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Chapter 2:

As soon as the sun rose the next day, the Cartwrights gathered outside the main house in preparation for what they perceived would be a long hard day of work in the North Range.

"Ready, big brother?" Joe clapped Adam playfully on the shoulder as he walked past him and jovially made his way toward Cochise.

Adam chuckled at his younger brother's quip and responded with his own. "I was born ready."

"We better get a move on. I'd like to at least get that fence up before the storm hits," Ben declared from his perch in the saddle as he cast his eyes toward the horizon and gauges the clouds forming in the distance.

After a brief exchange with Eddie, a fellow ranch hand, Griff walked Sport out of the barn and handed the reins over to Adam with a forced smile. "He's all yours."

Adam could not help but notice the tense way that the youngster held himself up. Not knowing what to make of Griff's attitude, he gave him a curt nod of thanks and tries to make small talk. "Candy tells me you took real good care of Sport here while I was gone."

"Just doin' my job," Griff replied bluntly as he focused his attention on freeing a piece of straw from his hat then brushed past Adam and made his way over to the wagon where Eddie was busy hitching two horses to it.

Adam shook his head and climbed his mount. Well, I tried. With a gentle tug on the reins he rode out of the gates to accompany his father and Joe who were enjoying a joke.

Having watched the awkward interchange between Adam and Griff, Candy intercepted the younger man before he could board the wagon and pulled him aside.

"Adam's making an effort. Would it kill you to do the same?" Candy hissed under his breath so as not to be overheard.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Griff casually denied. He peered down at Candy's fingers latched onto his arm.

Realizing his grip was unnecessary, Candy released his hold.

"I haven't done anything to even suggest otherwise," Griff continued.

Candy raised an eyebrow and pursed his lip, expressing his disbelief. "Is that what you really think?"

"Yes." Twirling the strand of yellow straw between his fingers, Griff's resolve started to waver under Candy's unrelenting gaze. "Maybe." With a noticeable slump of his shoulders, he sighed in resignation . "No."

Candy's face broke into a lopsided grin. "Now that's more like it." Then, sensing Griff's unease, he softened his tone. "I know Adam coming back has thrown you for a loop. Just try to get to know him, okay? He's a good and decent man. "

Positively sick of hearing how great Adam is, Griff silently nodded, biting back the sarcasm that teetered at the tip of his tongue.

"Consider it to be a personal favor to me."

"Well, if you're gonna put it that way." Griff sighed heavily and nodded once again before a small smile finally managed to creep onto his face.

"Hey Candy! Let's go!"Joe's holler from just past the gates marked the end of the conversation.

Returning the smile, Candy swatted Griff's arm. "Come on."

Griff remained silent throughout the long ride and only spoke when he felt he needed to. He worked harder than anyone, volunteering for all the tasks that no one else wanted to do. Adam, however, grew concerned that as the day wore on, the young man began to tire physically and his clumsiness became more apparent, risking the safety of not just himself but of others around him.

"Griff, why don't you go on back to the others. I'll take the next load," Adam offered in a level tone.

The young ranch hand continued to lift the wooden pickets and responded with a blunt,"I can manage."

Beginning to get irritated by Griff's lack of cooperation and respect, Adam could no longer brush off the youth's clipped replies and unfriendly demeanour."You're gettin' tired and you're slowin' us down. I'll take over."

Biting his tongue, Griff ignored Adam's reprimand and continued to load the planks of wood onto the wagon. The young man fought an inner battle with his conscience as a part of him wanted nothing more than to show Adam he was not going to be intimidated while another part of him kept replaying Candy's words to him. In the days leading up to the eldest Cartwright son's impending arrival, Griff had tried to prepare himself for the visit. It had taken him months to adjust to the company that Ben, Joe and Jamie provided as well as fitting in with the guys he bunked and worked with. Then when Hoss came along, the walls he'd allowed to crumble started to rebuild itself. To his surprise it did not take long for those walls to disintegrate again. Hoss's laid back character and welcoming personality eased the anxiety that manifested within Griff each time he met somebody new. He had been secretly hoping for the same in Adam but the moment they met, he had sensed the eldest Cartwright son was weighing him and judging him, giving Griff the impression that he was expected to prove himself worthy of existing on the Ponderosa. The youth found himself missing Hoss's company more and more ever since he went away with Jamie to San Francisco. How ironic it was for two brothers to be so different, he thought. Losing focus on the task at hand, one of the wooden planks slipped from his arms and caused him to drop the entire load. Cursing, he attempted to pick them up when Adam's firm grip on his upper arm stopped him.

"It's obvious you have a problem following instructions." Adam yanked the youth so that he turned and faced him.

With a scoff, Griff retorted,"No, I have a problem with people pushing me around, telling me what to do and how to do it." He tries to shrug his arm free but Adam tightened his grip and stepped closer to him.

"I know you're new and maybe Pa hasn't had the chance to tell you that we work together as a team. There are no I's or me's. So, when I ask you to do something, there's usually a good reason behind it. It has nothing to do with pushing you around and everything to do with getting the job done as quickly and safely as possible. You heard what Pa said this morning. There's a storm comin'. Whatever problems you have with me, now is not the time or the place, understand?"

Griff swallowed hard, feeling the heat rising up his neck. He knew that Adam was right but try as he might he couldn't bring himself to admit that. "Yeah, I understand, whatever. You gonna cut me loose now? Cause we're wasting time here."

Exasperated but hoping that some sense had at least penetrated the boy's hard headedness, Adam released his hold on Griff just as thunder rumbled in the distance. He decided to drop the matter, at least for now while he idly wondered if his father had been premature in making the decision to bring Griff home to the ranch Still, he kept telling himself that Candy obviously could see something in Griff that he could not and he had nothing against the foreman. In fact, he could not see any reason to dislike Candy and despite the fact they had only recently met in person, he already considered him a friend.

Caught up in their work and the tension between them, neither Adam nor Griff noticed they were being watched by four armed men in the woodland, ready to make their move at the first chance that presented itself.


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