Morning dawned bright and beautiful but Adam didn't seem to notice. He had entered both this brother's rooms and told them to wash up. He had told them Hop Sing had breakfast ready then they would be on their way. He had not stayed in either room to see the results of his deception. The guilt he could tolerate…the sight of his brothers he didn't think he could bear.

As he headed down the hall toward the stairs, he paused at his father's door, looking in. He was as determined as he had ever been to get his Pa back and the look in his eyes would have scared him if he had been looking into the mirror over his father's dresser. He heard the soft thud from his littlest brother's room and nodded, knowing that meant Joe had succumbed to the powders Adam had mixed into his washbasin water. One down, one to go, Adam told himself as he listened for the sound from Hoss' room.

Adam was beginning to get worried that maybe Hoss would decide the situation didn't warrant him washing up when he heard the door to his middle brother's room open. Adam turned and looked down the hall, openmouthed. Hoss stared at him, a shocked look on his face and then fell to the floor. Adam pulled him into the room and put him back in his bed. After doing the same for Joe, Adam headed down the stairs to meet the fate he had chosen.

"Mornin, Adam," Roy said as he nodded as Adam came down the stairs, "Hop Sing made a fine breakfast. I ate already and am fixin to head back into town."

"Morning, Roy," Adam said softly as he sat and filled a cup with coffee.

"Where's your brothers?"

"They're asleep, Roy."

"Ah…so you did it then."

"Yeah, Roy…I did it. I looked my brother's in the eye last night and lied to them. They're upstairs sleeping and when they wake up I would be surprised if they don't want to kill me."

"Now, Adam. You only done what you thought you had to. It's for their own good. Dave is gonna stay here in the house after we leave and he'll be here to explain things when they wake up. I know I didn't agree with you last night but for what it's worth I think you're doin the right thing.

"I hope so, Roy. I certainly hope so."

The sun was just making it's way over the horizon when Clem pulled his horse to a stop at the old Wilson place. He figured he was early but he was surprised when he found several men already there waiting for him. He organized them into groups, not knowing what else to do. The only thing they could do was to wait for the signal from Adam that the money had been delivered and that he had the note telling him where to find Ben.

Some of the men had been milling around talking in groups and they found places to sit or lay and some napped. Clem watered his horse and paced back and forth. He hated waiting but he could only shake his head at what the Cartwright's must be going through right now. He walked over toward one group that was off to the side whispering and glaring. Clem didn't like what he was hearing.

"Hey you men, hold up there!" Clem marched over to them, causing the other men to look their way.

"I don't like that kind of talk. This isn't a lynch mob. We're here to go get Ben Cartwright and get those bank robbers. We are NOT here to kill anyone. If that's what you got in mind you can just turn in your badges and go on home," Clem glared at them.

"Aw come on, Clem. We're just talking. We ain't gonna go killin no one lest they give us a reason to," one of the men commented.

"I don't care, I won't have any man on this posse that's got ideas like that," he turned and addressed the entire group, "Anybody else here think like Don? Ifn so get on your horse and ride out now. We do this the right way not the mob way," When no one moved Clem nodded and went back to his pacing.

Adam quietly rode Sport down the trail toward Eagle Rock fully aware he had picked up a tail about a mile back. He had tried hard to remember exactly when he had first noticed the tail, just in case they had planned some dirty trick. He nudged Sport onward, his eyes on Eagle Rock and what he hoped would soon be his father. Pa I sure hope you'll understand what I did and you won't be too mad at me. Seeing you do down at the bank yesterday, I've never been so scared in all my life. I want those guys just as bad as Joe and Hoss do and I only hope I don't disappoint you if I come across them.

Butch stayed just off to the side off the road and under the cover of the trees while still keeping Cartwright in his sights. This is my last job with Red, Butch told himself. His fuse gets shorter and shorter with each job. One of these days he's gonna get himself killed or get someone else killed. Once Butch was satisfied that Cartwright had indeed come alone and he had the money, he rode on to the first of the caves to plant the notes. He would be very glad when this job was over and he could be rid of Red forever.

"What's wrong, Cartwright, you ain't got no appetite this morning?" Red laughed as he offered Ben some whiskey, which he refused.

"I'm not in the habit of drinking my breakfast and I most certainly am not in the habit of drinking at this time of the day," Ben spat.

"Suit yourself," Red chuckled as he turned back to his bottle.

Truth be told, Ben didn't even feel hungry at all. Just the thought of food made him want to throw up. Ben's head hurt like a ton of bricks had been dropped on it. In fact his whole body felt as though he had been used in place of the mesquite in his last cookout. He was sweating profusely even though it was quite chilly in the cave, something he was certain he would hear about quite loudly from Paul.

Boys, I hope you're doing everything I told you to. Adam, I'm sure you're going to find some way to be the one to deliver the money I just hope you can keep your cool like you always do. Hoss, I'm counting on you to keep Joseph in line. You're the only one that can keep him from going after these men until I get there. Joseph, son, I'm begging you not to forge ahead with that stubborn streak you seem so intent on perfecting. I'm in a lot of pain, boys, but I promise you I will do whatever I can to get back to you.

"HOSS! ADAM!" Joe shouted as he tried to get off his bed only to find he was tied to it.

"Mr. Cartwright," Dave said as he entered the room.

"Dave, thank goodness…untie me and tell me what the hell happened," Joe demanded vehemently.

"Uh…I can't do that Mr. Cartwright."

"What? What are you saying, Dave…untie me this minute!"

"I got my orders, Joe. I can't…I just can't."

"Orders? From who?" Joe demanded to know.

"Adam," Dave replied almost in a whisper.

"Adam? What the…what time is it?"

"Nearly noon, Mr. Cartwright."

"Noon! Dave you gotta untie me now. I gotta get to Eagle Rock."

"I can't, Joe. Adam made me promise I wouldn't untie either of you till noon and we heard the signal from him."

"Either of us…HOSS?" Joe shouted for his brother.

"JOE?" came the muffled reply from his brother's room.

"HOSS ADAM DID THIS TO US. WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON HIM I'M GONNA…" Joe started when Hop Sing entered the room.

"Mr. Joe not to anything to Mr. Adam. Number one son only do what he had to do."

"Only did what he had to…Hop Sing we're tied up like a Christmas goose!"

"Adam know his brother. He know you just go off after father and that could be very bad for Mr. Cartlight."

"Hop Sing, you gotta untie us. I promise we won't do anything stupid."

"Little Joe known for doing stupid things. Hop Sing follow orders…you stay there till Adam gives signal," Hop Sing's heart went out to him as he watched Joe struggle against his ropes.

"Hop Sing go check on number two son. Be light back."

Hop Sing went through a similar scene in Hoss' room but Hoss seemed to take it much better than Joe had. Hop Sing was grateful that this son had seemed to possess the gift of understanding that Joe probably never would. He went between the two rooms trying to get them to eat something and continuing to ignore their protests and pleas.

After placing the last of the notes, Butch headed back toward Eagle Rock in time to see Adam place the moneybag where he had been instructed. Adam read the note telling him where to find his Pa and he shoved it into his pocket and took off. Butch waited to make sure he wasn't coming back and he retrieved the money and headed as fast as he could back to the cave.

He rode up and skidded to a halt, making Red jump to his feet. He relaxed when he saw Butch enter the cave.

"You almost got your dang fool head blown off you fool," Red chastised him.

"Did you get the money?"

"Yeah, Red I got it."

"They show up alone? Who came to deliver the ransom?"

"They done like we told em to. It was just the one. Big, tall man, dressed in black," Butch said as he began to pack up their campsite.

Thank God, Ben thought, Adam was the one to deliver the money. At least there's one cool head out here. Ben tried to shift position and moaned, making Red aware of their biggest obstacle to getting to Mexico alive. Red stopped what he was doing and for the first time really looked at their hostage. He knew Ben wouldn't be able to sit on a horse let alone make it to Mexico. He had to hand it to the old man he was pretty tough but he wouldn't be able to make the trip has Red had hoped. Maybe Butch was right and I shouldn't have beaten him so hard, but Damnit that old man made me mad. It'll serve his sons right to find him here but by God, I'm gonna make sure he won't be able to tell them where we went until it's too late. Red picked up one of the tree branches they had brought in the previous night to use for the fire and advanced on Ben.

"Clem!" Roy shouted as he rode up to the barn.

"Roy," Clem called back.

"I see you got everyone ready. Now all we gotta do is wait for Adam's signal," Roy said as he dismounted and watered his horse.

"Yeah, Roy, we're all ready. Do you think Adam and the boys'll make the drop all right?" Clem asked.

"Well, Adam surely will."

"What do you mean, Roy?" One of the men asked.

Roy told them Adams plan and more details about the signal. Several of the men commented on how they wouldn't want to be in Adam's shoes when those two younger brothers of his got loose. Roy chuckled but deep down he was worried about Ben and how the boys would react toward Adam if they didn't find him in time.

Just a little more, Hoss told himself, just a tiny little more and I think I got it. Hoss had been trying to work his ropes loose ever since he had first woken up. He had also been thinking about what Adam had done. I know Adam was thinkin about Pa and us when he done what he done but that won't stop Joe from bein upset. I reckon I better think of somethin to keep that hothead from killin our older brother when I get out of here. Hoss kept working…he thought he had loosened his ropes enough to get free and he pulled with all his strength…and brought the bed crashing down to the floor. All he could do was lie there with a sheepish grin on his face when Hop Sing and Dave came running into the room.

"Hoss, what happened?" Dave asked.

"I was gettin bored waiting fer Adam to get back so I thought I'd go look for him."

"Hoss, you gotta stay and wait. If you'd only waited a few more minutes I would have come in and untied you. It's nearly noon now."

"I know, Dave, but I had to try something."

"I know, Hoss, I know."

"HOSS? Are you okay? What's going on in there?" Joe shouted.

"Nothin little brother, everything's okay," Hoss shouted back as he rose off the remains of his bed.

"As mad as I'm sure Little Joe is, I think we best keep him tied up for a little while longer," Hoss grinned at Hop Sing who nodded enthusiastically, not wanting to be within a hundred miles of that very upset spitfire of a Cartwright when he was finally released.