I do NOT own Bonanza or any of the original Cartwright characters.

His Wild Irish Rose

Chapter Eleven

Scene Twenty-One

The night air was crisp, but the fire inside sent its warmth throughout the house as the guests smiled and visited off to the side of the living room and dining room as Pepper in her beautiful white lace gown sit on Adam's lap as he turned the wheelchair around in various circles "dancing". Ben couldn't help but sigh; he had hoped Adam would be walking by now. He comforted himself by telling himself at least his son had a good wife and was doing great with the paper work connected to the ranch.

Sheriff Foster had stood off in the corner doing his best to enjoy the scene before him. He had missed the wedding, apologized to Adam saying he had some urgent business. Truth was, not knowing Peter had joined up with Thomas, the sheriff was afraid, due to reports he'd been receiving, that Peter Blackhill might try and show up to ruin the wedding. He'd been relieved when that had not been the case.

He made his way over to Ben. "They make a nice couple." It was the one thing he could think of to say without bringing 'it' up. Ben saw through him anyway.

"It's Mr. Blackhill," Ben lowered his voice so only Bryan could hear, "He's been spotted again, hasn't he?"

Bryan nodded. He hated it. Ben should be enjoying the fact that he Adam was finally married not worried for the man's safety. "Sightings have been reported, but none of them can be verified."

Ben found himself furious with the stupidity Mr. Blackhill was showing. He was going to gain nothing by coming after Adam, or any of them. He was already a wanted man; this behavior the man was choosing wasn't going to change that. "He's not going to kill Adam without a fight."

That didn't surprise the sheriff in the least. If Ben had said anything different, Bryan would have been shocked. "We're all keeping our eyes and ears open Ben; none of us want to see Adam killed."

While Bryan and Ben were talking Adam was doing his own thinking as he "danced" with his bride. More than ever, he wanted to walk again, not because he thought he was any less of a man because he was in a wheelchair, but because without a gun and bullets he would be helpless to defend anyone, and guns did have a habit of running out of bullets.Still, he didn't let his worry about Mr. Blackhill ruin what was the best day in his life.

"They sure do make fer a fine couple," Hoss looked at his oldest brother and new sister in law, then back at Little Joe and Candy, "I just wish he'd walk again."

"I do too," Little Joe shrugged, "but at least he's alive. We just have to keep it that way." He didn't have to say why he said that; it was unnecessary.

"Let's have fun," Candy stepped away from the wall, "or haven't you heard? There's a wedding going on." That brought laughter from Little Joe and Hoss, as Little Joe went to get Rosa and Hoss went to find a dance partner.

Scene Twenty-Two

Thomas sat down at one of the corner tables the saloon in Virginia City. He'd told Peter that it would be safer for him to go into town and look meet the men he'd sent for as he, Thomas, was not a wanted man. He watched as the men he knew only as Michael and James entered the building and walked over and joined him. Thomas never asked their last names, only where to get a hold of them when he needed them, and he never offered them his; every one of them were better off that way. In their line of business it was safer that way.

"Glad you're here," Thomas waved to of the waitresses, "bring me two more drinks, for my friends." The young red haired waitress did as she was told and received a generous tip for her service.

"So, Peter Blackhill actually let you convince him to let you bring help into this, thought that man worked alone." Michael kept his voice low; the last thing any of them needed was to have their conversation overheard.

"He has another fellow he pulled into this," Thomas' eyes laughed, "you might have heard of him, one Tyler Moore." He couldn't have said any other name that would have gotten them more interested.

"Tyler Moore is joining him in this?" James stared at him in disbelief. Tyler Moore had made himself a name as a gambler, con artist and a man who had his hand into more dirty deals than a body could shake a stick at. Lawmen at all levels had tried to catch him for years.

"Peter says the man owes him a favor over something, and he's calling him on it." Thomas paused, "Which one of you wants to get the other matter taken care of and join us as soon as possible?" He didn't have to spell it out for them, when it came to the 'other matter'; they knew.

"I'll do it, but it will have to wait until tonight. I can't risk being seen going there in the daytime." Michael answered; after all, Tyler Moore wasn't the only one with a debt to pay.

000

Peter sat on a chair outside the shack looking at the last of the winter snow, another month and it should be gone. In his opinion, it couldn't melt fast enough. He was counting his 'blessings', when it came to the help he was getting. Thomas had connections, he (Peter), had connections to Tyler. He told himself there was no way that Adam Cartwright was going to live past spring.