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Chapter 6:

Candy knocked on the door of the main house. Ben quickly answered. It was clear neither man had gone to bed.

"Candy?" Ben greeted informally as his foreman.

"I was wonderin' if Griff's around," he requested. "He isn't in the bunk house and the guys said they haven't seen him since we left him with Adam in the North range."

Ben scrunched his face in seriousness. "I think you better come in."

Able to read Ben quite well after years of working on the Ponderosa, Candy sobered. "Adam's not back yet either, is he?"

"No," Ben answered. He looked through the window and saw a cloudless sky. "The rain stopped some time ago. They should've been back by now. Something doesn't feel right."

Listening to the conversation, Joe rose from the sofa. "I'll go into town and see if the Sheriff will help us round up some men to look for 'em," he offered. He was concerned for both his brother and Griff.

"Good idea," agreed Ben. "I'm not sure how much country we can cover tonight but if Adam and Griff are hurt or in some kind of trouble, I'm not going to wait till daylight to find them."

Not one to miss a beat, Candy hastily added, "I'll go too."

"Candy, you better stay here and wait just in case they show up," Ben reasoned. "We could just be making a mountain out of a molehill.

Candy frowned. He did not like the idea of staying behind, especially when the teenager's well-being was concerned. Griff was the closest thing he had to a brother and the thought of waiting around doing nothing was one he could not bear.

Ben saw the worry etched on Candy's face. After all, the oldest Cartwright felt a mirror image of worry contort his own expression. "Don't worry, we'll find them. Both of them."

Candy nodded. The passion behind Ben's last words brought him some comfort. Griff was still finding himself in a world outside of locks and iron bars and Candy knew just how difficult it was for anyone to know and truly understand the young man. There was no way he was going to sit idly by without the reassurance that someone was willing to overlook Griff's misgivings; someone who genuinely cared enough to go out there and look for him. The fact that that man existed in Ben Cartwright, gave Candy the strength he needed to do what he knew he must.

Once they retrieved their hats and gun belts, Ben and Joe left the house.


"And… the payment for that herd is coming in two weeks from tomorrow," Griff listed. He continued to think up a slew of phony financial transactions to keep Issac and his gang preoccupied. Griff leant back against the wall, almost allowing himself to relax. As long as he was out of the hellbox, he knew he can handle this gang of criminals. "I heard Mr. Cartwright is charging five dollars per head, and there are at least ten dozen in that herd."

"Ten dozen cattle at five dollars a head? Why, that's..." Jeb stared up at the ceiling to figure out the basic math problem. "That's $6,000!"

"You idiot!" Issac slapped Jeb upside the head. "It's $600. Still a nice sum of cash, though."

"Mhm, real nice..." Griff reiterated, and briefly allowing himself a blissful moment to imagine what he would do with the small fortune.

Cutter paced back and forth as Griff continued to weave endless tales of Ponderosa profits. The large crook only cared about money if it were in his pockets. He glanced to check on Adam, who immediately halted his movements and feigns anger at Griff's alleged betrayal.

"We're learning all your secrets, Cartwright," Cutter taunted. "Sounds like yer daddy runs a bank rather than a ranch."

Adam nonchalantly shrugged. "Takes money to make money." "Griff's been around long enough to know that." His brown eyes locked with Griff's, simultaneously thanking the teenager for his loyalty and adding credibility to his false testaments."

"Lucky for us," Issac grinned. He realized Griff has been silent for a while. "And you, Griff. Anything else, Kid?"

"I... umm..." Griff paled and bit his lips, searching his memory for anything that would help him.

The constant pressure that has been gnawing at Adam's wrists suddenly vanished with a soft snap. Adam gently flexed his arms and found no resistance. He steadied himself to act as if nothing had happened. With a mind working a mile a minute, he patiently waited for the perfect opening to spring on the four men. He silently vowed to do all he could to prevent Griff from receiving any more harm.

While confronted with four anxious men looking down on him, Griff suddenly realized how parched his throat was. "I could really use a drink," he croaked, hoping that the simple appeal would be enough to stall them.

Issac inclined his head in Travis's direction. "Get the kid some water. I think he's earned it."

Adam caught Griff's eye and gave him a short nod. Griff deliberately blinked and returned the nod. They both understood what the other meant. It was now or never.

Cutter grew more and more restless with the whole situation. He walked over to the window and looked outside. The rain had stopped, giving the line shack a dreary ambiance.

Jeb yawned and took a seat in the wooden chair at the dining table.

Issac turned to face Adam. "What's the matter, Cartwright? Didn't expect the kid to turn on ya, did ya?"

Adam chose his words carefully. Issac looked to be weighing him up to see if he was feeling betrayed. "Once a con, always a con," he decreed in Griff's direction. "You should know that."

Travis returned with a tin cup filled with water. He handed the cup to Griff, crouching down to reach the sagging youth.

Griff saw his opportunity and swiftly acted on it. He knocked the cup out of Travis's hand and kicked him in the groin. Travis dropped to the floor in agony. The moment Issac took his eyes off Adam to see the commotion, the Cartwright heir leapt to his feet.

Issac roared at Griff, who was now on his feet with his back against the wall for support. "Why you two-timin', little-"

Adam shoved Issac hard into the dining table, toppling it over in the process and upending Jeb, who was not quick enough to get out from his seat.

"Go!" Adam yelled at Griff.

Griff did not need to be told twice. He ignored the pain assaulting various parts of his body and ran across the room. Wreching the door open and checking to make sure Adam was right at his heels, the two ranchers made a break for it.

Cutter was first to give chase. He stopped several feet outside the cabin and cocked his rifle while taking aim. He fired a shot and heard a cry of pain cut through the air.


A bit of a cliff-hanger for this chapter, ehh? What do you think will happen? If you have time, let us know your thoughts in a review! Thank you to everyone for reading! Hope to hear from you and see you next chapter!