AN: Thanks for all the reviews. This chapter is short, but I hope to post more soon.
With the three Cartwrights out of the way the ringer leader could finally release the breath that he had been holding onto the entire conversation.
"What are we going to do with them Trevor?" asked the first tattered man who had hit Joe.
"Well I reckon that these boys' pa would pay a pretty penny for his son's safe return. A whole lot more than what was in that strong box that we have stashed away." Trevor answered his brother Johnny. Johnny looked down at the three Cartwright brothers and started smiling.
"Yeah that sounds good to me."
"That sounds all fine and dandy Trevor, but where in the Nevada Territory are you going to hide Ben Cartwright's sons without him finding them before we get the ransom?"
"Well Steven I was thinking of moving them out of Nevada and say maybe into California for some safe keeping until their pa pays." Trevor said with some irritation and continued
"You saw their horses were packed for a good three or four day trip. So we have plenty of time before their pa even starts looking for them. That sound alright to you Steven." Trevor finishing with sarcasm.
Steven turned and walked over to the dead lawmen and began rummaging through their pockets for identification and anything of value.
"Come on over Davy and help me get their badges. It will take someone longer to figure out who these men were and why they were here if they don't have any identification." Steven yelled to his brother Davy who stood by the edge of the woods. Johnny went over to Davy and together they went to help Steven collect all the valuables.
Trevor stood transfixed watching his younger brother's loot like vultures on a dead animal. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. He had wanted a better life for his family, for his brothers. No one was supposed to die and now seven people lay strewn about in the dirt. Not to mention the three Cartwright brothers at his feet. He steeled himself not to show the internal battle that was raging inside. He knew that this was wrong but he knew of no other way to survive.
"This is it! After we get the ransom from the Cartwrights I am putting a stop to this." Trevor promised to himself.
"Alright boys let's get these gentlemen away from here as quickly as possible. If they heard all the gunshots odds are someone else did too." Trevor called out to his brothers.
Johnny and Davy rounded up the horses and after about fifteen minutes had the Cartwright's tied to a saddle. They would have been done faster, but they had trouble hoisting the big brother onto his horse.
As they headed out Trevor noticed that the vultures were overhead circling their next meal. Trevor shuttered and pulled his horse around to follow his brothers into the unknown.
The smooth swaying motion of his horse was the first thing that Hoss noticed as he slowly awoke from his enforced nap. As he gathered his senses about him, Hoss realized that he was tied to his saddle in a very uncomfortable fashion. He lifted his head up to find a sharp pain piercing the back of his head. He could feel the blood running down the back of his neck. He finally got up the nerve to open his eyes but quickly shut them as pain seared his eyes as the sun was shining directly in his eyes. Trying a second time more slowly than before and turning his head to the side. He was rewarded with the sight of Adam tied in his saddle with blood covering the side of his face.
"Adam, Adam!" Hoss whispered to his brother.
"Hoss please be quiet. They don't know we're awake yet. Let's keep it that way for awhile." Hoss nodded his head in agreement, but stopped almost as fast as he had started because it hurt. He looked forward to see four men leading their horses.
"Joe! What about Joe?" Hoss panicked for a moment until he turned and found Joe on the horse right next to him. Although this didn't placate his panic because Joe was slumped in his saddle blood coating his face.
"How is he Hoss?" Adam asked in a quiet voice.
"I think he is still out of it Adam. He doesn't look good from this angle. What are we going to do Adam?"
"Wait to see what is going on then we make our –"
"Well, well, well, look here you boys are awake. Hey Trevor these two Cartwrights are awake.
"Stop using names. Do you want the law to have our names? Do you?" Trevor shouted at Johnny as he rode back to take a look at his captives.
"Well glad you boys could join us. We were about to stop for the night and we were all dreading getting you off your horse." Trevor stated as he pointed towards Hoss. Hoss and Adam both glared at the man in front of them.
"What do you want from us?" Adam asked through gritted teeth.
"Oh about $30,000"
"We don't carry that kind of money on us." Replied Adam
"I know but I think your pa can get that kind of money, $10,000 for each of you. I think that is more than a fair price. How about you boys? You think their pa will pay that much for his sons?" Trevor asked turning to his brothers.
Steven and Johnny were laughing at the incredulous looks on the Cartwright's faces and were quick to agree with Trevor. Davy on the other hand sat silently on his horse not saying anything.
Trevor cast a worried look over to his youngest brother. Adam caught the glance and wondered what was going on between these men.
He knew his father would pay the ransom, but at what cost to his family. He didn't have much time to dwell on that as their horses were led west towards the setting sun.
Something was wrong. He could feel it in the air. He'd had these feelings before when his boys were gone. Sometimes he was right and other times he'd worried for no reason other than being their father.
Ben thought about it over and over again as he paced his living room. It was only the second night of his boys' trip. He had to get a hold of himself he thought. They are grown men, except Joe. He knew that Adam and Hoss would do everything in their power to keep the overactive 15 year old safe.
Ben laughed to himself as he thought of his boys and what they would say to him overreacting. But he still couldn't shake the nagging feeling like something was wrong. He walked over to the window hoping to see some sign of his sons, but knew they weren't there. Ben slowly turned away from the window and made his way upstairs to try and get some sleep.
