DISCLAIMER: Bonanza and the Cartwrights do NOT belong to me. Any input would be greatly appreciated as I'm still pretty new to this fan fiction thing and-I'm still trying to work on my writing skills.
MARIAH (CHAPTER TWO)
SCENE THREE
Ben stood outside Sheriff Coffee's office; the lawman and he were discussing the recent problem Mr. Cartwright-and other ranchers-had been having with rustlers.
"Hoss and Little Joe…" Ben never finished his sentence. A shot rang out causing the sheriff and Ben to whirl around. They were shocked to see a man fall off the roof of the building just across the law office. The man's rifle fell next to dead man. Both men looked to see who had stopped the man from shooting them; or at least one of them. Every one they could see looked as shocked as they were.
Ben and Sheriff Coffee hurried over to where the man lay. The good sheriff rolled him over. "Well, I'll be…" Ben shook his head in disbelief, "That's Frank's boy isn't it?" Frank was a small time rancher whom everyone knew had a heart of gold; they also knew his boys weren't exactly the best.
Sheriff Coffee sighed, "I was beginning to suspect Frank's boys may be involved in something but I didn't think they'd go so far as to try to kill anyone."
"Three questions I have," Ben scratched his cheek, "which one of us was he after and why; also," he looked around again, "Who did the saving?"
Sheriff Coffee took a hold of the dead man by the shoulders, thinking for a second, "My educated guess is he-and his brothers may be involved in that rustling business and, if that's the case, then it would be you they're after," he looked up at Ben, "how about helping me?" He asked with a sort of 'I can't believe you're just standing there' expression on his face.
"Oh," Ben hurried to take hold of the man's feet, "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."
"Obviously, guess someone just blew out your candle for a moment?" The lawman smiled as he teased him.
Both men chuckled as they got the dead man off the street.
By the time Ben got back to the Ponderosa Little Joe and Hoss were waiting for him.
"Boy, are we glad to see you." Little's Joe relaxed his shoulders and relief shown on both their faces.
"And why is that? Did Hoss steal your dessert again?" Ben grinned.
"Hey, I'm innocent…this time." Hoss grinned. He knew he had that one coming; after all, thanks to him, Little Joe had no dessert the night before.
"Anyway," Ben looked at his youngest, "why are you glad to see me? What happened?" He felt himself on edge; especially considering the event in town.
"We chased some rustlers off; okay, we tried catching them but failed," Little Joe stopped and looked at his father, "Did anything happen while you were talking to the sheriff?"
Ben stiffened; how? "In matter of fact, yes, what made you ask?"
Hoss tilted his head a bit, putting his hands on his sides, and answered for his brother, "One of them hollered something about it was too late; something about you being shot."
So, Sheriff Colby had been right. "We can't worry about that right now. I need to talk to Adam." Ben headed for the house.
"He's not there," Little Joe stopped him, "and, no I, don't know where he's at. He was gone when we got back."
Ben frowned, "He never said anything about going anywhere. Did you ask Mariah if she knew anything?" Mariah was supposed to be fixing some more of their fences.
"We can't find her either," Little Joe smiled, "Maybe the two of them are off together."
Ben shook his head, "I doubt it. From what I've seen-they're friends but that is it. Keep looking for Adam. Mariah's probably just farther ahead on her work than you thought."
SCENE FOUR
Mariah looked up from where she was working when she heard the sound of wagon wheels, "Adam," she smiled, "What are you doing out here? In fact; how did you get up there in the first place? Little Joe and Hoss aren't around to help you; are they?"
"I'm not an invalid; I pulled myself up onto the wagon-if it's any of your business and I was looking for you." the seriousness in his tone made Mariah lay down the barbwire she'd been getting ready to attach to the fence post.
"Why?"
"This," he pulled out a telegram from his pocket and handed it to her, "it came two days ago."
Two days? And he was just now showing it to her? Mariah took the telegram from Adam and read it. Disgust was on her face by the time she was through; and in her voice when she spoke, "I would assume you would check something like this out; which means, unless someone's messed with records-you'd know I was on the right side of the law when this incident outside Carson City happened."
Adam nodded, "I did and no, no one's messed with the records."
"Then why come out here acting if something is seriously wrong?" she didn't like it.
"I was wondering why you left right after the mess was over. I mean; like you said-you were on the right side of the law."
Mariah didn't know whether or not to be irritated. "With all due respect, Adam," she picked up the barbwire, "I've work to do. Unless you're here to fire me with just cause; please let me finish."
Adam watched as she went back to work. The fact that she was hiding something was obvious but what? Guess he couldn't worry about it now. He too had work at the house to get done, "I'll see you later."
Ben was behind his desk looking over the papers his oldest had left out when Adam entered the house. "So, where have you been?" his father put down the few papers he had in his hand.
"Trying to get some answers," Adam handed him the telegram; along with the one from the sheriff in Carson City, "Mariah's not one to be messed with. I don't understand her leaving when she was in the right; nor, do I understand someone trying to get us to fire her. At least," he shrugged his shoulders, "I am assuming that's what they were trying to do."
Ben didn't understand it either but he wasn't about to let someone go when they hadn't done anything wrong. The more he thought on the telegram though the more another idea came to him, he sat straight up, "What if she knows the rustlers? I mean; they'd be the only ones who had any reason to want her off this land."
Adam sat straight up, "Pa, if they want her off the Ponderosa and this doesn't work…"
Ben cut his son off as he hurried to the door Adam had left open, "HOSS! LITTLE JOE!" he turned to Adam, "Where did you leave her?"
"Working on the last bit of fence you asked her to fix."
When Little Joe and Hoss hurried out of the barn Ben stepped out of the house and told them what Adam had said and what he feared. Neither men wasted anytime in getting their horses; nor did they waste any time as they went to check on Mariah.