AN: Hope my readers and fellow writers had a wonderful Christmas...Happy New Year and may 2016 bring many blessings to all.

Tanith


Chapter 8

Griff reluctantly turned to face his friend. It was hard to believe how far he and Lucas had come since he had first set foot on the Ponderosa. Initially, there was a degree of animosity between the two men, with each suspecting the other of committing a crime. However, once the misunderstanding was cleared up, they were able to move past their differences and over time they found they could call each other friend rather than foe.

Lucas took one look at the younger man in front of him and his brow creased with worry when he saw the blood running down his chin. "Griff, what the hell happened?"

"Nothin'," Griff grumbled and started to walk away but Lucas caught up to him and grabbed him by the arm.

"That sure don't look like nothin' to me," Lucas winced as he studied Griff's face. When no response was forthcoming, he steered him toward the water pump. "Let's get ya cleaned up huh? Come on."

Griff relented and allowed Lucas to help him wash the blood from his face.

Lucas handed Griff his neckerchief to stop the bleeding. "Wanna tell me who did it?"

Griff shook his head then cast his eyes down.

"Well why not?" Lucas demanded. "I thought we was friends."

Griff was taken aback by the hurt in Lucas's last words. His raised his head and looked into the other man's eyes. "We are."

Lucas nodded and offered a small smile, though he wasn't ready to drop the matter. He'd seen the changes in Griff's mood in the last couple of days and wondered whether the Marshall's arrival or Candy's temporary departure had something to do with it. Whatever the reasons, he couldn't help feeling like the younger man he'd befriended didn't trust him enough to share what was troubling him. No matter how much time they spent together out in the fields, playing cards or chess in the bunkhouse and jested with one another, everyone knew that the only person Griff ever seemed comfortable opening up to was Candy. It just seemed unfair to Lucas that the effort to make Griff feel like one of the guys was one sided. What did he and the others have to do to prove to their young friend that he could trust them? That they wouldn't judge him like others would?

"Are ya in some kind trouble?" Lucas asked slowly, hopeful that his friend would tear down the walls he was hiding behind.

Griff drew a shaky breath and was about to reply when the sight of Mr. Howard lurking near the barn, clearly eyeing them, stopped him. "No, nothing like that. I tripped, that's all." The last thing he wanted was to cause any trouble for Lucas.

Lucas's smile faded from his face to be replaced with an expression that was nothing short of disappointment. "If ya don't wanna tell me, fine. Just don't treat me like I'm dumb by lyin'." The rancher shouldered his way past Griff, shaking his head.

"Lucas!" Griff called out but it was too late. Kicking at the dirt in frustration he followed the older man at a distance. There was no point in trying to keep up when it was clear that Lucas was done listening to him.


Deputy Clem Foster led the distraught young woman into his office and sat her down in the wooden chair in front of his desk. It was early in the morning but fortunately for Betty Allman, he had gone into the office before dawn. He'd had a restless sleep with the recent bank robbery weighing heavily on his mind. It was going to be another week before Sheriff Coffee was due back to Virginia City from his travels to Reno so the responsibility fell solely on his shoulders to protect the town. He poured some water from a pitcher into a glass and placed it on the desk in front of the young lady. "I'm very sorry for your loss, Miss Allman. Is there anything else you can tell us about what happened?"

"No, it was dark. I couldn't see…I'm sorry," Betty sobbed into her handkerchief.

"Can you think of anyone who would want to harm Zeke?" Though in Clem's personal opinion he assumed that list would be rather long considering the cowboy's reputation, he kept his feelings to himself.

Betty shrugged her quaking shoulders then looked up with a gasp.

"What is it, Miss?" Clem motioned for the young woman to continue.

"There…there is someone."

"Go on."

"That con staying at the Cartwright ranch!" Betty's eyes blazed as she recalled the confrontation that took place between her Zeke and this Griff King near the town square yesterday.

"And what makes you think he's responsible?" Clem questioned. He had a feeling Betty was now just trying to stir the pot.

"Mr. Foster, you saw him yesterday! He knocked me down and he hit Zeke!" Betty scathingly replied.

"If yer talkin' bout Griff King, that's not the way I heard it happen!" Clem leaned forward in his seat and jabbed his finger on the surface of his desk impatiently.

Betty clamped her mouth shut and twisted the scrunched up handkerchief until the fabric nearly tore between her fingers. She sat in silence, glaring at the acting Sheriff.

"I'm sending a telegram to your father to hasten his return. Is there anyone who can stay with you in the mean time?" Clem decided it was going to be a waste of time and tears to continue the interview. It was obvious where Betty and half the town stood when it came to former convicts. Admittedly, he couldn't fault them for it. He knew he still had a hard time placing his trust on Griff King regardless what the Cartwrights saw in him. It made his duty all that much harder when here he was, forced to defend someone who should be serving out the remainder of his time in prison. That was the difference between him and the Sheriff. After everything he'd seen and been through, it was remarkable and perhaps foolish that the old man was still determined to see the best in people. Clem hoped for the Sheriff's sake that such a mindset wasn't going to be his down fall.

"Mrs. Pembleton has kindly offered me to stay with her," Betty said stiffly.

Clem nodded. "Very well. I'll take you to her manor."

The sound of a throat being cleared at the door way interrupted the discussion. "That won't be necessary."

"Marshall?" Clem stood up and greeted the man at the door. He felt slightly ill at ease and annoyed by the way the Marshall had allowed himself in and not bothered to knock.

"My apologies, Clem. I couldn't help but over hear. The Pempletons are on my way and I have a carriage waiting."

"That's very thoughtful of you, Marshall." Clem thanked the Marshall and bade the young lady goodbye. He stood up and walked them out the door then offered his hand to help Betty board the carriage.

Betty reluctantly accepted Clem's hand but she kept her eyes averted from his. Overwhelmed with grief and anger, she wanted nothing more than to leave the Sheriff's office. What was the point of a lawman if he couldn't even uphold the law and bring justice for Zeke's murder? She thought bitterly as the carriage door shut after the Marshall had boarded.