IT was late afternoon and we were back in the town, hiding behind some boxes and barrels in an alley beside the General store. Adam had been able to gather reinforcements from friends all around the countryside in record time. He had spread word about what had occurred and had entrusted the men to gather more men to infiltrate the town, ready to take care of any trouble that might occur. He didn't listen to me much when I explained Stan would have the saddlebag a little later at night and that we should apprehend him then. But Adam is pretty headstrong. On TV, you excuse it because he is mostly right, but now I wanted to bash him over the head. If we didn't get this right Ben and Hoss would die. And maybe Adam would too trying to prevent it. Maybe I would. I tried not to think about any of these things. If Adam was determined to do things his way, so was I determined to save all their necks.
I had hoped that by sitting quietly we would be able to wait til nightfall and the perfect time to ambush Stan. Right after he finished visiting his girlfriend in the saloon.
"Okay," Adam whispered, "this is the plan. We need to talk to some of the town's dignitaries privately with the aid of this Stan and convince them we are not robbers and murderers."
I was surprised. "What's going to make them listen to us in the first place?"
He smiled grimly. "Our guns at first probably. But hopefully Stan and the saddlebag will convince them after that. And maybe you if you'll help explain."
"Of course I will." This was partly my fault after all- I don't know what I did, but because of me Little Joe was gone.
Kidnapping Stan was easier than I expected- he wasn't very aware of his surroundings after leaving the saloon. The visit to the first dignitary's house went a little rough. The mayor was not too keen on letting in a possible murderer, even with a lady (me) and one of the deputies attending. But Adam's gun convinced him it would be prudent to listen before passing judgment, and you should've seen the mayor's eyes bulge when he finally took in what we were telling him. He seemed personally offended that the Sheriff had pulled the wool over his eyes. But as long as he was convinced, we didn't care much if he was angry. The next few visits went well with the mayor in tow and soon we had a small collection of outraged men to make a visit to the Sheriff.
Luckily (or unluckily?) the troop did not find the sheriff in when we made it to the jail. It was locked, but the mayor happened to have the key, and we went right in. No doubt the sheriff and his accomplice were looking for Stan.
When the sheriff finally walked in, the sight that greeted him must have been daunting for any man. The chief dignitaries of the town- the mayor, the head of the Cattlemen's Association, the owners of the General Store and the Saloon as well as some prominent ranchers were all standing about the room. And then there was Adam, seated behind the sheriff's desk with his feet up and his hand laying easily on his gun. And then there was a saddlebag laying conspicuously on the desk.
"We've been waiting for you Sheriff," Adam began lazily. "We need to discuss something with you."
"Look here, Sheriff," the mayor broke in angrily, "did you steal the money and frame the Cartwrights?"
The Sheriff didn't answer, only studied Adam appraisingly. It almost seemed like he wasn't aware of anyone else in the room. He was a shrewd man, that Sheriff. He could probably have manipulated any of the other men in the room, but Adam was an unknown. He probably didn't even see Stan being held by a couple of the ranchers. He couldn't know yet, that the jig was absolutely up. So it wasn't such a surprise to see the final decision on the Sheriff's face. He was going to try and bluff his way out.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your company Mr. Cartwright? I should have thought this would be the last place I would see you."
"Hardly likely since you're holding my family. Unjustly," Adam added almost as an afterthought.
"Oh?" the Sheriff rejoined, daring him to get on with it.
Adam wasn't going to beat around the bush. "Open the safe Sheriff."
The Sheriff visibly paled. "I'm sorry?"
I wanted to shout "You sure will be!" but I decided to go with quiet dignity.
Adam flicked a miniscule piece of dust off the Sheriff's desk. "Open the safe so we can return the money to the rightful owners."
Slowly the Sheriff pulled the keys off his belt. He walked over to his desk and with only a slight pause he laid the keys on the desk. "You win Cartwright."