Wild Justice

Disclaimer: We do not own the characters of Bonanza, they respectfully belong to Mr. David Dortort and company. No copyright infringement is intended. However, we do own the plot and the original characters.

Chapter 1

Spring of 1859

It was early spring in Nevada. Two girls, both young, were riding horses along the mountain ridge of the Ponderosa. "Sam, we're gonna haveta make our way down to the valley." The younger of the two said.

"We can set up camp down by that lake before sunset, Eddy. Maybe tomorrow we can find us a ranch to do some work on." Sam replied.

"Yeah, if we can find a ranch willing to hire women. We ain't had too much luck lately."

"I know. But maybe people are more open minded in Nevada."

The two girls are sisters. Sam was the shortest of the two, but not by much. She was a heart stopper like her younger sister. She was twenty-three years old, had medium length, dark brown hair and eyes to match. She rode a stallion named Jasper, who was jet black. She wore jeans and a button up, red shirt. Her cowboy hat and boots were black.

On the other hand, her younger sister Eddy was seventeen and had long hair almost to her lower back. It was also a dark brown and braided. Her eyes were brown as well. She wore blue jeans and a button up black shirt. Her cowboy hat and boots were also black. Eddy's horse was pure white and named Cashe.

"Okay sis, let's get movin' then." Eddy said and started to guide her horse.

"Sure is beautiful country." Sam observed, as the sisters made their way to the bottom of the ridge, stopped and looked around.

"Almost as beautiful as home."

A contemplative look passed over Sam's face when Eddy had mentioned home. "Remember what Pa used to tell us?" Sam asked, after a few moments of pondering.

Eddy looked over at her older sister as the two headed south. She frowned, not really knowing what Sam was referring to. Their Pa used to tell them a lot of things. "What are you referring to?"

"He said 'Girls, you might give it some serious thought to thankin' your lucky stars you're in California'. He was mighty proud of where we came from." Sam said, getting choked up.

Tears formed in Eddy's eyes. "Yeah, he was. Did we make the right choice in leaving?"

"What choice did we have? There was nothing left there for us." Sam replied as their horses started to skitter. "Jasper," Sam tried to coax, pulling the reins back. "C'mon boy."

Eddy looked at the scene before her, "Cashe!" she yelled as he tried dropping his head.

Something had spooked their horses and it was everything the two could do to control them. Jasper threw his front legs high into the air and whinnied loudly. Sam held on for all she was worth but was quickly losing her grip as the scared horse continued to buck.

Cashe followed in his cohort's footsteps and threw his legs into the air and then quickly moved back. That little move caused Eddy to get thrown from her saddle. She landed flat on her back as Cashe took off. He was headed east, the opposite direction of what had spooked the two critters.

Sam quickly followed her sister to the ground and Jasper took off after his pal. Sam had landed on her shoulder and she knew it was gonna be giving her some trouble in the days ahead.

"Eddy, you okay?" Sam asked, as she sat up rubbing her shoulder.

Eddy groaned but didn't move. "I swear, Cashe has it out for me."

Sam smiled, stood up and made her way over to where her sister was lying. "Can you get up? We have to go find them."

As Eddy sat up she heard a noise. She held very still and looked at Sam to do the same. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Sam asked, looking around.

The noise sounded again. "There." Eddy said.

"Sounds like a rattler." Sam replied and pulled her gun from the holster on her hip. "Can you tell what direction it is?"

Eddy listened and then pointed west. The opposite direction that Jasper and Cashe had run off in. "Over there."

Sam walked slowly, when she caught a glimpse of the poisonous critter. His rattle was shaking like mad now and Sam knew he was getting ready to strike. Just as he was ready, Sam pointed her gun and fired. Instantly killing the snake.

Eddy walked over and stood by her sister. "You get him?"

"Of course I got him." Sam replied smugly and reholstered her gun. "Now, let's go round up our two runaways."

Hoss and Joe Cartwright had spent the better part of the day mending fences. Adam was supposed to have delivered more posts by now but he was late. Joe was sitting on the ground leaning against a finished section of the fence and drinking from a canteen.

"Sure is a hot one today." Joe said, squinting up at the blazing sun.

"It's supposed to be like this all week." Hoss replied, taking the canteen from Joe and taking a long drink from it.

"If Adam doesn't get here with those posts soon, I'm calling it quits. I'm not gonna sit here roasting while he's taking his sweet time." Joe grumped.

"Aww, buck up, little brother. The fresh air's good for ya."

"The fresh air, yeah, but I'd rather not become a 140 pound piece of jerky."

Hoss chuckled and then noticed something in the distance. "Hey, Joe, look there." He pointed.

Joe looked in the direction Hoss was pointing and saw two horses, without riders, grazing on some nearby trees.

"Where did they come from?" Joe wondered.

"Let's go find out." Hoss said.

The two Cartwright boys mounted Chubb and Cochise and rode toward the two horses.

Sam and Eddy had been walking now for what seemed like hours. They were heading in the direction that Cashe and Jasper had took off in, hoping they would catch up with the ornery buggers soon.

"Sam, let's rest a minute, my feet are killing me." Eddy said.

Sam stopped walking and looked around. "Let's sit under that tree over there."

Eddy followed her sister over to the tree and the two girls sat down in the cool shade. Sam leaned her back against the tree trunk and stretched her legs out. Eddy sat beside her and removed her boots.

"Ahh, that's much better." Eddy sighed at the relief she felt.

"Where do you suppose those two got off to?" Sam asked.

"I don't know, but it better not be too much farther."

"Just our luck, the two ornery buggers decide to spook when it's a blazing scorcher." Sam said, taking her hat off and fanning herself.

"Yeah, I sure could use a cool drink right about now." Eddy replied, wishing she had of been able to grab her canteen. Although that's not so easy when your horse decides to spook suddenly.

Sam rolled up her sleeves, pulled her bandana from her pocket and wiped the sweat from her forehead. She sighed and looked over at Eddy. "You remember the last time our horses spooked and threw us both into that muddy creek?"

Eddy chuckled. "Yeah, took us half the day to round them up."

"How come Jasper only seems to spook when I'm travelling with you and Cashe."

"Are you saying this is my fault?" Eddy asked, slightly raising her voice.

"That's exactly what I'm saying. He's never once spooked when it's just been me and him or when I've been anyone else other than you. You need to keep better control of your animal."

"Me? If I'm not mistaken it was Jasper who spooked first. I reckon it's you who needs to keep control." She was now standing and glaring down at Sam. How dare she blame Eddy for their horses spooking.

Sam sighed, squinted up at her sister's shadowy figure looming over her and wiped the sweat from her forehead again. "Doggone it, it's too hot to argue. Set a spell longer than we'll go round them up." Sam wiped more sweat from her face. "I can't remember ever sweating this much before."

"No worries, sister, no ever drowned in their own sweat."

Sam chuckled. "Well, at the rate I'm going, I may just prove that you can. Dadblamed weather. I bet chickens all over the territory are laying hard boiled eggs."

Eddy burst out laughing and slapped Sam's arm. Only Sam could say something that random and out of the ordinary. But it broke through the tension that was trying to settle over them and both sisters sat there laughing.

Hoss had dismounted from Chubb and made his way over to the jet black stallion. The animal whinnied a little and tried to move away when Hoss approached.

"Easy, boy." Hoss said, quietly. He took hold of the reins and stroked the horse's neck. "Ol' Hoss won't hurt ya."

The horse seemed to settle down at Hoss' calm and soothing voice and gentle touch. This gave Hoss time to look the animal over. "He's in prime condition. Don't seem to be nothin' wrong with him."

Joe jumped down from Cochise and walked over to the white horse. "I can't see anybody abandoning horses as fine as these are."

Hoss ran his hand over the back end of the black and that's when he noticed the brand. "Hey, Joe, look at this."

Joe walked over to Hoss. "What is it?"

"Thunderbolt brand."

"Thunderbolt? Isn't that Frank Parker's brand?"

Hoss nodded. "Yeah. He owns that spread out in California."

"Right. I remember Pa buying some cattle from him last spring."

"Yeah, but what would two of his horses be doin' this far from home?"

Joe frowned. "I don't know. Let's find out."

Eddy untied the string that held her hair in a braid. She took the rope, tied it in a low pony and then looked at her sister. "Well, shall we continue looking for our runaways?" she asked, slipping her boots back on.

Sam smiled at her younger sister. "Yeah, I reckon now's a good a time as any." she answered standing up.

Eddy stood up and the two continued making their way.

Joe and Hoss were mounted up and leading Jasper and Cashe. Joe had Cashe and Hoss had Jasper. Hoss slowed his horse and Jasper.

"What is it, brother?" Joe asked, doing the same.

"Two fellas up ahead." Hoss answered, pointing. "What do you reckon they're doin'?"

"Probably looking for their horses. But it don't make any sense. Why would they be this far from their homestead?"

"I don't know, Little Joe. Let's find out."

Hoss and Joe started ahead again, with Cashe and Jasper tagging along. It wasn't long before they had met up with the two "fellas".

"Howdy." Sam said, waving at Hoss and Joe. "I see you found our runaways."

Hoss and Joe looked at each other in surprise. They weren't two fellas after all, they were two gals.

"Yes'm, I reckon we did." Hoss replied.

Joe looked down at the two girls. He tipped his hat to Sam and smiled his charming, boyish smile at Eddy. "You ladies from the Thunderbolt?"

Eddy blushed slightly. Joe's smile had made her warm all over. She quickly regained her composure, smiled back and simply replied. "We are. Unless you think we're horse thieves."

Joe smiled again. He looked at Sam and then back to Eddy. "No ma'am. Although if you were, you would be the prettiest horse thieves we have ever come across."

Hoss rolled his eyes and shook his head at Joe's shameless flirtation. "You gals are a long way from home." Hoss stated, looking down at Sam.

Sam looked up at Hoss and into the bluest eyes she had ever seen. The clear blue sky behind him almost seemed dull in comparison. "That we are." she replied, losing herself in his eyes.

"I'm Eddy Parker and this is my sister Sam." Eddy said, introducing them.

Hoss tipped his hat and spoke. "My name's Hoss Cartwright. That there's my little brother Joseph."

"Just Joe." Joe quickly added and noticed Eddy smiling at him. He smiled back and Eddy felt her cheeks getting warm.

"Cartwright? You boys wouldn't by any chance be related to Ben Cartwright?" Sam asked when she recognized their last name.

"Yes'm, we are. He's our Pa." Hoss answered.

Joe jumped down from Cochise and walked over to the two sisters. He stood next to Eddy and handed her the reins of her horse. Eddy felt a slight tremor shoot through her body when Joe's hand touched hers. Why was she feeling this way? She had been near handsome men before.

Before Eddy or Sam had a chance to speak they heard a deep, booming voice. A voice the two girls would recognize anywhere. "There you two are." Ben said, as he and Adam rode up to the group.

"Howdy, Pa." Hoss greeted.

"Howdy, Pa." Ben repeated sarcastically. "Aren't you two supposed to be mending fences?"

"We came to deliver more fence posts and you two were nowhere to be found." Adam added, pointing to the load in the back of the wagon he was sitting in.

"Sorry, Pa. We noticed these two horses and went lookin' for their owners." Joe answered and looked at Eddy.

Ben looked at the two girls. "Sam, Eddy?" he asked and jumped down from his horse. Ben walked closer. "Hey, it is you!" He yelled happily and grabbed both girls in a great bear hug. After he let the two girls go he felt someone tapping him on the shoulder.

It was Joe. "Ah, Pa, you want to fill us in here?"

"Oh, yeah. You boys remember that trip I took to California last spring?"

"Yeah, you came back with some prime stock." Adam answered. "From Frank Parker, I believe."

"That's right!" Ben exclaimed. "These are his two girls, Sam and Eddy. What are you two gals doing so far from the Thunderbolt?"

Thunderbolt Acres was there land back in California. It was among the larger homesteads in the west.

Sam and Eddy exchanged a sad look. The Cartwrights looked at the two girls as Eddy bit her lip to stop the tears.

Sam took Jasper from Hoss and swallowed the lump in her throat. "It's a long story, Ben." she replied quietly.

Ben looked at Eddy and Sam and knew this wasn't the place to hear it. "Let's head back to the Ponderosa and talk."