Hello, all! We are back with another chapter. We are so grateful for your continued support of this story. Thank you. Only an epilogue left after this chapter! We hope that you enjoy.

Chapter 29

Hoss and Candy disembarked from the stage coach. After receiving a telegram from Ben at one of the train stops enroute to Boston, they had jumped on the next train back to where they took a stage coach to Virginia City. While they had sent a reply back to Ben, they were unsure when they would reach their home town on account of the main road being closed due to a landslide.

Without their own horses, they were able to hire a cart and horses from the livery stable in Virginia City and hastily continue to their home. While Ben had mentioned in the telegram that everyone was safe, Hoss and Candy had heard a lot about the Toliver gang's spree of robberies, some of which had resulted in violence. They needed to see it with their own eyes that the family were unharmed.

"You think Adam'll get that message we sent to him in time?" Candy asked aloud.

"Don't see why not," Hoss replied. "Besides, no matter when he gets it, he'll understand why we didn't make it to Boston."

Candy nodded. "I hope so." He snapped the reigns to make their horses trot a little faster.

Everyone was exhausted after the court proceedings. Ben had taken a short nap on the sofa while Jamie stayed in his room, reading one of his dime novels but not paying any attention to the story. In the bunk house not far away, Griff lay on the bunk staring up at the ceiling, his mind wandering as he scratched at the bandage that covered his healing wound. His gaze traced the pattern in the wood until his eyes rested on the open door of the bunkhouse.

Feeling restless, Griff pushed himself up from his bunk and walked around the yard. He took a seat on top of the fence and inhaled deeply.

From his room, Jamie heard the squeak of the fence and peered out his window to see who was there. He spied Griff, pensively looking fixedly out into the horizon. Before the teen even knew what he was doing, he realized that his legs were guiding him towards the hallway to descend the staircase, his dime novel still open and clutched in his left hand.

"I saw you out here," Jamie said awkwardly as he came up behind Griff and took a seat on the fence beside Griff. "From my room. S-so I thought I'd join you."

"You finish that book already?" Griff asked with an eyebrow raise. "That was quick."

"I… I didn't get past the first chapter," Jamie admitted. "I've had a lot on my mind."

"Oh?" Griff nodded slightly and sighed. "I know the feeling. Penny for your thoughts?"

"Today in town, you told all them people they should give Gabe and Billy a fair chance at a trial." Jamie swallowed nervously.

"I did," confirmed Griff.

The red haired teenager let his legs swing back and forth in the air to use up some of the nervous energy that was building in his body. "I… I was hoping you could give me the same," he explained. "Because, I made a mistake, too, Griff. In fact, lots of them. When Pa was gone and Joe shot, I know you were just trying to keep everything together, keep us all safe. And I…"

Griff cringed at the idea of hearing Jamie apologize for feeling a certain way or speaking his mind. "Oh, Jamie, you don't have to…"

"No!" Jamie interrupted. "I do, so please, just let me say what I gotta say straight through, or I'll neve be able to get through it all."

Griff sighed, relenting to Jamie's insistence.

"I'm sorry for the way I acted. I had no call in believing you were anything less than...than brave…" Jamie said solemnly.

Griff couldn't hold back a scoff. "Brave? I wouldn't exactly call…"

"Just listen to me!" Jamie demanded cooly. "You were brave. Least ,that's how I see it now. And I know I...I didn't make it easy on anybody, 'specially you, when them Tolivers tried to rile you up. If I had kept my big mouth shut like you did, maybe… maybe things woulda worked out different, maybe I wouldn't feel like this, but…"

"Like what, Jamie?"

"Like it's my fault they made you do all them things," he admitted. "You know, getting tied up, fighting me, and fighting Gabe."

"Now just hold on a minute." Griff grasped the edge of the fence to angle himself to look squarely at Jamie. "I got a notion all of that woulda happened no matter what. Gabe just wanted us to think it was our own doing."

"But it don't change what I did and how I felt!" Jamie cried out. "When we were fightin', I wanted to… wanted to hurt you."

Griff shook his head. "No, I don't believe that."

"Well, it's true. Maybe not the whole time. Maybe when I threw that first punch," Jamie admitted.

"Not even then, Jamie. You were angry and you were scared, but not at me," Griff declared. "I saw it in your eyes. You never meant for that punch to hurt me."

"But what about the things I said? Before then. I know I hurt you when I said you weren't my brother. Remember?"

Griff leaned back onto the fence and was silent as he thought to the time that Jamie did hurt him. "It's true, ain't it?" Griff shrugged, trying to pretend he was not hurt so that Jamie would move one. "We ain't blood."

Jamie cringed at the simple phrase. "Blood ain't the only thing that makes a family," he said.

Griff instantly regretted his statement, knowing that having been adopted, the subject was sensitive.

"I didn't mean it like that," Griff quickly renounced, remembering Jamie's insecurity about his adoption. "I just meant, err, well…" Griff searched for the right words. "I mean, it's okay if you don't feel like I'm part of your family is all. You don't owe me anything."

Jamie gripped Griff's arm willing the older youth to look him in the eye. "Maybe not. But just because you ain't no blood kin of mine, it don't mean you're not family. You're as good as, Griff. Family is more than blood. It's who you'd do anything for, who you want to spend time with, who you can depend on for anything."

Griff swallowed the uncomfortable lump in his throat and saw it in the younger boy's eyes that he meant every word. Unable to form a reply, he pulled Jamie into a brotherly embrace, ignoring the pain erupting through various parts of his body from his still healing injuries.

For the first time since the Tolivers invaded their home and terrorized them, Jamie and Griff found themselves at peace. Each found comfort in the company of the other instead of the awkward silences and unspoken tension that threatened their friendship.

"Someday, I'll find a way to repay you for saving us all," Jamie vowed. "I promise."

"Jamie," Griff said quietly. "When you stopped me from killing Gabe that night, you paid me back and more. You believed in me even when I didn't."

After a few moments, Jamie felt Griff's body tensing and suspecting the ranch hand was in pain, he gently pulled away. "Are you alright?"

Griff nodded, brushing Jamie's concerns aside, but he found himself tightly gripping the fence.

"No, you're not. You're hurtin'," Jamie corrected.

"Maybe a little. Nothing I can't handle," Griff lied breathlessly then decided Jamie didn't deserve another lie. "I think… I just need a little help getting down from here."

"Come on, let's get you back to the bunkhouse," Jamie suggested, gripping Griff's arm to support him.

Before the two companions walked more than a step, the sound of horses were quickly followed by the familiar sight of their riders appearing over the hill.

Hoss and Candy were finally home!