Bonanza

Let Go and Hang On

Fan-Fiction

I do NOT own the copyrights to Bonanza

Only to my own characters and

Note: Yes, I carried over the wives I gave to Ben and Adam in my other

Story to this one. I was also given two names for his late wife - I chose to stick to the one that was given out the most.

Scene 1

"He's not back yet?" Ben did not like what Deputy Sheriff Foster was telling him as he stood in the office.

"Nope, and I already wired Sheriff Mason asking if he was still over his way." The man picked the telegram which had just come in and handed to the well-known rancher. "I was hoping you could go and help." Ben looked down at the paper he was now holding.

NO SHERRIFF COFFE IS NOT HERE STOP SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE BY NOW STOP MIGHT WANT TO SEND MEN OUT LOOKING FOR HIM STOP SHERIFF MUNSEY STOP

"I'll be heading out by sundown with at least one of my sons." Ben hurried out the door and wasted no time in getting into the saddle.

Ben's mind flipped through the years. No memory of Roy was such as to make any of his family hate him. He's always did his best to be fair to those around him, and an impartial judge should someone need him. That thought made him chuckle even when that fellow wanted me to pay him two hundred dollars to get rid of that stupid elephant and we thought Adam had lost it.

Adam- who was home for a visit with his wife, Madeline - was outworking on his horse's hoof when his father rode up. The look on Ben's face let him know something war horribly wrong. "What's going on? You haven't looked this serious in quite awhile."

"Sherriff Coffee has gone missing. Deputy Foster has been asked to send men to join Sheriff Mason to search for him." Ben's words sent a shockwave through his oldest.

"Roy's missing?" Adam -asked just as Hoss and Little Joe walked out the door.

"Since when?" Ben's other sons felt the same jolt go through their system when their father told them.

"You're not leaving without us." Little Joe spoke up as soon as he found out his father planned to ride within the hour.

Marilyn and Hop Sing were not any less pleased to hear the news. They liked the sheriff. Therefore neither one had no problem packing plenty of food for the men, nor did Candy argue with taking charge of the ranch while the men were gone searching.

"Be careful, Ben. If someone has shot the Sheriff they're not going to hesitate to fire at anyone coming after them." Marilyn hated the idea of Ben being put six feet under that way.

"I will, you just take care of that boy of ours." Ben was referring to a lad they'd taken into their home just that summer named Jamie. With that he and his sons rode out.

Scene 2

Roy groaned as he pulled himself closer to the road. Pain was traveling like mad across his whole body. Martin's words shot to his mind I told you old man I'd kill you! I told you you'd never take me alive! Those words had been the last he'd heard before the man had raced away.

Martin would have shot again had he realized Virginia City's sheriff wasn't dead -Roy just knew it, but had purposely lain very still hoping his act would fool the man. It had, but what good had it done him? He knew the bullet wound was bad and he had no medical help around. Guess the best he could do was crawl to the nearest road and died there. At least there would be a chance of someone finding his body and giving him a decent burial.

Burial, always thought I'd have at least my deputy by my side if this happened. I guess Martin and I are the exceptions to the rule of the saying never say never. He said I'd never take him alive and I said I'd never remarry.

The sun was didn't help his efforts any as it ignored anyone's desire to turn its heat down, but that didn't stop Roy from what he'd set his mind to -even if he did have a bullet lodged inside himself. A crow cawed and watched as the man managed to get to where he wanted to be.

Hope there really is a heaven. I want to see Mary again. I hope I don't have to know how to play a harp or I'm going to decline to walk in those pearly gates. No one would want to hear me play that thing anyway. With those thoughts the man closed his eyes hoping the end wouldn't be long in coming.