o0o

Chapter 4

Several weeks later, dust kicked up behind the three horses as Hoss, Joe and Adam rode into Virginia City. They pulled to a stop outside the general store and all three of them swung down from their horses.

"Hey, isn't that Sarah's horse?" Joe asked nodding to the palomino hitched beside them as he tied up his reins.

"I reckon it is, Joe." Hoss said. "I wonder what Sarah's up to in town."

"That's Miss Carter to you." Adam retorted as he tied Sport to the rail.

"When did you get so picky about proper grammar?" Joe asked.

"He was born picky." Hoss commented.

All three brothers looked up as the door to the general store opened.

"Thank you, Mr. Fields!" Sarah called back as she stepped out onto the boardwalk. She stopped when she saw, Adam, Hoss and Joe. "Adam!" She exclaimed and then quickly recovered. "Hoss, Joe, it's good to see y'all."

"Howdy, Miss Carter." Hoss greeted her, touching his hat. "What brings you into town?"

"Shopping." Sarah replied. "My horses seem to get fed better then I do. What about you?"

"Oh, just some errands for Pa." Joe said.

"Yes, about that," Adam said turning to his brothers. "Why don't the two of you get started while I walk Miss Carter to her next appointment, huh?"

Hoss looked confused for a moment and then his face brightened. "Right. Come on, Joe."

"But…" Joe's protest was cut off as Hoss grabbed his younger brother by the collar and dragged him away from Sarah.

Adam fell into step beside Sarah and offered her his arm. She took it with a grateful smile.

"Where to next?" Adam asked as they started to walk.

o0o

In the front of the saloon, two men sat on barrels. Between them was a bottle of whisky and two glasses. Both men were drinking. One of the men was a Virginia City native named Jones and the other was a stranger passing through town. They had bonded over a game of poker the night before and were watching the people pass by them on the boardwalk.

"That's one fine looking woman." The stranger nodded towards Sarah across the street.

"Sarah Carter." Jones nodded in an approval. "You have fine tastes, my friend." He leaned in closer to the other man. "But I'd stay away from her if I were you. Rumour has it she's already spoken for." He nodded to Adam.

"He looks familiar." The stranger mused. "Who is he?"

"Who is he?" Jones let out an amused laugh. "Why, that's Adam Cartwright! Lives on a big ranch south of here with his pa and two brothers." He jerked his head towards the edge of town. "The Pondarosa."

"The Pondarosa, huh?" The stranger commented.

The man drank the last of his drink and set the empty glass back onto the makeshift table. "I think I might just go see this ranch for myself." He muttered darkly. Then with a nod to Jones, he got up and left.

o0o

Across the street, Adam and Sarah were continuing their conversation as they walked along the boardwalk. "Do you think he'll be ready to be ridden after three weeks?" Adam asked.

"I sure hope so." Sarah replied. "Otherwise, I've used up their money for nothing." She gave him a small grin.

"I don't know about that." Adam said with a grin of his own. "I think they just enjoy looking at a beautiful lady." He glanced down at Sarah.

She blushed under his gaze.

"Do you know you get even more beautiful when you do that?" Adam asked.

"Aren't you just full of flattery today, Mr. Cartwright?" Sarah commented, looking away in embarrassment.

"Ah! You like it and you know it." Adam teased with a grin on his face.

A man cut in front of them forcing Adam and Sarah to stop walking. He wore the lived in looking clothes of a ranch hand or someone who was on the road a lot. A brown hat was pushed high on his head and a gun belt was slung low on his hips.

"Sarah. You're looking as beautiful as ever." He greeted them, tipping his hat.

Adam frowned at the greeting; there was something off about this man. His instincts were confirmed when Sarah's grip on his arm tightened. Adam looked down and saw that Sarah's face had gone pale and her green eyes were wide with fear.

"What do you want?" She asked shakily.

"Now, is that anyway to greet an old friend?" The stranger in front of them asked walking a little closer. "I just wanted to say hello."

"Stay away from me!" Sarah starting backing away, practically hiding behind Adam's tall frame.

Adam stepped in the man's path. "I believe that lady asked you to leave." He said his tone threatening.

The man continued talking, ignoring Adam. "The western style suits you. I like your hair like that." He reached a hand towards Sarah.

Adam grabbed the man's wrist and punched him across the face.

With a grunt, the man fell to the ground; his hat falling into the dirt. The man got up quickly, hand reaching for his gun.

Adam's own gun was out and cocked before the man had a chance to draw.

With a sneer, the man left his gun alone and instead picked up his hat. Dusting it off, the stranger stuck his hat back on his head and sauntered back down the street.

There was silence until the stranger disappeared into the saloon. Adam holstered his gun and turned to Sarah. She still looked scared.

"I think I better get going now, Adam." She said shakily.

"Now wait a minute." Adam said grabbing her by the arm before she could leave. "Who was that? What did he want with you?"

"Let me go." Sarah replied struggling against his grip.

"Sarah…." Adam started.

"I said, let go!" Sarah shouted at him causing several heads to turn their way. "Adam, I don't want you to die; let me go."

Stunned, Adam let go of her. Sarah ran towards her horse. She untied the reins from the hitching post and swung quickly into the saddle, kicking her horse into a gallop as she did so.

"Trouble in paradise?" Joe asked in a joking manner. He and Hoss had come up in time to see Sarah and Adam's exchange, but not hear any of the words.

Adam ignored him and ran towards his own horse; his jaw was set.

"I was only kidding!" Joe called after his brother. Adam swung onto Sport and kicked him into a gallop.

Joe turned to Hoss. "What's up with him?"

Hoss shook his head with a confused expression on his face. "I don't know." He replied and then gestured. "Come on. We better get those errands done for Pa. Knowing Adam, he'll tell us when he feels like it."

o0o

Adam galloped into Sarah's yard and slide quickly from his horse. He looped the reins around the hitching post and ran up the steps. He yanked off his hat and threw open the door. Sarah spun to face him, rifle in hand. Adam held his hands away from his sides, showing her he was unarmed.

Sarah lowered the rifle. "I thought you would come." She said turning back to the table and placing the rifle down.

Adam shut the door behind him and threw his hat onto the side table. Through the open bedroom doorway, he could see a saddlebag lying open on the bed, clothing sticking out.

"You're leaving?" He asked.

"It's for the best." Sarah said, as she stacked books on the table, still not looking at him.

Adam strode forward and grabbed her by the arms, turning her to face him. "Whatever it is, I can protect you." He told her. "You don't have to run away."

"I have to." Sarah said. "I can't let you get involved. I can't let you can't get hurt because of me." She finished softly.

"Now that's the second time you've said something like that." Adam said intently. "Now, who was that man? And why should I be afraid for my life?"

Sarah almost seemed to wilt in his arms as her defences went down. "He's a hired gun." She answered softly. "And he's after me."

Adam let go of her arms, stunned at what she had just told him. Sarah buried her face in her hands and sobbed. There was silence in the small house, except for Sarah's sobbing.

"What did you do?" Adam asked finally. He grabbed Sarah by her arms again. "What did you do, Sarah?"

"Nothing." Sarah replied, tears still running down her face. "I swear I did nothing. He wants me for his wife and will stop at nothing to make it happen. Even if it means killing you and your family. He'll do it too. Just because you were with me."

"How do you know?" Adam asked.

"Because he killed my brother." Sarah burst out, tears starting to fall again. "He killed him in cold blood right in front of me and I couldn't stop it." She took a shaky breath.

"I swear I'm not playing games with you, Adam. Please, you have to believe me." She pleaded. "Samuel Barnes is a brute and a monster." Her voice shook with anger. "All he wants is my brother's land. That's why I left California, to get away from him."

Her whole body was shaking now and she looked venerable and scared. Adam gently took Sarah by the elbow and pulling her close, wrapped his arms around her. Sarah clung to him and Adam held her until she had calmed down. After a while, Sarah pulled away and wiped at her face to make herself more presentable.

"Get some things together." Adam said. "You're coming back to the Pondarosa with me until Barnes leaves town."

"I can't!" Sarah protested. "You've already done so much."

"Sarah, I care about you. I'm not about to let you face this alone" Adam said. "Now, get packed."

Sarah walked towards the bedroom and then turned back. Adam had his gun out and was checking the rounds. "Adam?"

He looked up at her.

"Please, don't tell anyone about this." Sarah asked. "I want them to hear it from me."

There was a pause and then against his better judgement, Adam nodded. "Alright." he said. "I won't tell anyone."

Sarah gave him a shaky smile and then continued into the bedroom to get packed.

o0o

The door to the front door of the Cartwright house banged open and Hoss and Joe entered. Dusty, dirty, and hungry, Joe was the first to notice the smell of food from the kitchen.

"Boy, something sure smells good!" He exclaimed tossing his hat on the side table; his gun belt soon followed.

"Yeah." Hoss agreed. "You reckon Pa's cooking something good tonight?"

"Well, if it smells like that…." Joe insinuated with a grin.

Adam came out of the kitchen balancing a wine bottle and glasses. "Oh, good." He said upon seeing Joe and Hoss. "Wash up. I think we're just about ready to eat."

"You got it." Hoss replied. "Say, you know what Pa's cooking?"

Adam got a twinkle in his eye, but before he could answer, the front door opened and Ben walked in. Hoss and Joe got confused expressions on their faces as they looked at each other.

"My! Something sure smells good." Ben said tossing his hat on the side table and unbuckling his gun belt. He noticed the expressions of his two youngest sons. "What? Do I say something wrong?" He asked with a smile.

"Pa, we thought you were cooking tonight." Joe said sounding confused.

Ben shook his head. "No. I thought one of you were." He looked at Hoss, who looked just as confused as Joe did. Ben looked at his eldest, who was trying to control a grin at their confusion.

"Adam?" Ben asked.

The door to the kitchen opened and they all turned to see Sarah, carrying a plate of corn.

She stopped when she noticed three of the Cartwright's looking in amazement at her. She wore a green dress that brought out her eyes even more and a white apron. Her hair was pinned up and she looked like a regular housewife.

She blushed under their stares which made her look even more beautiful. "What's everyone staring at?" She asked shyly. "Does the food smell alright?"

"It smells wonderful." Adam was quick to reassure. "They've just never seen a proper woman before." He teased looking at his father and brothers.

Ben was the first to recover. "Joe, Hoss, why don't you get washed up for supper?" He said shooting them a quick glance.

"Right, Pa. Come on, Joe." Hoss said grabbing a still gaping Joe by the shirtsleeve and dragging him up the stairs.

"I think I'll go get the corkscrew." Adam said with a smile as he disappeared into the kitchen.

Sarah set the corn down on the table and turned to go back into the kitchen when Ben gently caught her arm. "You didn't have to do this you know." He told her gently. "You don't owe us anything."

"I know." Sarah replied. "But you've been so kind; I had to do something."

"Well, since you've gone to the trouble we might as well enjoy it." Ben said with a smile. "It's been a long time since we've had a meal with a woman's touch."

Sarah returned his smile and went into the kitchen again, passing Adam as he came out with the corkscrew.

"Just how long have you known about this little deception?" Ben asked moving around the table to converse with his son.

"Since this morning." Adam answered as he opened the bottle. "When I met Sarah into town."

"Ah, so it's Sarah now?" Ben commented with a twinkle in his eyes. "What happened to Miss Carter?"

Adam started to answer, but their conversation was cut short when Sarah came back into the room with the meat. Turning back to the table, Adam started to pour the wine into the glasses.

"Ah, chicken!" Ben exclaimed as Sarah set it down on the table. "Just what I was hankering for."

Hoss and Joe stomped down the stairs, their faces washed and hair neatly combed. They had also changed their shirts for clean ones.

"Boys, just in time." Ben said turning to them. "I do believe that dinner is ready."

Ben pulled out the chair for Sarah as Joe, Hoss and Adam all sat. Once Sarah was seated, Ben went around to his chair at the head of the table.

Once he had sat down, he took his glass in his hand and raised it. "A toast! To neighbours." He said with a smile Sarah's way.

"To neighbours." The others echoed the sentiment and clinked their glasses against one another's.