Disclaimer: I don’t own the Cartwrights or Bonanza. No copyright infringement is intended against Ward Hawkins’ script. Original plot and characters are property of the author. This story is for entertainment and no money was made from it.<\/span><\/p>\n Reviews from the Old Library are on the last page.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Upholding the Family Pride<\/strong><\/p>\n The minutes were ticking down and if Adam didn\u2019t arrive soon he\u2019d prove that Bill Enders could not have made the ride from Goat Springs to Virginia City in enough time to establish an alibi for killing Toby Barker. After his insistence that Enders was the killer, despite being unable to see his face or any other distinguishing characteristic, the only thing Adam would prove if he was late is that he was stubborn in his wrong-headed conviction and that he wanted his business partner out of the way because he was determined to steal his wife. Any man who wanted another jailed for a crime that he couldn\u2019t have possibly committed had to have an ulterior motive of his own.<\/p>\n Ben and Roy checked their watches even though a minute had not yet completely passed since their last glance. Only a few minutes left and Ben had doubts that his son would make it. He wanted to believe that Adam was right, but he couldn\u2019t shake the feeling that his eldest was too insistent in his accusation against Enders.<\/p>\n Roy knew if Adam arrived within one-and-a-half hours that would only prove that it was possible to make the ride between Goat Springs and Virginia City if a horse was pushed to the limits of its endurance; it wouldn\u2019t prove that Enders had killed Toby. If Enders had robbed the way station as accused, he\u2019d have the money that Adam said was taken. Neither Enders nor his wife had spent above their means in the past few days.<\/p>\n The sheriff thought of Mary Enders\u2019 tearful accusation of Adam\u2019s attempted seduction. Maybe he should have arrested Adam right away, but Bill Enders didn\u2019t seem inclined to press charges.<\/p>\n Bill Enders emerged from the Nugget Saloon and checked his watch\u2014two minutes left. He adjusted his hat and joined the waiting crowd, his hand on the butt of his pistol, his thumb absently stroking the hammer. Even if Adam arrived in time, this business was going to be settled today. He wasn\u2019t going to live with an unfounded accusation hanging over his head; Mary\u2019s honor was also at stake. How could he maintain his standing in the community when his business partner accused him of murder with no evidence and then tried to cuckold him? Why couldn\u2019t everyone see that Cartwright was the one who should have to prove his motive?<\/p>\n A shout drew everyone\u2019s attention to the rooftop of the hotel. \u201cHe\u2019s gonna make it!\u201d a man shouted as he pointed.<\/p>\n The crowd parted to make room for the horse that was sure to be barreling through town.<\/p>\n A dark look crossed Enders\u2019 face as he again checked his watch. \u201cCartwright better have the strength to stand behind his accusation,\u201d he thought.<\/p>\n Ben and Roy checked their watches one last time as a dust cloud blew through town. Adam was going to make it with seconds to spare.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Ben, yer boy\u2019s gonna make it, but it still don\u2019t prove that Enders killed Toby.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt does prove that Enders would have arrived from Goat Springs in enough time to be seen by Mrs. Kramer and her daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJes\u2019 because it\u2019s possible fer a man to ride from Goat Springs to Virginia City in one-and-a-half hours don\u2019t mean it\u2019s proof that Enders killed Toby.\u201d<\/p>\n Thundering hooves were heard on the edge of town and Adam quickly appeared on Main Street. His horse, lathered in sweat and blowing hard, was eager to end his run. Adam, covered in dust, quickly dismounted and took in the applauding crowd. Were they happy to see him make the ride within the time limit or were they acknowledging his tenacity in proving that Enders was Toby\u2019s killer?<\/p>\n Ben approached his son and slapped his shoulder, raising a small puff of dust that drifted on the slight breeze. \u201cCongratulations, Son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, boy, ya did it. Ah didn\u2019t think it was possible, but ya proved everyone wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll arrest Bill now?\u201d<\/p>\n Roy shook his head. \u201cAh still ain\u2019t got proof that Enders killed Toby. Unless you can deliver that, Ah cain\u2019t lock him up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCartwright!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and the crowd turned to see Enders in the middle of the street.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re gonna settle this once and for all right now! You got people thinkin\u2019 I killed a man for no reason just because you got here in one-and-a-half hours. Unless you\u2019ve got proof, you\u2019re a liar!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam wearily shook his head. Removing his hat, he wiped the sweat from the inside as he said, \u201cI saw you, Bill. You pulled the trigger.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou made love to my wife with your fancy words and promises! You can accuse me of murder all you want, but you can\u2019t stand there and deny what you did to Mary!\u201d<\/p>\n A gasp went up from the crowd. Adam really did want Bill Enders out of the way so he could have his wife, free and clear.<\/p>\n \u201cI demand satisfaction, Adam! Right here, right now!\u201d Bill pulled his coat back so it was behind his holster.<\/p>\n Adam look to Roy to put a stop to this. \u201cIt\u2019s perfectly legal, Son. Bill has a right to defend his wife\u2019s honor.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben squeezed his son\u2019s shoulder. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Son. You\u2019ve made accusations you can\u2019t support.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t seduce Mary.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s your word against hers. Why would she lie?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo protect Bill and give him a motive if something happened to me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s pretty far-fetched,\u201d said Roy.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t mind accusin\u2019 other people without proof but ya want to turn your back when someone\u2019s got proof against you! Stand like a man and prove ya didn\u2019t do any of those things to my wife!\u201d<\/p>\n A woman in the crowd fainted. What kind of an animal was Ben\u2019s eldest son? Was he so high-and-mighty that he thought anything was his for the taking?<\/p>\n Adam wearily strode out to the middle of the street and faced Bill. He would have to put away all feelings of exhaustion in order to outdraw Enders. His opponent was fast, and deadly, with a gun. Adam hoped Bill\u2019s anger would throw off his aim.<\/p>\n Roy walked down the side of the street until he was halfway between both men. \u201cAh\u2019ll count ta three.\u201d<\/p>\n Bill removed his hand from the butt of his gun and his fingers twitched in anticipation. Adam flexed his hand a few times to work out the tightness from gripping the reins for so long.<\/p>\n \u201cOne.\u201d<\/p>\n Bill\u2019s eyes narrowed as he sized up Adam. He was going to get his revenge for those false accusations and his Mary\u2019s honor would be restored.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam took in a deep breath and adjusted his stance. He licked his lips and thought he\u2019d at least die with the satisfaction of knowing that Bill did have time to make it to Virginia City after killing Toby and be seen by someone who\u2019d give him an alibi. He\u2019d stood by his convictions, regardless of what others said.<\/p>\n \u201cThree.\u201d<\/p>\n Both men drew their guns in a blur of motion and the crowd heard what sounded as one shot.<\/p>\n Hoss and Joe arrived in Virginia City as Adam fell backwards to the packed earth of the street, his smoking gun in his hand. Enders gripped his arm as blood leaked between his fingers.<\/p>\n Hoss gave Chubb a furious kick and the horse sprang forward with a loud whinny. He bore down on Enders and knocked the man to the ground with an outstretched leg. Chubb reared as his rider pulled him to a sudden stop and then spun on a hoof to head back up the street.<\/p>\n Mary Enders rushed from the boarding house to her husband\u2019s side. She helped him to sit up and then buried her face in his neck.<\/p>\n Hoss dismounted and joined his father and brother. A pool of blood was soaking into the street as he knelt down and cradled Adam\u2019s head in the crook of his arm.<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s eyes opened a fraction and he reached for Hoss\u2019s face. He gasped out, \u201cFamily. . .pride.\u201d<\/p>\n A long sigh escaped Adam\u2019s lips as his arm hit the ground and his body went limp. Dr. Martin knelt down, put his fingers to Adam\u2019s throat, looked into Hoss\u2019s tear-filled eyes, and gave a small shake of his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss felt a hand squeeze his shoulder and heard his father say, \u201cIt was his decision.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all my fault!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe knelt down, laid his arm across his brother\u2019s broad shoulders, and rested his cheek against his beefy upper arm. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing we could have done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d Hoss wished he could take back that crack he\u2019d made yesterday about Adam being scared of Enders. If it hadn\u2019t been for him and his callous remark, Adam would still be alive.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all my fault!\u201d he sobbed out.<\/p>\n He couldn\u2019t see who had him by the shoulders as he sobbed for his brother. His fist balled up so he could punch them for shaking him so hard.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss!\u00a0Hoss!\u201d<\/p>\n Someone was forcing his arm down so he couldn\u2019t let his fist fly.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss! Wake up!\u201d<\/p>\n After more shaking, Hoss\u2019s eyes flew open and he took in his surroundings with some confusion. The dim light from the lamp revealed the safe confines of his room. He looked at his older brother and touched his bare chest where the bullet hole should be.<\/p>\n \u201cI. . . dreamed Enders killed you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat would be pretty amazing since he\u2019s in jail.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss sat against the headboard for support and rubbed a large hand over his eyes. \u201cYa made that danged ride in time and Enders shot ya down in the street.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe shot me off my horse?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, he outdrew ya.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt least it was a fair fight.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss gripped Adam\u2019s shoulder tightly. \u201cI got a bad feelin\u2019 about tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEverything will be in the jury\u2019s hands. If they convict Enders for attempted murder of a law officer, he\u2019ll be sent to the Territorial Prison. He can\u2019t deny that he shot Roy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI still got a bad feelin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShouldn\u2019t I be the one who\u2019s worried?\u201d asked Adam, trying to reassure his brother.<\/p>\n \u201cProbably. I jest cain\u2019t help it, though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you go back to sleep, Mother Hen?\u201d Adam asked with a glint of humor in his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll try.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam patted Hoss\u2019s shoulder and went back to his own room. Everyone on the street, not just a Cartwright, saw Bill shoot Roy; there was no possible way for Bill to deny that charge. Plus, the jury should have all of the evidence it needed for Toby\u2019s murder\u2014Mary\u2019s conscience hadn\u2019t allowed her to cover her husband\u2019s deeds with lies and she\u2019d given Roy a complete confession.<\/p>\n Hoss tried to leave his uneasiness in the bed as he sat in the rocking chair by the window. He deeply inhaled the pine-scented night air to clear his head. Uneasiness settled around his shoulders like a shawl and he tried to shove the image of his dead brother from his mind.<\/p>\n * Breakfast would have been a quiet meal if it hadn\u2019t been for Joe\u2019s chatter. \u201cBill Enders deserves whatever the jury gives him. Maybe he\u2019ll get hard labor. I bet that\u2019d be a shock if he had to use those pretty hands of his.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell the truth, Adam\u2014you knew Bill was the triggerman in that holdup because of his hands.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam came close to snorting coffee through his nose. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t his hands. Bill\u2019s just one of those men who can\u2019t disguise himself. Like you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you plan to buy out Bill\u2019s interest in that mine?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Mary will need an income while Bill\u2019s in prison. I\u2019ll have to make some good investments on her behalf.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss picked at his third helping of scrambled eggs, half-listening to the conversation. He was going to keep a close eye on Adam and a closer eye on Enders. That cloud of uneasiness refused to be dissolved by the sun breaking over the horizon.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Hoss?\u201d asked Joe. \u201cThere\u2019s still bacon on the table.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothin\u2019s wrong. I\u2019m gonna get our horses ready.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben watched his largest son\u2019s retreat from the table with an eyebrow raised in concern.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go help,\u201d said Adam, wiping his mouth with his napkin.<\/p>\n \u201cLeaves more bacon for us,\u201d said Joe with a smile. \u201cWant anymore, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n With his cup poised at his lips, Ben said, \u201cNo, Son, help yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n The ride into town was a quiet one but each joined in conversation upon reaching the courthouse. Spectators had come from outlying ranchers, Carson City, and even Placerville to see someone as wealthy as Bill Enders convicted of a crime.<\/p>\n At ten o\u2019clock sharp, the judge\u2019s gavel banged on the desk. \u201cOrder, everyone! Order!\u201d People rushed to find a seat while the Cartwrights walked as a group to a bench near the front. The jurymen filed into the box, the foreman holding a piece of paper.<\/p>\n \u201cWill the defendant please rise?\u201d<\/p>\n Enders and his attorney stood as directed. Bill turned to steal a glance at his wife. She was dabbing at the corner of an eye with a lacy handkerchief.<\/p>\n \u201cHave you reached a verdict?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have, Your Honor.\u201d The foreman unfolded the paper, its crackling the only sound to be heard in the courtroom. \u201cWe the jury find the defendant, Bill Enders, guilty of the charge of murder in the first degree of Toby Barker. We find the defendant, Bill Enders, guilty of the charge of armed robbery of the Goat Spring\u2019s Way Station. We find the defendant, Bill Enders, guilty of the charge of attempted murder in the second degree of Sheriff Roy Coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n Bill\u2019s shoulders slumped after the foreman finished. He hadn\u2019t thought Mary\u2019s confession would hold any weight with the jury.<\/p>\n The judge absently scratched at his beard and then turned his attention to the accused. \u201cThis court finds the defendant guilty on all charges and sentences the defendant to ten years hard labor.\u201d The judge\u2019s gavel could barely be heard over the noise in the courtroom.<\/p>\n Mary\u2019s body shook with her sobs. She wanted to rush to her husband but Roy was placing manacles on his wrists.<\/p>\n The crowd began flowing from the courtroom, many of the men intent on doing some saloon lawyering at the Nugget or the Bucket of Blood. A few men were already debating whether or not Adam had seduced the confession from Mary.<\/p>\n Ben squeezed his son\u2019s shoulder and said, \u201cYou stood by your convictions. That took strength.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe jury needed more than my \u2018strength\u2019 to see that Bill killed Toby.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cC\u2019mon, Adam, beer\u2019s on me,\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n As the Cartwrights left the courtroom, Adam stopped to say a few words to Mary. Enders\u2019 eyes bored a hole in Adam\u2019s back.<\/p>\n Mary stood, turned her tear-stained face to her husband, and then looked away quickly. She took Adam\u2019s offered arm and left the courthouse.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go, Bill,\u201d said Roy.<\/p>\n The lawman and his prisoner walked up the aisle side-by-side. Reaching the door, Roy adjusted the brim of his hat. Bill noted that Mary was across the street, practically running to the boarding house\u2014alone. Adam\u2019s back was to him, presenting a perfect target. Enders quickly shoved into Roy, pulled the sheriff\u2019s pistol from its holster, and leveled it.<\/p>\n All four Cartwrights turned at Roy\u2019s cry and Hoss screamed in rage as Adam fell to the ground, a pool of blood soaking into the street. The large man ran at the cuffed prisoner, crossing the distance between them with the speed of a grizzly bear intent on its prey. Bill had no time to react as Hoss\u2019s bulk slammed him to the ground.<\/p>\n Roy tried to hold Hoss\u2019s fist back but wasn\u2019t strong enough. Joe leaped onto his brother\u2019s back, hoping his weight would throw Hoss off balance.<\/p>\n Hoss regained his feet and whirled to dislodge his passenger. His momentum stopped so suddenly that Joe was flung to the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m all right, Hoss,\u201d said Adam, getting to his feet as blood trickled through his fingers. \u201cIt\u2019s just my shoulder.\u201d<\/p>\n Forgetting Enders, Hoss strode over to his older brother and tore his shirt aside, resulting in a wince and a groan. The bullet had gone clean through the shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve had worse,\u201d said Adam in what he hoped was a nonchalant voice. His knees buckled as he looked into his brother\u2019s relieved blue eyes; the tension from the events of the past few weeks leaving his body along with his blood.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get ya to the Doc\u2019s,\u201d said Hoss, pulling his brother up in a fluid motion.<\/p>\n Ben and Joe watched as Hoss half-dragged a protesting Adam through the small crowd to Doctor Martin\u2019s office.<\/p>\n \u201cNothin\u2019 ta see here, folks,\u201d said Roy, helping Enders stand. \u201cCome on,\u201d he said with a hard jerk to his prisoner\u2019s arm. \u201cI think the judge\u2019ll be more\u2019n happy to add some extra time to yer sentence fer that little stunt.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe accompanied Roy and his prisoner to the jail while Ben went to the doctor\u2019s office. Adam was lying on a couch, his face pale as the doctor worked to clean the wound. Hoss stood by the door, arms folded across his chest, practically daring Adam to try to get up.<\/p>\n \u201cHow is he?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d said Adam through gritted teeth.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll be back to fixing fences within the month,\u201d said Dr. Martin, putting the bottle of iodine back in the cabinet.<\/p>\n Ben exhaled a deep breath in relief. If nothing else had proved Enders was a murderer, that shot at Adam surely did.<\/p>\n Hoss leaned further into the doorframe and watched his brother trying to be stoic as his arm was maneuvered into a sling. Now he was glad Adam hadn\u2019t given in to Enders\u2019 goading that afternoon in The Nugget; Enders would have probably back-shot Adam without a second thought. What a sure way for Bill Enders to get away with murder if Adam was out of the way.<\/p>\n Joe entered the office and asked, \u201cCan you ride?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s my arm. Of course I can ride.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMake sure he takes it easy,\u201d ordered Dr. Martin, handing a bottle of laudanum to Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll make sure of that,\u201d answered Hoss.<\/p>\n *<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHow on Earth can he sleep with all of that racket?\u201d muttered Adam as he pinched the bridge of his nose.<\/p>\n Ben entered his eldest\u2019s room to check on him before heading to his own room. He took in his son\u2019s glassy-eyed appearance and worried he was developing a fever. Reaching out to feel his forehead, he was briefly surprised by the swat he received, but attributed it to the medicine.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think he\u2019ll stop snoring if you give\u00a0him<\/em>\u00a0the laudanum?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you take a spoonful? Maybe it\u2019ll help you sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d take the whole bottle if it\u2019d do that! Make him stop, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben tried to stifle a low chuckle. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you do what Joseph does? Sleep with a pillow over your head.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHa-ha. I don\u2019t know which is worse\u2014his nightmares or his snoring. They\u2019re both so noisy!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s just relieved that this whole business with Enders is over. Maybe he\u2019ll be more productive working fence tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I\u2019ll be able to sleep with him out of the house.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood night, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNight, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam tried to get comfortable but having his arm in a sling made it nearly impossible. He took his copy of Herman Melville\u2019s\u00a0Typee<\/em>\u00a0from the nightstand to pass the time. After two paragraphs, his eyes closed and he relaxed into the pillows.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Adam was minutes away from successfully making the ride from Goat Springs to Virginia City in an hour-and-a-half. Chubb and Cochise loped in Adam\u2019s dusty wake.<\/p>\n \u201cAh think he\u2019s gonna make it,\u201d Hoss said to Joe.<\/p>\n They heard a shot from town and urged their horses to pick up the pace. They rounded the corner to see Adam being cheered by the crowd for doing what everyone had believed to be impossible.<\/p>\n Hoss saw Enders trying to slink off towards the livery stable. \u201cHe\u2019s gonna get away!\u201d he yelled, pointing in the direction Enders was heading.<\/p>\n Roy and several men in the crowd gave chase, pulling their quarry to the ground. The sheriff cuffed Enders and dragged him off to jail.<\/p>\n Hoss suddenly awoke, not sure what brought him to the surface of awareness. After sniffing strongly to test the air and clear his nose, he stretched and got out of bed. He tip-toed next door and saw light coming from under the door. Quietly opening it, he peeked in to see his older brother sprawled across the bed, head flung back, mouth open, and snoring.<\/p>\n No wonder he woke up! All that racket would keep anyone from sleeping. Hoss silently crossed the room, gently pried the book from Adam\u2019s hand, and tenderly placed him against the pillows, mindful of the injured shoulder. Pleased with his work, Hoss smiled to himself and turned down the lamp.<\/p>\n Returning to his room, he wormed his way under the covers and fell into a peaceful slumber, dreaming of Adam riding fence and making repairs in record time.<\/p>\n The End <\/p>\n Reviewer:\u00a0<\/span>mohegan\u00a0Anonymous<\/span>\u00a0 It filled in a few gaps and added some other possibilities, and I enjoyed reading this.<\/p>\n Author’s Response: Thank you, mohegan!<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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\nApril 2009<\/p>\n![\"star\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bonanzabrand.info\/efiction\/images\/star.gif?ssl=1\")
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\nDate:\u00a0<\/span>11 May 2011 10:20 pm\u00a0Title:\u00a0<\/span>Upholding the Family Pride<\/p>\n