Chapter 6

It would seem that things were finally falling into place for Ben. The bad weather had finally moved on and the lumber yard was back to full operation. But more importantly his relationship with Adam had begun to improve, they even shared a joke here and there about the latest news or the business people they encountered. That cloud that seemed to follow them relentlessly had finally lifted.

While out on his morning walk Ben passed the small barn beside the house and he was about to close over its door when something inside moved. He peered in.

"Come on, out you go," he patted Rex on the rump and the small dog jumped off the heap of blankets and scarpered out the door. Ben looked down at the make shift bed, he went to it and picked up the little tin man wrapped in a rag blanket. Ben gazed at it.

Hop Sing was making bread in the kitchen. He went on with his work as Ben entered.

"Hop Sing why is there a heap of blankets in one of the barns, it looks like someone was sleeping there."

"Missy slept there, that was her bed,"

"What do you mean that's her bed. Why doesn't she sleep in the house?"

Hop Sing turned to him. "How many times you tell me, all rooms must be kept pristine clean for guest."

Ben hammered that point home many times in the last few months, often brooking no argument. But he didn't mean...

Feeling slightly chagrined he mumbled. "Well that's not so important now. Set up a bedroom for her in the house Hop Sing. She can't sleep out there."

"She gone Mr Cartwright."

"She's gone, where?"

Hop Sing went on with his bread making trying to contain his emotions.

"You forget you write to lady?. Lady take her to orphanage."

"She took the child to the orphanage, I didn't mean for her to do that, when did this happen?"

"Two days ago, she showed me letter and took child."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Why I not tell you, what care you Mr Cartwright. What care you bout little girl. She gone two days and you ask now?"

Ben was silent for a moment, Not knowing how else to respond Ben held up the little tin man.

"She did not want Tin Soldier go with her, she said he was better here."

"What will I do with it?" Ben asked.

Suddenly it was too much for Hob Sing.

"It nothing but rags Mr Cartwright, it have no heart, throw it away."

With that, he stormed out of the kitchen.

Mr Cartwright didn't even notice she was gone.

For weeks he'd put up with extra duties, barked orders, raised voices day and night, and now this. The Cartwright's had become bad people and he was going back to China. He pulled his suit case from the top of the wardrobe.

~o~

The stark cold words from his cook hit Ben like a sudden wake from a bad dream. He had never known anything but the greatest respect from the little man from China but not today.

"Boys where are you!" He yelled.

On hearing his Father's voice, Joe dropped the bridal he was fixing and came immediately.

"Pa, what is it?" He asked, coming down the stairs.

"The girl is gone, Mrs Breslin took her."

"What girl?" He asked.

"Oh don't you start,"

Joe suddenly twigged. "Oh the little one Adam took from town," he nodded. "Yeah I was wondering why this place was in such a mess lately. That explains it."

"That explains it?" Ben roared. "A young guest suddenly disappears from this house and all you can think is your bed is not made?"

"I didn't mean it like that, all I meant was..." Joe couldn't finish, he didn't know what he meant.

Ben looked visibly upset as he gently picked up Ingar's picture from the desk.

"I have just been so busy lately, I had planned to see to her as soon as things had calmed down. Time just got away from me."

"We should go find her," Joe said quietly.

Hoss and Adam had just entered and gazed with concern at their father looking so close to tears. On seeing them he straightened up, trying to recover himself.

"Joe, you were working close to the house, did you know the young girl was sleeping in the barn?" He asked.

"Linn, her name Linn," Hop Sing told him coldly.

It couldn't be fixed, no amount of talking was going make this right.

Ben turned to his two oldest sons. "Hoss get the horses saddled, we've got a long ride ahead of us."

"A long ride, Pa you said you'd meet Charles Van Steen tomorrow evening," Adam reminded him.

"I'll send him a wire, family emergency. His timber has arrived on schedule. What more does he want." Ben snapped.

Ben walked purposefully towards Hop Sing who was all dressed for travelling and headed for the door.

"Hop Sing, could you please help us. We are going to Carson City to collect the child and not one of us can make camp food as well as you can." Ben told him in a gentle respectful tone.

For a moment Hop Sing just looked at him.

"I pack my wok," he said chucking his case on the couch and hurrying towards the kitchen.

~o~

They rode in procession for many miles all lost in their own thoughts. Hop Sing had loaded a pack horse with all the supplies he would need to feed them for at least three days. Always better to pack more than needed, he told himself.

Ben frowned to himself as he gazed over at his eldest son. He very nearly didn't make it. Ben could still remember his little body shaking as infection raged through him, his clothes ringing with perspiration. How he came the other side of that Ben did not know. They'd been through some tough times he and Adam. Ben smiled to himself as he realised that he had considered the last few months tough. They were nothing compared to that journey across the state with Adam and Hoss. But he had a resilience then, perhaps he was younger. Or perhaps he was a better person who had his head on straight.

~o~

They made camp just before nightfall. Hop Sing quickly and efficiently gathered up food to cook on the fire Hoss had built. As bacon sizzled in the pan he watched little Joe struggle to settle Cochise who was skittish after all the excitement. The horse jumped and lurched, kicking out his front hooves, ignoring his masters soothing appeals.

Hoss was laying out his bed roll, Adam was checking weapons and Ben was reading the letter he'd received that morning.

Eventually Joe had gotten his horse under control and went to check on his supplies. He wasn't sore that no one helped him, he didn't expect it. Hop Sing watched all this without comment. It made him ponder the fact that the Cartwright's weren't bad people as such but they had lost their way. Somewhere in their fight for survival they had lost what truly made them what they were, a strong united family.