Author's Note: Canon Bonanza characters/places are the property of Bonanza. Any extra characters/places belong to the author.
Savage Intruder
Dismounting, Adam wearily led Sport into the barn and began unsaddling him. It had been a long, hard day of riding and managing the ranch what with Pa, Hoss, and most of the hands gone on the drive. Even Little Joe was pulling more than his share without complaint. And I'm sure we'll all hear about how much he worked when they get back, Adam smiled to himself.
After checking that Sport had water and feed, he headed towards the house, not looking forward to cooking their own dinner since Hop Sing had left that morning to visit his cousin. With a deep sigh, he closed the door behind him, hung his hat on its peg, then removed his gunbelt and laid it on the credenza.
"Just turn around nice and easy like," said a voice behind him. "And don't even think of reaching for that gun, if you want to live."
Slowly Adam turned around, seeing a broad shouldered, red-haired dusty drifter in the golden evening light, with a steady gun aimed at his chest.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Adam calmly asked.
"Come on, get over there," the gun gestured. Adam shrugged and moved forward, the gunman's boots echoing as the man stepped close behind. Pretending to stumble against a nearby chair, Adam suddenly turned and pushed the man's gun hand away, simultaneously swinging a short wicked punch to the jaw. The would-be intruder fell to the floor shaking his head while Adam pointed the confiscated weapon at him.
"Now I'll ask again," Adam said coldly, "who are you and what do you want?"
The drifter slowly got to his feet. "Why, we just need a place to hole up for awhile," he said, smiling.
"We?" Adam barely registered his mistake before a hard blow to the head dropped him to the floor.
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"Aww, Whip, why'd you have to go and do that?" the gunman asked, getting to his feet. "I had it all sorted out."
"No sense in taking any chances, Red," was the reply. "What do we do with him now?"
"Tie him up before he causes more trouble," Red said, rubbing his sore jaw. "But let's hide him in the kitchen for now. The other one could be along any time."
Together, Red and Whip dragged a semiconscious Adam to the kitchen and roughly sat him in a chair. Pulling out a length of rawhide, they bound his hands and feet. Adam began to struggle against them, but Red leaned in close. "If you don't want your brother to be shot on sight, you'll sit still," he warned.
Just as Whip finished tying Adam's ankles together, hoofbeats sounded in the distance. Red rushed to the kitchen window and peeked out. "Gag him so he can't yell," Red ordered as Little Joe rode into the yard. Letting the curtain drop back, Red positioned himself next to the kitchen door, leaving it open a mere crack to allow a view of the dining area.
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With a few finishing strokes, Joe gave Cochise a final pat on the shoulder and put the curry comb away. Securing the barn door behind him, he rubbed the back of his neck as he strode across the yard and through the front door. "Adam?" he yelled, hanging up his hat. "Hey Adam?" With no answer, Joe shrugged his shoulders. "Well, if he doesn't get down here I guess I'll get the pie all to myself," he said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.
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Silently, Adam willed Joe to leave the house or at the very least not come into the kitchen, but then he remembered the leftover apple pie Hop Sing had baked the day before. Joe would be looking forward to enjoying a slice even before dinner, especially since Hoss wasn't around to polish it off. He had to warn Joe! Slowly Adam picked his feet up and lashed out sideways, catching Whip in the knees. Whip stumbled, caught himself on the table, then turned and struck a hard backhanded blow, viciously snapping Adam's head sideways just as Joe entered the room.
"Hold it right there!" Joe's gun leapt from its holster and Slim froze. "Step away from him," he growled.
"I'll have that." Joe looked sharply to the left when a gun barrel was jammed into his spine. "I don't think you want to gamble with your brother's life now, do you?" Red drawled, reaching forward to take Joe's gun. Joe glared, but let go of his firearm while trying hold on to his temper seeing the rapidly darkening bruise across Adam's left cheek. His brother looked slightly dazed, eyes unfocused, and his head sagged to the side. Joe wanted to wrap his fingers around someone's throat, but knew, for Adam's sake, he would have to keep his anger in check.
"Just who are you?" Joe demanded.
"I forgot my manners," Red said conversationally. "You can call me Red and this here's my partner Whip. There'll be a posse knocking on your door most anytime now. Tell them you haven't seen us, don't know anything about us, and send them away."
"What makes you think they'll leave?" Joe challenged. "And why should I?"
"They won't think twice about taking the word of a Cartwright," Red replied. "Besides, I'm giving you and your brother there the chance to live. I know you two are the only ones around right now; that huge Ponderosa herd passed near us two weeks ago. Way I see it, you should be happy to help us."
"Forget it!" Joe spat. "We're not interested in your proposition and we're not going to help you."
In a flash, Whip reached from behind and slapped a palm to Adam's forehead, yanking his head back and exposing his throat. Cold, sharp steel reflected against skin as the knife rested perilously close to his jugular vein. Inwardly, Joe seethed, but outwardly he remained still and quiet, his fists slowly clenching and unclenching. For several moments, the only sound was Adam's harsh, strained breathing.
Red smiled ferally, noticing the change in Joe's attitude. "Any questions?" he asked, strolling across the kitchen to stand next to Adam.
"No, you've made yourself quite clear." Joe glowered at them. The two outlaws glanced at each other as if deciding whether the younger man was indeed sincere. "Look, I said I'd do what you asked, now let him go!" he demanded.
Shrugging his shoulders, Whip let go and straightened up, walking towards the window sheathing his knife. Adam's head fell forward, shoulders heaving, his cough muffled by the gag.
"Hey Red, there's the signal mirror," Whip said, looking outside.
"Remember kid, just like we told you," Red said, resting his hand on Adam's shoulder.
"How can I forget?" said Joe.
Moments later, hoofbeats pounded into the yard, spurs jingled, and a loud knock sounded at the front door. With one last glance at Adam, Joe moved out of the kitchen and strode towards the main room.