\n Holloway again? Why was he suddenly thinking about Holloway again? Neither of them had enjoyed their punishments, but Holloway had made a lot of noise about it and had blamed Ben, publicly and often, for being the cause of his hardship.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d\u00a0 Adam touched the older man on the arm to attract his attention. Ben looked up, startled. \u201cOh, sorry, son. Did you say something?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. I asked you if we were going to go home, or if you were planning to stay here all night.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben snorted as he turned towards the livery stables. They were almost there when he suddenly started and, to Adam\u2019s astonishment, ran partway down an alley. He stopped and stared around for a moment then came back sheepishly to his puzzled son.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it, Pa?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I saw someone I recognised,\u201d Ben said. \u201cI must have been imagining things.\u201d The two men mounted up and rode rapidly out of town.<\/p>\n Adam couldn\u2019t resist the opportunity. He broke the silence. \u201cI told you you were imagining things,\u201d he said, a touch of malice in his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no need for that, young man.\u201d Ben rebuked his son. He remembered another grievance he had with Adam. \u201cI don\u2019t need you to challenge me in front of Roy, either.\u201d His dark eyes were hard. Adam knew that his father wasn\u2019t pleased.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry if I embarrassed you, but I still believe you\u2019re wrong. And, I might add, I\u2019m getting very, very tired of you treating me like a child. I don\u2019t need a baby-sitter.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben was indignant. Adam may be a grown man, but he was still entitled to the respect due to him as his father. \u201cThat is quite\u2026\u201d he started. There was a bang \u2013\u00a0 the sound of a shot\u00a0 and suddenly something zipped past them, missing Adam by inches. Both men reacted almost instinctively, diving from their saddles to the ground. They took advantage of the cover some nearby bushes gave them. They lay there for a few minutes, guns drawn, searching for any signs of their attacker, but they could see no one. There was no more gunfire.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam? Are you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded. \u201cHurt my knee as I hit the ground, but no bullet holes in my hide. What about you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not hurt. I suppose you think that gunshot was my imagination too?\u201d Ben asked sarcastically as they cautiously got to their feet.<\/p>\n Adam reddened, recalling his flippant remark about a rifle. \u201cI\u2019ll accept that it was a gunshot, but if it was an attempt on my life, it wasn\u2019t a very good one, was it? One shot and then nothing. And,\u201d he added, \u201cI don\u2019t know for sure that it was a bullet that came near us. Or that someone was actually shooting at us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou heard the shot,\u201d Ben retorted.<\/p>\n \u201cI heard a shot. I don\u2019t know that it was aimed at us,\u201d Adam insisted.<\/p>\n Adam was sitting in his robe in his favorite chair in front of the fire, with his feet up and a cold compress on his badly bruised knee. In spite of his protests, his father and Hop Sing had insisted that he take the rest of the day off. He had agreed provided they doctored him in the living room \u2013 he had no desire to go to bed, he told them.\u00a0 So he was lying back in his favorite chair, with his feet up on the table. Ben paced about the room. The gunshot today had brought that overwhelming wave of anxiety back in full force. It almost made him sick. Adam watched him, trying to think of something, anything, to say to relieve his father\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n His brothers\u2019 entry created a welcome diversion. \u201cHi, Joe, Hoss,\u201d he greeted his brothers with a smile. \u201cDid you see Betty Sue?\u201d he asked Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d the other replied, blushing a little. \u201cShe says howdy. Did ya see Roy?\u201d he asked, masking his embarrassment by changing the subject. He grabbed an apple off the table and crunched into it.<\/p>\n Adam nodded. \u201cRoy says he\u2019ll keep an eye open, but since I can\u2019t give him any information about these so-called attempts on my life,\u201d he glanced at his father and was rewarded by a scowl, which made him smile just a little, \u201che can\u2019t do much about it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Pa, how come Adam gets to put his feet up on the furniture?\u201d Joe demanded.<\/p>\n Adam smirked. He had been waiting for Joe to protest about his feet on the furniture. Hardly a day went by without Pa yelling, \u201cJoseph, take your feet off the furniture!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe came across the room ready to stir Adam up a bit when he took a proper look at his brother. \u201dHow come you\u2019ve got a bandage on your knee?\u201d Joe asked, peering at the bandage with interest.<\/p>\n \u201cI jumped off my horse because we heard a gunshot,\u201d Adam said. His voice was entirely devoid of any expression.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah? Who was shooting?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone was taking a pot shot at your brother,\u201d Ben informed Joe, before Adam could answer.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m still not convinced that someone was shooting at me,\u201d Adam said.\u00a0 \u201cThe only injury I\u2019ve got is a bruised knee from leaping off my horse. And the only other injury is Joe\u2019s sore shoulder from when he fell off HIS horse.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 face was scrunched thoughtfully as he finished his apple. Suddenly he said, \u201cPa? Adam? I bin thinkin\u2019. None o\u2019 them accidents happened when Adam was alone. Maybe someone else was the target?\u201d<\/p>\n There was a surprised silence. Adam nodded thoughtfully. \u201cThat\u2019s a really good point, Hoss. The accidents have been when I\u2019ve been with someone. In fact, each time there\u2019s been what you call an attempt on my life \u2013 I\u2019ve been with you, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n The silence deepened, broken by a soft exclamation from Joe. \u201cHe\u2019s right, you know, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Pa,\u201d Hoss agreed.<\/p>\n Ben stared from one to another of the three young men staring back at him with a mixture of surprise and worry on their faces. \u201cYou\u2019re just jumping to conclusions,\u201d he said, finally.<\/p>\n \u201cSo were you,\u201d Adam retorted. \u201cYou were quick enough to assume all those accidents were threats to me. It makes just as much sense, if they were attempts, to assume you were the target, not me. Possibly even more.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sat down heavily in his chair. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou came home from San Francisco early because you were worried about something. There must have been something that happened there to worry you so. What was it, Pa? If you can work that out, maybe we can work out who might have it in for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know exactly. All I was doing was walking down by the shore and through the shipyards.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShipyards? Maybe ya saw someone you used to know?\u201d Hoss suggested.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head firmly. \u201cNo, I don\u2019t recall seeing anything. Just suddenly feeling really uneasy about something. It was almost physical \u2013 as though something was sitting in my stomach like a lead weight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSounds like indigestion to me,\u201d Joe grinned.<\/p>\n Adam managed to suppress his grin, but Hoss didn\u2019t. They knew better than to say they agreed. Pa didn\u2019t look at all amused.<\/p>\n \u201cSomething funny, Hoss?\u201d he demanded, eyes flinty.<\/p>\n \u201cUh, nossir,\u201d Hoss stammered.<\/p>\n He was saved by a knock on the door. Nick Johnson, one of the ranch hands, came in. \u201cUh, Mr. Cartwright, I\u2019m sorry ta bother you, but we thought you oughta know. The other day Bill and me, we found a campsite out near that stand of trees you was marking. I wouldn\u2019ta thought anythin\u2019 about it, but we found another one out near that place you an\u2019 Mr. Adam heard the gunshot today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNews sure travels fast around here,\u201d Adam remarked sourly. \u201cWho told you about the gunfire?\u201d<\/p>\n Nick shrugged. \u201cI don\u2019t remember. Does it matter?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably not,\u201d Adam replied, \u201cbut if you do think of who it was let us know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Nick,\u201d Ben said, \u201cAsk the others to let me know if they find anything else unusual. And make sure you all keep an eye open. I don\u2019t want anyone hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, boss,\u201d Nick said as he left.<\/p>\n Ben raised an eyebrow at his oldest son. \u201cWell? Are you convinced now?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam rubbed his chin. \u201cAll right, Pa, I admit that the camps throw a different light on the possibility that there is someone out there. But you have to admit that it\u2019s just as likely that you are the target<\/p>\n \u201cBut there haven\u2019t been any attempts on me,\u201d Ben argued.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of those so-called attempts on me could just as easily have been aimed at you. You\u2019ve been so busy nurse-maiding me that you haven\u2019t been out alone since you got back from San Francisco.\u201d He gave his father a wry grin. \u201cI was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.\u201d<\/p>\n Jeb Holloway swigged back his whiskey, slammed the glass back onto the bar and turned to face Ben. \u201cYou picked the wrong time ta come into the wrong place today, Cartwright!\u201d a drunk Holloway yelled at Ben. \u201cYou stole my job, an\u2019 I aim ta see ya pay!\u201d he spat, as he swung at Ben. Ben sidestepped the wild blow.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about,\u201d he replied, as calmly as he could. \u201cCaptain Stoddard gave me the job-you were never in the running.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got years more experience than a whippersnapper like you. You turned Ingleton against me, and now you turned Stoddard against me. I shoulda bin the mate, not you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Ben put his hands on his hips; it made him look even bigger than he was. \u201cHolloway, you\u2019ve got two choices. You don\u2019t have to sail with the Wanderer. I\u2019ll clear it with the captain \u2013 I\u2019ll tear up your papers, and you can sail with someone else. Or you can just shut up and accept that I\u2019m the Mate and be prepared to accept my orders.\u201d His voice was not loud, but the tone made more than one man shiver.<\/em><\/p>\n Holloway glowered. He took a step closer to Ben. \u201cThere\u2019s one other choice. I can beat you to a pulp and send you back to your mama.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Ben raised an eyebrow. He\u2019d known it was going to come to this just as soon as he\u2019d come into the bar. He couldn\u2019t back down. There were too many of his men here, and they\u2019d lose all respect for his authority if he backed down. He smiled at his opponent. \u201cYou\u2019re welcome to try.\u201d His reply was a challenge.<\/em><\/p>\n Holloway needed no further invitation, but he was too drunk to fight effectively, and Ben wasn\u2019t planning to lose this fight. There was too much riding on it.<\/em><\/p>\n Holloway again! Ben thought. \u201cThe wrong place at the wrong time,\u201d he repeated. \u201cI wonder\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben considered his sons a moment, then came to a decision. \u201cI don\u2019t know if this has anything to do with it or not, but ever since I got this feeling I\u2019ve been thinking about a man who sailed with me on many of my voyages. I don\u2019t know why, but maybe he has something to do with all this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about him?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t like me very much \u2013 he thought I got the job as mate on The Wanderer when he should have. He wasn\u2019t mate material, but he thought he was. In fact he was a poor sailor and a poor excuse for a man too. And stupid. I suppose it\u2019s possible I might have seen him at the Shipyards. It does sound far-fetched, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shrugged. \u201cYou feeling like there was something wrong was far-fetched also. At least now we have something to tell Roy. I think you should stay home for a few days, Pa. If it is this guy-do you remember his name? He hasn\u2019t succeeded with any attempts yet, but he might get lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHis name was Holloway. I\u2019m not going to be kept a prisoner in my own home by a scoundrel like him!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut, Pa,\u201d Hoss said. \u201cYou made us stay home when ya thought it was us. It\u2019s only sensible for ya ta stay home if the target is you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMore,\u201d Adam said. \u201cIt seems like he\u2019s had at least two tries, and he\u2019s getting more reckless. I don\u2019t know why he stopped with only one shot if it was you, but he might try something worse.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease, Pa?\u201d Joe begged.<\/p>\n The three of them were definitely ganged up on him with this one. Even through his irritation he felt the warmth that came from knowing how much his boys cared for him.<\/p>\n He hesitated, then reluctantly he agreed. \u201cOh, all right. But only for a few days.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stayed home for a few days as his sons had requested. But, just like his sons, he too began to chafe at the restriction. In spite of all their efforts, they had not come up with any leads to the whereabouts of Holloway or any other signs of any threat. If it hadn\u2019t been for the two campsites, Ben might have started to believe it was just his imagination. He chuckled to himself. Adam had been so sure he\u2019d been imagining things. The only real change was that the sense of unease that had been bothering him seemed to have gone.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going into Virginia City to see Roy,\u201d he announced at breakfast.<\/p>\n \u201cBut, Pa,\u201d Joe protested. \u201cWhat about Holloway?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve changed my mind. Adam was right. It was just my overactive imagination or perhaps indigestion,\u201d he replied, with a smile at Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe so, but I\u2019m going with you,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n Ben was tempted to tell Adam to stay home, but he recognised the obstinate expression on Adam\u2019s face. Even if he ordered Adam to stay home, Adam wouldn\u2019t. And it was a sensible precaution anyway.<\/p>\n He grinned at his son. \u201cI\u2019d be delighted to have your company,\u201d he said blandly, taking the wind out of Adam\u2019s sails.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt sure ain\u2019t much to go on,\u201d Roy told Ben. \u201cYa ain\u2019t seen this guy\u2013 Jeb Holloway, did ya say? \u2013 for nigh on thirty years. How do ya know you\u2019d even recognise him even if ya saw him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t. I don\u2019t even know if it is him or if it is just my imagination as Adam insists.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, come on. I agreed that those campsites put a different light on things.\u201d Adam changed the subject quickly to hide his embarrassment. \u201cI just remembered something. Didn\u2019t you see someone down an alley the other day?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was his walk I thought I recognised. I didn\u2019t see his face.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, if we find anyone who walks funny you can come see if it\u2019s him,\u201d Roy chuckled.<\/p>\n Ben glared at him. Roy sobered immediately. \u201cIf I see anythin\u2019 I\u2019ll let ya know.\u201d<\/p>\n They rode home in relative silence, each busy with his own thoughts. Just as they neared home, Adam broke the silence. \u201cPa? Do you think you should stay in town for a few days? You\u2019d be safer in town.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head. \u201cNo. I\u2019ve been confined to my home by Holloway. I\u2019m not going to be driven out of it.\u201d He saw Adam\u2019s anxious expression. \u201cI\u2019ll be fine, son. Don\u2019t worry.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s smile was half-hearted at best. \u201cAt least don\u2019t go out alone,\u201d he pleaded, his hand on his father\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n Ben nodded. He\u2019d insisted on that precaution for Adam. It was only sensible that he did this himself.<\/p>\n Ben stretched his stiff back as he straightened up from planting another little pine tree. Many of his friends thought his devotion to replacing the trees he cut was silly. There was so much timber up here in the high country. Adam caught his eye and grinned as he too straightened up. \u201cGotta have something for my grandchildren to harvest,\u201d he quipped. Ben smiled proudly. His sons at least understood that you had to give back to the land. You couldn\u2019t just take all the time. He had instilled this into the boys ever since he and Adam had arrived on the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n \u201cHey Pa,\u201d Hoss\u2019 voice broke into his thoughts. \u201cthere\u2019s someone comin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam moved closer to his father, buckling on his gun belt as he did so. He glanced over at Joe and Hoss, who also moved in closer to their father.<\/p>\n \u201cCan you see who it is, Joe?\u201d Adam asked. Joe had pretty sharp eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s\u2026it\u2019s the Sheriff,\u201d he said, puzzled. The Cartwright boys all relaxed a little.<\/p>\n \u201cRoy, what brings you out here?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted you to know, I got this old guy in custody. Tried to grab Mrs. Jenson\u2019s purse. He\u2019s an old sailor. You wanna come in and see if it\u2019s your Holloway? He says his name is Josiah Hall, but I figured \u2013 same initials \u2013 he coulda changed his name.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know if he\u2019d think of that,\u201d Ben said, \u201cbut he might have. You want me to come in today?\u201d<\/p>\n Roy shrugged. \u201cThere\u2019s no rush, Ben. We got him on theft charges anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen I\u2019ll come in tomorrow. I\u2019d like to finish this today\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa, it would be better if you went in today. Joe and Hoss can finish up here, and I\u2019ll come in with you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be ridiculous, Adam. Whoever it is will still be there tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue,\u201d Adam replied, \u201cbut wouldn\u2019t you like to know for certain? I\u2019d sleep better tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben met his eldest son\u2019s eyes and saw how worried he was. If he could set Adam\u2019s mind at rest he wouldn\u2019t have to contend with his sons following him about as self appointed body guards. He conceded. \u201cHoss, Joe, you two finish up here. Adam and I will see you at home.\u201d<\/p>\n The three rode as quickly as they could towards Virginia City and went straight to the Sheriff\u2019s office. Ben swiftly went through to the cells and looked at the man sitting on the cot in one of them.<\/p>\n \u201cWhadda ya starin\u2019 at, mister?\u201d he snarled.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Ben?\u201d Roy asked hopefully. He didn\u2019t like mysteries in his town, and he was hoping that this was the person threatening his old friend.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. It\u2019s not Holloway.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid you two finish planting those trees?\u201d Ben asked Hoss and Joe over breakfast.<\/p>\n \u201cNearly,\u201d Joe replied with one of his best smiles.<\/p>\n \u201cHow nearly is \u2018nearly\u2019?\u201d Ben asked. He\u2019d heard Joe\u2019s \u2018nearlies\u2019 before. They could mean anything, and frequently did.<\/p>\n \u201cWe got about three fourths the way through,\u201d Hoss said, before Joe could get them into trouble.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go out to finish them up. You three can go move the cattle down into the East pasture today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d The bald statement shocked Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, I don\u2019t think you should go out there alone,\u201d Adam hastily explained before his father could reprimand him for his manners. He might be grown, but his father still expected polite behaviour.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s necessary. And I do want that herd moved.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe and Hoss can do it,\u201d Adam said. \u201cI\u2019m not letting you go out alone.\u201d He leant on his hands, placed firmly on the table, and stared belligerently at his father, daring him to forbid him.<\/p>\n Hard brown eyes met challenging hazel ones, but Adam didn\u2019t look away. Ben was strongly tempted to order Adam to do as he was told, but he recognised the look on Adam\u2019s face. Adam wasn\u2019t going to give in on this one. \u201cAs soon as we\u2019ve finished planting you help them move the herd.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSee? We finished the planting and nothing happened,\u201d Ben gloated a little as they rode back towards the house.<\/p>\n \u201cI know, and I\u2019m pleased that nothing happened. But it makes me worry about you less when I\u2019m with you.\u201d Nothing had happened since that one gunshot, and he was beginning to wonder himself if it was just a tempest in a teacup. They rode down along a narrow, twisting track between the trees, with room for only one rider at a time, when suddenly Buck stopped dead, almost sitting back on his haunches. Ben was flung backwards.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d Adam had hastily dismounted and rushed to his father\u2019s side. He helped his father up and together they looked carefully among the leaf litter and tree debris to see what had spooked the horse. Adam picked up a stick and prodded the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe he saw a snake?\u201d Ben suggested.<\/p>\n \u201cUnlikely,\u201d Adam decided. \u201cHe would have reared, not stopped. Anyway, I can\u2019t see one, and with all the noise we\u2019re making\u2026\u201d He shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever it is, we can\u2019t stay here all day. There\u2019s work to be done. Maybe I\u2019ll just lead him for a bit,\u201d Ben said, taking Buck\u2019s reins in his hand. He started forward. Buck took two hesitant steps and refused to move further. Ben tugged on the reins, bracing himself on his back foot as he did so. Buck pulled backwards, neighing in fear, and as Ben pulled harder he suddenly found himself dangling precariously on the edge of a deep pit. Only the horse\u2019s reins stopped him falling in.<\/p>\n \u201cPa!\u201d Adam yelled.<\/p>\n Ben hauled himself to safety by pulling on the horse\u2019s bridle then leaned up against the horse, his heart racing, breathing heavily. He patted the horse.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Buck,\u201d he said, as his breathing slowly returned to normal.<\/p>\n Adam poked carefully around the edge, making sure that all was safe. There were sharpened stakes down the bottom of the pit. He shuddered as he thought of the near miss his father had had.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019d be dead if you\u2019d landed in that. Just as well Buck didn\u2019t like it.\u201d Adam\u2019s jaw was set and his eyes were hard. \u201cThere\u2019s no way this could have been an accident.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe have to do something!\u201d Joe yelled at his older brothers.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat, exactly?\u201d Adam asked. \u201cHe won\u2019t stay in town. He won\u2019t even stay home. What do you want us to do, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI dunno, but there must be something! I don\u2019t want my pa hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss exchanged a glance. \u201cWe don\u2019t want Pa hurt either. And we don\u2019t want you hurt by running off who knows where and getting yourself into trouble. All we can do is stay as close to him and hope we can protect him until we track down this Holloway person. Got me, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s shoulders drooped, but he nodded.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid ya have any luck?\u201d Hoss asked Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. There isn\u2019t anyone registered at any of the hotels with the initials J.H. Smart thinking on Roy\u2019s part that. Or anyone who is an old sailor type. I checked in Carson City too when I was there last week. If it is Holloway, he\u2019s not coming out in public.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam was worried, and there was nothing he could do. He tried again to ask his father to stay in town, but Ben again refused.<\/p>\n Nick and his buddy Bill rode as fast as they could into the yard of the Ponderosa. \u201cMr. Adam, we can\u2019t find Mr Cartwright,\u201d Nick yelled.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean, you can\u2019t find Mr Cartwright? He was with you when you went this morning.\u201d Adam\u2018s face was hard.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben had gone out with some hands to check on the waterholes in their best pasture. Adam had planned to go, but an unexpected timber buyer had turned up. He was too good a customer to put off or offend in anyway, so Adam had stayed at home.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll be all right, Adam,\u201d Ben had said. \u201cI\u2019ll take a couple of hands with me. Don\u2019t worry, son. You just concentrate on Mr. Webb.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe went out there, me an\u2019 Bill, with Mr. Cartwright. He said he thought he heard somethin\u2019 in the woods there, and went in to check.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou let him go alone?\u201d Adam\u2019s face darkened with anger.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t wanna, but Mr Cartwright, he tol\u2019 us to finish clearing the waterhole and he\u2019d check it out. He didn\u2019t come back, and we started to get worried, but when we looked for him-well, it was just like he\u2019d disappeared,\u201d Nick explained.<\/p>\n Adam already had his horse saddled by the time the hand had finished his breathless explanation. \u201cYou go find Hoss and Joe and tell them to get to the waterholes as soon as they can, Nick. Bill, you come with me,\u201d he said as he rode out of the yard. He couldn\u2019t blame the hands. Pa was their boss. They could hardly insist on following him if he told them not to. The only person he could blame was himself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben stirred slightly and realised he was tied up very firmly. The knots were sailor\u2019s knots \u2013 ones he used himself, frequently. He opened his eyes and looked into the face of the man he\u2019d seen in his dream. \u201cHolloway.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, me. I told ya I\u2019d get ya one day. I been in the Chinas.\u00a0 Coulda knocked me over with a feather when I saw you at the San Francisco shipyards. First time I set foot back in my own country and I see you. You ruined my life, Cartwright, and now I\u2019m gonna ruin yours.\u201d Holloway sat back looking very pleased with himself.<\/p>\n \u201cExactly how did I ruin your life?\u201d Ben asked. \u201cI\u2019ve been a rancher for twenty years. You\u2019ve had plenty of opportunity to make your way as a sailor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou turned them all against me. I never had a chance. You got my job; you made me look like a fool in front of the rest of the crew \u2013 turned them against me; you got my girl\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stared at him. \u201cWhat do you mean, I got your girl?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cElizabeth Stoddard would have gone for me if you hadn\u2019t been there. She wouldn\u2019t look twice at me with you there all the time,\u201d Holloway snapped. \u201cYou turned her father against me too. He invited you to visit, and you stole my girl, right under my nose.\u201d Ben shook his head. That wasn\u2019t how he remembered it.<\/p>\n Ben had been a little worried about his reception by the old hands on that first voyage, but those men who had not witnessed the thorough beating their new First Mate had given Holloway had heard about it, and it didn\u2019t do his reputation any harm. Holloway\u2019s efforts to stir up trouble fell on deaf ears, and Captain Stoddard was delighted with his new first mate.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWell, lad,\u201d he said as they tied up at the dock, \u201c Come and have dinner with me. You can stay at the Inn until we ship out again. It\u2019ll be easier for us to prepare for the next voyage-and that\u2019ll be a long one. We\u2019re heading for the ports of Europe.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThank you, sir, I accept with pleasure,\u201d Ben said, the idea of seeing Miss Stoddard again filling him with a familiar and pleasant warmth.<\/em><\/p>\n There were many young men who courted Elizabeth, but he was often there in her home, and she liked talking to him. He accepted his role as confidant and friend, hoping that he might one day make her his wife. The only thing that put a damper on his plans for the future was Holloway. Holloway had decided that he fancied Elizabeth, not least because of Ben\u2019s interest, and laid all out siege to her. But she didn\u2019t like Holloway and made it clear to him in no uncertain terms that her choice was Ben.<\/em><\/p>\n Holloway blamed Ben for that too. He added that to his list of grudges, shared at length with his cronies when he was drunk. That voyage was the last time Ben saw Holloway. He heard about him on and off while he was in Boston, always blaming \u201cthat Cartwright\u201d for his woes\u00a0 and swearing revenge. He heard that Holloway had headed for the South China seas when Ben and Liz married, but there had been nothing since then.<\/p>\n And now it looked like Holloway was going to have his opportunity for revenge. Ben was worried. No one knew where he was. He didn\u2019t know where he was. The boys would come and look for him, so he needed to know more. Were his sons in danger? \u201cHow did you know where I was?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n \u201c\u201dWhen I saw you in San Francisco, I asked around. They told me you owned a big ranch in Nevada. Followed ya. I was gonna kill ya at first, but now I got a better idea.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo it was you who took a shot at us the other day.\u201d Ben nodded thoughtfully. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you finish the job?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t want that young ranch hand with you to get hurt. Same as when I dug that pit. Took me all night to dig that. It ain\u2019t his fault he works for a weasel like you. Today was the first time I been able to get near ya without that boy around. Favorite of yours, is he?\u201d<\/p>\n Hope grew in Ben. Maybe the boys weren\u2019t in any danger. He\u2019d thought he\u2019d been protecting Adam, but Adam\u2019s presence had been protecting him. His lips quirked. This was really going to amuse Adam if he ever got the chance to tell him.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s my\u2026my\u2026 right hand man,\u201d Ben produced. \u201cI couldn\u2019t run this place without him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI thought so. Well, I guess he\u2019ll come looking for you. When he does, he can be my messenger. I ain\u2019t gonna kill ya \u2013 I\u2019m gonna take Liz from ya.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben was stunned. Holloway hadn\u2019t even bothered to find out about his family. He didn\u2019t know that he couldn\u2019t ever take Liz from him. She may have died, but she was always with him \u2013 just as he\u2019d told Adam all those years ago.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d Three-year-old Adam was snuggled on his father\u2019s lap in front of the campfire. Ben had just finished telling him a fairytale-The Three Bears.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it, son? I thought you were asleep.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI was finkin\u2019.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Ben smiled. He might only be three but this little boy did a lot of \u2018finkin\u2019. A lot of question-asking, too. \u201cWhat were you thinking, Adam?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cPa, why don\u2019t I have a Ma?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The smile faded and Ben\u2019s heart sank. He\u2019d been hoping this day wouldn\u2019t come for a while yet. He still wasn\u2019t sure what to say. \u201cYou do have a Ma, son. It\u2019s just that she isn\u2019t with us anymore.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhere is she?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s in heaven, son, with God. You remember I told you about God?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Adam wasn\u2019t quite clear on the concept of God, except it was somebody important that Pa said was always around and helped people when they needed Him, but he nodded. \u201cWhy\u2019s she in Heaven, Pa?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBecause her time on Earth was finished,\u00a0 and God needed her.\u201d Ben\u2019s voice caught. He couldn\u2019t even speak of his lost love without waves of sadness overwhelming him. And little Adam knew it too.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d came the little voice. \u201cBut we need her too, Pa. It always makes you sad \u2018cos she\u2019s not here. Can\u2019t we ask God to let her come back? I don\u2019t like it when you\u2019re sad.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like very much for her to come back, Adam, but once God calls you, you have to go. But she is always in heaven watching out for us.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Watch out for our son now, Liz, he thought.<\/p>\n \u201cYou got any kids?\u201d Holloway\u2019s sudden question broke into his thoughts.<\/p>\n \u201cLiz and I have one son. He went away east to college,\u201d Ben said, carefully. Holloway didn\u2019t want to kill the ranch hand, so he felt no qualms about editing the truth to protect Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cJust as well. It ain\u2019t his fault neither. And I wouldn\u2019t want to upset his mama by hurting him. It don\u2019t matter about you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was getting late by the time Adam got to the waterhole. \u201cWhere did my father go into the woods?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cHe went in there,\u201d Bill pointed, \u201cbut we couldn\u2019t find him.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam sighed. If there were any signs, then the hands in their eagerness to help had probably obliterated them. \u201cCome on, let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n They hadn\u2019t gone more than fifty yards in when Adam picked up a hoof print. He dismounted, looking hard to find the trail. He followed the faint trail, blurred as it was by gravel and fallen leaves, until he came to an area where there had obviously been a scuffle of some sort. On one particularly scuffed up bit was a patch of something. Adam touched it gingerly, afraid of what he might find. Just as he\u2019d feared. Blood! He looked up at Bill. \u201cGo get the sheriff, please Bill, I think we might need him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be fine. I\u2019m going to look for my father. When you\u2019ve got the sheriff, bring him out here. Hoss and Joe should be here with Nick by then.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam followed the trail carefully in the dim light. It was dark enough under the trees in the daylight, but it would be impossible to follow that trail once night fell. He wondered if he should have waited for Hoss. Hoss was a good tracker, better than he was. No, he decided. If he lost the trail he could go back for Hoss. Then he grinned briefly. He wouldn\u2019t need to. Hoss would pick up his trail without any trouble. He hadn\u2019t exactly been trying to hide his tracks. Whoever had his father hadn\u2019t really been trying to hide his tracks, either. That patch of blood worried him. He hoped Pa was still alive; then his commonsense kicked in. Whoever it was wouldn\u2019t have dragged his father\u2019s body off if he was dead, so he had to assume that his father was still alive. How badly injured was another matter entirely. He stopped for a moment to do what he did best \u2013 think. The choices were clear, but what he didn\u2019t know was his father\u2019s condition. He could keep going in the hopes that this trail, faint as it was, would lead him to his father. Or he could stop and wait until either his brothers or the dawn came, bringing its light to help him find his way. He felt almost sick with worry for his father. Was this how Pa had felt? He wished he\u2019d had a little more sympathy for Pa when he had been so worried.<\/p>\n He decided. His father might die if he left the search till morning, so he kept going, following the trail shown only by broken branches on the bushes and the occasionally scuffed leaves. It was almost full dark before he came to a small cabin tucked deep away almost out of sight. Adam hadn\u2019t known of this cabin. He wasn\u2019t even sure he was still on the Ponderosa. He crept close and cautiously tried to peer in at the one small window, but it was covered over with an old sack. Adam pressed up against the wall and listened. He heard, with relief, a familiar, much loved voice. At least Pa was well enough to talk. There was someone else in there with him. He didn\u2019t recognise the voice. He could wait out here until the others came to join him, but more people wouldn\u2019t really help. That cabin was small. Any shooting could just as easily injure his father, and he didn\u2019t know how badly Pa was hurt. Flinging open the cabin door, Adam barged in, gun in hand. He was met by a rifle pointing straight at his face.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought you\u2019d get here sooner or later. Now look sonny, your boss is just fine, and he\u2019ll stay that way as long as you do as you\u2019re told.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam glanced quickly at his father. There was enough light from the open door and the one small lantern to show him that his father was tied tightly to a post on one side of the cabin, and there was a trickle of blood down his neck. He was very pale. There was a message in his father\u2019s eyes, warning him of something. \u2018Your boss,\u2019 the man had said. He\u2019d play along and see what happened.<\/p>\n \u201cYou okay, boss?\u201d he asked. The relief in his father\u2019s eyes told him that he\u2019d picked the right cue.<\/p>\n Ben managed a weary smile. \u201cI\u2019m fine. This is Mr. Holloway.\u201d Adam raised an eyebrow but said nothing.<\/p>\n Holloway said, \u201cI guess you like your boss, sonny?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure,\u201d Adam nodded. \u201cTreats all his hands well. Pays us well too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, well, I want something he\u2019s got, and you\u2019re gonna take the message if you want to still have that well paying boss,\u201d Holloway sneered. \u201cI want you to ride back to the ranch and tell Mrs. Cartwright to come here. He,\u201d\u00a0 Holloway jerked his chin at Ben, \u201cstole my girl and I want her back. I\u2019m sure she\u2019ll see my point when she sees it\u2019s either him or me. She chose wrong all those years ago, and I aim to help her choose right.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam was reeling. What was this man talking about? There was no Mrs. Cartwright. He looked at his father desperately seeking help. Ben\u2019s lips turned upwards in the slightest of smiles. \u201cHe wants you to take a message to Mrs. Elizabeth, to tell her to meet him here,\u201d he said. \u201cI suppose it\u2019s just as well my son is still at college in the east, or he\u2019d come along half-cocked and cause trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s mind was working. Pa had given him all the information he needed. Now how was he going to use it? He thought quickly. \u201cUh, boss, Mrs. Elizabeth ain\u2019t going to come just on my say-so. She wouldn\u2019t believe me.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head, wincing at the pain that caused him. \u201cYou\u2019re right. Maybe you should write her a note,\u201d he told Holloway.<\/p>\n \u201cUh, Boss, Mrs. Elizabeth won\u2019t come if she don\u2019t recognise the writing,\u201d Adam pointed out.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s right, you know,\u201d Ben told Holloway. \u201cLiz would know better than that. How would she know it wasn\u2019t a trick?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe could tell her,\u201d Holloway replied. \u201cOr, he can write the note.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s face fell. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, I can\u2019t write. Mr Cartwright said he\u2019d teach me this winter if there\u2019s time,\u201d Adam\u2019s face brightened at the thought. Ben was hard pressed not to laugh. Adam should have been on the stage!<\/p>\n Then Adam became serious again. \u201cAnd even if I could, Mrs. Elizabeth would only come if the boss wrote it. If he writes it I\u2019ll take it back to the ranch.\u201d<\/p>\n Wide-eyed, with his best innocent expression, he watched Holloway. Pa had said he was stupid. How stupid was he?<\/p>\n \u201cYou get over there,\u201d Holloway said, \u201cand give me that gun.\u201d He took Adam\u2019s gun, and with the rifle trained on them he said, \u201cNow you untie his hands an\u2019 tie them back up in front, so\u2019s he can write the note. And no funny stuff!\u201d he warned. \u201cI don\u2019t want to hurt you, sonny, but I will if I have to.\u201d Not that stupid, then.<\/p>\n Adam untied his father\u2019s hands. \u201cYou okay?\u201d he whispered. He was rewarded with a quick smile and a small nod. He hesitated a moment before he retied his father\u2019s hands, but a quick prod with the rifle made him carry out his orders. He tied them as loosely as he could, but Holloway peered over his shoulder, the rifle uncomfortably close to Ben\u2019s head.<\/p>\n \u201cTie \u2018em tighter,\u201d he ordered.<\/p>\n Adam obeyed. It had been worth a try, but even if Ben could get his hands loose the ropes around his chest would hold him.<\/p>\n \u201cI need something to write a note on,\u201d Ben said, trying to distract Holloway. He knew there was a tally book in his pocket, and probably one in Adam\u2019s but Holloway wasn\u2019t a rancher. He wouldn\u2019t know about tally books. Maybe that would give Adam an opportunity.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Holloway said. It didn\u2019t occur to him that Ben might have paper in his pocket.<\/p>\n He turned slightly, and Adam took advantage of his momentary lapse of attention. He leaped onto their adversary. A shot rang out as the two grappled for the rifle. Adam didn\u2019t have time to see where the shot had gone. He had the advantage of surprise, but he needed it. Holloway wasn\u2019t a big man, but he was wiry and strong, the legacy of a lifetime\u2019s physical labour. Adam grabbed the rifle barrel and wrenched it out of Holloway\u2019s hand, sending it skittering across the floor. Holloway swung at him, but Adam blocked the blow. The shock coursed through Adam\u2019s arm, jarring his shoulder. He didn\u2019t let it stop him though. He threw a solid punch at Holloway with the other hand, landing in his midriff. There was a grunt of pain but Holloway didn\u2019t give up easily. He came at Adam again. A well-aimed punch landed on Adam\u2019s stomach, swiftly followed by an upper cut under his jaw. The force of the blow sent Adam reeling. Holloway took advantage of his pain, landing a good right hook. Adam drew a painful breath and retaliated, landing a series of hard, fast punches onto Holloway\u2019s jaw and face. Holloway backed off under the attack, but then came charging at Adam head-down. His shoulder caught Adam and speared him backwards through the rickety table that stood in the corner. The table disintegrated; both men fell heavily to the floor, Holloway on top of Adam in a mess of splintered wood. As Holloway grabbed a piece of broken table Adam rolled over taking Holloway with him. Adam\u2019s greater size and weight proved an asset. Holloway\u2019s head bounced on the floor as they rolled. Adam followed through with a knockout blow. The sailor lay on the floor not moving.<\/p>\n Ben couldn\u2019t see clearly what was happening in the gloom. All he could see was two bodies rolling about on the floor, and he could hear the sound of flesh hitting flesh and a grunt or gasp as the blows connected, but that was all. He strained to see what was happening. Then silence. A figure rose to its feet. The man stood, silhouetted against the light. He swiped his hand across a split lip, wiping the blood off his face. Ben breathed a sigh of relief. He\u2019d recognise that graceful economy of movement anywhere. \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine, Pa. Let\u2019s get you untied,\u201d Adam said as he moved across to undo the ropes.<\/p>\n \u201cLook out!\u201d Ben yelled.<\/p>\n Instinctively Adam ducked as the rifle butt swished by his head. Turning, he threw a punch at Holloway that would have felled his brother Hoss, but it missed its target, glancing off Holloway\u2019s shoulder. Adam began to hit the still groggy Holloway; all the pent-up frustration from the last few weeks flowing through his fists as he repeatedly pounded the other man. Holloway backed away, trying to escape the onslaught. Adam was relentless, each blow forcing Holloway back to the cabin wall. The blows took their toll \u2013 by the time Holloway reached the wall it was the only thing keeping him upright. Bracing himself against it he took one last desperate swing at Adam. Adam staggered, but before Holloway could take advantage, Adam punched him \u2013\u00a0 good solid punch. Holloway dropped and Adam was on top of him.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam!\u201d Ben shouted. \u201cAdam! Stop!\u201d<\/p>\n Years of obedience to that voice was probably the only thing that saved Holloway from further punishment. It wasn\u2019t like Adam to continue to hit a man when he was down. Adam sat back on his haunches and looked down at the battered man.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks for stopping me. I guess I lost my temper,\u201d he said, embarrassed,\u00a0 as he bound Holloway firmly. He rubbed gingerly at his bruised jaw with an even more bruised hand. \u201cGot a bit careless there,\u201d he said as he released his father. \u201cWhat happened? Are you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben untied his feet. \u201cI\u2019m fine. He caught me by surprise. He jumped me, and I hit my head while we were fighting. Are you all right, son?\u201d He reached up to rub his head. \u201cWhere are the others?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine \u2013 just a bit bruised. I sent Nick for the boys, and Bill for the Sheriff. Are you sure you\u2019re all right?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded. Holloway was glaring at him through an already purpling eye, but being tied up that was all he could do.<\/p>\n Ben couldn\u2019t resist it. This man had made the last few weeks of his life miserable. He could return the favor to some small extent.<\/p>\n \u201cHolloway, I\u2019d like to introduce someone to you.\u201d He put his hand proudly on Adam\u2019s shoulder. \u201cThis is my oldest son, Adam. Looks a lot like his mother, doesn\u2019t he?\u201d Ben\u2019s smile was malicious.<\/p>\n Holloway gaped at him. \u201cYou lied to me,\u201d he accused. \u201cYou said he was a ranch hand.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben chuckled \u201cHe is. That\u2019s what I pay him for.\u201d He caught Adam\u2019s eye and added, \u201cHe is also my right hand man, and I couldn\u2019t do without him.\u201d Adam didn\u2019t miss the pride in his father\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n Holloway thought of something else. \u201cYou got more kids? You said you and Liz only had one son. I s\u2019pose ya lied about that too.\u201d Ben was about to speak when Adam put one hand gently on his father\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me, Pa, please.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded. This man had made Adam\u2019s life miserable too. Let the boy have his own small revenge.<\/p>\n Adam turned from his father and looked Holloway up and down with clear distaste on his face. \u201cMy father told me you were a poor excuse for a man, and he was right. I never got the chance to know my mother, but I do know she had excellent taste in men. I know she would have never entertained the thought of you as her husband for a moment,\u201d he told the other man.<\/p>\n Holloway stared at him. \u201cWhat do you mean, you didn\u2019t know your mother?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy mother died when I was born.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLiz is dead?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe died shortly after Adam was born,\u201d Ben told him. There was such shock on Holloway\u2019s face that Ben felt a very brief pang of sympathy for him. It vanished in the next second.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s your fault Liz is dead. I shoulda killed ya when I had the chance,\u201d he snarled at Ben, \u201cand the boy too. He\u2019s just like you \u2013 too big for his britches.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Adam replied politely. \u201cThat\u2019s the best compliment I ever had. If I can be half the man my father is, then I\u2019ll be happy with that.\u201d He smiled with deep affection at his father, and Ben smiled back.<\/p>\n They heard the sound of horses.<\/p>\n \u201cPa!\u201d yelled Joe. \u201cPa!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam caught his father\u2019s eye and grinned. \u201cShame they didn\u2019t turn up sooner,\u201d he said as he went out to meet his brothers and the Sheriff, pushing Holloway in front of him.<\/p>\n \u201cShould have known you\u2019d turn up after all the work was done,\u201d he teased his brothers.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s Pa?\u201d Joe demanded.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m here, Joe, and I\u2019m fine. Holloway, I\u2019d like you to meet my other sons, Joe and Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut…but… you said Liz died in childbirth,\u201d Holloway spluttered.<\/p>\n \u201cShe did. Hoss and Joe are my half-brothers. A fact I forget most of the time.\u201d Adam\u2019s grin was matched by the grins on his brothers\u2019 faces.<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose they\u2019re as uppity as this one,\u201d Holloway snarled.<\/p>\n \u201cI am very proud of all my sons. No man could ask for better.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s good. I was beginning to wonder why you\u2019d disowned me for a while there.\u201d Adam chuckled.<\/p>\n \u201cDisowned you?\u201d Hoss looked worried. Surely Adam and Pa hadn\u2019t been fighting with each other when Pa had been in danger?<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all right , Hoss,\u201d Ben reassured him. \u201cWe\u2019ll tell you all about it when we get home. In the meantime, let\u2019s get him to jail, and ourselves home. It\u2019s been a long trying day.\u201d<\/p>\n They sat in front of the fire, just enjoying the peace of the evening. Adam and Ben\u2019s bruises had been doctored, and then Ben, with a little assistance from Adam, told the other two the story of his day, over Hop Sing\u2019s delicious supper. Ben was just sitting back in his chair enjoying the presence of his sons. Hoss and Joe were playing yet another game of checkers, and Hoss was winning, for a change. Adam sat on the low table, his back to his father, staring into the fire. Ben watched him. He was slumped with his elbows resting on his thighs, hands hanging loosely. It didn\u2019t take much to know that Adam was worried about something.<\/p>\n \u201cA penny for them, son?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was just thinking,\u201d Adam said, turning slightly to see his father\u2019s face. \u201cI didn\u2019t take your concerns about a threat seriously, and you could have been killed. And it would have been my fault.\u201d Adam was overwhelmed with guilt for not protecting his father properly.<\/p>\n Ben smiled. \u201cI meant to tell you \u2013 you know how I thought I was protecting you when I insisted on accompanying you?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded. \u201cWhat about it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt seems Holloway didn\u2019t want to hurt my \u2018young ranch hand\u2019, so he didn\u2019t keep shooting at me because you were there.\u201d<\/p>\n He pursed his lips and watched while his words sank in. The weight on Adam\u2019s shoulders seemed to lift a little.<\/p>\n Adam looked up at him. \u201cAre you saying that it was only because of me that Holloway didn\u2019t kill you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right, son. Your presence protected me. I\u2019m fine, and Holloway is behind bars. So stop blaming yourself.\u201d He leaned over and squeezed Adam\u2019s arm affectionately.<\/p>\n Adam smiled then returned to staring into the fire. Silence reigned again. Then, abruptly, Adam asked, \u201cDid you mean what you said today about me being your right hand man?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s unexpected question surprised his father. \u201cOf course. I wouldn\u2019t have said it otherwise. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat irrigation scheme I was working on,\u201d Adam stopped for a moment and scratched at his eyebrow, as if he were reluctant to get to the point.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it, son?\u201d Ben encouraged him.<\/p>\n Adam licked his lips and ran his hand through the back of his hair. Unmistakably nervous about something, Ben thought, but what? \u201cI\u2019d like to make the decision whether or not to proceed with it myself. Without my requiring your consent or approval, I mean.\u201d He fixed anxious eyes on his father\u2019s face, again reminding Ben of the small boy he had been.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam rose and stood in front of the fire, hands in his back pockets. \u201cBecause it\u2019s important to me, Pa. I need to know\u2026I want to be sure\u2026I don\u2019t know whether\u2026 \u201d He hesitated. He didn\u2019t want to hurt his father; the right words just wouldn\u2019t come.<\/p>\n Ben put his hand gently on Adam\u2019s shoulder, surprised at his normally articulate son\u2019s unusual reluctance to speak his mind, but all at once he understood. \u201cYou want to know that I trust your judgement?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded, but said nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know why you should think otherwise, but if it\u2019s that important to you, Adam, then all right. I\u2019ll leave the decision up to you.\u201d Ben smiled slightly. \u201cIf you do go ahead with it and it needs extra funds you\u2019ll have to find them on your own,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. If it\u2019s my responsibility, then it\u2019s all my responsibility. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n The light in Adam\u2019s eyes was sufficient reward, Ben thought, and anyway, there was no chance Adam would make a poor decision. He was a smart young man.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Boss, there\u2019s one more thing,\u201d Adam said, turning into the ranch hand he\u2019d been that afternoon but with a gleam in his eye a ranch hand would never have.<\/p>\n Ben raised an eyebrow, wondering what was coming. That gleam usually meant trouble!<\/p>\n \u201cSince you don\u2019t actually have to take time out over winter to teach me to write, can I have some time off instead?\u201d Adam tried to keep his face straight but he couldn\u2019t. He joined in with his father\u2019s laughter. February 2002\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Tags:\u00a0 Adam Cartwright,\u00a0Ben Cartwright<\/p>\n
\n.
\n\u201cI wouldn\u2019t want to hurt his mama by hurting him. It don\u2019t matter about you,\u201d he heard. He wondered what they were talking about. He didn\u2019t know what the first part of the sentence meant, but that second part was a clear threat against his father. He considered his options. The stranger was doing a lot of talking, but how much longer he would talk was anybody\u2019s guess.<\/p>\n
\n<\/b><\/p>\n