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Lying on the uncomfortable mattress of the run down inn, Griff stared at the cracks in the ceiling, unable to sleep. He had hoped to turn in early while the laudanum was still actively numbing the pain. He did not have many pills left on him either as the doctor had only placed a small amount in a container on the bedside table back at the ranch.
One moment Griff felt like his body was going to catch fire and the next instant, the blankets were not enough to keep him warm. A long, drawn out shiver caused his teeth to chatter. Clenching his muscles to ward off the chills only made his body ache. Thirsty, Griff licked his lips then slowly pushed the blankets off himself and climbed out of bed. He almost regretted taking his boots off in the first place because getting them back on was more painful than it was worth. Making his way stiffly downstairs, he approached the bar and asked the barkeep, who was on the verge of asking if he was old enough to drink, for a glass of water.
"You alright, kid?" the bartender asked as he poured some water and placed it in front of Griff. "You don't look so good."
"Just had a long ride is all," Griff shrugged, forcing a weak smile.
Sensing the youth was hiding something and noticing the bruises on his face, the observant bartender, Jack, decided whatever trouble the young man was in, it was none of his business. Nevertheless, he could not help but feel a little sorry for him. "You could probably use something to eat? I have some soup."
Griff did feel a little hungry and pulled out his wallet, but when he saw how little money he had, he decided to pass on the meal. "Just the water's fine."
Jack leant forward across the bar so none of the other patrons would hear. "It's on the house. It's not the best, but you look like you could use somethin' other than water."
Not one to take charity, Griff opened his mouth to decline the offer but the bartender has already called out for a bowl of soup from the kitchen. "I… Thanks. I'll pay for as soon as I can."
Jack waved him off and poured a drink for another man, who took a seat beside the youth. Jack did not know that he was serving a cowardly, lying deadbeat named Eddie.
Eddie did a double take when he recognized the man sitting next to him on the stool at the bar. "Griff?" he gaped.
Griff shrunk down in the stool and put an arm up to discreetly cover his face. He does not look at the man next to him and Griff hoped he would go away if no answer came forth.
"Griff!" Now Eddie was sure it was the ranch hand. "Griff King!" He kept his voice jovial, but he was suddenly worried that Issac ratted him out and the rest of the Cartwrights were with Griff to arrest Eddie for supplying information for the kidnapping. "What are you doing out all this way?"
Griff reluctantly turned to face Eddie and plastered a smile on his face as he sipped at his soup. "Oh, hi, Eddie. How are you doing?"
Noticing Griff sidestepped his question, Eddie relaxed a little. "Oh, well, I was on my way to…" He paused, forgetting for a moment what exactly it was that he told Ben. "Buy a piece of land out here. Finally saved up enough money and took a leap o' faith!" He was fairly certain that was what he previously told Ben.
"Ah, good for you." Keeping the sentences short, Griff hoped that Eddie would take the hint. A shooting pain ripped through Griff's side and he bit his lip.
"Hey, you okay there?" Eddie looked the boy up and down. He figured Issac and probably Cutter had really done a number on the boy. Curious as to why Ben would ever let this clearly-injured teenager out of his sight, Eddie shifted himself closer and slyly tried to find out more. "Is anyone with you? I can go get 'em if you need help…"
"No, no," Griff gritted, pressing his teeth together. "I'm fine, and no one's with me." Figuring he can trust Eddie, as he had known and worked with him for months now, Griff whispered, "And I'm planning to stay that way, so please, don't go telling anyone you saw me." He stood, which was clearly a difficult endeavor.
"Sure, sure," Eddie nodded. He was utterly absorbed at the damage Issac must have inflicted to cause a rift between the Cartwrights and Griff big enough to make Griff run away. The older man wondered if he could capitalize on it. "You got anywhere to be right now?"
"Um…" Griff shifted his weight. "I…"
"How about with me? We'll play some poker, have few beers!" Before Griff even answered, Eddie slung an arm around Griff's shoulders and continued talking charismatically as he led the boy upstairs. "I got a room here plenty big enough! It was mighty lucky of you to run into me, yes siree…"
Jack took the empty bowl and began wiping down the stained bar after silently observing Griff and Eddie's odd interaction. "Griff," he repeated, filing the name into the back of his mind.
Griff paused in the hallway outside Eddie's room and leaned his shoulder and head against the cool wall. He closed his eyes and inhaled small, slow breaths. Climbing the stairs had left him breathless and if it were not for the laudanum still in his system, he was sure he would be in agony. As it was, the occasional stabs of pain through his side were enough to make him grit his teeth together to keep from crying out.
"Come on, buddy, let's get you inside. I've got some whiskey. You'll feel a lot better after a drink and a little rest," Eddie suggested. "Then we can play some poker with the guys. Take your mind off things." He wondered just how badly Griff was hurt and hoped that the boy could at least last the night. After all, he could use his help with a small dilemma after a game of poker later on. After that, he could not care less what happened to Griff King.
Disoriented, Griff took Eddie up on his invitation and stumbled into the room.
"Joe, stay here with Adam," Ben ordered in a rush.
"Come on, Pa!" Joe protested.
Ben repeated firmly, "You're not coming."
Joe sighed and bit his tongue. While the doctor insisted he wear the sling for at least a couple more days, Joe still figured he could ride with his father and Candy to search for Griff.
Candy walked into the house with Lucas in tow.
"Lucas," Ben acknowledged. "I appreciate you comin' along with us."
"Griff's a friend. I'd like to help," Lucas made known.
"There's something else that Lucas has to say. Go on, Lucas," Candy prompted. "Tell Mr. Cartwright what you and the boys told me in the bunk house."
Intrigued, Ben, Adam and Joe converged on the sandy-haired ranch hand.
"Well, it's not about Griff. It's about Eddie, Mr. Cartwright," Lucas started.
Ben looked at Candy, who impatiently motioned for Lucas to continue.
"Y'see, Sir, we believe – the boys and I – that Eddie skipped out on us cause he couldn't pay us back the money owes us," Lucas stuttered. "He told us all different stories on why he needed all this money. Wasn't till Candy told us he left, that we realized he lied to us. If Griff's out there, he ain't got enough money fer food and shelter to last 'im more than a few days. Maybe less." Ben threw a glance in Adam's and Joe's direction. "Well, like I said, Eddie has borrowed a lot o' money from all of us and gave different reasons for it. I loaned him half my week's wages because he said he needed money to help his Ma after his Pa died, since he was the only child. He told George that he needed a hundred dollars to go visit his newborn niece. Said it was her sister's first child. All these stories were all mixed up, but he swindled all of us, Griff included."
"And me," Ben sighed, remembering how he handed Eddie money without even thinking to check his story.
"Now we've got two men to find." Adam cast one hand up in the air and kept one on his crutch.
"It appears so." Ben brought a finger to his lips and thought over the situation. "Lucas, do you have any idea why Eddie needed all that money?"
Lucas shrugged. "Not that I know of. What, with the way he gambled almost every night, you'd think he was as rich as a king! Mr. Cartwright, I tell ya, I've never seen anything like it!"
"Enough to drive up some gambling debts? Candy questioned, even though he already knew the answer.
"Oh, sure. He wasn't no good at poker. I'd suspect..." Lucas, too, caught Candy's drift and understood. "Oh..."
"My sentiments exactly," Ben remarked, donning his hat. "First, we have to find Griff. There's no telling how much damage that foolish boy has done to his body by now. Then, we'll straighten out all of this Eddie business."
Candy and Lucas preparep to ride, as well, leaving Adam and Joe to recover.
"Seems like an awful lot of crime for one ranch, doesn't it, Joe?" Adam mused.
"Certainly more than our fair share," he agreed. "What are you getting at, Adam?"
"I don't know." He maneuvered himself over to the couch, unable to get the thought of Griff, alone and hurting in a strange place, out of his mind. "But I'm sure going to find out."