Chapter 6

'Murder?' Hoss repeated. 'That little girl in there is wanted for murder?'

Ben turned back to Roy. 'What happened?'

'A sheriff rode in this morning from a little town about fifty miles South of here to see me personally.' He replied. 'It seems somehow word has gotten out that you and the boys found a girl that'd been shot out in the forest. I didn't confirm if it was true to him or not, I know I have a duty to uphold the law but until I get clear evidence one way or the other I'm not letting anyone know she is here.'

'Thank you Roy.'

'But what'd she supposed to have done?' Hoss interrupted, anxious to hear the full story.

'I'm getting to that. According to this Sheriff, Missie Denning escaped from a mental institute in Sacramento and hitched a ride with a family headed towards Utah. On the way there she went crazy and murdered the entire family in a fit of rage then stole everything they had. A man travelling with them as a hand was the only one able to escape with his life, he'd been shot and someone else found him and so now she's a wanted girl.'

'And that's the murdered family you found.'

'I'm afraid so Ben.'

Ben sighed, running a hand over his head. 'What are you suggesting I do?'

'Well, for now, no one knows for sure she's here except me and the doc. I'd reckon it best if it stayed that way, at least until we get to the bottom of this mess and figure out what happened. Is there any chance I might be able to speak to the girl?'

'Afraid not at the moment Roy, her fever only broke last night, she's still extremely weak and she's very frightened of anyone except Adam.' He paused for a moment, thinking. 'I'll speak to him, let him know about this and see if he can try and get her side of the story out of her. Would that suffice for the moment?'

'If he can, yes.'

'Do you think she's guilty?'

'I honestly don't know Ben.' Roy replied truthfully. 'I mean, with the evidence I found and now this, it's not looking good for her at all.'

'Can I have the name of this Sheriff and hand? The name of the institution too.'

'The Sheriff was Rob Mackoy in Tenersvile, I've got no idea who the hand was. He didn't want to name him for protection purposes.'

'Handy. And the institute?'

'Didn't say either.' He looked at Ben closely. 'You thinking of conducting your own investigation?'

'That girl is innocent until proven guilty, I aim to get this straightened out before a lynch mob comes for her.' He replied in that deep strong voice of his as he stood. 'Thank you for your time Roy, let me know if you find anything else out.'

'I will. You want to keep the poster?'

'Might help while asking around. Hoss, walk the Sheriff out will you?'

'Sure Pa.'

Ben sighed wearily after they'd left, looking down at the poster again. No, he just couldn't believe that the girl in there was a murderer. He'd met a lot of people in his life and that girl just didn't have it in her. There had to be some other explanation for it. There just had to be.

Folding the paper again he placed it in his pocket and walked back into the room, Joe placing a finger to his lips as he entered, motioning to the sleeping girl.

'She had all the broth.' He whispered, walking over to him. 'Nice girl.'

'She is. Joe, would you mind riding out to check how the branding is going? I was going to do it myself this afternoon but something's come up.'

He shrugged. 'Sure Pa. Anything else I can do?'

'Some prayin. We got trouble, lots of trouble on our hands.'

'Oh Adam, you're up.' Ben exclaimed, placing a paper he'd been reading away as his son came down the stairs. 'Get any sleep?'

'A little. How's Missie?'

'Sleeping up a storm.' He motioned to a chair beside him. 'Sit down, I want to talk to you.'

Adam frowned, not liking the tone of his father's voice as he took a seat. 'What's wrong Pa?'

'I had a visit from Roy while you were asleep-' He pulled the poster from his pocket and handed it to him. 'He gave me this.'

He opened it, his frown deepening then looked back at his father. 'What did he say?'

'He had a visit from a Rob Mackoy of Tenersvile, looking for Missie. Roy came to give me a heads up, he didn't tell him the girl was here but I don't know how long we can keep her a secret though. Somehow suspicion she's here has gotten out though Roy wouldn't confirm her presence to the sheriff for the moment.'

'What did she do? Murder and armed robbery? I don't think she's up for robbing a bank.'

He'd have laughed if the situation weren't so dire. 'Apparently, according to the story he was told Missie escaped from a mental institute in Sacramento and got a ride with a family headed towards Utah. On the way there she went crazy and murdered the entire family in a fit of rage then stole everything they had. A man travelling with them as a hand was the only one able to escape with his life. The family that was murdered on the trail is the one he believes she took part in.'

'Did you get the name of the hand?'

'No, he didn't get the name of the institution from the Sheriff either.' Ben took the poster Adam handed to him and rested back in his chair. 'What do you think? Do you think she's guilty?'

'I don't know Pa.' He remarked honestly after a slight pause. 'I'll try talking to her, see if I can get her side of the story out of her. We can't ignore the fact that someone shot her in the back.' He paused for a moment. 'I believe she's innocent until proven guilty.'

'That's my sentiments exactly.'

'You got a plan?'

'Well, I'm not just going to sit here and let them take her if she's innocent.' He replied strongly. 'I'm going to Sacramento to see if I can find any proof of her existence there. If she was in an institution I should be able to find some records of her being there to add credit to the story.'

'Why don't you wait for a little bit, at least until I can get something out of Missie.'

Ben thought about it for a moment. 'Alright, I'll give you a couple days but I don't know how long we have until someone comes knocking on our door for her.'

The sound of a door being opened stirred the girl from her light slumber, opening her eyes to see Adam about to leave again. 'Adam?'

He glanced up, seeing the girl awake and walked over to her. 'I thought you were asleep, I didn't wake you did I?'

She shook her head as he sat down in the chair beside the bed. 'I've been awake for ages, I was just resting my eyes. Can I have some water please? I'm really thirsty.'

'Sure. Did you have a good sleep?'

'Not really-' She winced as he helped her sit up, biting her lip as he fixed the pillows up behind her. 'Bad dream.'

'I'm sorry to hear that. Do you want to talk about it?'

'I don't want to bore you with the problems of my mind.' He held the cup to her lips, the girl drinking slowly until it was empty. 'Thank you.'

'Want any more?'

'That'll be enough for now.'

Adam nodded, resting against the back of his chair and folded his arms in front of himself. 'Missie, do you trust me?'

'I don't have much of a choice now, do I?' She replied a little harshly, caught off guard by his bluntness.

'No, no I guess you don't.' He looked at her closely, trying to read her expression. 'You see Missie, I'm trying to figure some things out and now that you're doing better I was hoping you might work with me.'

'What-' She answered cautiously. 'Things?'

'Well, for starters, what were you doing on the Ponderosa to begin with?'

'I didn't know I was on private land.'

'You didn't see any signs?'

She shrugged. 'Can't read, remember.'

'You didn't answer my question.'

'Alright, alright. I was trying to find shelter and some food then got myself caught in that damn blasted trap.' Her eyes were cold, clouded as she replied angrily. 'Happy?'

'Not quite. You see, it's not everyday we trap a young girl who's been shot in the back on the Ponderosa.' He could see something in her expression that concerned him when he spoke that revelation. Anger, yes, he could see that but there was something else. Something else he just couldn't put his finger on it. 'Where are your folks? Are you running away from home?'

She scoffed. 'Didn't have much of a home to run from in the first place.'

'Would you mind telling me then what happened?'

'Yes, yes I would mind telling you! I'm grateful for your hospitality and the way you've been looking after me but I am not appreciative of the questions. I've got nothing to hide.'

'If you've got nothing to hide then why are you so jumpy?'

'Because they aren't exactly the best memories Adam!' Missie exclaimed angrily with a hint of exasperation. 'Don't you remember me telling you this has been the best I've ever been treated in my life aside from my Ma and step father?'

'I remember.'

'Then what more do you need? Can't you fill in the blanks?'

'Missie, I need the truth, the full truth. The Sheriff was by here earlier-' He saw the change in the look of her eyes at the mention of the law. 'He came across a wagon whose occupants were murdered and robbed on a trail about thirty miles from here.' The girl looked away from him, staring off into the distance as he continued. After a moment he decided it was time to tell her what the Sheriff had said. 'Missie, your wanted for murder and armed robbery.'

Missie's face fell, turning to him with a look of absolute disbelief. 'W-what?'

'There was a man travelling with them who was the only survivor and he named you as the one who murdered the family.'

'No, no-' She whispered in horror. He had to be joking, he just had to be. 'Your joking.'

He could see in her eyes the surprise and shock. 'I wish I was. There's a five hundred dollar bounty on your head.'

'What?' It was all she could do to stop herself from bawling her eyes out. She hadn't murdered those people, no, she hadn't. 'Adam, Adam you have to believe me. I did no such thing. I didn't kill those people or rob them.' She searched his face for something, anything that confirmed he believed her but his face was as expressionless as a bar of soap. 'You don't believe me, do you? You'll just turn me into the Sheriff without a second thought. You already think I'm guilty.'

'Missie, I believe a person is innocent until proven otherwise. However, there is an eyewitness who says he saw you murder the family.'

'Oh right, an eyewitness who's an adult man against a twelve year old girl. Oh I know who people would believe first. They wouldn't think twice of stringing me up and dangling me in the air-'

'Missie, Missie, calm down. Calm down!' Adam interrupted as the girl started to get too worked up, placing his hand on her shoulder. 'Missie, listen to me-' The girl flinched but held eye contact with him. 'I believe you're innocent but I need to know the truth so that we can get you out of this mess. Missie, please. Tell me what happened.'

Memories came back to her, memories that would chill even the hardest soul. 'A-Adam-' She was barely able to make it out as her emotions took control, the girl's body convulsing in a fit of sobbing.

He frowned, feeling bad for pushing her over the edge but it was better than her crying then her ending up dangling at the end of a rope. Quickly he got up, sitting on the bed beside her and the girl buried her face in his shoulder.

'A-Adam. They- they were m-my family.'