{"id":37054,"date":"2021-08-19T10:34:36","date_gmt":"2021-08-19T14:34:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=37054"},"modified":"2025-09-25T15:38:32","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T19:38:32","slug":"the-empty-casket-by-missjudy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=37054","title":{"rendered":"The Trial of Jessica Hardy #3 – The Empty Casket (by Missjudy)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:<\/strong> The first two stories told of Adam’s disappearance after being taken as a hostage by a woman bank robber, and then his return after months spent drugged in a mental hospital. When Buried Alive ended, Adam had left Carson City following a frosty reunion with his family that had left him feeling that for everyone’s sake, he should have died as Jessica Hardy, AKA Leslie Richter, meant for him to do.\u00a0 This story picks up in San Francisco, where he has gone, hoping to find something about himself that is worth saving.\u00a0 He meets someone who just might understand what he’s feeling, and recognize what he’s planning to do. Can this other “man in black” save Adam from himself?<\/p>\n

Rating<\/strong>: K+<\/p>\n

Word Count:<\/strong> 28,000<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Trial of Jessica Hardy Series<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

The Trial of Jessica Hardy<\/a>
\nBuried Alive<\/a>
\nThe Empty Casket<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Note: <\/strong>If you are unfamiliar with the western, Have Gun Will Travel<\/em> \u2013 see Footnote 5. The footnote and the context in this story, will introduce you to the other man in black, who becomes instrumental in Adam making the most important decision of his life. \u00a0The Empty Casket completes the trilogy of The Trial of Jessica Hardy, <\/em>where Adam was taken as a hostage by a deadly woman bank robber. When he fails to show up afterwards, Jessica Hardy (later revealed as Leslie Richter) stand trial for his murder.\u00a0 The second story, Buried Alive<\/em>, reveals that Adam was not dead, but rather left by Leslie at a mental asylum, drugged to within an inch of his life, where she\u2019d expected him to die in time. He is released, but finds that he is not recovering from his ordeal, and after a miserable reunion with his family, leaves them and heads to San Francisco, where this story begins \u2026<\/p>\n

The Empty Casket\u2014One<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome back, Sir!\u201d Matthews, the front desk clerk at the San Francisco Carlton Hotel called out as a man in an impeccably tailored gray suit approached. \u201cI was beginning to suspect you\u2019d be delayed until tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

The returning guest set his hat next to his leather valise on the counter. \u201cMy stage was delayed some hours in Stockton.\u201d His left upper lip rose wryly. \u201cInstead of waiting at the station, I went to the saloon and played poker. It was payday for a nearby ranch, and I saw it as a public service to keep the crew from squandering all their wages on whiskey, bad decisions and bail.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour concern for others is notable.\u201d The clerk matched his customer\u2019s grin and they both laughed. \u201cYou are a fair man. I\u2019m sure you left them with enough to pay their bills and get by.\u201d He turned to grab a key from the cubby holes behind him. \u201cI had your mail taken to your room,\u201d Matthews said as he handed over the brass fob. \u201cThe dining room is closed, but Andre is still working in the kitchen and has a plate warming in case you arrived. We can serve it in the salon or Peter can bring it to your room.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shoving his bag and hat forward with one hand, he reached into his pocket with the other, producing a few bills which he laid atop his bundle. \u201cHave Peter take these to my suite. I\u2019ll eat at the bar, and have a nightcap before heading upstairs.\u201d A quick glance at the array of keys behind the clerk, made his cheek rise again. \u201cThe key\u2019s missing from the suite next to mine. Did someone take a lease?\u201d<\/p>\n

A nod. \u201cA gentleman took it during your absence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes the \u2018gentleman\u2019 have a name?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe register says he\u2019s John Smith.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he\u2019s not John Smith?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is to the staff at the Carlton. You would question my confidentiality if I say more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do love a good mystery. I also respect your discretion.\u201d He\u2019d begun his walk to the salon when he turned back. \u201cIs the lovely Miss Crenshaw still in residence?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSadly, no. Shortly after you left, her father wired, saying he was cutting off payments.\u201d Matthews chuckled. \u201cI\u2019m not being indiscrete in telling you this, since she told anyone with ears of the \u2018unfair\u2019 ultimatum issued by, \u2018Daddy.\u2019\u201d Another chuckle. \u201cI\u2019ve met the man. He doesn\u2019t make empty threats. She left unhappily, but straightaway.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The Carlton Hotel was known for its luxurious overnight accommodations, but had large residential suites available for lease as well. As Matthews moved the fine leather case of his returning resident to the end of the counter, he noted the etching of a knight\u2019s chess piece in the metal latch. He smiled, thinking back to his first dealings with the man who\u2019d been leasing his suite for over a year now.<\/p>\n

Prior to his residency, he\u2019d attended high-stakes poker games in the same suite he now occupied. Matthews had never heard the man called by his actual name back then, but what he\u2019d observed was a young man who was brash, furtive and usually sliding towards inebriation by the time he arrived.<\/p>\n

That had been two years back, and the man hosting the games had left\u2014or rather had been asked to leave\u2014meaning the arrogant young man had stopped coming too.\u00a0 A few months passed, and one day that same young man returned. Matthews had instantly noted his transformation. This man was sober and gentile; in control\u2014sure of himself\u2014but humble now. He had money and had taken the suite where he\u2019d once played poker. The man\u2019s furtiveness had been replaced by a gracious, patient and kind nature.<\/p>\n

Matthews was aware that his current wealth came from some wise, and one windfall, investment. Yet he had a business card featuring the etching of knight, offering his services for a fee. The actual \u201cservices\u201d he performed were nebulous, but also monetarily successful, and required his extended absence at times.<\/p>\n

Matthews had come to admire the man who used a single name taken from the twelve knights of Charlamagne. It didn\u2019t matter whether it held a familial connection or was merely an alias, because it suited him. Matthews had come to trust \u201cthis man\u201d completely.<\/p>\n

He rang the bell on his counter, waving over the bell captain. \u201cPlease find Peter. Tell him Mr. Paladin is back and will be in his room after dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Paladin stopped as he entered the salon, observing the man sprawled over the billiard table, snoring softly. His brows moved upwards and he chuckled while taking a seat at the highly polished bar.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou made it after all!\u201d the bartender said in greeting.<\/p>\n

A nod. \u201cMatthews said Andre has a meal warming. I\u2019d appreciate that along with a cool glass of water and a shot of bourbon.\u201d He nodded toward the billiard table. \u201cTired … or drunk.\u201d<\/p>\n

A shrug. \u201cHe gets this way every evening.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho is he?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGoes by John Smith. He\u2019s your neighbor.\u201d The young man\u2019s lips puckered. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t drink much. It\u2019s more like he loses the will to stay awake. A pity. He\u2019s a good billiards player. He quotes stuff I don\u2019t understand, and has a dry sense of humor.\u201d He winked at his customer. \u201cKind of reminds me of you. I\u2019ve thought that you two might find lots to talk about once you got back, and that might keep him awake.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you figured out who he really is?\u201d<\/p>\n

Another shrug, accompanied by the hint of a smile. \u201cHe\u2019s John Smith until he says otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou said he\u2019s not drunk?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly had two drinks before he passed out. A man his size should handle a couple shots, easy. It\u2019s the same each night. Normally sleeps on the bar or a table though.\u201d Jimmy scratched his head. \u201cCould be he drinks before he comes down, but I never notice it on his breath. And when I wake him at closing and walk with him to the stairs, there\u2019s no indication he\u2019s drunk. Can\u2019t rightly figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll wake him up and have him join us at the bar while you grab my dinner. Ask Andre for a few extra rolls, and an extra dessert. Maybe Mr. Smith needs a little nourishment.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a quick sip of both the water and bourbon Jimmy had supplied, he walked over to the affected guest, and shook his shoulders. \u201cC\u2019mon Smith. It\u2019s unseemly to use the gaming table as a bed. Besides, drool ruins the felt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith opened one eye to observe the interloper. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m asking you to join Jimmy and me at the bar. A little water and something to eat will help what ails you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith pushed himself up, groaning as he straightened. \u201cThat was not a good place to bed down,\u201d he said with a grimace. After stretching, he walked easily, and steadily to the bar.<\/p>\n

Both men were taking their seats when Jimmy returned with a tray bearing a small feast. He laughed as he set it down. \u201cThe chef pretty much cleaned out the kitchen for you two. Enjoy!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo whom do I owe my thanks for getting me off that rack?\u201d Smith asked. \u201cAny longer and I wouldn\u2019t have been able to stand upright.\u201d<\/p>\n

Able to get a good, full-on look at his dinner guest, the long-time resident of the Carlton drew his cheek upwards in puzzlement. He withdrew a business card and slid it along the bar.<\/p>\n

Smith squinted and rubbed his eyes. \u201cPaladin? Is that your first name or last?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI use one name. Makes things easier.\u201d He grinned. \u201cHow about I call you, Smith? That\u2019ll put us on equal footing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The look returned was confused. \u201cOh… Yeah …. Smith is good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you eaten anything tonight?\u201d Paladin asked his new companion.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went to a concert. Haydn, I think it was. Might have had something before that.\u201d His face pulled into a serious-looking pucker. \u201cNope. Wasn\u2019t hungry then.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin took another good look at the man next to him and understood Jimmy\u2019s shrugs. Smith looked very familiar, and he wasn\u2019t drunk. Perhaps drinking on an empty stomach allowed the alcohol to go straight to his head. Yet, he doubted that too. Smith looked lost at sea without a life ring or rescue boat in sight.<\/p>\n

\u201cTry some of the bread, Smith. Andre makes the finest French breads and pastries in San Francisco.\u201d He pointed to the second glass of water Jimmy had set on the counter. \u201cDrink that too. Jimmy will be offended if you don\u2019t.\u201d He smiled at the bartender.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s true. I have to carry that water from the kitchen, so I don\u2019t take kindly to providing it and then seeing it go unused.\u201d He ended his thought with a hearty laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you enjoy the concert?\u201d Paladin asked when Jimmy moved away to serve a newly arrived customer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did, although I dozed off. Being unable to stay awake is a common malady lately.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think concert promoters feel a ticket\u2019s value is best measured by quantity. They stick us elbow-to-elbow in our fine wool suits in a dark, airless hall for three hours.\u00a0 Even fine ladies who would never be so uncouth as to nap during a social function find themselves yawning behind their fans. There\u2019s little hope for me remaining awake through the entirety unless it is an awe-inspiring … or loud … presentation.\u201d His comment produced a brief chuckle from his guest. When he still didn\u2019t avail himself of the food, Paladin buttered a roll and handed it to him. \u201cEat!\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith bit into the soft roll, and chewed. \u201cI haven\u2019t seen you around here, have I?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust got back from a job.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour card reads, Have gun will travel<\/em>. Are you a bounty hunter?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but I\u2019ll collect a bounty if it\u2019s available. I think of myself as an investigator. Most times I figure out who\u2019s being the most truthful in the matter I\u2019ve been hired to mitigate, and reintroduce people to the way they should act as decent human beings. Having a gun and the ability to use it reinforces my words. I\u2019ll tell you more about it tomorrow at breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBreakfast?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the Old English morgenmete, meaning morning meat, and later becoming break-fast as in eating after many hours of nonindulgence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember what it means.\u201d Smith produced a thoughtful frown. \u201cBut I haven\u2019t partaken in morgenmete on regular basis lately.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen give me a chance to reintroduce you. Join me in my room at 8 AM. We\u2019re neighbors, so the trip won\u2019t exhaust you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The comments finally produced a grudging smile. \u201cThat does sound … nice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll make sure the morning valet wakes you in time to be ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMorning valet?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMatthews, the evening desk clerk and self-appointed major domo of this establishment, said the room next to mine has been occupied for a while.\u00a0 Didn\u2019t the hotel manager explain that the residential suites come with an attendant? It\u2019s Peter now, but Jackson in the morning. They\u2019ll act as a butler, valet, concierge, confidant …. \u00a0Haven\u2019t they been taking care of you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHunh. So that\u2019s why they keep showing up in my room offering their assistance. But ….\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you refused. They will offer; they won\u2019t intrude.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI made sure of that.\u201d Smith\u2019s chagrined expression over his faux pas was accented by the pinking of his cheeks above his trim beard. Turning to the bartender, he changed the subject. \u201cJimmy, would you check if there\u2019s any hot coffee. I\u2019d appreciate it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure thing, Mr. Smith.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Paladin entered his suite after dropping Smith off at his door. The new acquaintances had left the bar together after finishing every bit of food offered, drinking the pot of coffee and talking about subjects in which they had mutual interest. A challenge was issued for a tournament of pocket billiards and chess to be played in the coming days.<\/p>\n

Peter was turning down the bed in Paladin\u2019s bedroom, and issued his greeting when the returning resident walked in. \u201cSo nice to have you back, sir. I\u2019ve put everything as you like it, and will leave you to a good night\u2019s sleep, unless you have further need of me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne thing, Peter. Please go next door and tuck Mr. Smith in for the night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Peter\u2019s expression bore various shades of skepticism. \u201cI assure you\u2019ve I\u2019ve tried to assist Mr. Smith during his stay, and he has always refused.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe confessed as much, but he may be more receptive tonight. At a minimum, he\u2019ll need you to take his suit down for a press. Start with that, and ease into the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs you say, sir. He seems a fine gentleman, yet ….\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYet what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Paladin, you appreciate the quiet and order of your apartment, and often wish to be undisturbed. Mr. Smith is like that too …. If I may speak freely, sir?<\/p>\n

A nod. \u201cI would appreciate your impressions. Your discretion will disallow revealing anything confidential.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy actual title in this hotel should be the Keeper of Secrets<\/em>.\u201d Peter smiled. \u201cMr. Smith is a pleasant looking man. He turns the head of every woman in the lobby when he walks through, but he doesn\u2019t notice. His manners are impeccable, except for falling asleep in the salon, but he seems lonely, even uncomfortable with himself at times. I believe he might do well having a friend.\u201d The smile returned.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you\u2019re right, Peter. Please leave a note for Jackson to wake Smith up at 7 tomorrow, and deliver him to my suite at 8. Also, please arrange for the kitchen to deliver my usual breakfast at that hour, but make it for two. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

After changing from his traveling clothes and depositing them in a laundry bag outside his door where Peter would gather them on his way downstairs, Paladin unpacked his case, placing the San Francisco Examiners he\u2019d been perusing in the stage on the table next to his favorite chair. After everything was in order, he sunk into the familiar seat, turned up the lamp, and opened a paper to the business news.<\/p>\n

When he\u2019d taken a careful look at the man who\u2019d joined him at the bar, he\u2019d instantly made an identification that made no earthly sense. From the guarded responses of Jimmy, Matthews and Peter, he suspected they may have had a similar thought. What made their idea impossible, was that the man they might all think Smith to be, had been murdered several months ago. The story of his death and the subsequent trial of his murderess had been heavily covered by the San Francisco press. The articles often included pictures of the man whose body had never been found.<\/p>\n

Having been gone for nearly three weeks, Paladin\u2019s awareness of current events was sorely lacking. The small town he\u2019d been in had no newspapers for sale. He\u2019d managed to pick up a few days\u2019 worth of the San Francisco Examiner during the delay in Stockton, but the crowded condition on the stage precluded doing more than skimming headlines. What had niggled at the back of his mind since he\u2019d seen the man in the salon, was a headline he\u2019d passed by in one of the Chronicle\u2019s business section from a few days ago.<\/p>\n

A quick glance trough the various papers, brought him to the two-column article with the headline: Nevada Rancher Found Alive.<\/em> The name of the Nevada rancher <\/em>made him wonder why the story was buried in the business news rather than on the front page. It was soon clear that this article was based on leaked information, probably sold to the Territorial Express by someone who\u2019d seen or handled the affidavit written by the prominent citizen, and then picked up by other papers. There was no confirmation of the facts from the Nevadan rancher himself, and while his family had confirmed he was alive, their only comment was that he was away on an extended business trip.<\/p>\n

Paladin cringed as he read excerpts copied directly from the affidavit, and he began to understand why Peter had described his neighbor as being uncomfortable with himself and needing a friend. What this article told was facts. What couldn\u2019t possibly be told was the mental plague that had driven Adam Cartwright to hiding himself in San Francisco under an alias.<\/p>\n

He sighed deeply as he folded the paper to leave the story exposed, and placed it on the table where \u201cJohn Smith\u201d would see it come morning. He wasn\u2019t certain how he could help, but he was certain that the man next door had been put there for a reason. There was only a wall separating Adam Cartwright from a man who\u2019d walked through his own valley of darkness. But in that valley, he had experienced the grace of a new life. His time with a mysterious man named Smoke had brought him an undeserved second chance. It was time to do the same for another.*<\/p>\n

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

\u201cGood morning, Smith.\u201d Paladin greeted his guest as he opened the door to his suite within minutes of the mantel clock striking eight. \u201cCome in.\u201d A quick perusal of the man in the hall made the host smile. Smith was attired in a crisp white shirt and dark pants. His beard had been trimmed shorter still, and his hair was smoothed back with pomade, even though wayward strands slipped forward at will. \u201cDoes your timeliness indicate that you accepted Jackson\u2019s assistance?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s most efficient … as was Peter last night. I assume I have you to thank for them giving me a second chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

As his guest entered the room, bright with early morning sunshine, Paladin noticed a few more things about his guest. The eyes that had seemed nearly black the evening before, were actually a golden brown with shots of green and gold. The shoulders that had held the hunch of an aged man, were now pulled back, making the two of them equal in height. \u201cThere\u2019s a pot of coffee on the table. Help yourself. Our meal will arrive shortly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam caught sight of the newspaper left by his host as he reached for the cup and pot. His hand froze on the handle of the silver server.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou look good for a man who\u2019s been dead several months,\u201d Paladin said evenly when noting the reaction.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho says I\u2019m alive now.\u201d His arms, now working again, filled his cup. He blew on the hot liquid before taking a sip.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour comment is esoteric, but I\u2019ll answer. I followed the stories of the trial for the woman who was thought to have killed you, just as everyone else in the West. I suspected who you were last night, yet it didn\u2019t fit the facts until I found that article buried in the business section. It\u2019s a reprint of what was run in your hometown paper.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam eyed his host over the rim of his cup as he took another sip. \u201cWhat do you plan to do with the information? You can\u2019t think I\u2019d pay to keep my identity secret.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin laughed hard. \u201cMr. Cartwright, I assure you that everyone who works in this building knows who you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s just dandy.\u201d His posture dropped back to the hunch. \u201cI\u2019d hoped my anonymity might last a little longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou chose this hotel, as opposed to one nearer the commodities market and cattle-baron clubs where your family normally stays, so you wouldn\u2019t be recognized as easily. And you chose well. Even if you confirm your identity to the staff here, they will continue to honor your alias.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow is it you know so much about me, and I know nothing of you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve never met formally, but you and your family are often featured in the Chronicle\u2019s society and business sections, and in every other paper I read each day, including the Territorial Express. I\u2019ve also seen you at plays, concerts and restaurants here, and you come to the stock exchange.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin chuckled. \u201cThe longer hair and beard might give others pause, but my new profession makes me very observant. I recognize the tells people exhibit when they\u2019re uncomfortable. You\u2019re used to a clean shave and shorter hair, so you keep brushing those longer strands from your face, and you fiddle with your beard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to say that\u2019s nonsense, but I can\u2019t.\u201d He blew out a long breath. \u201cI could get used to having a beard, but the hair thing … drives me nuts. And the problem with using an alias is that it never sounds right. I\u2019ve ignored so many people calling me Smith that they assume I\u2019m deaf.\u201d<\/p>\n

A knock at the door broke off the laughter from Adam\u2019s comment.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake a seat Cartwright. That\u2019ll be our breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Paladin witnessed his meal companion change back into the guarded, lost man he\u2019d rescued from the billiard table, and he worried he might have pushed him to the truth too fast. After watching him stare at his plate of perfectly poached eggs, toast and bacon without applying a fork to it, he finally put his own silverware aside and leaned his elbows onto the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cCartwright!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam sat up straighter, and blinked several times to pull from his thoughts.<\/p>\n

\u201cI invited you here for breakfast, but I draw the line at feeding you.\u201d His grin produced a similar expression on his guest. \u201cAccording to that article, you\u2019ve been out of that asylum for over a month. It\u2019s clear you haven\u2019t been taking care of yourself. You\u2019re hiding out here instead of being home in the care of what I had always assumed was a very close family, and you have no life in you. I can\u2019t change what happened to you, and I assume those drugs are still causing mental and physical problems. But right now, I see a man who has to eat. So, pick up that toast, stick it into the yoke and enjoy the fine meal.\u201d<\/p>\n

A long, deep sigh was followed with compliance. \u201cI\u2019ve forgotten how satisfying food can be.\u201d After finishing both eggs and the toast, he pushed his plate aside. \u201cI\u2019m not in the mood for bacon, but maybe a pastry,\u201d he said as he picked a roll from the selection on a separate plate. After a near swooning bite and swallow, he closed his eyes and smiled. \u201cAndre is a genius!\u201d<\/p>\n

The smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared. \u201cMay I ask why you care who I am or that I haven\u2019t been eating?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone has to. I told you I can read a man\u2019s tells. Not only are you uncomfortable with your hair, you\u2019re uncomfortable in your skin. You didn\u2019t just come here to hide out. You came here to decide whether Adam Cartwright is just someone you used to know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow ….\u201d Adam\u2019s eyes flashed in anger as he sat forward and pounded his fist on the table. The anger abated as quickly as it had arisen, and he added, \u201cdo you know that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you look at me, you\u2019re seeing the person I\u2019ve become. But two years ago, I was just as confused and uncomfortable with myself as you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat … why ….\u201d<\/p>\n

“The what<\/em>, is that I\u2019ve been where you are now even though for different reasons, and I don\u2019t want you making bad decisions because you\u2019re not thinking straight. The why<\/em>, is that the world will lose a very good man if I allow you to continue down the path you\u2019re fully intending to follow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam leaned back in the chair. \u201cMaybe I don\u2019t want your help.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure you don\u2019t. But I can\u2019t not try. I owe it\u2014if not to you\u2014then to the man who helped me. Think of me as a meddlesome friend for now. As such I\u2019m going to remind you what it\u2019s like to be alive and looking towards the next hour … the next great meal \u2026 the next day … and past what\u2019s making you think there is no reason to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd how <\/em>are you going to do that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll go next door to get a coat and tie, and then we\u2019ll head to the stock market. I should tell you that my ability to stay in this hotel is based on some good investments I\u2019ve made. That include a few Virginia City silver mines you\u2019re connected with, and buildings here constructed by the Wadsworth Company. I know you and Frank Wadsworth are friends. I\u2019ve seen you two at functions and prospectus meetings for ventures you\u2019ve engineered.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrankie and I were roommates in college. I work winters with him when I can get away from the ranch.\u201d A hint of a smile grew at the edges of his lips. \u201cMight I take you to lunch later as a way of thanking you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll go to one of my favorites on the waterfront for a mid-afternoon meal\u2014which you\u2019ll pay for\u2014and get back here to change for an evening performance by Adelinia Patti1<\/sup>. She\u2019s performing a solo concert of her favorite arias and folksongs.\u201d Paladin chuckled deeply. \u201cIf listening to her doesn\u2019t touch your soul and make you feel something, then you are beyond saving, my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam pushed back from the table. \u201cWith that article posted locally, others may start making the connection too. I\u2019m not sure I\u2019m ready for the scrutiny and questioning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou and I are about the same height. We\u2019re both dark-haired, so we can pass as relatives. I\u2019ll introduce you as my cousin, John Smith, from Boston. It\u2019s a common enough name back East, and since you attended college there, you can field questions about the city.\u201d He scratched at his eyebrow before adding, \u201cI don\u2019t suppose you can mimic one of those \u2018non-rhotic\u2019 Bostonian accents to add to your disguise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam grinned. \u201cI was in Bahstan for five ye-ahs, and nevah picked up on it. I lived in a dahm on the yahd, but not even my Havahd professahs spoke that way.\u201d The grin became a laugh. \u201cSeriously, I noticed it, but never adopted it. My grandfather, who\u2019d always lived there, had a trace of something, but not the \u201cr\u201d drop. I can fake it if you\u2019re serious.\u201d<\/p>\n

A devilish look appeared in Paladin\u2019s eyes. \u201cSounds like fun. We\u2019ll see how it goes. If people look at you questioningly, I\u2019d say use it to confuse them.\u201d The twinkle continued. \u201cYou pulled that off pretty easily. Were you a member of the Hasty Pudding Society?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen time permitted. I was in the first engineering class there, and we were expected to set a high standard.\u201d Adam\u2019s eyes were drawn to the bookshelves on the side of the sitting room. \u201cFrom the titles of those tomes and the way you express yourself, I\u2019d wager you\u2019ve had a good formal education.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPrivate schools and then West Point,\u201d he verified. \u201cWe\u2019ll talk about that later. For now, get dressed and knock on my door when you\u2019re ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Will, the ranch hand in charge of the maintenance chores at the Ponderosa, had brought the Cartwright\u2019s mail from town shortly after noon. His delivery had left Ben longing to open the envelope bearing Adam\u2019s handwriting. Yet, with ranch details needing attention, he\u2019d opted to wait until he could read it without distraction. Several hours had flown by before he finally sat back in his red chair, letting the roaring fire chase the early fall chill from his bones. He slipped his finger beneath the flap, and unfolded the single sheet enclosed.<\/p>\n

Dear Pa, Hoss and Little Joe,<\/em><\/p>\n

I apologize again for my abrupt departure, and hope you understood why I had to go. To let you know; I\u2019m settled in San Francisco. <\/em><\/p>\n

Thank you for resupplying my bank accounts, Pa. Having cash again, I was able to find a comfortable place to stay and purchase everything I needed. I\u2019ve contacted Frankie to watch for your correspondence, and I will stop at his office twice a week. I\u2019ve not told him where I\u2019m staying either and the further truth is that I\u2019m using an alias to ensure some initial privacy. It amazes me that Leslie Richter was able to adapt so easily to a new name in every town. I often ignore greetings, not recognizing the name I\u2019ve chosen. \u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

As you read this, Pa, I know you\u2019re looking between the lines to assess how I\u2019m doing. I feel stronger physically. As to the rest, I admit to finding distractions that remind me of what I once enjoyed. That\u2019s a start. No one<\/em> has recognized me, but then I haven\u2019t seen any news articles about me being \u201cback from the dead\u201d either. I assume you\u2019ve been instrumental in this, although I know it won\u2019t last. Someone will tell\u2014more probably\u2014sell what they know. But I appreciate these blessed days of quiet. <\/em><\/p>\n

I will write next week, and look forward to your reply.<\/em><\/p>\n

With love,<\/em><\/p>\n

Adam<\/em><\/p>\n

Hoss strode in through the main door just as his father looked up from the letter. \u201cWhat you got there, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA note from your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan I see?\u201d He continued his progress, sitting on the hearth table to read the page his father handed him. \u201cThis seems good, from what little there is. Did you see anything between them lines, like he said you would?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben pursed his lips. \u201cYour brother never lies. But he softens things, like saying his health is improving; he\u2019s comfortable; has the things he needs and has found some diversion. What\u2019s missing is that he\u2019s made any progress towards understanding why he feels so distanced from himself\u2014the reason he gave for going. What I see between the lines is that he\u2019s struggling, and he\u2019s doing it alone. There\u2019s no buffer: no one to offer him hope or assure him that he\u2019s the same man he always was.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Adam\u2019s got ways of keeping his own company, Pa. I\u2019d bet he bought a stack of books and carries one around to read wherever he ends up. He finds company and peace in them pages. The way I see it; once he finds them first thing about himself still workin\u2019 the way they used ta, he\u2019ll get goin\u2019 on the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks for replacing what I was imagining with that image of him, Hoss.\u201d Ben folded the letter back into the envelope, laid it next to the newspaper on the table by Hoss, and pointed to the front-page banner of the Territorial Express he\u2019d gotten a few days earlier, proclaiming: Adam Cartwright Alive!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam couldn\u2019t have known about this when he wrote. With his affidavit exposed, other papers will publish it too. I\u2019d like to throttle the person who copied his report and sold it. Yet, I\u2019m glad it\u2019s out. People were becoming aware that Adam was alive, and without the facts, the speculation must have been mostly ugly gossip.\u201d He sighed long and loudly. \u201cI appreciate that Joe Goodman2<\/sup> warned me about printing that.\u201d He pointed again towards the paper. \u201cHe apologized, but said if he hadn\u2019t purchased the information, someone else would have, and they might have created a more sensational story where Adam\u2019s character was maligned. At least Goodman gave it a fair telling, and ran his own editorial warning readers to keep from making judgments about things they couldn\u2019t possibly understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded. \u201cI wonder if Adam\u2019s seen it yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

A shrug. \u201cGoodman said he contacted the Chronicle in San Francisco, giving them first rights to repost it along with their agreement to put in the business section. Whatever the case, he\u2019ll know about it soon enough.\u201d Ben\u2019s eyes narrowed. \u201cDid you hear any gossip when you were in town the other day?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 cheeks became rosy. \u201cFolks mostly feel plum awful for what Adam went through. and wonder why he didn\u2019t come home. Some speculate he must\u2019a not healed up from the gunshot and is dyin\u2019 in hospital somewhere. Others think he\u2019s left the ranch for good.\u201d His cheek pulled to the side. \u201cSome ways, I wish Adam\u2019d just come home and faced it all dead on. But the other part knows he wasn\u2019t ready to do that, and I shudder to think what might\u2019a happened if he had. I know he said not to go lookin\u2019 for him, but if we don\u2019t hear any good news soon, I\u2019m gonna search San Francisco until I find him; toss him over my shoulder if need be, and bring him home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben grinned. \u201cI don\u2019t believe this is something he can fix alone, but we\u2019ll honor his request … a little longer. Then we\u2019ll do what you suggested.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

He couldn\u2019t sleep. It was after midnight following an active day, yet sleep remained elusive. Stretching his arms behind his head, he thought back over all he\u2019d done since rising that morning. The trip to the stock exchange, lunch on the waterfront, an evening at the opera house …. The time had flown, and occasionally he\u2019d been able to ignore the underlying caution that he didn\u2019t deserve any of it. He\u2019d used the \u201cBahston\u201d accent at a few places where he\u2019d received questioning looks, convincing everyone that he was truly a visiting relative with a slight resemblance to Adam Cartwright. Those hours had left him feeling more \u201calive\u201d than he had in months.<\/p>\n

The aura of normalcy had soothed him until Miss Patti had offered a closing song: her own rendition of a number written for Jenny Lind, called, By the Sad Sea Waves<\/em>.3<\/sup> The lyrics had impaled his heart, and it had taken every ounce of his composure to keep from weeping in the theater. He\u2019d seen his companion steal several glances at him as she\u2019d sung, undoubtedly aware of the lyrics.<\/p>\n

Paladin had brought it up on their walk back to the Carlton by mentioning that he\u2019d heard Lind herself sing it in 1850 when she\u2019d toured the East Coast, before asking whether Adam had heard it before.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d quickly replied that he had, but hadn\u2019t remembered it until tonight, and then suggested they stop for a nightcap and light supper before turning in, artfully avoiding the subject during the meal.<\/p>\n

Now in the quiet dark, the elegiacal lyrics sunk their talons into his brain, unbidden, yet demanding his attention.<\/p>\n

By the sad sea-waves I listen, while they moan, a lament o’er graves of hope and pleasure gone.<\/em><\/p>\n

I am young-I was fair, I had once not a care. From the rising of the morn to the setting of the sun,<\/em><\/p>\n

I pine in my grave by the sad sea-wave.<\/em><\/p>\n

From my care, last night, by holy sleep beguiled. In the fair dream-light my home upon me smiled;<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, how sweet, ‘mid the dew, every flower that I knew, breathed a gentle welcome back to the worn and weary child.<\/em><\/p>\n

Yet I wake in my grave by the sad sea-wave.<\/em><\/p>\n

Even the chorus left its sting:<\/p>\n

Come again, bright days of hope and pleasure gone.<\/em><\/p>\n

Adam had arrived in San Francisco three weeks ago, and he hadn\u2019t slept soundly before or since. Unplanned naps and exhausted thrashing might occupy a few hours. Every dream involved waking in an open casket, sunk deep in an unfilled grave where every movement caused an avalanche of soil to fall atop him. While paralyzed in place to keep more dirt from shifting, people from his life stood above him, beckoning him to rise from his confinement, while offering no assistance. His family among them, smiled down at him, holding coiled ropes they wouldn\u2019t throw, yet encouraged his exit. He\u2019d awake, a sweating shell, certain that all he\u2019d had or been, was out of reach.<\/p>\n

He went through the motions of living, sans feeling alive. But now, as he recalled the fine soprano giving words to his emptiness, salty streams began wetting his cheeks and bedlinens, until he was exhausted with sorrow. Hope that the catharsis would finally allow sleep went unrealized, so he rose and dressed.<\/p>\n

When they\u2019d walked to the harbor for lunch earlier, they\u2019d passed by a street bearing the distinctive vinegary odor associated with smoked opium. He\u2019d also seen clientele entering and exiting the houses in various stages of need or surfeit.<\/p>\n

Slipping quietly from his room, he headed outside and gave the Hansom driver a street name before burying himself in an interior corner of the vehicle. It was a chilly night, so he\u2019d grabbed the new mustard-colored coat he\u2019d purchased to replace the one ruined by blood after Leslie had shot him. As he slid his hands into the pockets for warmth, he found a folded paper. It was Leslie\u2019s wanted poster: the one he\u2019d seen in Carson City for Jessica Hardy, asking for information as to her true identity. A half grin replaced his worn frown as an idea took shape.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

A knock at Paladin\u2019s door brought his instant reply. He never needed more than five hours of sleep, and tended to remain up until the wee hours, rather than rising early.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeter?\u201d Paladin\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cI thought you\u2019d be home by this hour.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was waiting out front for my brother-in-law to come by from his evening job. We walk home together. I saw … ah … and heard something out there I think you should know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got my attention.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou and Mr. Smith spent the day together and he seemed genuinely better this evening when I stopped in to collect his suit.\u201d Peter stalled. \u201cI\u2019m not sure I should be saying this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin smiled. \u201cYou haven\u2019t said anything yet, Peter. What did you see and hear that prompted coming to me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSir, we all saw that article in the paper, and know why Mr. Smith is in such awful shape.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s astute, Peter, but what\u2019s got you stammering and upset?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I wait for my brother, I stand off to the side where I\u2019m not seen by hotel patrons. I was in the shadows, lighting my pipe when Mr. Smith exited a few minutes ago and hired a cab. There\u2019s just enough breeze that the destination he gave the driver drifted to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI doubt you\u2019d care if he was headed for a brothel, so it\u2019s got to be somewhere you fear for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Peter nodded, and named the street. \u201cI know there are clubs and restaurants further on, but no one goes to that street at night unless they\u2019re looking for trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think our Mr. Smith is in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith every bone in my body.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Paladin rewarded Peter, and quickly tossed his smoking jacket aside to don an overcoat and shoes<\/p>\n

The observant Peter had a cab waiting when Paladin exited the hotel. The trip to Chinatown was brief and wouldn\u2019t have taken much longer walking, but parts of San Francisco that could be navigated by foot during the day, brought great danger after dark. Robbers snuck up on anyone looking like they\u2019d have cash or jewelry, and they wouldn\u2019t think twice about sinking a knife in the back of their prey to make them more cooperative. Shanghai teams were out too, looking to meet their quotas. Paladin gave thanks that Adam had the sense to take a cab.<\/p>\n

Every opium den along this stretch was known to offer the same product. It was only the quality of the setting and proprietor that varied. He saw no one on the street, and with no idea which house Adam had entered, he decided to stay put for a bit. He had a good idea what had brought his neighbor here, yet Paladin doubted he\u2019d complete his intention in one of these places. There was clearly an estrangement going on in the Cartwright family, but each time Adam had spoken of them, his expression had indicated his love and respect. This oldest son would never embarrass his father by being found dead in one of these places.4<\/sup><\/p>\n

Handing over a goodly sum to the cabbie, he requested him to remain curbside for as long as it took for the wayward Cartwright to exit. It wasn\u2019t long before a door opened two houses away from where Paladin waited in the shadow of the cab. Adam stepped out. Considering Peter\u2019s prompt report, he knew he\u2019d been correct in assessing that there\u2019d been no indulgence in a pipe at the establishment. This was upheld by Adam\u2019s unaffected gait as he moved easily down the steps and onto the walk.<\/p>\n

He waited for him to near the cab before showing himself. \u201cNeed a ride?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not far; I\u2019ll walk.\u201d Adam\u2019s tone was testy.<\/p>\n

\u201cListen, Cartwright. No one walks here without having a death wish.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho says I don\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGet inside or I\u2019ll toss you in. I\u2019m not going to let you get killed or shanghaied. Quiet neighbors are hard to come by.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two rode in silence until reaching the Carlton. The late hour meant the main desk and salon were unoccupied. Paladin tugged Adam\u2019s sleeve when he headed for the grand stairway. \u201cLet\u2019s go in here,\u201d he said, indicating the empty barroom. \u201cI\u2019ll grab a bottle and a couple glasses and square up with Jimmy tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam resigned himself to listen to the man\u2019s sermon about the evils of opium, and headed towards a table tucked into the corner under a lighted sconce. He shook his head as he considered that he\u2019d only met this man a little over 24 hours earlier. There hadn\u2019t been enough time to build trust in a normal experiential way, but he still trusted him. Paladin had no idea who he was pulling from the pool table, and had extended kindness without expectation. Even the recognition of his actual identity had been openly revealed, and no ulterior motive had emerged.<\/p>\n

Something Paladin had mentioned the night before was bumping in his mind like a banked cue ball, but he pulled his mind back to the confines of the dimly lit room when his companion cleared his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe article said you\u2019d been given heavy narcotics in that hospital over a several months,\u201d Paladin said without small talk. \u201cAre you still addicted?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam appreciated the candor, yet wondered how much he owed this man. The answer seemed to be that he might end up owing him his life. \u201cI haven\u2019t taken anything since the asylum.\u201d He pulled a small brown bottle from his inside coat pocket. \u201cMy original intent was to get this because I can\u2019t sleep.\u201d A long sigh. \u201cI\u2019m so tired.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWas it meant to make you sleep for the night … or permanently?\u201d<\/p>\n

A chuckle erupted as Adam\u2019s cheeks brightened to crimson. \u201cHow do you see into my thoughts?\u201d He shifted in his seat, sliding down until his legs were stretched fully with his hands resting on the table, still clutching the brown bottle. \u201cI spent two weeks on my own in the wilderness after getting released from the asylum, sicker\u2019n a dog the whole time. If I\u2019m correct, that was the actual drug leaving my system in sweat and agony while my body screamed for more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin nodded. \u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019ve read about opium.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA doctor told me there\u2019s a danger of the need returning. What has saved me is that I didn\u2019t want to go through that misery again, and I value clarity and reason. Opium leaves you numb and thoughtless. I still have remnants of that feeling. I\u2019m always tired, yet I can\u2019t sleep. I drift off when I want to be awake but can\u2019t fall soundly asleep when I desperately try to. \u00a0I\u2019m beginning to think the only way to escape this endless fatigue is to sleep forever.\u201d He took a long, ragged breath. \u201cI remembered seeing the dens today, and decided I\u2019d try just enough to rest. It was the one thing that I did appreciate at the hospital. It produced dreamless sleep. I\u2019d hoped that with rest I would function better. And if not, then I\u2019d finish it off and shuffle off this mortal coil. But on the way there, an idea took shape. It was the first clear thought I\u2019ve had in so long!\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin\u2019s eyebrows rose. \u201cTell me more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI found this in my pocket in the cab.\u201d He pulled the wanted poster out and handed it to his companion. \u201cJessica Hardy, the woman from my saga who was actually Leslie Richter, lied about everything. Yet some lies held bits of truth. When we first talked, she mentioned coming to Virginia City from San Francisco. Tonight, the mathematics of what happened became clear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does mathematics have to do with this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA simple equation!\u201d Adam laughed softly. \u201cYou know … two plus two equals four. When she left me at the asylum, she gave them several bottles of that drug to do me in over time. There\u2019s no place a woman could buy that in Virginia City.\u201d<\/p>\n

A nod from Paladin. \u201cThe concentration also makes it something you can\u2019t pick up at an apothecary.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe had to have purchased it before she left here. I showed her poster at the first house I went into. They directed me to a place more appropriate for an unaccompanied woman to use. The proprietress of that house recognized her picture immediately. She explained, in a mixture of English and Chinese that the woman said she couldn\u2019t sleep since her husband\u2019s death. Our cook is Chinese, so I picked up enough to know she was concerned about the large amount Leslie purchased: enough to kill a herd of charging yaks as she described it. She made her promise to take only a spoonful at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe bought the drugs … before she ever knew you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly. She got on the stage to Virginia City fully prepared to do someone harm. What\u2019s not clear is why she chose me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s obvious you struggle with that \u2018why.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

It was so unlike him, but Adam didn\u2019t hold back. \u201cWithout knowing the why, I\u2019m left doubting myself, and see only the parts of me that are unusable … defeated … cowardly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou no longer feel able to control your present or your future ….\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI always thought I could handle anything. But nothing I tried with Leslie Richter made a lick of difference. I was convinced I was dying after she shot me. But she still wasn\u2019t done with me. The only encouraging thing about that bank robbery and what followed, was that no one else got hurt. No one else valued that though. They only saw my cowardice in allowing a small woman to get the better of me.\u201d Adam took a quick breath and smiled wryly. \u201cit\u2019s best not to dwell on the past.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t\u2019 do that,\u201d his companion said pointedly.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t do what?\u201d His rising cheek pushed his brows nearly into his hairline.<\/p>\n

\u201cWipe away what happened to you like condensation from a window. All that does is push the mess around without giving you a clearer view.\u201d Paladin slumped forward onto the table; his serious thoughts evident in the tight set of his jaw. \u201cAll those things you described, Cartwright, have to be faced and understood. I\u2019m not spouting platitudes. There was a time when I felt I controlled everything too, until I was forced to face that I couldn\u2019t.\u201d The gentleman grew silent.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to hear about it. In fact, I\u2019m pretty sure I need<\/em> to hear about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin poured two glasses of bourbon. \u201cDrink up. We\u2019re both gonna need it.\u201d<\/p>\n

When both glasses were empty, Paladin sat back. \u201cI was taught humility and given a fresh start to life by a man I ended up killing. Fairly, I should add. But the story begins long before that final drawdown. I\u2019ll not mention exact dates. And even though you\u2019re smart enough to make mathematical calculations that would lead you to my real name, I\u2019d ask that you promise not to. I assume we\u2019ve both experienced people\u2019s snide questions and \u2018righteous judgments\u2019 about things they can\u2019t possibly understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam extended his hand to seal his vow. \u201cAgreed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man with the deeply clefted chin poured a refill for each of them. \u201cLiquid courage,\u201d he proclaimed as he took a swallow. \u201cUnlike your beginnings, I came from a family of means back East. My education was exceptional, and I was referred to West Point by a family friend who served in congress.5 <\/sup>West Point trained civil engineers, but I was enrolled in the first classes training officers for military assignments.\u201d He grinned at Adam. \u201cThat was fortunate since I am not mathematically inclined.6<\/sup>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMay I ask where you were stationed after graduation?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Maryland, teaching military strategy to noncommissioned officers. As talk of civil war increased, so did our efforts. We soon realized our troops were ill-prepared for combat against an army of rebels. After experiencing mass casualties at Bull Run, I was recommissioned to train the influx of callow recruits to the Union army. We no longer taught close-order maneuvers or parading. We trained soldiers in hand-to-hand combat and field awareness. Eventually I led these trainees into battle.<\/p>\n

Paladin took a breath, and a sip. \u201cAt that point, we still lacked solid intelligence about the movements of rebel troops. My division was ambushed in a canon attack that decimated us. I was up front with my men when the first shots hit. I suffered a severe concussion and facial lacerations that laid me up for weeks: first in a coma, followed by debilitating bouts of dizziness, nausea and ringing ears. In that time, I found myself stuck in unending circular reflection, much like what you\u2019re doing now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat bothered you the most?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy men\u2014the ones who weren\u2019t instantly killed\u2014lost limbs or died later with infections from their wounds. I didn\u2019t understand why I should live when those I\u2019d led had perished. I wondered what I\u2019d missed; what I\u2019d failed to see that allowed me to lead them into a trap. But the why had nothing to do with me. One of the Rebel informants, someone above me in rank had paid for information, lied for the sole intent of causing Union casualties. In the end, I was cited for bravery, when despite being injured, I apparently led my men to safety and went back to retrieve others who couldn\u2019t walk. I say apparently because I don\u2019t remember any of that.\u00a0 In the dark hours of recouperation, I concluded that a real display of courage would have been for me to die with my men. When I was well enough to leave the hospital, I was discharged from service.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDischarged?\u201d<\/p>\n

A low chuckle. \u201cMy face resembled Steak Tartar for some time. Shrapnel continued to work its way out, causing infections just below the skin, until it would finally pop out.\u201d Another chuckle, humorous this time. \u201cOddly, the scarring seems quite attractive to the fairer sex now. But I was discharged because I remained dizzy, unable to sit a horse without vomiting or sliding off. I felt like I was on the deck of a listing ship.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHunh. That description sounds familiar. I\u2019m pretty sure I used the same analogy as I recovered from the drugs. How\u2019d you end up in California?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAsking myself why it happened turned into asking why I\u2019d been spared when men better, with more to live for, hadn\u2019t. I became wild, jousting with the darker parts of life, with the expectation that life would win, and I\u2019d be out of my misery.\u201d Paladin\u2019s expression became contemplative. \u201cSmoke saw that in me. It\u2019s why he called me Paladin. He knew I was a dark knight, participating in a deadly contest for which I had no preparation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho, or what, is smoke?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPatience, Adam, I\u2019ll get there in a minute. Following the discharge, my<\/em> death wish allowed me to function with no discretion. I drank too much, gambled too much, and embarrassed my family. Their initial attempts to comfort and help, turned quickly to judgments when I could neither explain why I was acting as I was, nor affect a change. They requested I leave. I agreed. Despite the dissolution, they were still generous in providing living expenses, as long as I lived far away. I headed west. The relocation made no difference. The bad behavior intensified when I no longer had to worry about its effect. I am a good poker player, but when I got here, I was driven to it.\u201d He met Adam\u2019s gaze. \u201cNever play poker when you have nothing to lose. The game shows no mercy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam gave a slight nod to confirm his understanding. This man across from him might be revealing a different story than what Adam had experienced, but it was abundantly clear that Paladin once fought a battle against himself, intending to lose. He leaned forward. \u201cPlease, go on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI played a high-stakes game in this very hotel one night and ended up so far in debt, the only way out was to accept a job from the man I owed. He sent me to fight a man named Smoke. I was told this man was keeping a town hostage from my debt holder. My job was to push Smoke into a gunfight and kill him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I wasn\u2019t expecting that!\u201d Adam said with a grin. \u201cWere you good with a gun?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot then. When I arrived at Smoke\u2019s domain in my citified clothes and military pistol, the man I\u2019d been sent to kill knew it too.\u201d Paladin sighed. \u201cHere\u2019s the thing. Despite his knowing how ill-prepared I was, and that he could have gunned me down instantly, he corralled me and taught me how to draw fast. More importantly, he taught other lessons about motives, gallantry and being prepared to listen before acting. He wanted me to know that not everyone spoke the truth even when the story seemed valid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe sounds interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cInteresting? Yes, but he confused me greatly. With no way out, I began to listen and practice. He called me Paladin, and like I mentioned, he knew I was facing myself as surely as I was about to face him in that deadly battle.\u00a0 He wanted me to have a fighting chance\u2014against both of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou must have drawn faster since you\u2019re still here.\u201d<\/p>\n

A long nod. \u201cMy military experience made me a good shot. Smoke was surprised by how well I aimed once he helped me with the draw.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe doesn\u2019t fit the description you were given of him being an ogre.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly. The most valuable lesson he gave me, was to seek truth … always, even when it\u2019s inconvenient. It\u2019s not always obvious. Turned out Smoke wasn\u2019t holding that town captive. He was protecting those people from the man I owed. I would feel worse about Smoke\u2019s demise, but I found out he was dying f consumption. Maybe he wanted to do one last redeeming thing before he died; maybe he was just a very good man. Chances are it was both. He sensed that I wasn\u2019t a killer by choice, and he used his last days to help me become a discerning and decent man. I started my \u2018consulting\u2019 business after that encounter because Smoke set me on a noble pursuit instead of living in a grave of pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, part of your purpose is to help me as Smoke helped you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe. I won\u2019t challenge you to a gunfight, but I can help you face the demon keeping you up at night and whispering in your ear that you\u2019d be better off dead. What Smoke taught me is that sometimes there\u2019s absolutely nothing you could have done differently. Bad things happen to us even when we\u2019re doing our darndest to be decent people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s eyes went even darker in the dim lighting. \u201cYou\u2019ve known me for two days, and you think you can fix me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNope. You have to fix yourself. What I can offer is a path: a training ground. That\u2019s what Smoke offered me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The dark expression remained, but the set of his jaw relaxed. \u201cI\u2019m already good and fast with a pistol, so you can\u2019t help me with that. So, what do you suggest I do to find my answers?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe find<\/em> the woman on this poster, and bring her in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe?\u201d He received a nod. \u201cHow do \u2018we\u2019 do what the US Marshals can\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been investigating long enough to know that law enforcement only \u201cfollows.\u201d When the obvious tracks run out, they wait for clues. We\u2019ll review the time you spent with her and ferret out the commonalities of her methods. Then we search for clues rather than wait for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin waited for Adam\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cAm I hiring you?\u201d Adam\u2019s darkness was being replaced with growing interest.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll take any cash reward; your reward will be answers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The idea made sense, and his decision was simple. \u201cWhen do we start?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cI\u2019ll get it,\u201d Hoss told his family as he rose from the breakfast table to answer a knock at the front door. \u201cI\u2019m done anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

He dug in his pocket for a folded dollar when he found Cal, the courier used by the Western Union office to deliver telegrams to outlying areas.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s from San Francisco,\u201d Cal explained. \u201cThought Ben\u2019d want it fast.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Cal.\u201d Hoss handed over the bill, and closed the door as the courier left the yard as quickly as he\u2019d come. He held it up as he approached the table. \u201cWonder if it\u2019s from Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s pocket knife was at the ready by the time Hoss handed him the small envelope. He nodded as he slit the seal and read the short message. \u201cAdam\u2019s leaving the city for an undetermined time. He promises to wire when he gets the chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAny reason for leaving?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but he says he\u2019s doing better, and not to worry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you will,\u201d Hoss said with a chuckle.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my right to worry,\u201d Ben reminded his middle son before reading the telegram again. Movement … action … for his eldest was a very good sign. Adam was not a person who thrived on endless contemplation or rumination. Something had spurred him towards progress, and he offered his thanks before mentally ticking off the possibilities for his son leaving his \u201ccomfortable\u201d place in the bay city. The one making most sense, was that he was going into battle against the enemy that had wounded him. Ben wanted to celebrate that decision, yet a cloud of worry gathered above him. If … if Adam had decided to find Leslie Richter; he would now pursue her to Hell\u2019s gate.<\/p>\n

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

The two men who\u2019d made their wee-hours decision to find Leslie Richter, rose after a few hours of sleep and moved ahead with gathering information. A stop at the Marshals office in San Francisco brought some news, but no insight.<\/p>\n

The man in charge revealed that their best trackers had arrived in Carson City two days after Leslie\u2019s escape. They\u2019d still been able to pick up helter-skelter prints leading from the camp where the two women had joined others, and followed some of them to the Double K horse ranch southeast of Carson.<\/p>\n

The trail ended there. The gang had arrived quietly in the night and released a large herd of horses from the corral. They weren\u2019t stampeded, just led out the open gate, with the gang\u2019s animals intermingling with the herd. Had they been wild horses, it might have been different. But this group had been sold to the Cavalry, with the stipulation that they be broken and shod for pickup. Neither the shoes of the gang nor those of the herd bore distinguishing markings, leaving the marshals with too many trails to follow\u2014like finding a certain bent piece of straw in a bale.<\/p>\n

They\u2019d concluded the most likely culprit in the escape was Belle Starr, Leslie\u2019s boarding school roommate. The bad news was there was no evidence that her gang had ever come this far west, and there were no wanted posters on them in Arizona or Nevada. No one in Carson reported seeing a group of strangers in town or even a woman on horseback.<\/p>\n

For now, the marshals were watching the Starr home in Missouri, even though there\u2019d been nothing to implicate them so far.<\/p>\n

Paladin had been right about a reward. Offering $3000 for her capture would encourage actual bounty hunters to find her, and in their case, it would help with expenses and money they\u2019d spend loosening tongues and memories. \u00a0Before leaving, Adam asked for a few of the updated wanted posters bearing Leslie\u2019s image: the only assistance the marshals could offer.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Paladin had other matters to attend to during the afternoon, but over dinner in Adam\u2019s room that evening, they dissected Adam\u2019s experience with Leslie. He\u2019d dreaded this moment, yet as he spoke, a heavy weight began rising from his shoulders, and the boulder in his gut that had limited his ability to eat, shifted and ground into stones that could finally be digested.<\/p>\n

Paladin rubbed his chin when his host finished. \u201cWhat an unredeemably horrible woman. That couldn\u2019t have ended any other way unless you\u2019d managed to kill her.\u201d He took a long breath. \u201cHowever, you said a number of interesting things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSuch as?\u201d Adam asked as he leaned forward expectantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis woman works alone. She may have spent time with people who formed gangs, but she went out on her own, apparently by choice not conflict, since she was able to ask them for help.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI agree.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe robbed banks at will with a … uh … creative approach that she honed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam chuckled. \u201cThe word you\u2019re searching for is devious. I believe all her acting, costuming and scene setting was meant for diversion as much as disguise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo more traits are her fearlessness and lack of remorse,\u201d Paladin continued. \u201cImagine the gall it took to charm the people in those towns, manipulating them until she got the information she required to take their savings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another nod. \u201cSo, what changed when she got to Virginia City?\u201d Adam pondered quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe hadn\u2019t changed her methods since starting out. Maybe the small heists no longer excited her. A bank in Virginia City would have more cash available, but it wouldn\u2019t be so well-guarded as a bank in a San Francisco. Even with one guard or two employees, she\u2019d have found it hard to keep them in line without having some sort of guarantee that they\u2019d tread carefully. You filled that requirement. By the time you picked her up that day, she knew exactly who you were and that you\u2019d get great respect.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoesn\u2019t her wanting me to come with her afterwards negate her need to work alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Cartwright; you must know by now that you were never leaving that farm on your own two feet. She had that elixir and your gun.\u201d Paladin laughed loudly as a thought shot through his mind. \u201cShe might have picked you because you were the first man she saw in Virginia City. Or … maybe she figured if she was taking a hostage, he might as well be good looking and important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s grimace at his friend\u2019s conclusion turned into a grin. \u201cMaybe she did say something to that fact. But back to business. As a loner, what would she have done once that gang got her out of Carson City?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTake off cross-country on her own?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnlikely.\u201d Adam chewed his bottom lip. \u201cI saw her disgust over the dirty conditions in that farmhouse. She couldn\u2019t sit in the chair until she\u2019d spread the picnic blanket over it. A woman with no stomach for dust and cobwebs would never tend a horse or camp in the wild.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin drummed his fingers on the table. \u201cThose early robberies followed stage routes?\u201d Adam nodded. \u201cThe Marshal Service gave no indication they considered that in their pursuit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s eyes widened as he smiled. \u201cThey wouldn\u2019t think anyone brazen enough to take a stage out of town after a prison escape. But that\u2019s where knowing her pays dividends. I know she\u2019s brazen, and feels superior to anyone she considers beneath her … and everyone<\/em> is beneath her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a starting point!\u201d Paladin concluded as he landed his hand on the table with enough force to make the china bounce.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The detective team of Cartwright and Paladin took an after-dinner walk to the Overland office to pick up schedules for stage routes with stops near Carson City.\u00a0 While Adam was familiar with those going to and from the coast, he wasn\u2019t sure about the southbound routes. Trips to southern California or Arizona were usually for stock purchases and made on horseback.<\/p>\n

Taking the same table in the bar as the previous night, they sipped brandy while deciding on the most likely place Leslie would have boarded the stage. It was a small settlement called Gardnerville, about 10 miles west of the Double K ranch where the gang\u2019s tracks had ended. A southbound stage boarded there would reach other route hubs within hours.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin sat back, hooking his thumbs in the pockets of his vest. \u201cWell done, Mr. Smith.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Adam had fallen asleep fast; slept well enough for a few hours, and was up early, eager to get started. He had a purpose, a plan and a partner in crime. It felt amazing.<\/p>\n

They\u2019d found a stage to Sacramento with a connection to Placerville and finally Gardnerville, leaving at noon. \u00a0While Paladin went to purchase the tickets, Adam sent a note to Frankie\u2019s office explaining his absence. He\u2019d notified his family of his departure last night when he\u2019d committed to the chase, but today he had three further errands; the first to have his beard shaved and have his hair cut; then to the gunsmith for the new pistol and gun belt to replace the older items he\u2019d taken from home, and finally he\u2019d picked up the custom shirts he\u2019d had made to fit his longer arms and torso.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

As their time to departure neared, Adam slipped into a new black shirt, and packed a few changes of clothes into his valise. The trip by stage would be quicker than going horseback, but the unending hours of confinement required diversion. To fill the time, he also packed books he\u2019d purchased, the latest newspapers from the stand in the hotel lobby, and a drawing pad to go with the soft-leaded pencils and Leslie\u2019s wanted posters.<\/p>\n

Satisfied that he was ready, Adam grabbed his things and headed next door.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cDear lord,\u201d Paladin groaned after giving Adam a once-over at the door. \u201cWe\u2019re twins.\u201d He grabbed Adam\u2019s arm, pulling him inside. \u201cWhy are you dressed like that!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve dressed like this for several years,\u201d Adam croaked. \u201cBlack lets you shake the dust off your clothes and they still look all right when you don\u2019t have clean ones.\u201d He gave the other man a head-to-toe perusal. \u201cWhy are you dressed in black?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re my work clothes. Listen, Cartwright, you need to change. Our shirts are a little different, but people won\u2019t take us seriously if we\u2019re dressed like twins.\u201d<\/p>\n

A sly grin turned the corners of Adam\u2019s mouth. \u201cYou\u2019ve only been doing this work for a year. I\u2019ve dressed this way for at least three. I\u2019ve got seniority.\u201d He intended to tease his new friend more, but he noticed a haunted look cloud the other man\u2019s eyes. A quick recall of all they\u2019d discussed over the last three days, provided the answer. \u201cThis,\u201d he gestured to Paladin\u2019s clothing, \u201chas something to do with the man who saved you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe dressed similarly, and it fits with being a black knight. That doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019m on the side of evil; it lets people know I\u2019m not going to charge into a situation until I know the truth.\u201d He grinned wryly. \u201cIn some ways I\u2019m like the woman we\u2019re about to chase. I wear a costume, play a part and adjust my role to fit the situation. But in my case, it\u2019s to create truth and help not hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got a couple other shirts I can wear,\u201d Adam called back as he walked to his room. \u201cGive me a minute to repack.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

After being stuck in various forms of constriction within the stage for three days, Paladin and Adam were the only passengers on the final leg to Gardnerville. They\u2019d arranged to spend the night there, knowing the necessity of a decent sleep before pursuing Leslie further. They also thought it best not to rush through questioning the station attendant either. To ensure this, they\u2019d wired the station manager in Gardnerville of their need for rooms and his time.<\/p>\n

With the blessed solitude and space inside the coach, the two had spread out, reviewing their line of questioning to make the best use of this first stop in figuring out Leslie\u2019s movements. If the station manager couldn\u2019t confirm her departure, he might help them determine the next most likely place she might have gone. With this settled, they\u2019d each pulled out a book and read.<\/p>\n

Paladin\u2019s attention was drawn outside as the stage passed a sign noting their entrance into Nevada. He nudged Adam\u2019s foot with his. \u201cIs your ranch near here? I\u2019ve read that it\u2019s east of Lake Tahoe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s north of here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow far north?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam chuckled. \u201cAs far as you can see, and then a lot more after that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin laughed. \u201cThat\u2019s a lot of land.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pa sets it at a thousand square miles.\u201d<\/p>\n

His left eye slipped shut as he made the mental calculation. \u201cYou\u2019re talking well over 600,000 acres!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour math skills are better than you claim,\u201d Adam said with a lingering grin.<\/p>\n

\u201cBack East, people are rich from family fortunes made over generations. No one has land like this.\u201d Paladin took another long look out the window. \u201cWhy don\u2019t I see cattle grazing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the wrong time of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCattle have \u2018times of year\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam angled himself into the corner of the coach. \u201cDo you really want a lesson in cattle ranching?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019d pass the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t blame me when your eyes glaze over and you\u2019re forcing yourself to stay awake out of politeness.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not that polite.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right then. Our house sits in the Sierra foothills. But the terrain around here varies greatly as does the weather. It takes a few days to ride the entirety of the Ponderosa, and often no two days would feel the same. Being set high, we have snowy winters. Come spring we\u2019re lush with rain and snowmelt, but summer can bring long, hot, dry spells, and near desert conditions on the flats. Where we graze cattle depends on the time of year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo when would I see them here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSpring, when rain greens this grass. But once it\u2019s warmer, they have to go higher where snow melt keeps the grass in good shape for summer.\u00a0 They\u2019ll get moved to keep them eating well, and to maintain good pasture by not overusing them. By fall, we\u2019ll sell about half of them. The young steers need another year to grow, and of course we breed cows and heifers to replenish the herd come spring.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin grimaced as he angled himself in the opposite direction of his companion. \u201cSounds like a lot of work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s only the cattle. We do timbering, some farming and there\u2019s always equipment needing upkeep or repair. It\u2019s all part of being a Cartwright. When we settled here, Pa ran trap lines up along streams in the hill country, selling the pelts and using any extra to buy land and his first steers. He\u2019s always maintained that working towards a dream makes the load easier.\u201d Adam sighed and shook his head. \u201cEach one of us still does whatever needs to be done, but success has allowed the hiring of many ranch hands to help. Pa hired a cook several years ago too. Hop Sing runs a tight ship and he\u2019s provided us with an orderly, peaceful home with fine meals. Without him, our family would never have come so far.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m exhausted just listening.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam leaned his head back in the corner and covered his face with his hat. \u201cI\u2019m exhausted just talking about it. I think I\u2019ll conserve my strength for a few minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

It was late afternoon when the stage pulled into Gardnerville. The two tall men were grateful they\u2019d have the night to stretch out and gather information. They\u2019d received a telegram at a previous stop confirming that the boarding house was holding two rooms for the night. The straw ticking at such places was often flat or lumpy, but it still beat an uncomfortable, often bug infested stuffed chair or hard wooden bunk considered beds in a way station.<\/p>\n

Ralph Sinclair opened the stage door after placing the step. \u201cHowdy gentlemen,\u201d he greeted them, flashing a broad smile. \u201cMight you be the ones who wired ahead about talkin\u2019 to me and staying over?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s us,\u201d Adam answered as he jumped to the ground and reached up to grab his bag from the driver.<\/p>\n

\u201cI gotta change out his team, get the driver fed, and load some freight before I can talk. Why don\u2019t you mosey over to the boardin\u2019 house. Milly\u2019s waitin\u2019 supper on you, and she puts out a good meal. We\u2019ll talk when you get back.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The station manager held Leslie Richter\u2019s wanted poster closer to the lamp on the kitchen table, and gave a quick look back to the cupboard where his wife was washing dishes. When he returned his attention to his guests, he winked. \u201cNot that I care a lick about how pretty another woman is when my Sally is a beauty inside and out, but I\u2019d recall someone this nice looking showing up to catch the stage. Locals come in for supplies; Sally does sewing for prid\u2019near everyone and I do blacksmithing. We know those people. A stranger ticketing here\u2014particularly a woman\u2014would\u2019a been memorable.\u201d He bent in for a closer inspection. \u201cYou say it was a month or so back?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cWhen that woman escaped from the state prison in Carson City.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do recall readin\u2019 on that. Some lawmen came around back then, askin\u2019 if we\u2019d seen any strangers ride through or stop for supplies. We hadn\u2019t. We asked around at the store and they hadn\u2019t either.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid a stranger–woman or man\u2014take a stage since then?\u201d Paladin asked. He looked towards Adam. \u201cIt\u2019s possible she laid low a few days before leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ralph\u2019s cheeks took on the wrinkled look of a spoiling melon. \u201cThere was a ranch hand from the Double K who left then. Said he\u2019d got word his ma was sick down in Arizona. I told them lawmen about him, but they figured he was all right since he\u2019d left his horse with me and paid the livery for the three weeks he\u2019d be gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ralph\u2019s wife wiped her hands on her apron as she looked over her husband\u2019s shoulder at the poster. \u201cYou say this gal\u2019s about my height and slight built?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right. Something those other lawmen might not have considered is that she\u2019s adept at using disguises,\u201d Adam revealed. \u201cIs something coming to mind?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ralph shook his head, but his wife took the fourth chair, and pulled the poster closer. \u201cSomething struck me odd about that ranch hand.\u201d She nudged her husband\u2019s arm. \u201cTell them about that horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

The expression on the station manager\u2019s face became wary. \u201cI understand the lawmen comin\u2019 round, but what\u2019s yer stake in this? This poster says there\u2019s a bounty. Is that what you\u2019re after?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sally touched her husband\u2019s arm. \u201cThis is Adam Cartwright<\/em>, Ralph. The Cartwrights own the Ponderosa up north of here. He\u2019s the man that woman was in prison for killing.\u201d She glanced over at Adam. \u201cI saw the article about what really happened to you. Such evil in a woman! I can see why you want to find her and get her back to prison.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe marshals are no longer searching for her, but Mr. Paladin and I are following our own theory of how she got away. I will happily offer a generous reward for your information.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re our neighbor, Mr. Cartwright. We don\u2019t take kindly to people hurtin\u2019 our neighbors,\u201d Ralph said solemnly. \u201cWe\u2019ll help any way we can, and you won\u2019t owe us nothin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

The lamp light reflected in Ralph\u2019s eyes. \u201cThat ranch hand who left from here was short, but hefty around his gut. He had chin-length, scraggly hair and a fuzzy beard.\u201d He looked towards his wife as his cheek drew upwards. \u201cIs it possible it was this woman in a costume?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam pulled a blank sheet of paper and a pencil from his folder, and did a quick sketch of just Leslie\u2019s facial features. \u201cDescribe this man again, and I\u2019ll add it in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Within minutes, the rough image of the small ranch hand appeared on Adam\u2019s paper.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s him! Or, I guess it\u2019s her!\u201d Ralph shouted. \u201cIt helps explains a few things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike what?\u201d Paladin asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike his tale of working at the Double K. Said his name was …\u201d Ralph looked at his wife.<\/p>\n

\u201cReno Adams,\u201d she supplied.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right! When his payment for the livery ran out, I asked a couple of Double K hands in town to take the horse back with them. Sally and me thought this Reno had ended up staying longer with his ma. They said the horse didn\u2019t belong to anyone at the ranch and no Reno had ever worked there.\u201d Ralph shook his head. \u201cDidn\u2019t know what to make of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething bothered me about that guy from the beginning,\u201d Sally offered. \u201cHe kept his gloves on when he was trying to get money out of his pockets to pay the livery and ticket fees, even when they kept catching on the fabric, making it near impossible to fish the coins out. Another thing I couldn\u2019t fathom; the guy\u2019s big belly moved upwards when he bent down to grab his stuff, pushing his shirt up at the shoulder. It gave me the creeping willies, but It makes sense if it was padding tied to her middle that was shifting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked over at his fellow investigator. \u201cI think Sally would make a good detective.\u201d The smile he gave the station manager\u2019s wife was filled with respect. \u201cNot many people pay attention to details.\u201d Turning again to Paladin. \u201cSo, was Reno Adams, Leslie Righter?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt fits. She referenced the Double-K because she knew of it from the gambit the gang used.\u201d He took a moment to fill the Sinclairs in on what they suspected about Leslie\u2019s rescue and subsequent actions. \u201cIf Belle Starr\u2019s gang was behind this, she knew how Leslie worked and probably provided the disguises she needed to get away on her own while they headed home, denying any involvement.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ralph hung his head. \u201cIf I\u2019d\u2019a thought more about that guy, the law might\u2019a caught her right off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were only looking for a woman or the gang,\u201d Adam told him. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t until this Reno failed to return that you began to wonder about him. It took time for that to happen, and now we can follow her forward to where she ended up. Being a month behind is good because she\u2019ll have let her guard down, thinking she got away clean.\u201d Adam pulled a stage schedule from his folder. \u201cWe\u2019ll need to know which stage she took from here. Chances are she changed her disguise at some point and booked onto a different route, so we\u2019ll appreciate your thoughts on where that would be possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The Paladin, Cartwright team spent a few minutes at the dining room table of the boarding house laying out their new plans before heading to bed. The stage Leslie had taken was due in Gardnerville in the morning, and they\u2019d booked passage. Coleville was the next stop: a place Ralph had described as in the middle of nowhere. The most likely station for a change of route and disguise would be Sonora Junction, a small community serving as a hub for routes heading in every direction. It was also a place a stranger could board without raising an eyebrow, since it served a wide area.\u00a0 She could easily leave as a cowboy and board a different stage later wearing a new disguise.<\/p>\n

Adam smiled as he settled into the remarkably comfortable boarding house bed. The expression actually hurt, and he realized his facial muscles hadn\u2019t been forced into this position in some time. His lashes drifted down to rest on his cheeks as his body drifted towards sleep. This simple act of releasing consciousness was another thing that had started to return since his decision to do this. It was a dichotomy that puzzled him. \u00a0Facing that he had to find Leslie made him feel more \u201cawake\u201d and spurred from his malaise than he had in months, yet the focus allowed his mind to shut itself down instead of swirling in constant introspection. Whatever was happening; he gratefully accepted it.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The on-time stage out of Gardnerville brought them to Sonora Junction by mid-afternoon. Ralph had wired ahead alerting Louie, the manager there, to expect the men and their questions.<\/p>\n

Louie laughed while recounting his memory of catching the rotund cowhand when he\u2019d nearly fallen from the coach on exiting. \u201cHis big belly made him front-heavy and he shot forward when his short legs didn\u2019t reach the step. I stiffened up when I grabbed him, expecting his weight to knock me back some, but he was light as a feather, and his belly felt … fluffy.\u201d He laughed again and shook his head, \u201cOnce he was upright on the ground, he started telling me how he would be leaving as soon as he rented a horse to get to his ma\u2019s house.\u201d Louie\u2019s expression turned sour. \u201cMost passengers don\u2019t say much, and that\u2019s the way I like it. Keeps things moving. But now and then someone gives us their life story.\u201d<\/p>\n

As they\u2019d expected, Louie reported that a short, slightly chubby blond woman arrived the next morning, and caught the west bound stage to Sonora, California. \u201cI don\u2019t pay no mind to where the passengers go after they leave the stage or how they get here to take it. Ain\u2019t my business, but thinkin\u2019 on it, I should\u2019a made a connection when this woman started talking my ear off about arriving some months ago by wagon train to visit her sister, and how she was heading to Los Angeles to take a ship home. She was purdy enough, so I didn\u2019t mind her being around.\u201d Louie shivered visibly. \u201cYou\u2019re saying she\u2019s a stone-cold criminal? Who\u2019d a thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

With minimal adjustments to the face on the wanted poster, Louie confirmed Leslie as the chubby blond. In this iteration, she\u2019d used some waistline padding, the wig and a hat with lightweight facial netting to further disguise herself.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The detective team took the stage Leslie had booked, going northwest to Sonora, another hub. \u00a0The manager there reported that the chubby blond hadn\u2019t connected towards southern California; she\u2019d purchased a ticket for Stockton. Leslie hadn\u2019t altered her disguise there, only the story she told the ticket agent.<\/p>\n

It was astounding for both men to confront Leslie\u2019s fearless adaptability. They weren\u2019t sure why she constructed these elaborate recitals to explain her travel and destinations. Adam concluded she did it because she enjoyed performing and got a sick pleasure out of drawing people to her \u201cplight.\u201d So far, and despite their admissions that her chatter had been a distracting irritant, Ralph, Louie and the Senora manager all admitted to believing her story and making an extra effort to wish him … and her … well before the stage pulled away.<\/p>\n

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

The final piece to the Leslie Richter puzzle was put in place at the Stockton station.<\/p>\n

The blond had left the stage in Stockton after gushing heartfelt thanks and goodbyes to her drivers and fellow passengers, asking them to pray for her as she assumed her new position as housekeeper for a widower in the area.<\/p>\n

The next day, a petite older woman, so arthritic she\u2019d needed to be lifted up to the coach, had purchased a ticket … to San Francisco. The ticket agent thought she was gray-haired, but she wore a dark veil pinned to her hat so it was difficult to see much. But the general description had matched too closely to be anyone but Leslie. \u201cI swore she was old,\u201d the agent told the duo. \u201cHer voice was so reedy and soft, I nearly had to put my ear next to her lips to hear her request.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The two men had a good laugh over their circuitous chase, and spent the night in Stockton when the San Francisco stage arrived late, and a light fog precluded it from traveling further.<\/p>\n

It was at a Stockton saloon where Adam learned a little more about Paladin. Four hands from the Barclay operation recognized the detective and came to the table to say hello. The greeting turned to teasing him about his timing being bad, since payday wasn\u2019t until the following week.<\/p>\n

They noted Adam\u2019s questioning look, and explained how Mr. Paladin had been in town a few weeks earlier and relieved them of some of their wages. Neither a trace of animosity nor accusation was present in the description of their loss.<\/p>\n

The most vocal of them shuffled his feet a bit before removing his hat and holding it to his chest. \u201cI just want ta tell Mr. Paladin that I remembered what he taught us about playin\u2019 poker after his games with us. I followed everything he said when we played in the bunk house. I won!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGlad to hear,\u201d Paladin offered with a pat to the man\u2019s arm. \u201cYou might not always win, but you won\u2019t lose as much if you pay attention and stay sober.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was that about,\u201d Adam asked after the foursome moved to the bar.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy stage was delayed here the day before I got back to San Francisco and met you. Winning against those men came too easily, so after I took a few hands to pay for my drinks and dinner, I stopped the game and gave them a lesson in why they\u2019d lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve done the same thing when the local cowhands and miners play badly,\u201d Adam admitted. \u201cThey come to town already tired from work and head straight to the bar. By the time they sit to play poker, they\u2019re mostly drunk and half asleep, putting them at the mercy of any sharp intent on mining the silver in their pockets. I don\u2019t enjoy winning like that either, and after taking a little of their money to teach them a lesson, I\u2019ll explain how they put themselves in the position to lose everything when they play in that condition.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you feel like a dog chasing its tail?\u201d Paladin asked when they started up the steps to their rooms at the Stockton Hotel that evening.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes and no. Going back to a place she\u2019s been before is gutsier than I figured she\u2019d be. Then again, San Francisco is big enough and the law is looking for her in Missouri. She can hide just fine as long as she stays out of trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin leaned against the stair rail. \u201cStaying out of trouble is the problem. She\u2019s probably planning something as we speak.\u201d His head tipped as he examined his companion. \u201cYou\u2019ve come a long way since I found you sleeping on the pool table, Cartwright, but there\u2019s something you still have to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s left upper lip curled. \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n

They continued up the steps. \u201cI\u2019m not making a judgment, because I\u2019ve gone through family troubles too,\u201d Paladin offered. \u201cBut my<\/em> behavior caused my family to ask me to leave. You told me you walked away from yours because you <\/em>felt you\u2019d<\/em> disappointed them. Big difference. I\u2019ve seen the scales fall from your eyes during this trip and you\u2019re back among the living with a new understanding of the deadly viper known as Miss Richter. Are you in the frame of mind now to give you family another chance?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s response was snappish. \u201cWhat does that have to do with finding Leslie?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSan Francisco is a big place, Cartwright. We need help. Another three people ought to do it.\u201d Paladin watched for his companion\u2019s reaction. It showed up as a wry grin.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Cartwrights always accomplish more working <\/em>together than we do trying to talk things out. I\u2019ll wire them to meet us at the Carlton as soon as they can get there.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

There\u2019d been no embraces offered when Adam welcomed his family into his suite at the Carlton. But the greetings had come with an ease absent at Dr. Oleson\u2019s office in Carson City.<\/p>\n

Adam noted his family\u2019s genuine curiosity about the well-dressed, amiable, mysterious man he\u2019d introduced. It had taken nearly two hours to catch up on the goings on from the ranch, and then for the detective duo to explain their circular efforts in tracking Leslie to San Francisco.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy d\u2019you suppose she came back here, Adam?\u201d Hoss asked. \u201cSeems like she\u2019d a been better off high-tailin\u2019 it far away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe has mannerisms and the looks to blend into a bigger place, whereas she\u2019d eventually stick out like a sore thumb in small town,\u201d Adam explained. \u201cI suppose San Francisco was the closest destination where she\u2019d feel confident hiding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you suppose she\u2019s paying for things?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe may have gotten money from the woman who abetted her escape, or …\u201d Adam laughed while shaking his head. \u201cI read recently about a fast-thinking bank agent and a preacher who thwarted a robbery by pinning a large shipment of money into the petticoats of the dancing girls they were transporting on the stage along with the strong box. Maybe Leslie has money stashed the same way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere and when do we start looking?\u201d Ben cut in. \u201cI\u2019m anxious to catch her before she gets wind that we\u2019re looking and disappears again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin and Adam had already divided the nicer San Francisco hotels into five lists.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll start on these tomorrow, with scheduled meet-ups for updates,\u201d Adam told them while distributing the lists. \u201cNo one will take her on alone!\u201d He stood wide-legged with his fists on his hips, looking much like his father did when taking charge. His line of sight rested on his youngest brother. \u201cI\u2019m dead serious about this. She\u2019s as slippery as an eel and venomous as cobra. She can slip away from one of us, but she won\u2019t get away from all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat should<\/em> we do if we see her?\u201d Joe asked. \u201cIt\u2019d be a shame to let her get away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFollow her,\u201d Paladin supplied. \u201cBut at a distance. Adam has told you that he found a place that sold her the opium elixir she used on him, and that she\u2019s been back for more. Remember, she shot Adam without a blink, and she knows this drug is deadly. If anyone takes her alone, she\u2019ll shoot for the heart or make sure to administer a fatal dose.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben rubbed his chin thoughtfully. \u201cMaybe we should turn your information over to the Marshal Service, and let them handle it. You\u2019ve always advocated using lawful authority, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin shot Adam a look indicating he would answer. \u201cMy line of work is investigating. Often times I\u2019m following up on cases where the law made initial efforts but stopped when they hit dead ends or had to handle more pressing matters. That\u2019s what\u2019s happened here. They\u2019ve stopped looking for her in favor of watching the Starrs in Missouri, hoping for a connection.\u201d He looked again towards Adam. \u201cWe\u2019ll alert the law once we have her located. The footwork is up to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s expression remained unconvinced. \u201cI\u2019d still prefer working within the law.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a bounty on her now,\u201d Adam reminded his father. \u201cThat allows us to apprehend her on our own. Bringing others in at this time could result in a blunder that would spook her. We\u2019ll quickly and quietly spread a big net over the city.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s small suite had only one bed, so he\u2019d arranged for his family to occupy an available set of rooms across the hall. He handed them the key at the end of their reunion and planning session, suggesting they relax until dinner.<\/p>\n

The idea brought easy agreement, but as they headed to the door, he said, \u201cPa, could you stay back a few minutes?\u201d<\/p>\n

Father and son sat facing each other once the room was empty.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are doing well, Son,\u201d Ben began. \u201cI apologize for how things went in Carson City. The note you wrote was spot on, and I grieved not being able to set things straight before you left.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d Adam closed his eyes and sighed. \u201cI\u2019m sorry I couldn\u2019t give you warning. I just had to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis man … Paladin …. Is he mostly a bounty hunter?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHis motive in taking a job is never money. I\u2019m sure those who hire him thinking he\u2019ll believe everything they say because they\u2019re paying him, are surprised when he finds their lies and exposes the truth.\u201d He looked in the direction of the adjoining apartment. \u201cHe\u2019s had some rough times too, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow so?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe isn\u2019t forthcoming about it so I won\u2019t divulge what I know. For now, I\u2019d ask that you take him as you find him, and judge him only on his actions.\u201d A chuckle. \u201cThat may sound more ominous than I meant it to. He\u2019s not a criminal, just a man who lost himself for a while.\u201d A grin pulled his lips to the left. \u201cSound familiar?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you his client?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam shrugged. \u201cI believe he\u2019s doing it as a friend: a way to honor a man who helped him when he\u2019d hit rock bottom.\u201d Adam looked up, meeting his father\u2019s eyes. \u201cYou felt compelled to document every detail of what had happened after I disappeared, certain it was meant for someone else\u2019s eyes. I believe ….\u201d He looked down.<\/p>\n

\u201cBelieve what, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe I was led home to see your journal, just as I was led here.\u201d He scrubbed his face when he looked up. \u201cHeck, Pa, I\u2019ve never been to this hotel. But after staying in a couple horrible places to keep people from recognizing me, I was walking by the Carlton; came inside and immediately rented this suite. Paladin wasn\u2019t around then, and my attempts to get myself back on track failed miserably. Each night, I\u2019d awake in what felt like an airless grave I couldn\u2019t get out of, and each day seemed more fruitless. When Paladin returned, he just kept at me until I took a deep breath of good air again.\u201d The face scrubbing returned. \u201cThat man next door … he knows what it feels like to be dead, even while your heart continues to beat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben placed his hand on Adam\u2019s knee. \u201cI\u2019m thankful for whatever led you here, Son. What brought you out of that walking death you describe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSimple things at first, like eating better and getting out. And then, he told me that I needed to find Leslie Richter.\u201d His slow-forming smile created a wide, toothy arc. \u201cAnd once we\u2019d gotten a bead on her, he reminded me that I needed to get things right with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Paladin seems a thoughtful and kind man.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cMay I … ah … ask about what happened after I left?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRegarding?\u201d Ben replied<\/p>\n

\u201cWas Joe right? Did the gossip over my survival get ugly?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was gossip, but it never developed steam. The newspaper article taken from your affidavit made people aware of all you\u2019d been through. There are always those who believe the worst, but after that was published, the feeling moved towards concern.\u201d<\/p>\n

A smile again softened the stone-like expression Adam had steeled on his face when asking these questions.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to see you smile,\u201d Ben told his son as he rose. \u201cStand up,\u201d he ordered.<\/p>\n

The compliance was accompanied by a wary look. \u201cAll right, I\u2019m up. Now what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to do what I should have done in that doctor\u2019s office.\u201d He stepped forward, wrapping his arms around his son\u2019s shoulders and pulled him close. \u201cWelcome home, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam was caught off guard, stiffening at the embrace, his arms hanging straight at his sides. His first impulse was to pull away, unsure that he was ready for this. \u201cI\u2019m not home yet,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re home in my heart, Adam. Where we\u2019re standing is irrelevant.\u201d<\/p>\n

His resistance ended as he finally found the proper use for his flaccid upper limbs. He wrapped them tightly around his father\u2019s back, and released of a long, thankful sigh.<\/p>\n

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

The Cartwrights and Paladin enjoyed a fine repast at the Carlton that evening after determining not to mention Leslie Richter. Following the meal, the group adjourned to the salon where the earlier challenges issued between the rancher and the detective were finally resolved with Ben, Hoss and Joe as their judges.<\/p>\n

Adam won two out of three games of billiards, citing the advantage of his engineering work with angles and vectors. Paladin took the chess match in two games, reasoning that his experience in the military made him a superior strategist.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Final plans for the morning were rehashed at breakfast in Adam\u2019s suite before they proceeded to the Carlton\u2019s front entrance.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemember, we\u2019re after information, not confrontation,\u201d Adam reminded his youngest brother while closing the door of Joe\u2019s cab.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, I know,\u201d Joe grumbled as he shook his head. \u201cI\u2019ll see you at lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The Cattlemen\u2019s club was accommodating to the Cartwrights, quickly ushering the family-plus-one into a private dining room, and sending staff in to handle the meal.<\/p>\n

After they\u2019d ordered, each member of the investigative team reported their findings.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s been a busy bee,\u201d Ben concluded. \u201cAdam, Joe and Hoss each found one hotel where someone matching her general description stayed for a night or two. Is she moving to avoid getting caught?\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin stroked his chin. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t think so. She\u2019s unaware anyone\u2019s looking for her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think she\u2019s casing areas like she did in those cities along the stage routes and then in Virginia City.\u201d Adam suggested.<\/p>\n

Ben added, \u201cDoes her movement indicate that she\u2019s not found the right opportunity?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood thought, Pa.\u201d Adam looked towards Paladin. \u201cCan you tell if her moves indicate she\u2019s homing in on something?\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin used the back of a wanted poster to draw a rudimentary map of San Francisco, adding in the hotels where she\u2019d been identified. \u201cGive me the dates of her stays,\u201d he told the others, adding them to the map and connecting them from first to latest. \u201cShe started in the banking district, but she\u2019s near the theaters now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat good does that do her?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cA theater could have robust ticket sales for a good show,\u201d Paladin suggested. \u201cSecurity is nonexistent because no one expects a robbery around so many witnesses. Miss Richter can dress for the evening, mingle into the crowd, and then perform a brazen heist.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat makes sense!\u201d Ben said enthusiastically. \u201cWe know she delights in creating her own drama. How better to experience that than amidst the spectacle of a theater.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam grimaced. \u201cThere\u2019s one problem. She\u2019d look out of place unaccompanied. She\u2019ll have to use an accomplice: one she\u2019ll entice with promises of lusty nights and exciting days. The unfortunate thing for anyone who takes her up on it, is that he\u2019ll experience what we\u2019ve concluded about Leslie. She\u2019ll neither keep him nor leave a witness.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really think we\u2019re closing in on her?\u201d Joe asked. \u201cThis almost seems too easy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s easy … now,\u201d Adam laughed. \u201cBefore we tracked her here, she could have been anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s face shadowed as he sat straighter. \u201cYou\u2019ve done some good work, Older Brother. But it would seem we could have caught her right away if you hadn\u2019t bolted from Carson City.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s stern, \u201cJoseph!\u201d was accompanied by Paladin leaning forward onto the table, sending the youngest Cartwright a blazing stare.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me guess. You\u2019ve read a how to be a detective<\/em> manual where the detective is smarter and one step ahead of every criminal, and clues comes through at the exact right moment.\u201d He laughed at Joe\u2019s blush, knowing he\u2019d hit a bit of truth. He looked over at Adam. \u201cThose of us carrying a few more years know that things seldom happen how they\u2019re supposed<\/em> to or on our timetable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean by that?\u201d Joe\u2019s tone was as tense as his cheek muscles.<\/p>\n

Adam nodded at his fellow detective. \u201cIt means that you can\u2019t always control circumstances when they\u2019re happening. In Carson City you said that I should have seen what Leslie was up to and gotten the upper hand. \u00a0The implication being that my actual response was ineffectual … cowardly … or both.\u201d He breathed heavily, his face setting in stone. \u201cI … bolted, as you put it … because I agreed. Those drugs left me dead inside and it felt like I had mental gangrene eating away at my thoughts.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam …\u201d Joe said. \u201cI \u2026 \u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, Joe. I\u2019m only trying to make a point about things you haven\u2019t experienced, and I never want you to. You\u2019ve faced some serious, even deadly situations, but you\u2019ve never gone up against a person like Peter Kane, Leslie Richter and even Ross towards the end of his life. Their brains … consciences, or lack of one … makes everything different. They say and do whatever they want, manufacturing facts to match their lies. You can\u2019t reason with them. Their brains flip from one thing to the next, adapting their truth minute-by-minute. They\u2019re charming, even disarming at first. But their satisfaction comes from pulling the rug out from under you, watching you fall on your face and then stepping on your neck when you\u2019re down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re better now,\u201d Hoss broke in. \u201cHow\u2019d you get past them dark thoughts you had?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTime. I learned that the effects<\/em> of opium can go on long after the consumption stops, especially when you don\u2019t eat and sleep enough. And I accepted that there was nothing<\/em> I could have done to change the outcome with Leslie Richter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou could have gone with her,\u201d Joe suggested.<\/p>\n

Adam shook his head. \u201cThe ending was inevitable. She\u2019d traveled to Virginia City with a suitcase full of poison and a plan to use it on someone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut If you\u2019d at least tried …. She might have dropped her guard long enough for you to get the gun or pin her down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin chuckled. \u201cThat would never have happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI finally understand,\u201d Ben interjected as he pushed back from the table and leaned forward on his hands to address the group. \u201cAdam was doomed from the moment he agreed to take Leslie Richter on that ride. If he had agreed to go with her after she robbed the bank, she\u2019d have seen him as weak, allowing her to dispose of him for that. Her continued attempts to get him to change his mind gave her the thrill of manipulating an honest man into abandoning his moral certainty just to survive.\u201d He nodded towards his son. \u201cBut had you agreed to live by her rules; she would have seen this as an even greater weakness with the same outcome. Remaining true to yourself chafed her, thus making it certain she\u2019d kill you. There was no way out. The saving grace was that she\u2019d never killed anyone outright, and had found something about you that lessened her determination for an onsite death. You fought back and she needed to punish you for that. How better than to make your death a living hell, and watch your family suffer the grief of not knowing your outcome. You can\u2019t fight that kind of insanity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019d you think when she pulled that trigger, Adam?\u201d Hoss asked quietly.<\/p>\n

Adam took time to think through his answer. This discussion with his family was hard, but he could see the honest attempt to understand this time. \u201cI wasn\u2019t sure why she shot wide. An inch towards the center of my torso, and she\u2019d have sent that bullet somewhere causing near-instant death. She didn\u2019t want that to happen.\u201d He huffed. \u201cNot that she was exhibiting pity. A corpse would have simply been harder to handle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt sounds like this has all come full round for you, Adam,\u201d Hoss concluded. \u201cYer using what you learned about her to hunt her. We\u2019re getting\u2019 so close to bringin\u2019 her in that the hairs on my back are standin\u2019 straight up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a lot of hair standing at attention,\u201d Adam teased. \u201cWe should get going.\u201d He looked at Paladin. \u201cThere\u2019s only a few hotels to check. Where would you suggest we meet at three?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hotels are near the bay so let\u2019s meet at Jonah\u2019s Caf\u00e9. Adam mentioned that all have been there before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat if we do find where she\u2019s stayin\u2019 and need to stay put?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cHotels have messenger services,\u201d Ben suggested. \u201cIf you discover her location; send a note to Jonah\u2019s, and continue to observe … from a distance. We\u2019ll get there as fast as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked pointedly at his youngest brother. \u201cRemember, Joe. You might surprise her, but you can\u2019t control her.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Little Joe awoke feeling groggy, dizzy and nauseous. With a large knot of cloth wedged between his teeth and secured behind his head, controlling the nausea was his first priority.<\/p>\n

His hands and feet were tied, connected together behind him, making his shoulders ache with the constant pull. The nausea was tweaked by the smell of rotting seaweed and fish, drifting in on a breeze above him. The sensation of sideways sliding, followed by an abrupt stop and tug, had the familiar feel of being in a moored boat.<\/p>\n

The most troubling of his current issues was that his mind was as foggy as the San Francisco harbor on a humid night. He couldn\u2019t remember what had preceded his waking up like this. With a few deep breaths, the swirling in his head and gut eased, allowing him to open his eyes and move his head enough to verify that he was on a berth in a small cabin with a portal above him. Drifting in with the fetid breeze was a conversation between two men talking in a mixture of English and Spanish. He picked up just enough to know they were getting ready to cast off.<\/p>\n

As he sought lucidity, an image of Adam in Dr. Oleson\u2019s office fought to be recognized. Joe could now clearly see his brother\u2019s struggle to explain what had happened to him. He understood the \u201cfog\u201d that had kept Adam from answering the barrage of questions his family had asked.<\/p>\n

Accompanying his mental ineptitude, was a sharp, throbbing pain on the side of his head, making his eyes water. Everything hurt, including thinking, but pieces of his odyssey finally began to fit together.<\/p>\n

His inquiries at the last hotel on his list, had brought success when the clerk indicated that a woman matching the description was staying there. However, she\u2019d given notice of her need to depart within the hour.<\/p>\n

The clerk had refused to reveal \u201cMiss Stockton\u2019s\u201d room number. What he had offered, with his hand extended for a monetary incentive, was to send a bellhop to her room with a message.<\/p>\n

Joe had quickly penned his request for her to meet him in the lobby, signing it Adam Cartwright for bigger impact. His initial thought of following the messenger was replaced by a plan more in keeping with his family\u2019s cautions. Leslie was unlikely to want to see or speak to his brother, and thinking he was waiting downstairs, she was sure to exit another door. With the message on its way, he\u2019d ducked outside to make a quick perusal of the building\u2019s exterior.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d found an alley with a large loading dock and an adjacent door into the hotel. Checking inside, he\u2019d seen a stairway leading up, a good sign it was the back exit. He\u2019d barely found a shadowed hiding spot in the alley, when the door had opened and Leslie Richter had pushed her way out carrying a bulky satchel in each hand. He\u2019d forgotten every warning and directive his family had issued when he\u2019d realized she was on the move. He\u2019d drawn his gun and stepped into the light.<\/p>\n

She\u2019d yipped when she looked up and saw him standing there. He\u2019d thought immediately to his brother\u2019s admonitions about how quickly she could adapt, and witnessed it firsthand when she\u2019d taken a deep breath, set her bags down and stood straight, sending him a deprecating look.<\/p>\n

A squint had wrinkled her face before she\u2019d laughed. \u201cYou\u2019re one of the Cartwrights from my trial. Don\u2019t they call you Tiny Tim or something?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe.\u201d He hadn\u2019t blinked at her attempt to poke fun at his name.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, Adam sent his little<\/em> brother to do a man\u2019s work?\u201d she\u2019d fired. \u201cHow is the resurrected eldest Cartwright son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just fine, ma\u2019am, and waiting with the rest of my family.\u201d He flicked his pistol towards the end of the alley. \u201cWalk ahead of me and we\u2019ll catch a cab to join them.\u201d He\u2019d known he\u2019d made a major error as soon as the words left his mouth. His bravado had let her know he was alone.<\/p>\n

She\u2019d laughed again. \u201cI\u2019ll scream and say you\u2019re molesting me. The hotel knows me, and will assume you\u2019re<\/em> the criminal. I\u2019ll be far away before you convince them that they\u2019re holding the wrong person.\u201d A knowing, crooked smile had appeared them. \u201cIf you\u2019re anything like your older brother, you\u2019ve been taught to respect women. Your sense of honor won\u2019t allow you to shoot.\u201d Her grin became a sneer. \u201cYou may have the gun, Baby Brother, but I have the upper hand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe moaned quietly as he remembered paying sole attention to Leslie\u2019s monologue, while missing the fact that the door hadn\u2019t completely closed behind her. He\u2019d been completely surprised when a man the size of Hoss, but with more muscle than girth, stepped out of the exit with a pistol pointing directly at him. Even more unnerving, was that the guy had handed the pistol to Leslie and moved out of his line of sight. He\u2019d faced two threats, and hadn\u2019t been sure which one to watch.<\/p>\n

She\u2019d flicked the pistol towards the guy. \u201cI hired Goliath\u2014or at least that\u2019s what I call him\u2014to play the part of my hostage when I robbed the theaters. I suppose your big brother heard about that and figured it was me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe hadn\u2019t heard any such thing, but he\u2019d had presence of mind to pretend that he had.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw your brother on the street a few weeks ago. Even followed him to his hotel and watched that place for a few days. He\u2019d come and go, mostly taking aimless walks. He seemed unfocused and had the pallor of someone nearing the end of a fatal disease, although at least he\u2019d trimmed his beard and combed his hair since I\u2019d last seen him. I was convinced he didn\u2019t have a clue that I was in town too, and that he didn\u2019t possess the stamina to be chasing me. So … I kept looking for something exciting to do.\u201d A sigh. \u201cI should have learned not to underestimate Adam\u2019s doggedness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe had witnessed Leslie\u2019s momentary lapse of determination as she\u2019d spoken about Adam, but she shook her head like a dog coming out of a pond, and resumed her defiant pose. \u201cAdam must have told you that I shot him point blank without a second thought. Well … maybe there was one<\/em> second thought that made me aim a little wider so he wouldn\u2019t die right there. I couldn\u2019t have moved his corpse, just like my attorney mentioned at the trial.\u201d She\u2019d laughed gutturally. \u201cYou know, it could be exciting to watch you attempt to overcome your distaste for killing a woman, while I pull my trigger first. I got the same thrill watching Adam\u2019s surprise when I shot him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe breathed as deeply as the gag allowed. He could feel his cheeks reddening as he recalled how he\u2019d allowed her to manipulate his attention again by making him measure the morality of defending himself. Meanwhile, Goliath had eased around his side, getting near enough to jam his thick fist into Joe\u2019s right temple: felling him like an axe taking down a sapling. He\u2019d crumbled to the ground, too stunned to move, and too weak to fight off the large arms that held him down while Leslie had produced a brown bottle from a pocket of her green dress; held his nose, and poured a foul liquid into his mouth. He\u2019d managed to spit some out before choking down the rest to breath.<\/p>\n

What he didn\u2019t understand was why he was still alive after ingesting the elixir. Something else didn\u2019t make sense. After the initial fogginess, he was thinking pretty clearly again, leaving him to consider whether she\u2019d given him something less deadly than what she\u2019d given Adam, or if he\u2019d only gotten a minimal amount, knocking him out just long enough for her to sell him into service on a departing ship?<\/p>\n

These ponderings were interrupted by the grating of a metal key turning in the lock. Leslie slipped inside.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re awake, Joselito! After taking that punch and the medicine, I thought you\u2019d be out longer. You\u2019re certainly as tough as your brother, even if not quite as handsome.\u201d She chuckled, low and menacingly. \u201cI imagine you\u2019d like that gag out of your mouth.\u201d She tapped her index finger to her cheek. \u201cI\u2019ll do it, but don\u2019t get any ideas about calling for help. I\u2019ve paid well for privacy, and the deck hands are readying to cast off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s Goliath?\u201d he asked once his tongue was free.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, the poor guy had an accident after he helped me get you onto the ship. The two of us told the crew that you were afraid to sail, and had imbibed until you\u2019d passed out. \u00a0But once Goliath got you \u2018settled in,\u2019 I went back to shore with him, and found an alley next to a rowdy saloon to say our goodbyes and share the take from the theaters. The police won\u2019t think twice about a stiff found in this part of town.\u201d She tossed the gag onto a dresser next to the berth and laughed quietly. \u201cI would have handled you that way too, but the law would<\/em> investigate the death of a Cartwright.\u201d Leslie stabbed her fingernail into his chest to emphasize her point, laughing again when he grimaced.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do<\/em> you plan to do with me?\u201d he asked as calmly as he could muster.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d booked passage on this ship when I first got to San Francisco, knowing I\u2019d have to flee after whatever fun I finally decided on. The robberies last night coincided with the ship sailing today. The crew easily bought the story about your fear of the ocean, and your penchant for drinking to relieve that fear. They won\u2019t question that you fell overboard in a blind drunk during the night. You\u2019ll be declared lost at sea, under an alias of course.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe could only describe the expression lighting her face, as eerie.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll enjoy your family always wondering whether you\u2019re alive or dead, hoping you\u2019ll show up one day like Adam. When that doesn\u2019t happen, they\u2019ll blame Adam for bringing me into your lives. It will be my final insult for him. Your father will grow to hate him, and wish he\u2019d have stayed dead to save you.\u201d<\/p>\n

She tipped her head, observing Joe\u2019s face. \u201cAre you thinking about your family now? Adam had that same expression when he thought he was dying. He mumbled something about saying goodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe drew a deep breath despite the pain it caused. \u201cOf course, I\u2019m thinking about them. I wish I could see Adam a last time to apologize. I called him a coward for not overpowering you. He warned me you were an evil, slippery devil, but I still thought I could anticipate every move you\u2019d make.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leslie\u2019s head snapped towards him as her eyes rounded. \u201cYou called Adam a coward? You stupid child. I manipulate people, kid. It\u2019s my finest skill. I knew from the moment I pulled your brother\u2019s gun on him at the bank that I was putting him into a moral dilemma. He repeatedly offered to help set things straight if I\u2019d go back. He was genuine in that, but I had no intention of setting anything straight. Through all my threats and shameless inveigling, he remained true to his principles, knowing he was going to die for them. That\u2019s courage.\u201d<\/p>\n

She grew quiet, her tone softening. \u201cAdam was the first person to stand up to me. I\u2019ve wondered since meeting him whether I\u2019d be a different person if someone had done that when I was young.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leslie\u2019s voice returned to her brashest bawl. \u201cAnd believing you could outthink me? Ha! I do whatever pleases me at a given moment. Today what pleases me is to destroy the Cartwrights.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Adam and Ben paced the front of Jonah\u2019s Caf\u00e9 while their frequently appearing pocket watches ticked off the minutes pointing to Little Joe being in trouble.<\/p>\n

\u201cI shouldn\u2019t have let him go alone,\u201d Adam nearly moaned.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaladin isn\u2019t here either, so there might be a simple reason for Joe\u2019s delay,\u201d Ben told his sons before continuing to pace.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s low chuckle sounded much like another moan.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s nothing simple about Joe, Pa. That\u2019s what has us wearing out the soles of our boots.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss was leaning against a lamp post, knowing that if he\u2019d join the pacing, they\u2019d all end up in a pile. He straightened suddenly, pointing down the street. \u201cMr. Paladin\u2019s comin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

The gray-suited man was walking as fast as he could without knocking over other pedestrians. He waved to Hoss, and noticed the worried expressions as he reached the family. A quick headcount provided the answer. \u201cJoe\u2019s missing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe haven\u2019t heard from him either,\u201d Ben replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m afraid he found her and did something stupid.\u201d Adam\u2019s mouth was so dry with fear, his words sounded sticky.<\/p>\n

Paladin nodded, and then handed Adam the papers he had tucked under his arm. I saw these at a news stand.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s eye flew over the headlines and settled on a small banner in the lower right corner. \u201cWell, I\u2019ll be!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben found a similar article in the Chronicle\u2019s afternoon edition, and read it aloud.<\/p>\n

Managers at the California Theater and The San Francisco Opera House report the theft of their box office receipts last night, just as the crowd was entering the auditorium. Both indicate the thief was a small blonde woman wearing a netted hat, who\u2019d held a hostage at gunpoint while demanding the ticket revenue. After receiving the cash, she told the staff to stay put, threatening to shoot the hostage if she saw any attempts at contacting the authorities before she got away. Her escape was facilitated by mingling into the throng of patrons in the lobby while keeping the hostage at gunpoint with a small pistol hidden in her purse. Police were summoned quickly after the first robbery, and while officers were investigating at the California, she hit the Opera House in the same manner. A thorough investigation has turned up no further sign of her movements following the second robbery.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHow avantgarde for a woman to hit two places in the same area on the same night,\u201d Adam said with a sneer.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think it\u2019s an actual hostage like you were?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n

Adam shook her head. \u201cHer experience with me proved you can\u2019t count on a hostage to cooperate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWon\u2019t this mean she\u2019s gotta get out of town?\u201d Hoss asked. \u201cIf them marshals are worth their salt; them robberies should poke their memories some.\u201d He shook his head as he blew a deep breath. \u201cOr is this city big enough she can hide out til things cool off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin nodded towards the tallest Cartwright. \u201cI\u2019d go with your first conclusion. There are so few women criminals\u2014especially with enough guts to pull such a public theft\u2014that every law agency will be called into the search. Wanted poster noting her disguises, will be distributed to hotels, stage and train stations, and businesses. \u00a0She knows she\u2019ll be hunted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s voice echoed with dread. \u201cIf Joseph did stumble onto her while she was trying to leave. He would have felt compelled to follow her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s most probable,\u201d Paladin told the others. \u201cWe\u2019ll check the two hotels Joe was assigned, and pray for a clue.\u201d He stuck his hand in his pockets, and steeled his spine. \u201cThis sounds callous, but I\u2019ll go to those hotels. I can avoid the emotion that would influence your r<\/em>eaction with the staffs.\u201d He focused on Ben and his middle son. \u201cYou two remain calm and stay put. Maybe Joe\u2019s delay is benign and he\u2019ll show up. I\u2019ll take Adam but only so he can return here with updates.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss can stay here. I\u2019ll check the stage depot,\u201d Ben told them in his no-backtalk voice.<\/p>\n

Adam took his father\u2019s shoulders and stepped closer. \u201cYou want to do something, Pa, but this time waiting is that something<\/em>. She won\u2019t take a stage because she needs speed, distance and far more diversion. The train\u2019s an option, but the station\u2019s too big to cover alone. Let\u2019s see what we uncover, and then focus our efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Left alone while Leslie was outside checking the crew\u2019s progress, Joe noticed the absence of the tug and slide, an indication that shore-lines had been dropped. He heard the click and swish of metal rings moving against rope and the snap of canvas as sails were raised, yet there seemed no forward movement. The fragile hope of his family finding him would end as soon as the ship sailed, so he gave thanks for whatever was stalling their departure.<\/p>\n

His thoughts turned uneasily to Leslie\u2019s promise that he wouldn\u2019t survive to see the next port. Drumming at his conscience was his accusation that Adam\u2019s inaction had set their father on a tortured journey of grief. \u00a0He was overcome by shame as those same words now convicted him.<\/em> Not knowing the truth, Pa would pray for another miraculous restoration of his family, only to be left with eternal unfilled expectation.<\/p>\n

He finally realized what Adam had experienced. There was no way to convince a crazy person to make a rational decision, and his brother had faced his fate bravely, and continued to fight through every horrid minute of his life for months afterwards.<\/p>\n

His eyes pooled, and quiet tears of regret trickled down his cheek, making him rub his face against the blanket to remove the evidence. But in those tears, he found the strength to keep trying too. Pa always said that where there was life, there was hope.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

It seemed an eternity for Ben and Hoss, but Adam and Paladin were soon heading towards them.<\/p>\n

The two men were still in stride when Ben demanded, \u201cWhat did you find?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam pulled his father away from the foot traffic on the walk. \u201cShe was staying at the first hotel we checked. The clerk said he was loath to reveal private information, while simultaneously holding his hand out for an incentive to overcome his reluctance. The cash allowed his revelation that a woman matching Leslie\u2019s description had stayed there … and left … an hour earlier after a man named Adam Cartwright had come to see her. He\u2019d sent a note up to Miss Stockton\u2019s room alerting her of the visitor. He never saw her come down and the visitor disappeared too. A check on her room after departure time had passed, found it emptied.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin picked up the story before Ben could comment. \u201cWe questioned the doorman whose discretion was also alleviated by a few dollars. He\u2019d hailed a cab for her after she\u2019d appeared from the side of the building, making him think she\u2019d exited the back stairs. She was accompanied by two men, one of whom was carrying the other over his shoulder. While waiting for the cab to pull up, she\u2019d made a loud show of explaining that the men were sailors\u2014the smaller of the two, her brother\u2014and how they\u2019d come to see her in such an inebriated state, she\u2019d made them stay the night. Her brother was still under-the-weather, and her intention was to drop them both at their ship before she caught a train.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s voice bore both grief and anger. \u201cShe does have him, and he\u2019s in big trouble. Do you believe she was going to the harbor?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked towards his companion. \u201cWe do. The story was another diversional history meant to confound anyone trying to follow her. She mentioned the train, but the ship gets her away faster with no means of it being contacted. Those crews are used to turning a blind eye, especially if she bribes them to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe knows we\u2019re onto her, and ….\u201d Ben stopped talking as the impact of his words made him sway.<\/p>\n

Paladin\u2019s tone was soothing. \u201cIt\u2019s unlikely she\u2019d leave a Cartwright in some back alley to cause a stir. He\u2019s on the ship with her. You three go figure out which one. I\u2019ll grab the police, and bring them to the docks for a show of force.\u201d His parting smile was warm. \u201cThe Cartwright clan can do this part without my help.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Leslie slammed the cabin door behind her when she returned. She\u2019d stuck the gag back into Joe\u2019s mouth before leaving, and yanked it out with enough force to set his front teeth tingling.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d he asked the woman who was pacing the small room.<\/p>\n

\u201cStupid wind,\u201d she spat. \u201cIt\u2019s always blowing down here\u2014nearly blew my wig off when I purchased the ticket\u2014but today there\u2019s nothing and the ship\u2019s becalmed in the harbor basin.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat explains why we\u2019re bobbing like a cork.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know what they have to do to get underway?\u201d she nearly screeched.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve no idea, but it\u2019s clearly making you jittery. Why is that?\u201d<\/p>\n

She didn\u2019t answer, launching into another tirade. \u201cWhile we\u2019re stuck here, your brother is catching up to us. He\u2019ll retrace your steps once you don\u2019t show up wherever you were supposed to meet. I didn\u2019t care about that when I thought this wooden tub would be out to sea.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou said you paid the crew to deny you\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut your family can pay them even better to say I am. The loyalty on one of these vessels extends to the person with the most cash in their hand.\u201d She stomped her foot. \u201cWhat is it about your crazy family that they cause me nothing but trouble?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe smiled mockingly. \u201cWe\u2019re just special that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leslie\u2019s lips formed a thin, hard line as she breathed deeply to regain her composure … and her position of control. She pushed in next to him on the narrow berth, adopting a sleezy smile. \u201cIs there a reason they call you Little<\/em> Joe?\u201d A wicked laugh accompanied the movement of her hand upwards along his inner thigh. She laughed louder when Joe tensed at her touch. \u201cRelax, Joselito. I\u2019m simply checking to make sure your name isn\u2019t warranted because of a physical deficiency.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe bit the insides of his cheeks and let his mind wander to other things as her hand neared the top of his leg. He knew she wanted him to squirm, register his outrage, or even worse, to react to her touch.<\/p>\n

Her hands moved to his belt where she worked the buckle. \u201cWe have a little unoccupied time before you dive overboard. I\u2019m thinking there\u2019s a good way to investigate the size of your \u2026 equipment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI want nothing to do with you,\u201d he said evenly.<\/p>\n

\u201cMen have little control when it comes to this. A gentle puff of breath, a stroke of my hand, and you won\u2019t be able to resist.\u201d She watched Joe\u2019s cheeks turn bright red. \u201cRight about now, you\u2019re wondering if I did the same thing to Adam.\u201d Her laugh was low and menacing. \u201cDo the Cartwright boys share their women like they do other things?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTake your hand off me or I\u2019ll bite it off if I have to,\u201d Joe growled.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, my. I\u2019ve offended you.\u201d The laugh returned. \u201cI don\u2019t kiss and tell. Suffice it to say that memories of Adam kept me from losing my mind in that prison. But it\u2019s not what you\u2019re thinking. What I loved to remember, was his eyes registering surprise, horror and finally acceptance of his death as he lost consciousness. I was in complete control of a very mindful, rational man. I counted the days, first in that stinking Virginia City jail and then in the prison, and I felt absolute ecstasy when I figured enough time had passed that he\u2019d died. I imagined him waking occasionally wondering what was happening to him, yet being too drugged to speak up. I relished his absolute terror when they\u2019d force more \u2018medicine\u2019 down his throat until he finally didn\u2019t wake up again.\u201d She huffed disgustedly. \u201cHe wouldn\u2019t die though.\u201d She clucked and sighed. \u201cHe refused to play fair.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s nausea at what his predicament meant for his family returned, prodding him to end this discussion before his emotions got the upper hand. \u201cYou said they were doing something to get moving?\u201d<\/p>\n

Leslie jumped up to gaze out the porthole and chatted on about boats and the anchor as though they\u2019d been having an amiable discussion in the preceding minutes. He let his mind drift away to his family, praying they\u2019d find normalcy one day when the loss was less raw, just as Adam had wanted for them when he\u2019d left them in Carson.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The Cartwrights found four ships docked in the harbor, with one more at sail, but unmoving, halfway to the harbor entrance. They could make quick work of investigating, but their biggest fear was that the delay in figuring Leslie\u2019s intention may have allowed her ship to sail.<\/p>\n

The harbor was bustling as cargo was offloaded or stowed with pulleys and booms, while smaller stores were being hand-carried onto the vessels by surefooted crew who maneuvered the slippery, narrow gangplanks like mountain goats. Visitors trying to get a good look at things, mixed in among the sailors adding to the possibility of someone ending up in the drink.<\/p>\n

Adam, Ben and Hoss made their way down the dock together, asking as many people as possible about the arrival or boarding of a woman along with two men, one of them carrying the other.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow what?\u201d Hoss demanded in a frustrated tone when they reached the far end without a single sighting. \u201cWe gotta figger this out!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam turned in an arc, taking in the entire harbor again. \u201cI\u2019m convinced she\u2019s here, but it\u2019s not surprising no one saw her. It\u2019s dangerous and hectic, so people pay attention only to what\u2019s in front of their nose.\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded sideways, indicating they should move towards a quieter spot. \u00a0\u201cIf she is<\/em> on one of these<\/em> boats, she\u2019s paid the crew for their silence. Think back to everyone you spoke with. \u00a0Did anyone seem guarded or hesitant about talking? They may have looked away or down or seemed more uneasy than necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both men shook their heads. \u201cMostly they were anxious to get back to what they were doin\u2019,\u201d Hoss answered. \u201cBut no one acted like they was lyin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe same for me,\u201d Ben confirmed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe I\u2019m wrong, then.\u201d Adam looked again at the bay, and pointed. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on with that vessel, Pa? Sails are up, but they\u2019re not moving. Is it moored there waiting for a dock?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben looked around, and pointed toward a pole where a flag hung limply. \u201cThere\u2019s not enough wind in the basin to fill the sails and get going. That happened only once when I was with Abel. What they do is send tender boats forward with the anchor in tow. They drop it in once they have a good length of rode, and the men aboard inch the ship forward against that line. They\u2019ll repeat the process until they make the mouth of the harbor where she can catch a better wind.\u00a0 His eyes widened. \u201cI\u2019d assume they\u2019ve been at this for a bit, making it likely it was still at dock when Leslie showed up. We\u2019ll have to ask after that one now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam was nodding when a mostly toothless old salt in a torn naval-style coat tapped on his shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard you askin\u2019 around about a woman boarding a ship. I come down here every morning hopin\u2019 a ship\u2019ll hire me to watch their cargo, so nothin\u2019 disappears during loading or unloading. No one hired me today, so I sat here all morning … watchin\u2019 things. I might\u2019a seen somethin\u2019 helpful, but I gotta make some cash or I won\u2019t eat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWon\u2019t drink, is more like it,\u201d Ben chuckled as he withdrew his wallet and peeled off a few bills. The old sailor grabbed for it, but Ben withdrew his hand. \u201cYou have to earn this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFair enough,\u201d he muttered before pointing towards the becalmed vessel. \u201cI took a bench in front of The Nomad when I got here. That ship flies a Spanish flag, but its route goes round the horn and up to New York and Boston. Once a year it crosses to her home port. Big cargo hauler, but it\u2019s got a couple nice passenger cabins too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is interesting, but not helpful,\u201d Ben prodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdd a few bills to my pay, and I\u2019ll get to the helpful<\/em> stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s wallet reappeared. He shoved the singles back inside, withdrawing one of higher denomination.<\/p>\n

The old salt\u2019 licked his lips greedily. \u201cOne of them Handsom cabs dropped a purdy woman and two men off earlier. The one guy was a bigun\u2019 like this one here.\u201d He nodded at Hoss. \u201cHe tossed the smaller guy over his shoulder and carried him onto the Nomad. I heard the gal sayin\u2019 something about her husband gettin\u2019 drunk, and was still out cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe,\u201d Ben stated as his chest rose. \u201cDid they all sail on that ship?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNaw, the woman came off with the big fella and they walked towards the buildings over yonder.\u201d He pointed at the bars along the main street behind them. She came back alone just before they cast lines. There ain\u2019t enough breeze to get them going though, so they\u2019re pullin\u2019 themselves out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben found it impossible to stand still, shifting foot-to-foot like a wound-up mechanical man. \u201cWas the man being carried wearing a green jacket and have curly hair?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cE-yup.\u201d The old man laughed. \u201cDidn\u2019t know what to make of that woman. I seen her slip money to the purser and the crew before leaving with the big guy, asking them to keep her arrival a secret. But she gave me a snooty look as she passed by, forgetting that I\u2019d seen everything too. I\u2019m guessin\u2019 she\u2019ll regret that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben reached for the man\u2019s hand, shaking it vigorously before removing his wallet a final time to add to the payment. \u201cThank you. You might have saved my son\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

While his father paid their informant, Adam looked for a way to reach the Nomad. He spied a row of tender boats tied up nearby and was heading there when he caught sight of Paladin leading a small army of police towards the docks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was fast,\u201d Adam shouted as he waved the reinforcements over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a station nearby. It was shift change. When they heard we might have cornered the thief from last night, they all came. One of them headed into town to alert the Marshals. What did you find out?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam pointed towards the bay. \u201cShe\u2019s got Joe on that ship. It\u2019s not making a speedy getaway so we can catch it with a few strong rowers.\u201d His excitement turned solemn as he sighed. \u00a0\u201cShe showed up with a big guy too. The man who saw Leslie arrive, said she went with that man into the tavern district and came back alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taking visual stock of the strongest looking of the police, Adam assigned them to rowing duty. Turning to Paladin and the remainder of officers, he said, \u201cThe rest of you search the alleys. You\u2019re bound to find a body there.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The two confiscated boats had three sets of oars each. Putting their backs into the rowing, the Cartwrights and police closed the distance to the Nomad in minutes.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Leslie felt the solid clunk of something impacting the starboard side of the ship. That was followed by raised voices shouting, \u201cPolicia,\u201d and the rush of footsteps past the porthole. Unable to dampen her growing sense of doom, she growled at Joe to keep quiet and stuffed the gag back in his mouth before bolting from the room again.<\/p>\n

She stopped at the corner of the deck cabins, and stole a quick look down the length of the ship. \u201cDamn!\u201d she spat quietly. \u201cI knew you\u2019d be my ruin, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Adam was the first one up the cargo net and over the rail. He wasted no time in finding a man with insignias on his coat indicating some authority. \u201cWhere\u2019s the woman!\u201d he demanded.<\/p>\n

The officer shrugged. \u201cNo hablo ingles.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI find that unlikely, but I speak enough Spanish to make this clear.\u201d He grabbed the man\u2019s lapels, drawing him forward until they were nose-to-nose. \u201cDonde … esta … la … mujer!\u201d he said with enough vitriol to make his point. \u201cLa mujer tiene un rehen. Hablame ahora o la polic\u00eda te arrestar\u00e1.\u201d<\/p>\n

The group was now joined by man who identified himself as Captain Miquel Tarke, who spoke perfect English with a soft Castilian accent. \u201cThere is no need to arrest anyone. I\u2019ll take you to the woman. Our protection was afforded her because she avowed pursuit by her former husband who was unhappy with her marriage to the young man she brought aboard.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Leslie locked the cabin door when she\u2019d returned and paced frantically. Her steps were punctuated by oaths damning Adam and the Cartwright to the depths of hell. Stopping abruptly, she swung towards Little Joe. \u201cYou\u2019ve probably figured out that your family is out there, and they\u2019ve brought the police. There\u2019s too many of them for me to get away and I won\u2019t go back to prison. I\u2019m not getting out of this alive.\u201d An ugly laugh. \u201cBut you aren\u2019t either. I\u2019ll shoot you when your family breaks through that door and leave them with the image of your head exploding every time they close their eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n

She hurried to the dresser, pulling her handbag from the bottom drawer. Her uneven push to shut it again, left it crooked with a sharp corner sticking out several inches. She yipped when her ankle connected with the protruding wood as she turned, but she didn\u2019t stop to examine the bruise, rummaging through her bag instead. She retrieved a brown flask, raised it to her lips and emptied in a few swallows. The bottle dropped from her hand, rolling along the floor just as the door frame splintered, nearly ripping the barrier from its hinges with the kick given from the outside. With presence of mind amid the unfolding scene, she grabbed Joe\u2019s pistol from the bedside stand and pointed it at the youngest Cartwright as Adam led the group inside. \u201cStop right there, and drop the guns or I\u2019ll shoot him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam lowered his pistol to the floor and turned to address those behind him. \u201cBack away; she\u2019s serious.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taking a better look at Leslie, he noticed her skin flushing from her neck upwards, and she was pressed back against the bunk like a cornered animal\u2014a posture he\u2019d never witnessed before.<\/p>\n

The gun she\u2019d pointed at Joe, slowly swung around towards Adam\u2019s chest. \u201cAdam can stay, but the rest of you get out now; shut that door the best you can and wait on deck. If you try anything, I\u2019ll have both Cartwrights dead before you get back inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cGive me the gun, Leslie,\u201d Adam said soothingly once the others were gone. \u201cThere\u2019s no way out this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot for any of us, I fear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her words exited with a slight slur and hesitation, and Adam noted that her cheeks were now bright red and her eyes were glassy; her pupils constricted to the size of pinheads despite the paucity of sunlight in the cabin. He could tell that her concentration was waning too.<\/p>\n

Joe was gagged and trussed up, but his eyes were trained on Leslie. Adam admired Joe\u2019s control, knowing he was remaining still to keep from drawing her attention back to him.<\/p>\n

What Leslie couldn\u2019t see, was that Joe began inching his way to the edge of the berth. The Cartwright sons had been typical brothers growing up. There\u2019d been disagreements and all out brawls replete with bruised bodies and feelings. Despite this, they\u2019d developed the ability to communicate wordlessly, especially when their father was asking questions or issuing punishments. Adam\u2019s nod was so slight Leslie didn\u2019t notice, but he was able confirm that he knew\u2014and agreed with\u2014what Joe was about to do.<\/p>\n

When Joe reached his launch point, he gave a warrior\u2019s yell despite the gag, and propelled himself towards Leslie\u2019s back. The accompanying noise startled her, allowing Joe\u2019s body to impact the back of her legs, undercutting her balance and launching her forward. The thing neither Cartwright had considered was that her fingers would clench on the trigger as she toppled, sending a bullet towards Adam.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cDear lord!\u201d Ben hollered with the explosion and charged back to the cabin with his gun drawn, slamming through the door to find three bodies on the floor. The only indication of the bullet reaching a target was a circle of blood growing rapidly on the back of Adam\u2019s white shirt. He ran for his eldest while Hoss grabbed the gun that had flown from Leslie\u2019s hand, and went to Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou hurt Little Brother?\u201d Hoss asked as he removed the gag and worked the knots loose.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust bruised, Hoss. Adam was at the business end of the gun when it went off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam used his father\u2019s arm to pull himself to a sitting position. \u201cI think I\u2019m fine too. I knew Joe was going to knock her over, and when he launched, I dove to the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s blood on your back, Son,\u201d Ben said as he pulled Adam\u2019s collar away from his neck to take a look. \u201cDid she get you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam shook his head and used his thumb to point behind him. \u201cThere\u2019s a drawer ajar on that dresser, and dang if I didn\u2019t catch the corner on the way down. Hurts like a son-of-a-gun.\u201d Adam smiled up at Joe, now free of the ropes and able to stand. Satisfied that the youngest of the Cartwrights had made it through the ordeal unharmed, he turned his attention to the unmoving woman between them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe only heard one shot. Did you shoot her?\u201d Ben asked his eldest.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was the only one with a gun, Pa. I\u2019m not sure what\u2019s wrong with her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d Joe retrieved the brown container from where it had rolled. \u201cAfter she saw all of you boarding the boat, she drank the whole bottle of this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam slid over to Leslie and felt her wrist for a pulse.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m still alive, Adam, but I won\u2019t be for long,\u201d she said sarcastically. \u201cGive me a hand, I don\u2019t have the strength to sit up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam got to his knees, helping Leslie to a sitting position, and then turned toward his father again. \u201cThey must have ipecac on board. We can make her vomit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leslie raised her hand, and it drooped limply forward on her wrist. \u201cDon\u2019t save me! I killed Goliath before boarding, so they\u2019ll hang me anyway. Let me go instead of allowing the spectacle.\u201d A grimace and groan became a peaceful smile. \u201cThis is a lovely way to die, isn\u2019t it, Adam. You float above your body and nothing matters anymore. Too bad you fought it. You must have suffered greatly for that choice.\u201d Her eyes moved lazily around the room. \u201cCould I be alone with Adam while I die?\u201d Her eyes sought the man she wanted to spend her last moments with. \u201cYou\u2019ll stay with me, won\u2019t you? You promised to stick with me back at that farmhouse. I\u2019ll take you up on that now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLeave us,\u201d he told the others. \u201cShe can\u2019t hurt me now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben gave his son a wary look, but ushered everyone from the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou sure you want to leave her with Adam, Pa?\u201d Hoss asked outside the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s dying, Hoss. Maybe she\u2019ll finally give your brother some truthful answers.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there anyone I should notify of your death?\u201d Adam asked, as her cheek color began changing from red to pasty gray.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy parents won\u2019t care, but you could let Belle Starr know. I called her May. She was the only friend I ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWas she the one who cracked my skull in Carson City?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t help you implicate her in that. She was a good and faithful friend who may even grieve for me.\u201d Leslie drew a shuddering breath. \u201cYour brother admitted he called you a coward, Adam. I\u2019m sorry people thought that of you. The reason I did you so dirty was because I admired you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam chuckled softly. \u201cYou have a strange way of showing admiration.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were the only person who ever stood up to me. I couldn\u2019t let that stand.\u201d<\/p>\n

She stopped to catch her breath. \u201cIf I\u2019d been a different sort of woman or able to change, you might have loved me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s still time to get that stuff out of your stomach, Leslie. I\u2019ll help you plead your case for some leniency and you can change.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know that won\u2019t ever happen, Adam. There\u2019s something wrong with me. I\u2019m not like other people. Nothing normal makes sense to me and I accept no truth except what I decide is truth. I tried prison; it\u2019s not for me.\u201d Her laugh was thready. \u201cThis is best.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam knew she was right. Even as one of her victims, he didn\u2019t need revenge, nor did he want her put on public display. Maybe what affected her brain was like mental cancer, a disease that ate away at the healthy parts of her mind and had no cure. He finally smiled. \u201cI\u2019ll always remember you, Leslie. Maybe I\u2019ll write a book. I have the notion you\u2019d like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

She nodded while adjusting her position enough to get her hands to her side as though supporting herself. \u201cThere\u2019s just one last thing, Adam.\u201d Her voice took on strength and her spine solidified as she leaned forward. \u201cThe two of us couldn\u2019t be a couple in life, but maybe there\u2019s a chance in death.\u201d Leslie smiled at seeing Adam\u2019s nearing brows as he realized his error. She didn\u2019t even withdraw the Derringer from her pocket. She shot through the fabric. The bullet caliper was ineffective at a distance, but at this range it would tear a hole in his chest, just as it had with Goliath.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the ….\u00a0 Not again!\u201d Ben shouted as a shot range out from inside the cabin. He led the cadre of sons and police back to the room with guns drawn to find Leslie\u2019s lifeless body sprawled on the floor with her head crookedly against the berth.<\/p>\n

Joe reached to check her neck for a pulse. \u201cHer cold heart is still beating, but it\u2019s slow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben did a thorough perusal of his eldest son, seeing no new blood on his clothing. \u201cWhat happened? We heard a shot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s head wagged as he released a sigh that became a sardonic chuckle. \u201cShe tried to shoot me … again. This time so we could haunt eternity together.\u201d Adam nodded towards the hole in her dress where the muzzle of the gun was exposed. \u201cShe waited too long, and didn\u2019t have the strength to hold her aim.\u201d He lifted his foot. \u201cShe managed to clip a little leather from my boot though.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019a ya want us to do now, Adam?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll get her to shore. If she\u2019s still alive then, the police can take her to a hospital. She might survive if they get enough out of her.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

It took some time to lower Leslie into the tender and get everyone back to shore, allowing Paladin adequate time to coordinate the next steps. He met the boat as it docked, and Leslie was transferred to the police wagon that held the body they\u2019d found in the alley.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re sure this was the guy who helped her?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n

Paladin nodded. \u201cWhen I told the precinct captain we\u2019d found the woman responsible for last night\u2019s heists, he sent an officer to gather the theater staff to make an identification. They recognized the dead man as the \u2018hostage.\u2019 That myth was dismissed once I revealed his presence with her at the hotel and docks, showing no indication of duress.\u201d\u00a0 He looked over as the doors were closed on the wagon. \u201cIs she still alive?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBarely,\u201d Adam replied. \u201cThey may save her. It might be best if they can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin\u2019s smile was wry. \u201cDid you get the answers you needed?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam eyed his friend thoughtfully. \u201cThere are no answers. No good ones at least. But I expect you knew that all along.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Adam retrieved the newspaper from the hall outside his door and read the main banner. Woman Sought in Theater Robberies Takes Own Life.<\/em><\/p>\n

He blew out a long breath along with his prayer of thanks that Leslie Richter\u2019s intrusion into his family\u2019s life had ended. \u201cRest easy, Leslie,\u201d he spoke softly. \u201cHeaven knows you didn\u2019t live<\/em> easy.\u201d He was left to wonder at people like her … and Kane … and Eli6<\/sup>, the original crazy man he\u2019d dealt with as a kid. Were they born that way? Or was it as Leslie had wondered. Did her parents\u2019 failure to stand up to her, help to create her? Or \u2026 maybe it was it as he\u2019d imagined yesterday that the brain of these people was simply sick with a fatal flaw that ate away their ability to think as others. No matter the cause, the results were the same for those who had to deal with the monsters they became.<\/p>\n

He was still near the door when he heard a soft knock, and surprised Joe with his quick response.<\/p>\n

\u201cWere you waiting here in case I\u2019d come by?\u201d he teased.<\/p>\n

\u201cWould it disappoint you if I said no?\u201d Adam replied in the same tone. \u201cC\u2019mon in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI never got to talk to you yesterday,\u201d Joe began as he got inside. \u201cBy the time we finished making our statements, it was time for dinner and bed. It\u2019s strange though; I felt exhausted … but couldn\u2019t sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt that way for many months, Joe. But last night, I slept soundly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou felt vindicated?\u201d Joe suggested.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore so, lightened. Why couldn\u2019t you sleep?\u201d<\/p>\n

The young man sat on the sofa, but kept readjusting his position.\u00a0 \u201cI let her get the best of me even after your warnings. Before I knew it, I was fully enmeshed in her distraction and control.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is … was … no way to anticipate what she\u2019d do, Joe. Sometimes you have to experience it to believe it. You did the best you could, staying alive until we could find you, and then saving both of us when you flew off that bunk.\u201d<\/p>\n

The younger man\u2019s eyes revealed his agony. \u201cWe shouldn\u2019t have been in that predicament in the first place, Adam. I\u2019m sorry for what I said to you in Carson City \u2026 and here. I didn\u2019t understand; I didn\u2019t even try to understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd now you think you understand everything?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEnough to know I was wrong. She had me pinned and swallowing that stuff within minutes of stopping her outside that hotel. Back in Carson, I thought you were using that elixir as an excuse for not doing more. But one swig left me unable to think or speak coherently for a little while. A larger initial dose followed by constant medicating, would wipe out most everything from your mind. I also experienced her ease in lying. Being with her was like being stuck in an endless whirlwind randomly pulling stuff in and spitting things out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was one truth you could believe, Kid. She meant to kill you, and then both of us before she died.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nodded and gulped a breath of air as his hands began to shake. \u201cAdam … I thought I was going to die alone out in the ocean, and while I never let her see it; I was … afraid …. Does that make me<\/em> a coward?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFear is a natural reaction to terrorizing situations, and being afraid never makes you a coward. While you felt fear, it didn\u2019t paralyze you or shut down your reasoning.\u201d Adam had remained standing through his brother\u2019s confession, but now pulled a chair over to face him at eye level. \u00a0He winked and looked over his shoulder as though checking for eavesdroppers.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can never use this against me or tell Pa that I told you this. There was a time before you were born that I misunderstood something Pa and your mother were talking over, and I took off for a while, thinking I could make a life on my own. Mind you, I was 12 at the time.\u201d He chuckled at Joe\u2019s wide-eyed stare. \u201cYup, Pa and I have a long history of not communicating. Anyway, A crazy stranger saw that I was alone, and used my naivete\u2019 to play tricks on me that I believed wholeheartedly would end with him killing me. When I assumed he\u2019d reached that point, I was so afraid I wet my pants.\u201d7<\/sup><\/p>\n

Joe grimaced and reared back. \u201cHe was really going to kill you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. Pa said the guy was taking sick pleasure in watching my fear, just as Leslie liked to do. Fortunately, Pa found me right then and ended the torture. My relief at being rescued ended when Pa had to carry me inside while I was saturated with evidence of my cowardice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe inched forward on the sofa cushion. \u201cHow\u2019d Pa stop you from thinking like that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe cleaned me up, took care of my injuries and sat next to me while I rested. But when my shame wouldn\u2019t let me look at him, he told me about his first experience at sea. Abel knew Pa was a kid who\u2019d never been on a boat, but he hired him for his grit. On that initial voyage, they got into a mighty storm where the ship slipped sideways into the trough of a wave and came so close to flipping over that Pa did more than wet his pants. He went below when he could to clean up, and then buried those pants at sea, before heading back on deck to face the storm. He said it\u2019s not the fear that defines us. It\u2019s what we do in spite of our fear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re telling me Pa soiled his pants?\u201d Joe said, unable to hold back his laughter.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what you got out of that story?\u201d Adam crowed, even while unable to keep from smiling, and was soon laughing along with his brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d Joe\u2019s voice turned apologetic again. \u201cI\u2019m sorry I said so many hurtful things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou thought you were helping by forcing me to think things through, but I just wasn\u2019t ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

The younger man nodded. \u201cYou and Paladin have become good friends in a short time. How was he able to help you when we couldn\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe had no stake in what I\u2019d been through and didn\u2019t know me enough to have any expectation for how I\u2019d normally act under such situations. You need to know that I never told him anything you said.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nodded. \u201cHe\u2019s a smart guy. It wasn\u2019t hard to tell there was unfinished business between us when I started poking again yesterday. Are we all right, Adam? No grudges or hard feelings?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere never were, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another knock at the door was followed by Ben and Hoss entering.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw Paladin down in the lobby. He had an early appointment, but he\u2019ll meet us in the dining room for breakfast at nine,\u201d Ben told his sons. \u201cThat gives us a few minutes to plan our next step.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The Cartwrights and Paladin shared a cab to the Overland station on the morning of their departures. Paladin was leaving for a job he\u2019d received after the owner of The California theater heard about his work finding Leslie. He hired him to trace the daughter who\u2019d run off with a penniless man her father had forbidden her to court.<\/p>\n

The other four had found an express stage to Carson City that changed out drivers as well as horses and only stopped if it got too dark to see the road. If the weather and the moon cooperated, they\u2019d be home in two days.<\/p>\n

After reaching the station and verifying their departure times, the two new friends walked outside for a final conversation.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cYou sure you\u2019re ready to go home? Paladin asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s time. You saw the article in the Chronicle proclaiming me a hero for tracking Leslie Richter down.\u201d He winked. \u201cWhy, they\u2019ll probably lay laurel branches in front of my stage when it pulls into town.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin\u2019s laugh exploded. \u201cThey just might.\u201d A sigh. \u201cIt was good working with you, John Smith. Let me know when you\u2019re back in town. We\u2019ll collaborate again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t forget you\u2019re visiting the Ponderosa in spring for an unending lesson in ranching.\u201d<\/p>\n

The non-Cartwright pursed his lips. \u201cTime\u2019s short, so I\u2019m going to speak frankly as I always have with you.\u201d He watched his friend\u2019s eyes widen warily. \u201cWe talked about a lot of things while chasing Richter around Nevada and California. I heard clearly that you love the Ponderosa, and your family. You speak of it all with pride, yet you always reference it as your father\u2019s dream; your father\u2019s ranch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s left cheek rose as his eyes darkened. \u201cSo?\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin pursed his lips again, deciding what to say. \u201cRanching is not your<\/em> dream. I noticed a distinct difference when you spoke about being an engineer. You sat taller and you smiled more when you told me about helping Wadsworth with the Embarcadero in Sacramento and collaborating on buildings in San Francisco.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not that I don\u2019t like being a rancher,\u201d Adam said thoughtfully. \u201cBut sometimes I feel I\u2019m not doing what seems as natural to me as ranching is to Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll bet that when you do indicate that you might have another career in mind, people look at you like you have a horn growing on your forehead. They can\u2019t understand how you\u2019d leave the name, the power and the money to do something on your own.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess that\u2019s true.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paladin smiled before turning serious again. \u201cAfter seeing your family together, I understand why it would be difficult to pull away from your father\u2019s dream and your family\u2019s business. They\u2019re good men; honest and real, and you are devoted to one another.\u201d He took a deep breath. \u201cAdam, being different\u2014wanting a life that follows your dream is not cause for apologies. Being educated; having ambitions and talents that reflect who you are shouldn\u2019t need to be hidden or explained away.\u201d He could see the strained look on his companion and knew he\u2019d hit a mother-lode of truth. \u201cYour brothers are content being ranchers. Hoss loves the land and Joe\u2019s going to command respect across the bargaining table. But if you<\/em> continue to settle for being what others expect of you, you\u2019ll end up resentful, and trying to \u2018fit in\u2019 will lead to bad decisions.\u201d \u00a0He grasped Adam\u2019s shoulder. \u201cAnd the best part to all of this: the part you need to believe, is that from what I\u2019ve witnessed; your family will accept and support your decisions, no matter what you decide. That\u2019s a powerful gift.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019d you come to all these conclusions?\u201d Adam\u2019s face settled into a granite-like clench, but released in a sigh.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a good detective.\u201d<\/p>\n

The conversation was cut off when a stage rounded the corner and thundered to a stop at the station. Ben, Hoss and Joe exited the waiting room and headed towards Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis one\u2019s ours,\u201d Ben told his son. \u201cThey want us to board quickly to clear the street for the next inbound.\u201d He reached forward to grasp Paladin\u2019s hand. \u201cIt\u2019s been an honor and pleasure getting to know you. We\u2019ll look forward to your visit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss and Joe followed suit, with Joe adding thanks for his rescue. The \u201call aboard\u201d shout sent three of the Cartwrights to the stage while Adam lingered.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re an astute man, Paladin, and have given me much to consider.\u00a0 You knew I came here to outrun my demons. I couldn\u2019t, and saw one way out. You tossed me a rope without making any judgments and never let go of the other end.\u201d His cheek rose. \u201cSuspecting what I\u2019d come here to do, you didn\u2019t try to talk me out of dying. You reminded me how to live instead.\u201d Adam looked down and sighed before meeting his friend\u2019s eyes a last time. \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Ben looked across the coach as it neared Carson City. The journey had been long: not just this ride, but from the day his oldest son had left home to give a stranger a tour of the countryside, and he gave thanks. Adam looked physically healthy again, and the haunted look was gone.<\/p>\n

But now Ben saw shadows on his youngest son\u2019s features. While Adam had needed distance from his family to heal, for Joe, returning home would provide what he needed.<\/p>\n

One thing nagged at Ben\u2019s heart. Adam\u2019s expression, when he thought no one was watching, was distant. Ben saw resignation more than determination. The unavoidable truth was that His son still had a lot to think over. A shiver rippled across his shoulders.<\/p>\n

For now, he accepted the grace of the current moment and would let tomorrow take care of itself. For now, he\u2019d give thanks that his prayers had been answered in ways nearly miraculous. He\u2019d learned much in this odyssey, the greatest being to wait for answers that were too difficult to give immediately. Joe would seek his counsel \u00a0soon or with a little prompting. \u00a0But Adam might never divulge more about his experience with the man who\u2019d offered his hand, and in this, had pulled his son from the grave, leaving behind an empty casket. For now \u2026 his family was whole.<\/p>\n

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

1<\/sup>Adelina Patti<\/strong>\u00a0(10 February 1843\u00a0\u2013 27 September 1919)[1]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0was an Italian 19th-century\u00a0opera<\/a>\u00a0singer, earning huge fees at the height of her career in the music capitals of Europe and America.<\/p>\n

2<\/sup>Joe Goodman<\/strong> was the owner of the Territorial Express in Virginia City during the 1860s.<\/p>\n

3<\/sup>The Sad Sea Waves<\/em><\/strong>: From Jules Benedict\u2019s opera,\u00a0The Brides of Venice<\/em>\u00a0(1844) written for Jenny Lind.<\/p>\n

4<\/sup>Opium dens<\/strong> first sprung up in the Chinatown district of San Francisco in the 19th century. While they were eventually outlawed, these lounge-like establishments flourished for nearly a century.<\/p>\n

5<\/sup>The background of Paladin<\/strong> in Have Gun Will Travel<\/em> was always nebulous to create this mysterious man. Information from various episodes revealed that he attended West Point and served in the Civil War. In the episode called Genesis<\/em>, Paladin explains the circumstances that turned him from a rogue to a knight, saying it occurred 10 years earlier. The show is set in the early 1870s, so for this to happen in his timeframe, he must have exited the war before its conclusion. In the story he tells Adam, I took creative liberty in explaining why<\/em> he was discharged early. The rest of the information he gives Adam is taken directly from the from the Genesis episode\u2014a flashback to when and how he met the man who saved hi from himself. I place his meeting Adam into his second year as being \u201cPaladin\u201d while he\u2019s still perfecting his new role. His actual name is never given. While on a job, Paladin often wore a black shirt, pants and hat, with black leather belts. His holster and hat band were emblazoned with a silver knight chess piece. A young Pernell Roberts was a guest on Paladin playing a character Paladin did not admire.<\/p>\n

6<\/sup><\/strong>Was<\/strong> Adam was an engineer or an architect? He was referred to as both in different episode. However, the\u00a0earliest school of architecture, originated at MIT, in 1868. Architects were often engineers who designed buildings as well as the inner workings. A \u201carchitect\u201d at this time had probably apprenticed with established architects.<\/p>\n

7<\/sup><\/strong> Eli<\/strong> was a psychopath who tormented Adam in my story Sacred Promises: Malicious Games.<\/em><\/p>\n

8<\/sup> Unlike<\/strong> most illicit drugs that dilate the pupils, opiates constrict them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Finally:<\/strong> Thanks To BHT for creating the image for this story.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

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

Summary: The final story of the trilogy of stories:\u00a0 Trial of Jessica Hardy, Buried Alive, and now, The Empty Casket.\u00a0 The first two stories told of Adam’s disappearance after being taken as a hostage by a woman bank robber, and then his return after months spent drugged in a mental hospital. When Buried Alive ended, Adam had left Carson City following a frosty reunion with his family that had left him feeling that for everyone’s sake, he should have died as Jessica Hardy, AKA Leslie Richter, meant for him to do.\u00a0 This story picks up in San Francisco, where he has gone, hoping to find something about himself that is worth saving.\u00a0 He meets someone who just might understand what he’s feeling, and recognize what he’s planning to do. Can this other “man in black” save Adam from himself?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rating: K+
\nWord Count: 28,000
\nPart of The Trial of Jessica Hardy Series, links to all stories included within<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":37078,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,1005,24,23,41],"tags":[1059],"class_list":["post-37054","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-actionadventure","category-adam-cartwright","category-crossover","category-drama","category-hurtcomfort","tag-hgwt","wpcat-2-id","wpcat-1005-id","wpcat-24-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-41-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1532,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Paladin-1.png?fit=778%2C764&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5037,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5037","url_meta":{"origin":37054,"position":0},"title":"God So Loved the World (by Rona)","author":"Rona","date":"March 12, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 The true meaning of Easter is shown to the Cartwrights after Joe and Adam go missing. 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