Paul stood staring down at the tiny body. "It's a baby boy, Roy, a newborn." He handled the baby gently. "He was born alive - healthy." He shut his eyes and sighed. "His heart was removed." Paul stopped and put his head down. Marian had been making notes as he spoke, and she put the notebook down. She put her arms around her husband, and held him. Paul took a deep breath and turned to Roy.

"Has anyone had a baby in Virginia City, Paul? I mean, recently." Roy asked.

Paul said, "I knew what you meant - no, or if they did, they did it without my help. Has anyone reported a child missing?"

Roy shook his head. "No - and that's the kind of thing that gets around town fast."

Paul looked at his old friend. "One good thing, Roy, the child probably died almost instantly. With that amount of blood loss, it couldn't have survived for more than a few seconds."

"I should feel comforted that this baby didn't suffer?" Roy's tone was harsh.

"Sometimes, Roy, that's the only comfort you get."

"Yeah, well...I guess I should get Dave Clayton up here to see about a funeral for the poor little fellow." Roy said. His voice felt tight, and as he turned and left, he felt tears come into his eyes. He'd been a lawman for over thirty years, and had seen much cruelty, but he'd never get used to it. .

He walked down the boardwalk towards the church, feeling discouraged. Dave, the minister for Virginia City's church, saw him coming and waited for him on the church steps. As Roy drew closer, Dave went to meet him. They shook hands, and Dave said, "Let's see if Lucy has a something for us to eat. I heard her mention doing some baking today."

Roy agreed, and they went next door to the parsonage. Lucy, Dave's pretty wife, came out and met them. She gave Roy a kiss on his whiskery cheek, and took his arm. "Come on in and sit down. You haven't been to see us in the longest time, and the children have missed you."

Roy sank down on their settee, and Joy, their five year old daughter, climbed up on his knee. She stared into his eyes, and patted his cheek. "Don't look so sad, Papa Roy." He hugged her gently.

"What have you been up to today, pretty?" he asked.

"I helped Mama. We made cookies and a cake, and then I helped her bathe Davey." Davey was the new baby, only a few months old.

Andy, their twelve-year old came in and shook hands with Roy. He sat down at Roy's feet, and looked up at him. "Papa Roy, I'm having a birthday soon, you know."

Roy nodded gravely. He knew.

"Well, I've been thinking about what I want to do when I grow up, and I'm giving serious consideration to sheriffing."

Roy's lips twitched. "Sheriffing?"

"Yes. Well, my pa was in farming, and my Papa Dave is in preaching -" he looked up at Dave and smiled, "but I'm thinking I'd like to try something different, so I'd like to ask you about sheriffing."

"Well, Andy, it can be hard work sometimes, but it's all I've ever done, and I've enjoyed it most of the time."

"Have you ever had to shoot anyone?" the boy asked.

"Yeah - and that's the one of the bad parts of the job, Andy. When I draw my gun, I'm prepared to shoot to kill. I don't think about who I'm killing - I think about who I'm protecting, but it still hurts when I have to shoot someone."

"Oh," Andy said softly. "I didn't think about that - I just thought about the fun and excitement of the job."

Roy smiled at him. "Son, I don't know of any work that's all fun and excitement. That's why they call it work."

Lucy brought Roy and her husband cups of coffee and slices of cake on a tray. She smiled at Roy. "Is this an official call?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am, it is."

Lucy beckoned to her children. "Come with me. Papa and Papa Roy have to talk business." They got up and followed her out. Joy hopped off Roy's knee, and then turned, climbed up beside him, and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Now you don't be sad." she said.

"Yes, ma'am, thank you, darling." Roy said as she skipped out of the room. He watched her go and smiled. "You're a lucky man, Dave Clayton."

"That I am. I went from being a bachelor to becoming a husband to a wonderful lady and father to two great kids in one step, and now Lucy and I have one of our own. The Lord has truly blessed me." He sat and waited for Roy to speak.

"Hoss Cartwright brought in the body of a newborn baby boy this afternoon, and I took him over to Paul. I was wondering if you would perform the funeral service, and I wondered if you knew of any woman who had just given birth - someone who wouldn't call on help from Paul?"

Dave thought for a few minutes. "One of the girls at the Silver Dollar Saloon gave birth to a little girl a few months ago, but she made arrangements to have the child adopted by Hank and Abigail Meyers. They have a boy a couple of years older, and wanted a little girl. Hiram Wood and I helped with the adoption, and the child is safe and happy. What haven't you told me?"

Roy considered his words carefully."The baby was murdered, Dave."

Dave sank back in his chair, truly shocked. "What?"

Roy went on. "Hoss was tracking a wolf pack when he came across the body. Paul just examined it, and says that his heart is missing."

Dave swallowed hard. "How evil! Pagan! Is it - could it be the Paiutes? No, they spoil their children - they treat them better than a lot of white folks." He stared at Roy. "Who could do such a thing?"

Roy shook his head. "We don't know, but we've got a child who needs to be buried, and I wondered if you'd handle the service."

"Of course - you didn't even need to ask."

...

Ben Cartwright and Joe rode up to the house, and dismounted. Joe reached over and took Buck's reins from his father and led his horse and Buck into the barn. Hoss was there already, hammering small nails into a little wooden box. "Hey, Hoss, that's cute - what's it for?"

"Joe, please, I just can't talk about right now." Hoss's voice was hoarse and Joe back off immediately.

"Sorry - I didn't mean to bother you. I just wondered..." Joe led the horses to their stalls, and began unsaddling Buck. Hoss worked for a few more minutes, and then he walked over to Joe.

"Joe, I'm sorry. I've had a real bad day, but I don't mean to take it out on you."

"What happened?"

"I'll tell you and Pa later - I don't want to go through it more than once. I've talked to Adam, and I've talked to Roy, and I'd just as soon..."

"I get it, Hoss, you don't want to talk just now," Joe said. "It's fine." He stepped aside to let Hoss finish watering, feeding, and grooming Buck while he went to work on Cochise.

They went into the house together, and found Adam lying on the floor and Ben sitting in his favorite chair. Hop Sing came out of the kitchen. "Supper is almost ready. You have time to wash your hands."

Joe headed towards the bathing room off the kitchen while Hoss went over and lifted Adam up from the floor. Ben handed Adam his cane, and Hoss made sure he was steady before he let go of his brother and went to wash up for supper.

Hop Sing brought out a bowl of chicken and dumplings and a bowl of chicken broth for Hoss. Ben watched as Hoss took a spoonful, drank it down, and then waited for a minute. Adam and Hop Sing were watching Hoss, too. He looked up at Hop Sing and nodded, and Hop Sing went back to the kitchen. He was back in a few seconds with the coffeepot and a cup of hot tea for Hoss. "It is mint tea," he said in a low voice to Hoss. "It will ease your stomach."

They ate quietly. Joe was hungry, and unwilling to tease Hoss about his stomach if he'd had a bad day. He'd noticed Adam and Hop Sing watching Hoss, and if they were worried, it had to be something serious. After supper they moved to the great room.

Ben went to his chair, Adam eased down into his favorite blue chair, and Joe got out the checkers and set up the game. "Ready, Hoss?"

"Joe, I don't feel like playing checkers tonight. I've got something to tell you and Pa. Adam and Hop Sing already know - and Roy knows - but I've got to tell you." Ben sat up straight in his chair. Had Hoss killed someone?

"This morning I went out to track that wolf pack that attacked Will. I followed their tracks to Lake Tahoe. I was looking around and I found bootprints all around a blanket." Hoss swallowed hard as he prepared to continue. "I picked it up and looked at it. It was covered with blood. I started looking around and I found the body of a baby boy." Sweat was breaking out on Hoss's brow, and he was breathing hard. "Someone murdered him." The last few words came out in a rush. Hoss turned away and caught at the mantle, and

Adam saw his brother's face flush. He stood up, caught him by the shoulders, and pushed him down in the chair. Hoss's breath was coming in hard gasps."Joe, get me some brandy," Adam ordered.

Joe jumped to pour Hoss a glass of brandy, and then ran into the kitchen, calling for Hop Sing.

Adam held the brandy to Hoss's lips. "Sip it slowly."

Hop Sing came running out of the kitchen with Joe behind him. Ben was on his feet, his face white with fear, staring at Hoss.

Adam straightened up with his hand on his brother's back. "Breathe, just take deep breaths. He began to rub Hoss's back in slow circles. "That's it, little buddy, just breathe."

Hoss took deep breaths. Adam moved his hand from Hoss's back to his neck, and felt his pulse. It was steady, and Adam began to relax. He'd feared Hoss was having a heart attack, but it was something else. He held the brandy to Hoss's mouth again, "Sip it again, Hoss, that's right." Adam encouraged him gently.

Joe grabbed his jacket. "I'll go for Dr. Martin!"

"No, Joe!" Hoss tried to stand, but Adam and Ben pushed him back down. He tried to get up again, but the two of them held him in the chair. Hoss fought them and called out to Joe.

"Joe, come over here where Hoss can see you," Ben ordered.

Joe came over to his brother, and knelt beside the chair. Hoss reached out and caught his wrist.

"You can't go out there, Joe, not after dark. There's someone crazy out there."

Hoss's hand felt like a vise on Joe's wrist. "All right, Hoss, I'll stay here - I won't go out." Hoss let go of Joe's wrist, and lay back in the chair. Joe rubbed his wrist. He could see the marks of Hoss's fingers on his arm.

Hop Sing put his hand on Adam's shoulder. "It would be best for Hoss to go to bed."

Ben helped Hoss stand. "Come on, son, you'll feel better if you lie down for awhile." Hoss stood up, and Ben slid his arm under Hoss's shoulder.

Hoss shook his head. "I need to go back out to the barn, Pa. I was making a coffin for the baby, and I didn't finish it."

Joe stood up, and slid his arm under Hoss's other shoulder. "I'll bring it inside, and I'll finish it for you, Hoss. Just go to bed for now, please."

Ben, Hoss, and Joe moved slowly towards the stairs, and walked up to his bedroom. Adam and Hop Sing followed them. When they reached his bedroom, Ben and Joe eased Hoss down on his bed. Joe knelt and slipped Hoss's boots and socks off. Adam handed him his nightshirt, and Hoss changed into it. Ben turned down the covers, and Hoss slid under them. "Pa, I'm sorry to be so much trouble."

"Hush, boy, you're no trouble. You have your mother's great loving heart - that's all." Ben pulled the chair close to the bed, and sat down. He smoothed the hair back from his son's forehead. "Did I ever tell you about the time your mother held up an entire wagon train to help a mare deliver her foal?"

Joe sat down on the floor, and Adam leaned on the back of Ben's chair as he began the story. "Adam here was just five years old, and Inger was - well, we were expecting you, Hoss, and one of our friends had a mare he was..."

Hop Sing eased the bedroom door closed, and left them alone to hear the rest of the story. He went outside to the barn, and found the tiny coffin Hoss had been making. He brought the pieces inside, and finished nailing it together. It looked so bare, a sad resting place for the unfortunate child. Hop Sing pulled a box out from under his bed, and, opening it, took out a length of white velvet. It was soft and would make the coffin more comfortable. He lined the inside of the little box with it, and stepped back to examine his work. It would have to do. He put the finished coffin on the low table where they would see it in the morning. Then he banked the fire in the great fireplace, bolted the doors, and locked the windows. He checked the house to see that all was done to keep his family safe that night.