Here is our next installment for our wonderful readers and reviewers!


The sheer relief that Griff felt when the Judge brought his gavel down to signal a recess was in order almost caused him to collapse. He did not even want to start thinking about the trial tomorrow. Just take it one day at a time. He followed the Cartwrights and Candy as they congregated in front of the building. None of them noticed that Charlie Jensen ducked around the alley and watched Griff's interaction with them.

"Ya did well, Griff," Adam complimented.

Griff scoffed, "Yeah, right. Both those lawyers had me tongue-tied and sweating like a pig."

"Nah," Joe chimed in. "That's just what lawyers do. You didn't do any worse than me, or Adam either!"

"Thanks fellas," Griff mumbled. Despite starting to feel a little better, he was still rather shaken from testifying.

"And remember, Griff," Harry supplemented. "Tomorrow, one of those lawyers will be on your side.

Griff shyly nodded and began to rub his stomach tenderly.

Ben noticed the small action. "Are your ribs bothering you?"

"Kinda," Griff reluctantly admitted. "But it's nothing to worry about. When we get home, I'll have a cup of Hop Sing's tea."

"Sounds like a good idea, Buddy," approved Candy just as a clanging noise filled the air. "That's our cue."

Those who had attended the trial filed into the courtroom once more, eager to hear the verdict. Judge Matthews called for order through the commotion. Once everyone was seated, he stated, "Will the defendants please rise?"

The three men stood up as requested.

Judge Matthews turned toward the jury. "Has the jury reached a verdict?" he recited.

Eugene Benson stood on behalf of his fellow jurors. "Yes we have," he announced.

The courtroom waited with bated breath.

"For the charge of murder," Eugene disclosed. "We find the defendants not guilty. There is simply not enough evidence to support a murder had taken place. While Mr. Turner's death is unfortunate, it could have been caused by another party including hunters on the Ponderosa." He paused as an angry murmur started to spread throughout the courtroom. "The jury finds the defendants guilty of the kidnapping of Adam Cartwright, however, given the circumstances of Mr. King's criminal history and the uncertainty surrounding his direct or indirect involvement with the kidnapping, we were unable to unanimously agree that he was also a victim of the kidnapping. Therefore we find the defendants not guilty of keeping Mr. King against his will."

The murmurs grew as the crowd became unsettled, each with an opinion of their own on the decision.

Judge Matthews brought down his gavel on the wooden surface. "Silence!" he demanded. When the room quieted, he continued, "Thank you, Mr. Benson."

Eugene took a breath and returned to his seat alongside the other jurors.

Judge Matthews addressed the three men who stood before him. "You have each heard the verdict. Only you and God know the truth. It is now up to me to decide on an appropriate sentence to fit the crimes for which you have been found guilty of committing. I have also taken into consideration the defendants' criminal history. Mr. Warren, Mr. Peterson and Mr. Smith, I hereby sentence you to life imprisonment in Nevada State Prison with twenty years of hard labor. Consider yourselves fortunate that you have all been spared a worse fate. Bailiff, Deputies, take the prisoners away. This court is adjourned."

Ben cast a glance in Sam's family's direction and saw the fury mingled with anguish that justice wasn't served for the man they held dear. Feeling that approaching them now would not be a wise move, Ben turned his attention to his sons, who looked exhausted, and Griff, who could barely stand without Candy's supportive grasp on his upper arm.

"I must say," Harry commented. "That didn't quite go as I had expected it to."

Griff's eyes wandered to Reisner and his stepfather, who were deep in conversation across the room. "I couldn't even make the jury believe me today," he berated to himself. "How am I going to make them believe in me tomorrow?"

"Let's not worry about that now," Harry dismissed, not wanting to cause his client any more distress. "We'll talk about it more at the house. There are too many ears listening here and a bunch of people who are unhappy with the outcome."

"He's right," agreed Ben. "Let's just go home and put this day behind us."

Griff leaned more heavily on Candy's arm as dizziness almost buckled him at the knees.

"Candy, I…"

"Whoa-" Candy yelped as he caught Griff. "Easy, easy. I gotcha."

Ben rushed forward to help support the young man, draping Griff's arm over his shoulder. "Come on, let's get you out of here," he whispered as Griff's breathing became unsteady, causing him to sweat profusely.

Carefully, Ben and Candy helped Griff walk out of the courtroom, only to be met by Sam's father, Frank, who wore an unwavering glare. "Should've hanged 'em," Frank scowled. "Hanged all four of them for killin' my boy!"

"I… I'm sorry, but I…" Griff mumbled as he took a misstep. If Candy and Ben had not had a firm grip on the wavering boy, he certainly would have fallen to the ground.

"Steady, Griff," soothed Candy. "You're alright."

"Go home, Frank" Ben suggested. He was disturbed at the outcome of the trial and with three sons of his own, he cringed at the thought of losing a son. "Be with your family now."

"Just go home?" Frank gasped. "How can I, knowing killers like him are loose in town?!" He pointed at Griff.

"You're grieving," Ben empathized, getting a better grip on Griff. "But vilifying an innocent victim won't help your son. I'm sorry, Frank. Now please, do us all a favor. Go home." He and Candy continued to aid Griff to the livery stable where their horses had been kept. Adam and Joe followed closely, keeping an eye on Griff as they passed a forlorn Frank.

"Real sorry to hear about your boy, mister," Charlie said, sidling up to the grieving father. "It's a damn shame."

Frank sadly nodded, taking a small amount of comfort from the stranger. "First I lose my boy, and now I can't even see that justice is done for him."

Slyly, Charlie pretended to feel sorry for Frank, although he did not care about anyone other than himself. "Well, that is a tough pill to swallow, but have faith, my friend. Perhaps tomorrow they'll be bringing four bodies over to the prison, rather than three."

"I just want m'boy back, is all," Frank sighed, walking away toward his eldest and now only son and his daughter-in-law.