Summary:\u00a0 It’s time for the boys to head out onto the Ponderosa, performing chores that could take them away for a few weeks.
\nRating: PG\u00a0 (4,325 words)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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Nine Tenths of the Law<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam Cartwright bent down to retrieve his coffee pot. He threw the dregs on to the campfire and then carefully extinguished the last embers with a good covering of soil.\u00a0 He packed his gear on to the packhorse and saddled Sport.\u00a0 It would sure be good to be home in a soft bed tonight and if he rode steadily he could make it back in time for supper.\u00a0 Three weeks of his own cooking and only the hard ground for a bed was more than enough.\u00a0\u00a0 He kicked over the fire once more and re-covered it. Up here in the mountains the timber was dry after a long hot summer and it wouldn\u2019t take much to start a forest fire.<\/p>\n He had been riding for most of the past three weeks up here in the high timber, replenishing line shacks, checking fences and marking trees for cutting next spring.\u00a0 It was unusual for him to draw this section.\u00a0 For the past four or five years Joe had always volunteered for it, so he could get in some hunting.\u00a0 Hoss took the middle section where he could be on hand if the herd needed him, and Adam had covered the southern boundary and paid the taxes in Genoa.\u00a0 This year Pa had insisted on a change around, widening experience he called it, though Adam had a feeling that assigning Joe the middle section was more to keep an eye on little brother than to widen his experience.\u00a0 He chuckled to himself as he swung into the saddle, Joe had been doing rather a lot of widening his experience at the poker tables and bars lately, and the northern section meant a ride through Reno, or at least very close to it.<\/p>\n He rode along lost in thoughts of a night in town.\u00a0 He had avoided Reno, it was growing too fast and not in any direction Adam wanted to explore.\u00a0\u00a0 Now a few drinks in the Washoe Club with friends, a pretty girl to escort to dinner, a nice steak at the International House, followed by a good play at Piper\u2019s, that was what he wanted this Saturday.\u00a0 He hoped Joe had managed to stay out of trouble or Pa would be in a bad mood and would be looking to share his opinions of his youngest son with his oldest.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want to spend his first evening at home listening to a list of his brother\u2019s sins.<\/p>\n Adam pulled a book from his saddlebags as he rode.\u00a0 Pa would have a fit if he knew Adam still read as he rode.\u00a0 Pa had been lecturing him on it since he was about twelve and had discovered that he could combine reading with so many mundane tasks.\u00a0 The trouble with Pa was that he still saw his sons as twelve.\u00a0 He smiled to himself; Pa would have several fits if he knew the half of what his sons did. For the next hour he was totally lost in another world; So much so that the sound of shots startled him.\u00a0 Sport pulled at the reins and tossed his head and Adam had to stuff his book back in the saddlebag and reassure the gelding.\u00a0 \u201cEasy, boy.\u00a0 Now where did that come from?\u201d<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t know this area too well, oh, he traveled the trail to the meadows often, but the timber here was too young for cutting and apart from an occasional hunting trip he didn\u2019t stray from the main trail.\u00a0 He looked around him, the shots had come from his left and he turned Sport in the direction of the sound as another burst of gunfire was heard.\u00a0\u00a0 He recalled that there was an old prospector\u2019s cabin up here\u00a0 and guessed that the shots had come from there.\u00a0 As far as he knew the cabin had been empty since Pa had filed claim on the land, maybe fifteen or more years ago.<\/p>\n He approached cautiously and tethered the horses well away from the cabin.\u00a0 With gun drawn he moved closer.\u00a0 The sound of sporadic shooting greeted him.\u00a0 A quick reconnaissance told him that there were maybe three or four gunmen around the cabin and from the answering fire he guessed that they were shooting at one person inside.\u00a0 He had no idea of the rights or wrongs of the situation and he took a moment to make his decision.\u00a0 Once made, he acted on it immediately.<\/p>\n He moved quickly from cover to cover, firing his rifle and pistol alternately.\u00a0 His hope was that the attacking band would think there were several gunmen and would use discretion and retreat.\u00a0 His action would also alert the man in the house that there was someone outside who was a friend.\u00a0 It took several minutes but finally the three attackers, he now knew there were three from the returned gunfire, withdrew.<\/p>\n Closer to the cabin now, Adam called out, \u201cI\u2019m coming in, don\u2019t shoot.\u201d<\/p>\n He made a run for the door and was rewarded with it opening to greet him just as another volley of shots rang out when the attackers realized he was just one man.\u00a0\u00a0 He ducked inside and the firing stopped.\u00a0 When he had recovered his breath it was almost taken away again at the occupant of the cabin.\u00a0 He turned to meet the glaring angry eyes of a very old man.\u00a0 Adam guessed he was in his seventies, but looking more like a hundred.\u00a0 He wore a battered hat, thick wool shirt and trousers with suspenders and a leather waistcoat that had seen better days.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t have weighed more than seventy or eighty pounds and his head was tilted back so that he could look up into Adam\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cDang, fool kids.\u201d\u00a0 The old man spluttered.\u00a0 \u201cYou coulda got yerself killed doin\u2019 that.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam raised an eyebrow and then proceeded to re-load his pistol.\u00a0 \u201cAnd you\u2019d soon be dead if I hadn\u2019t.\u201d he responded, lifting his head from the task in hand to offer a smile at the old man.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s it all about?\u00a0 Who are they?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI dunno who they are but they ain\u2019t welcome.\u00a0 They\u2019re after my place and I ain\u2019t givin\u2019 it to \u2018em.\u00a0 Rode up here this morning pretty as you please and told me to git.\u201d\u00a0 The old man moved to the window and peered out.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam held out his hand, \u201cMy name\u2019s Adam Cartwright, my family owns this land.\u201d<\/p>\n The old man ignored the outstretched hand, \u201cJud Morris and I<\/em> own this land, youngster.\u00a0 Bin here for more than five years now.\u00a0 Ain\u2019t see\u2019d no one from yer family, no one a\u2019tall.\u201d<\/p>\n Another shot rang out and the old man moved surprisingly quickly.<\/p>\n Adam moved even more swiftly to the window and returned fire, \u201cWe can discuss who owns what later, right now we both agree it isn\u2019t those fellas out there.\u201d<\/p>\n For a few minutes the air was hot with flying lead, but when the attackers realized that they were simply wasting ammunition, they obviously decided to wait it out.<\/p>\n Adam relaxed a little and took a better look around the cabin.\u00a0 If he had found it empty he wouldn\u2019t have been surprised.\u00a0 The old man had hardly made any impact on the place.\u00a0 There were still holes in the roof, the furniture was sparse and rickety and a thick layer of dust coated everything.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy do those fellas out there want this place, it’s hardly a palace.\u00a0 You got a stash of gold or found some on the property?\u201d\u00a0 Adam asked, idly.<\/p>\n \u201cAin\u2019t gonna tell you, even if I had, which I ain\u2019t.\u201d was the old man\u2019s terse response.<\/p>\n Adam allowed his mouth to turn up at? the corners.\u00a0 \u201cThey must want something.\u00a0 You know them, perhaps?\u201d<\/p>\n The old man sniffed, \u201cDone seen \u2018em around once or twice, but they never bothered me afore.\u201d<\/p>\n “Well, they are certainly bothering you now!”\u00a0 Adam replied as another few shots were aimed at the cabin.\u00a0 He shifted position, “I think one of them is out front keeping us busy while the others try to find a way around back.\u00a0 Is there a back way in, window or anything?”<\/p>\n Jud rubbed his chin, as though wondering whether to trust Adam, “Small winda, ain’t big enough for a man to get through.”<\/p>\n “Then they must be planning to get around the side to the door.\u00a0 Stay by that window and try to stop anyone coming from the back and I’ll do the same.\u00a0 The fella out front can’t make a run across that open ground.”<\/p>\n Jud sniffed, “You did.\u00a0 But then most folk ain’t lookin’ to get shot.\u00a0 You ain’t about to live long if you take risks like that.”<\/p>\n Adam grinned. “You sound like my father.”<\/p>\n “Mebbe you should listen to him once in a while.\u00a0 Lost my boy in a gunfight.”<\/p>\n Adam sobered, “I’m sorry\u2026 ”<\/p>\n “Nigh on twenty year ago now, he’d a bin a few years older than you, but you’re a lot like him.\u00a0 Think you’re too smart for us old uns, always know better.\u00a0 Gotta prove yourself…”<\/p>\n Adam was spared from replying as a fusillade of shots came from the scrub across the yard.\u00a0 He sent one shot in reply; no need to waste ammunition, there was no telling how long they might be here.\u00a0 Out of the corner of his eye he saw a movement through Jud\u2019s window and without real thought aimed a shot at the centre of the door.\u00a0 From outside he heard a sharp cry as splintered wood and the bullet hit someone.<\/p>\n The old man grinned, \u201cNice shootin\u2019.\u00a0 He musta crept under the window, I didn\u2019t see him \u2018til he stood up.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam acknowledged the old man\u2019s praise with a brief nod, \u201cNow we see if the other two still think it\u2019s worth the risk.\u201d<\/p>\n They heard the injured man crawling along the porch but there was no more firing.\u00a0 After minutes, Jud peered out of the window.<\/p>\n \u201cThink they\u2019ve gone?\u201d\u00a0 he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s see if we can draw any fire.\u201d\u00a0 Adam slowly raised his head above the window ledge, alert and ready to duck and then fired two shots in the general direction of the scrub.\u00a0 A single shot came back at them.<\/p>\n \u201cSounds like they haven\u2019t given up yet.\u201d\u00a0 Adam sighed.\u00a0 \u201cThey can wait it out a lot longer than we can.\u00a0 They can hunt or send one of them for supplies and still keep us pinned down.\u201d\u00a0 He sat down on the floor to check his pistol.\u00a0 \u201cYou have any spare ammunition, the box in my jacket is all I have for my pistol and my rifle is almost empty.\u201d<\/p>\n Jud shook his head, \u201cA little for the rifles but I don\u2019t got a pistol, no use for \u2018em since Pauly died.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen we need to find a way out of here pretty soon.\u201d\u00a0 Adam continued to re-load and put his mind to the problem.\u00a0 He found it insoluble.\u00a0 It was only a matter of time.\u00a0 There was only one way out and the three gunmen had command of that, even with one injured they could hold out indefinitely.<\/p>\n ****<\/p>\n Joe Cartwright finished spreading clean straw into the stalls and then leaned on the divide and looked at his older brother, who was grooming Chub.\u00a0 \u201cAdam should be back today.\u00a0 Be good to get a few of these chores shared out a bit more evenly.\u201d\u00a0 He grumbled.\u00a0 \u201cI got my section done three days ago.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss turned and waved a currycomb at his little brother, \u201cI agree with ya there.\u00a0 I\u2019m workin\u2019 for at least two and a half of us. So why don\u2019t ya stop waving that pitchfork around and bring down another sack of feed from the loft.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe was about to argue but he knew Hoss was tired too and short-tempered.\u00a0 He decided not to push it and gave a sigh as he made a big thing about climbing the ladder for the feed.\u00a0 He had hardly started up the ladder when he heard a horse in the yard.\u00a0 \u201cHey, maybe that\u2019s him.\u201d\u00a0 He jumped down, the feed forgotten, and headed into the yard. Hoss grunted and put down his tools.\u00a0 Joe would do anything to get out of work, but then to be fair none of them were keen on yard chores.<\/p>\n The rider was not Adam, but one of Roy Coffee\u2019s deputies and he had dismounted in front of the house and was talking to Ben Cartwright as the boys approached.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you see Ben, Roy was wonderin\u2019 if you could spare some men to help search?\u201d\u00a0 the deputy\u00a0 said.<\/p>\n \u201cSearch for what?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked, nodding a greeting to the deputy.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Clem, what ya lost?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss chimed in.<\/p>\n Clem turned toward the boys and grinned, \u201cNot me, boys, the stage line.\u00a0 They lost a shipment of gold few days back near Donner Pass and they reckon the robbers headed down this way.\u00a0 We\u2019ve checked all the roads south and east and we\u2019re working our way north and west but up in the mountains tracking ain\u2019t so easy.\u00a0 Roy thought maybe your hands could help check out the Ponderosa land between the lake and Reno.\u00a0 Roy\u2019s got some notion that they might be using one of your line shacks to hide out until the heat dies down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf they are doing that, then Adam may have seen some signs.\u00a0 He\u2019s been up that way putting in supplies for the winter.\u201d\u00a0 Ben nodded,\u00a0 \u201cHe should be back today or tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa he mighta done more than see signs, maybe me and Joe better ride up there and do some lookin\u2019.\u00a0 He coulda gotten into some trouble.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss suggested.<\/p>\n Ben considered for a moment, \u201cThat\u2019s a good idea, Hoss.\u00a0 We\u2019ll cover the section between here and the north boundary and I\u2019ll send some men out to the lake area.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks Ben, I\u2019ll let Roy know and we can concentrate on the trails south.\u201d\u00a0 Clem re-mounted and headed out.<\/p>\n It took no time at all for the three Cartwrights to saddle up and alert some hands for the other search party.\u00a0 As they rode north, Joe suggested that they\u2019d cover more ground if they split up.\u00a0 At first Ben was wary but as they moved further north with no sign of the robbers he began to see some sense in the suggestion.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, Joe.\u00a0 We\u2019ll fan out from here.\u00a0 You take the eastern section, Hoss the trail toward the lake and I\u2019ll continue up the route Adam would have taken to the northernmost cabin.\u00a0 Then whichever way he decided to come back one of us should run across in him in a few hours.\u00a0 If we find nothing by mid afternoon, we meet up at the high meadows cabin; it\u2019s about the midpoint from all the cabins he had to supply.\u00a0 If you find any sign of Adam or the robbers fire three shots, if we are still within range we can join up again.\u201d\u00a0 As Joe made to ride off, Ben caught Cochise\u2019s bridle.\u00a0 \u201cNo risks.\u00a0 You hear me?\u00a0 If there is any danger you go to the meadows cabin and wait and we tackle this gang together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be careful.\u201d\u00a0 But even as he said it, Joe was pulling away, anxious to be off searching.\u00a0 Any adventure was better than yard chores.<\/p>\n Ben shook his head in exasperation, telling Joe to be careful was like wishing for the moon.\u00a0 His youngest son didn\u2019t know the meaning of the word fear or caution.\u00a0 As he watched Joe ride away he wished he\u2019d made them all stay together.<\/p>\n Hoss saw his father\u2019s concern and tried to reassure him,\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019ll be fine, Pa.\u00a0 Likely them robbers is away over in California by now and Adam\u2019s just riding back at a leisurely pace takin\u2019 in the scenery.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben grunted, \u201cReading a book more like and not paying attention to where he\u2019s going.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe rode at a gentle pace for him, much as he would have liked to give Cochise his head, he needed to look for signs of Adam or the gang.\u00a0\u00a0 Two hours after he left his father and brother he had seen nothing.\u00a0 He checked the sun and figured he\u2019d better head for the meadows.\u00a0 Pa would be mad if he was late getting to the cabin.\u00a0 Adam must be long gone by now, probably back at the house enjoying Hop Sing\u2019s cookies and hot coffee.\u00a0 He turned Cochise toward the meadows.\u00a0 He was within about a three miles of the meadows line shack when he heard shots.\u00a0 Nothing much, just a couple of rifle shots and maybe one pistol shot in answer.<\/p>\n \u201cC\u2019mon Cooch, looks like we mighta found something.\u201d<\/p>\n The horse responded to his master and picked up his pace.<\/p>\n \u201cNow Pa, said not to rush in, so maybe we\u2019d better circle around first and see what\u2019s happening.\u201d<\/p>\n All Joe\u2019s caution was thrown away when he saw his older brother\u2019s horse tethered to a bush.\u00a0 \u201cHey, Sport, where is he then?\u201d<\/p>\n The big chestnut snorted as if in answer, recognising the voice and his pinto stable mate.\u00a0 Joe checked the horse over, no injuries and it looked as though he\u2019d been tethered for some time.\u00a0 More shots away to Joe\u2019s left made him swing around.\u00a0 He took his rifle from its scabbard and moved forward slowly.\u00a0 A few steps in the direction of the shots revealed a cabin.\u00a0 A flash of gunfire from the window told him that whoever was shooting at the cabin must be to his right and between him and the cabin door.\u00a0 He moved a little closer.\u00a0 No way of knowing whether it was Adam in the cabin or if he was the one on the outside, Joe thought.\u00a0 He gave a shout\u2026 \u201cHey, Adam\u2026 Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n Inside the cabin, Adam almost fell back in surprise.\u00a0 What on earth was his little brother doing way out here?\u00a0 It wasn’t as if he was overdue.\u00a0 He recovered quickly and called back, “Watch yourself, Joe, there are three of them out there.”<\/p>\n “Well we outnumber ’em two to one,” Joe called back, moving to his left and firing then dodging back behind a tree and firing again.\u00a0 He kept moving from tree to tree firing his rifle, until he saw one of the men standing up to fire at the cabin window.\u00a0 With the outlaw in his sights he didn’t miss and the man spun around before falling to the ground.\u00a0 There was a rustle in the undergrowth and a horse burst through heading straight for Joe.\u00a0 He ducked and fired at the man in the saddle? but the horse was moving away from him too fast.\u00a0 A third man came out with one hand up, the other hung useless at his side from his bloodied shirt<\/p>\n Joe waved his gun in the direction of the cabin, “Walk in front of me and don’t try anything.”<\/p>\n Together they walked slowly to the cabin door, which was now open.<\/p>\n “Good to see you little brother, where are the others?”\u00a0 Adam spoke as he re-loaded his pistol.<\/p>\n Joe grinned, “One’s dead and the other made off and I couldn’t get him.”<\/p>\n “Good, but I meant Pa and Hoss, you said we outnumbered them two to one.”<\/p>\n Joe shrugged,\u00a0 “Yeah, well that was kinda a lie.\u00a0 There’s just li’le ole me.”<\/p>\n Behind Adam, Jud grunted.<\/p>\n Adam heard him and turned smiling,\u00a0 “Jud, this is my kid brother, Joe.\u00a0 Joe, this here is Jud Morris.\u00a0 This is his place!”<\/p>\n Jud barely looked at Joe, “Whole family’s crazy,” he muttered.<\/p>\n Joe pushed the startled bandit against the wall;\u00a0 “Got anything we can tie him up with.\u00a0 I’d kinda like to hear his story.”<\/p>\n “Me too.” Adam looked more closely at the captive man.\u00a0 “You don’t think you own this place too, do you?”<\/p>\n The man shook his head as he held out his hands for Joe to tie them, “We thought it was empty, needed a hideout, ’til the posse got tired of looking.”<\/p>\n Light dawned for Joe, “You robbed the stage!”<\/p>\n The man nodded, “Yeah, but I never shot nobody, I was just lookout.\u00a0 Fred and Danny did the robbin’.\u00a0 Danny shot the guard.”<\/p>\n Adam was still mystified, “But when you found the cabin was occupied why didn’t you just move on? There are several line shacks and abandoned cabins within a day’s ride of here.”<\/p>\n The outlaw looked at Adam as if he was stupid, “Buried the strong box in back, didn’t we?\u00a0 Had to come back for it when the posse headed south.\u00a0 We didn’t know he’d be livin’ here, thought he was just prospecting, passing through to California.”<\/p>\n Adam nodded, “Well Jud looks like you did have gold, even if you didn’t know it.”\u00a0 He stopped speaking the sound of horses\u00a0 outside and pulled the outlaw to the ground, “You got anymore friends?”<\/p>\n Scared, the man shook his head.\u00a0 “Naw, Fred’s dead and Danny made off, there was just the three of us, Mister, I swear.”<\/p>\n Joe rushed to the door despite Adam yelling a warning.\u00a0 “It’s Pa and Hoss,,”\u00a0 he called back.<\/p>\n Adam sagged with relief.\u00a0 He’d had more than enough gunplay for today.\u00a0 He holstered his gun and went out to meet his father and brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Introductions made and the strong box found. Ben took charge of the operation.\u00a0 “Boys, we have to get that strong box and this fella back to Virginia City but we also need to keep on the trail of the man who murdered the guard until Roy can take over.”\u00a0 Ben considered the problem from all angles.\u00a0 He didn’t want Joe loose in Virginia City without either himself or Adam along; Hoss was the best tracker, no doubt about that; but then he didn’t want Joe and Hoss chasing a murderer, Joe was way too impulsive and Hoss not nearly strict enough with him.\u00a0 Chasing outlaws needed a cool head.\u00a0 He didn’t want to put any of his boys in danger.<\/p>\n Adam rubbed his ear, somehow he knew he would get the trailing job with Hoss.\u00a0 All he wanted was a hot bath and his night in Virginia City.<\/p>\n Joe likewise knew he wouldn’t get what he wanted; a chance to let loose in Virginia City.<\/p>\n Hoss merely waited, Pa always knew what was best.<\/p>\n “Well, boys, I guess we’re gonna have to split up again.\u00a0 Hoss and I will escort this man to the Sheriff and then send the posse out after you two.\u201d\u00a0 He nodded at Adam and Joe.<\/p>\n Adam’s jaw dropped leaving his mouth open and his eyes wide for a second.\u00a0 “You want me to go with Joe, not Hoss?”\u00a0 He managed to get out.<\/p>\n Hoss too was surprised, “But, Pa, I’m the best tracker in the family.”<\/p>\n Joe just shrugged knew he would either be with Adam or Pa, what difference did it make where he went.\u00a0 Neither his father nor his big brother would let him have any fun.<\/p>\n Ben was annoyed but not surprised at his sons’ reactions.\u00a0 “Well if you’re the best tracker, Hoss, go track this fella’s horse.\u00a0 And you two go bring our horses up to the cabin.”<\/p>\n “Wouldn’t send them two after no outlaw, if’n they was mine.” Jud muttered. “Too dadblamed hotheaded.”<\/p>\n Ben smiled. “Oh, I think they’ll keep an eye on each other.”\u00a0 He looked at his sons who were still in the doorway.\u00a0 “Didn’t I tell you boys to get the horses?”<\/p>\n The three young men, shrugged, gave each other long-suffering looks and departed.<\/p>\n Ben turned to the old man.\u00a0 “Mr Morris, thank you for helping my sons.”<\/p>\n Jud sniffed, “They was helping me, keep them outlaws off’n my place.”<\/p>\n Ben frowned, “Your place, where’s that?”<\/p>\n “Right here. An’ don’t you give me no nonsense like that son of yours.\u00a0 I ain’t seen hide nor hair of any Cartwrights and I bin here nigh on five years.”<\/p>\n Ben’s expression was priceless, his mouth dropped open and his brow furrowed as he asked, “You’ve lived here for five years?”<\/p>\n “Now don’t start, that son of yours didn’t believe me either.\u00a0 Like I told him, this is my place and I ain’t shifting for nobody. I like it this way, don’t get no busybodies callin’.\u00a0 They all thinks it’s abandoned.”\u00a0 Jud shot back at him.<\/p>\n “That I can believe.”\u00a0 Adam spoke from the doorway.<\/p>\n “The law says it’s my land.”\u00a0 Ben thrust out his chest and poked a finger at the old man.<\/p>\n Jud came up to his full height, which wasn’t much.\u00a0 “An I says it’s mine, so I guess you’ll have to fight me for it, since I’m here and I ain’t movin’.”\u00a0 Jud replied, belligerently.<\/p>\n Ben almost laughed at that.\u00a0 “Well old timer, I s’pose we could go at it and see who wins, but I’m not as hot headed as my sons.\u00a0 If you’ve been here for five years and we didn’t know about it then I guess it won’t hurt for you to stay and look after the place.\u00a0 The gold from the robbery was found here too so I guess the reward for that is yours.”<\/p>\n Adam raised an eyebrow, and Joe made both of their thoughts vocal. “You mean Adam and me risked our lives and we don’t get anything?”<\/p>\n Ben nodded.\u00a0\u00a0 “Mr Morris risked his life too defending the place and the gold.\u00a0 After all possession is nine-tenths of the law. I’ll see that the reward gets back to you, Mr Morris, and you can maybe fix the roof a bit. Now we’d better be on our way before that trail is cold.”<\/p>\n “An’ what about the other tenth? That’d fund a poker game or two.”\u00a0 Joe grumbled as he mounted Cochise.<\/p>\n “I’d settle for a proper bed and a hot meal for a few nights instead of chasing outlaws.\u00a0 I’d planned on a night in town too.”\u00a0 Adam muttered as he too mounted up.<\/p>\n Hoss just grinned up at them. “See ya brothers, I’ll be sure to tell Sam and the girls at the Silver Dollar that you was thinking of them.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n