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Chapter 9

Adam's heart skipped a beat when he heard the gunshots and the muffled sounds of shouts. He could barely make out the words through the thick wooden door and Griff's disdainful pleas of "Leave me alone. Please, just stay away."

Then all was quiet.

Adam prayed that no one out there was hurt. He knew that his father would have rounded up some men to look for him and Griff by know. Knowing and accepting the fact that there was nothing he could do to help whoever was outside the godforsaken hellbox, Adam decided to concentrate on helping the young man that lay curled up on the floor near him. He was thankful that the clouds had parted and allowed the glow of the moon to filter through the small, barred window. He dragged himself across the floor to get closer to Griff, who appeared to be losing the battle to stay conscious. The youth was no longer thrashing like a caught animal. He lied there muttering incoherently before he fell silent. Adam fumbled with the blind fold around Griff's head and pulled it off carefully so as to not wake him or cause him any more pain. Using what little strength he still had, he slowly maneuvered the young man, angling him up to the light of the moon. Adam used the material from the blind fold to staunch the flow of blood from the wound on Griff's head. The youth started shivering from the cold but he did not show any signs of awareness.

Adam sighed heavily. A blanket was probably out of the question if he requested it. Remembering that Griff still had his hands tied behind him, Adam reached over and managed to work the knots free. He cast the rope across the room like an offending object then gently rolled Griff on to his back resting his hands beside him. While darkness and clothing concealed Griff's injuries, Adam had no doubt he needed a doctor. They both did. He wished he could check the boy over but there was not enough lighting to be able to do that. It would have to wait until morning. Realizing there was nothing more he could do for the boy to make him more comfortable, Adam let his own exhaustion win him over. He shuffled against the wall and leaned his head back as sleep claimed him.

Swinging himself off of his horse, Joe stumbled towards the front door. His arm burned with agony as blood seeped from his wound. "Pa!" He opened the door and managed to get himself to the couch. "Pa, come quick!"

Ben descended the steps two at a time and picked up speed when he saw Joe clutching his red-stained bicep. "Joe!" Instinctively, he applied pressure to Joe's wound. "What happened to you?"

Worried for Adam and Griff's safety, Joe shrugged off Ben's ministrations. "I'm fine, I'm fine." He exhaled hard, trying to catch his breath. "It's Adam, Pa- Adam and Griff. They've been taken hostage." Using his good arm, he felt around his shirt pocket. "Take a look/" He handed Ben the note. "And these crooks mean business."

Ben's brow creased as his eyes scanned the paper and inspected Adam's blood-stained pocket-watch. "They did this to you?" Joe nodded silently. "How many of them were there? Were Adam and Griff hurt? Where w-"

Anticipating his father's mountain of inquiries, Joe cut him off and filled in on the details as best he could. "They're holed up in the line shack just pass the North Range," he supplied. "I don't how many of them are there. I saw two, but heard some movement coming from the shack. I'd guess there are four, maybe five others." He flexed his fingers and grimaced. "They wouldn't let me see Adam or Griff. I tried but..." Trailing off, Joe blinked at the memory of Sam's demise. "They shot Sam, Pa. Shot him dead. He never even had a chance!" Joe kept his eyes fixed on his wound, not trusting himself to look at Ben. "I-I-I left his body... I wanted to get back as quick as possible."

"You did good, Joe," Ben validated, patting Joe's knee. "You saved your brother and Griff." Ben anxiously, scrunched up the ransom note. "Now, you better go and get Hop Sing to wash out that wound and bandage you up."

Recoiling at his father's request, Joe retorted, "Pa, you can't go alone. These men are dangerous. I'm fine to ride. Just let me-"

"No." Ben kept a stern face and a steady voice, although his mind was with unease for his son and new hand's safety. "You're no good with a gun with that wound anyway. Go get some rest, Joe. You've done your part."

Joe raised his head to meet his father's eyes. "Listen to me! These men didn't think twice about killing Sam in cold blood. If you go alone-"

As always, Ben was quick to assuage his son's fears. "I won't. Candy'll come along, too." He collected his hat, gun-belt, and a handful of papers. "We'll be back, with your brother and Griff," he promised Joe and himself. As Ben exited the house, he called out for Candy to get his horse ready.