AN: To my Danish reader Kirsten, whom I can't thank through a PM, thank you for reading my story and for taking the time to leave me some feedback. I felt sorry for Griff on the series too and I wanted to expand on his experiences or the experiences he could have had as he tried to fit back into society through my stories. I'm glad you found this fandom and are enjoying the wonderful and diverse selection of stories on offer by many talented writers.
Many thanks goes out to all of my readers who are following this story.
Chapter 2
Once Grace had been said by young Jamie Cartwright, the men at the table dug into their meals heartily. It had been a long day for everyone. Ben had worked on the payroll with Joe while Jamie was taken out to the range by Candy to help the hands with the fences and tending to a sick foal. The Marshall and Mr. Howard had gone into town as planned and spoken with Sheriff Coffee about the outlaws who were on the run. Wanted posters were placed on order to be printed the next day and distributed throughout town by the Sheriff's deputies.
"Mr. Howard, are you like an assistant Marshall?" Jamie asked between mouthfuls of roast beef.
"That's a good question, Jamie. No, my ambition is not to become a Marshall. I'm more of a tracker and I guess you could say I help protect Marshall McCoy. In his line of work, a second pair of eyes and ears can never be taken for granted," Mr. Howard explained.
Jamie nodded thoughtfully.
McCoy looked up from his plate and caught Ben's eye. "How're Adam and Hoss doin'?
Ben smiled as he fondly talked about his sons. "I'm glad you asked, Slade. As a matter of fact Adam's in Seattle. He's staying on shore for the next few months and planning to travel down through Oregon to Virginia City. We hope to see him in the summer. Hoss is spending some time in San Francisco with the Henderson sisters. I promised their father Cole, that I'd lend him a guide to take the girls around and make sure they were safely brought back home. He's due to be back in a few days."
"I still can't believe how much time has passed since I last seen your boys. You must be so proud, Ben. And you have an addition, I see, in young Jamie here."
"A blessing he is to all of us from the moment he first came into our lives nearly two years ago," Ben said proudly, beaming at his adopted son.
"I think this calls for a toast." McCoy raised his glass, inviting the table to join him. "To family."
A chorus of, "to family", followed.
"Speaking of family, Aaron must be of age by now?" Ben pondered aloud.
"He'll be twenty-one in a month's time. We're planning to celebrate back in Montana. I'd be delighted if you could all join us. You too, Mr. Canaday," McCoy proposed.
"Please, call me Candy. And I'd be honored to go if it's alright with Mr. Cartwright?" Candy met his employer's eyes.
"Of course, you're a part of this family now, Candy. We'll be there, Slade." Ben beamed.
"It's settled then!" McCoy clapped his hands together then resumed eating his meal.
Hidden in the shadows across the street of the Wells Fargo Bank in Virginia City, two young men waited anxiously as their accomplice snuck out of the bank's back door and hurried toward them. The youths crouched down behind some barrels in an alleyway and covered their ears. A deafening explosion rocked the town and showered the street with debris and shards from the shattered windows of the Wells Fargo Bank.
"Come on, let's go!" One young man instructed. He pulled up the bandanna that hung loosely around his neck so that it covered the lower half of his face. His two companions followed suit and together the trio withdrew their pistols. Concealed by the smoke and swirling dirt that choked the air, the men raced across the street and through the front entrance of the damaged building.
By the time the confused and disoriented townspeople wondered out into the street and converged on the burning building, the youths within had already filled their saddle bags and pockets with their loot.
"Hey! Stop right there, son!" A bar keeper in his nightgown yelled, raising his rifle and taking aim at one of the culprits as he tried to mount his horse. He fired a shot which missed its intended target dismally but hit the rider's horse. Before he had the chance to fire a second round, a bullet struck him in the neck, severing his carotid artery and killing him moments after his body crumpled to the ground.
With his leg pinned beneath the wounded thrashing animal, the youth tried desperately to free himself. "Aaron! Zeke! Help me!" He called out to his companions who turned back and pulled him free.
"Let's go! Let's go!" the youth known as Aaron shouted as he pushed his accomplice up into the saddle of his horse then climbed up behind him.
"Woohoo! We did it again! Yeah!" Zeke yelled triumphantly as he spurred his mount onward.
As fast as they rode in and claimed their booty, the riders galloped away into the night leaving a dumbstruck audience in their wake.