Hi all!

Yes, you saw right! A double upload! Be sure to go read the previous chapter before this one. I'm sorry the story has been kinda slow and boring so far but the action picks up soon, promise.

This story is completed, I just need to upload it. You'll all be pleased to know that a sequel is already twenty chapters in to being written and I can't wait to share it with you all.

As always, thank you for the feedback and please don't be shy in commenting your thoughts about my work. I really enjoy reading your reviews and they prompt me to upload sooner and work harder to bring you the best chapters I can.

Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 9

'Knock knock.'

Missie looked over, smiling when she saw Adam standing at the doorway. 'Adam, your back.'

'Got a little something for you too.' He added as he walked in, a package hidden behind his back. 'Close your eyes.'

She looked at him suspiciously but with a hint of curiosity. 'Alright.'

'Close them tight, no peeking.'

'They're closed.' She replied and felt him place something on her lap. 'Can I open them now?'

'You may.'

Missie opened her eyes, a brown paper wrapped package placed on her lap. 'What is it?'

'You'll find out when you open it.'

'Alright.' She looked at him to see if there was some kind of hint on his face but it was blank. She turned back to the parcel and started to open it. Her arms were sore and stiff from unuse, her fingers refusing to cooperate too. She struggled for a moment then gave up in embarrassment. 'Help.'

He chuckled as she made puppy eyes at him and he untied the string for her. 'There you go.'

'Thanks. I'll sure be glad when I'm better-' Her voice trailed off as she opened the paper, a gorgeous light blue dress folded up inside. 'Oh Adam, Adam it's too much.'

'Nonsense. A pretty girl like you should have a pretty dress to wear.' He could see her blushing as she ran her fingers over the soft material. 'Do you like it?'

'It's gorgeous, I've never had a dress like this.' She picked it up then hugged it against her, her cheek caressing the fabric. 'It's beautiful. Where did you get it? Most men I know aren't exactly cotten to sewing.'

He laughed. 'I didn't sew it, I picked it up in town. I hope it fits you.'

'If it's too big I know how to adjust it.'

'That's why I brought this too-' He pulled a roll of matching cotton from his pocket. 'So you can fix it if you need to.'

'Would you mind helping me put it on?'

'Sure.' He helped her sit forward, helping her put it in over the nightgown she was wearing. She moved her hair aside so he could do the buttons up at the back and he smiled as he nodded his approval. 'Pretty as a picture.'

She giggled. 'You think it suits me?'

'I think it looks perfect on you.' Adam agreed. 'I'm glad you like it.'

'Oh I love it. I really do.' She smoothed the fabric out, fixing up the creases. 'I'll always treasure it.'

He smiled, happy to see the girl smiling. 'Missie, there's something else. You're requested out in the living room, I was asked to come get you. The Sheriff would like to speak with you.'

Missie paled but her eyes were still shining with determination. 'I expected he'd want to see me sooner rather than later. How will I get out there though? I can't walk.'

'I'll carry you.'

She sighed. 'Guess I don't got much of a choice. I'll sure be glad when I can get around on my own two feet.'

'I'll try and be gentle, Pa was told by the doc you're still healing.' He slid one arm underneath her legs and placed one arm around her back then gently lifted her up. The girl placed her arms around his neck, her head resting against his shoulder. 'You okay?'

'I'm alright, I'm no stranger to pain.' She was in pain but there was nothing she could do about it. She couldn't help herself shaking either as he carried her out to the living room, memories of her father doing the same thing before he beat her running through her mind.

Adam could feel her shaking, whispering softly in her ear to reassure her. He could feel every bone in her body, she felt lighter then she had when he found her, if that were even possible. 'Your alright. I'm not going to hurt you.' The girl nodded, he knew she already knew that but couldn't blame her that she didn't have control over her reactions. Gently he placed her down on the couch, placing a blanket on her and helped her get comfortable. 'That alright?'

'Yes, thank you Adam.' She replied with thankfulness she was lying down again. 'I look half presentable, don't I? I don't want to look like a maniac.'

'Well, your hair could do with a quick brush-' He pulled a comb from his pocket. 'And since you're not able to do it, I'll do it for you.'

'Thanks Adam.' She sighed. 'I feel bad you guys have to do everything for me. I hate feeling useless.'

'It's only until your better Missie. We don't mind.' He parted her hair and started gently untangling the knots. 'It needs a trim too.'

'Last time I had one of those was back in California before we left home. It's not that bad though, is it?'

'No, I can fix it later.'

'You cut hair?'

'Hey, I'm a man of many talents.'

She chuckled. 'I can see that. What else can you do?'

'Well, don't let our cook Hop Sing hear us but I can cook a pretty good trout over an open fire. I'll have to take you out fishing sometime when you're up to it.'

'I don't mean to sound rude but I've had enough fish to last me a lifetime. There wasn't exactly an abundance of food out there I can say that. Plenty of cattle though but I never touched one. They were terrible teasing me, steak just walking around on legs.'

'That's one way of putting it. What did you live on? I know the game around here this time of year isn't the best.'

'Rabbits, fish, berries. There was an Indian lady who married a white man on the ranch next to us. She taught me everything she knew about living in the wilderness. Even gave me an Indian name too.'

'What is it?'

'Swift Deer. She said because I was the fastest runner she'd seen. I think it should have been Shy Deer personally myself.'

He shook his head in amusement, a smile on his lips. 'You come out with the funniest things Missie.'

'Got that from my Ma.'

'Well, you're all fixed up and presentable now. Pa and the Sheriff are waiting outside. You ready?'

'Ready as I'll ever be.'

He stood up, going over to the door and opened it. 'She's ready Pa.'

Missie watched as Ben walked in, another man following him and Adam closed the door behind them. She shivered, she really didn't like strange men. Ben offered him a chair, Adam taking the one next to her as they sat across from her.

'I'm Sheriff Roy Coffee from Virginia City.' He started. 'Your Missie Denning I presume?'

'Yes sir.'

'Missie, I'm here to speak to you about an incident that happened a couple months back that has been reported to me. Now Ben here has told me what happened but I need to get your side of the story from you.'

'I understand.'

He placed the paper tablet he'd had tucked under his arm on the table and got out a pencil from his pocket. 'Missie, I must inform you that there are charges of murder and robbery against you before we start. How do you plead?'

She looked at Adam in confusion. 'What's that mean?'

'It means that you either plead innocent if you're innocent or guilty if you're guilty.'

'Oh. I'm pleading innocent Sheriff, I didn't commit either murder or robbery.'

'Alright.' He wrote that down on the paper. 'A witness said he saw you murder a family out on a trail between Silver Hill and here. He claimed that you killed them in a fit of rage and he was the only one to escape. What is your side of the story?'

Missie bit her lip, feeling Adam take hold of her hand to reassure her. 'That is not true. That family was my family, we were traveling from Jennings to a ranch further South of here to set up a new ranch. We were traveling alone, it was just my mother, step father and siblings. There was no one else with us.'

'What were your folks names?'

'Ma was Maybel Cuthers-Donnington to Denning when she married my step-father Edward. We all took on his name because Ma wanted a fresh start.'

'And you said you lived in Jennings?'

'Yes sir. Pa owned a ranch there but we sold it to come out here and settle a bigger ranch.'

'Thank you Missie.' He wrote down the information then looked back at her. 'Would you please tell us what you remember about the day of your family's murder?'

She felt Adam squeeze her hand reassuringly, thankful he was there with her. 'I remember everything. We'd been on the trail for over a month, we'd left Silver Hill a couple days before it happened. It started out a normal day, we broke camp and started out. My siblings and I were running alongside the wagon, taking turns running and riding either the horses we'd taken with us behind the wagon or ride inside. Pa saw some riders coming towards us and ordered all of us into the wagon and we stopped.' A tear rolled down her cheek but she just stared into the distance as she recounted her tale. 'Pa told us to stay in the wagon and for me to watch my siblings. I had my pistol and rifle with me, I kept them handy just in case. I remember my Pa greeting the men then there were two shots. Ma and Pa fell off the wagon seat, the men whooping and hollering with excitement. I returned gunfire, trying to protect my siblings and keep the horses bolting at the same time.'

Roy continued writing as fast as the girl spoke, leaving out no detail. She continued, her voice soft but cold.

'I killed three of them, they'd gotten off their horses and gone to cover. There were too many of them, they had me surrounded. My twin sisters were only nine, they were trying to fight them off too but they couldn't handle the big rifle. We ran out of ammunition and they came for us. I tried to fight them off so they could run but I couldn't. They caught me and held me back, dragging my siblings out of the wagon. Starting with Rose, my baby sister, they shot all of them until I was the only one left. The man who'd shot them had been wearing a mask, they'd all been wearing a mask but when he finished he took it off. It was my blood father who'd led the men, it was him who killed my siblings and probably my parents too. After he'd finished with them he tied me up and they plundered the wagon. We had a team of four and eight horses being led behind with my Pa's brand on them and they took them. Anything worth money they took. Pa had almost twenty thousand in gold in the strongbox hidden in the wagon for the new ranch, they stole all of it. They took everything.'

Ben watched the girl with sympathy, she'd given more detail to the Sheriff then she had to Adam about that day and it was clear to see she was struggling to keep herself together. You can do it Missie, just finish off telling him what happened.

'He tied me up and took me to his camp. It was late when we arrived, there were more men in camp waiting for us. He took me off the horse and took my clothes off me in the middle of the camp and beat me till I was almost knocked out. They put my dress back on me and tied me up to a tree on the edge of camp. He was going to turn me over to the men in the middle of them celebrating their robbery for them to abuse me. I waited till night fell and most of them were drunk then I got away. I went back to the wagon to check and see if anyone was still alive, he didn't let me do that before he took me away. Ma was still alive, she told me she was sorry she couldn't protect us. We spoke for a little while then she died in my arms. I wanted to bury them but I knew my father would find me missing and come for me. I took one of my dresses from the wagon, my belt and my knife and ran. They caught up with me two days later and shot me in the back when I tried to run. They left me for dead. I got away, found some Indian herbs to stop it getting infected since I couldn't get the bullet out and I've been running since.'

The sheriff nodded as he finished writing up her statement. 'I'm sorry this happened to you Missie, I know words won't bring them back but at least we've got some evidence to go on now. Could you identify anyone else riding with him?'

'I never saw them before. One guy had a huge scar running from above his eye to his jaw. He seemed to be second in charge of them. The rest of them were just normal outlaws, I didn't get a good look at them. Sorry.'

'No it's quite alright. You've helped quite a bit already, young lady. Is there anything they might have taken that could be identified as belonging to your family?'

'My Pa's rifle was gold plated, had his name engraved on the side. I learnt to shoot with his rifle, best rifle I've ever used. All our guns had names on them, I had a matching set of pistols he gave me for my tenth birthday and a rifle. Ma had a pistol and Pa had a couple pistols and the rifle. The horses all had his brand on them, a capital E lying on its back in a circle. There might have been other things with our names on it but I forget now. Pa had legal papers in the strongbox too, they've probably disappeared by now though.'

'Alright, I think that'll be it for now Missie.' He closed the book up, standing up as Ben stood too. 'With what Ben's already told me and your statement we should be able to get your charges dropped and get the real criminals where they belong.'

'Thank you Sir.'

'I'll see you out Roy.'

Missie looked down at her hands after they left, Adam placing his hand on her shoulder. 'You did really good Missie, I'm proud of you.'

'Thank you.' She whispered softly, allowing herself the privilege of shedding a few silent tears. 'I hope I don't have to repeat it again.'

'I know.' He replied gently. 'I watched my Ma die too right in front of me.'

'You did?'

He nodded. 'My real Ma, the lady who gave birth to me was Pa's first wife. She passed a few hours after I was born. Pa married another woman when I was five, Hoss's Ma. She was killed in an Indian attack when I was eight.'

'I'm sorry to hear that Adam.'

'Joe's Ma was killed too when he was around five, I didn't see that but it was just as hard as when we lost Hoss's Ma. I won't try to imagine what you've been through but you're not alone. We've all lost someone we've loved.'

'Thank you Adam.'

'It's alright. I promise you in time the pain lessens, life moves on. You go on. It's how life is.' The girl nodded and he wiped the tears off her cheeks. 'Now, I've got another surprise for you.'

'Another? Adam, the dress is enough. Honestly.'

'Ah but this is practical.' He pulled a parcel out from under the couch and placed it on her lap. This time he undid the string for her. 'Go on.'

'You can't keep spoiling me, your brother's will get jealous.'

'Don't you worry about them, I know how to put them in their place.'

'I bet you can.' She took the paper off, revealing a slate, paper tablets, books, slate and lead pencils. 'What's all this?'

'You, my dear, are going to learn to read and write.'

'Oh I'm not going to school-'

'No, not at school. Here. With me teaching you.'

'That's better." She chuckled, running her fingers over the cold slate. 'I hope you can teach me, I don't think I'm smart enough to learn how to read.'

'Why would you say that?'

Missie shrugged. 'All the kids at school said I was dumb.'

'Your not dumb. It might take a little while but you'll learn.' He picked the books up and placed them aside on the table. 'You can do some drawing if you like, I brought them to be used, not looked at.'

'Alright, I'll give it a try.' She chuckled, gingerly taking hold of the pencil clumsily in her hand.

'I'll leave you to it then, I need to go see Pa.'

'Okay.'

He got up, smiling as he glanced back at her. While he didn't know what went through that mind of hers it seemed at least that she was adjusting to her new reality rather well. He headed out the door, his Pa waving the Sheriff off. 'What did he say?'

'Well, if Missie's right about the guy she described it matches the description of the Sheriff from Tenersvile.'