Thank you, as always, for the kind reviews and for your patience in waiting for an update. The move went well and I am slowly climbing out from under boxes! Hopefully the next chapter won't be too far away as I get my life back on track.

Chapter Six

Hetty sat and watched the town's bumbling sheriff try again. He was no more a lawman than she was a shopkeeper and it was all she could do to keep the sneer off her face and stay civil in her conversation. The only reason she bothered at all was that he served a purpose in it all by bringing the law to bear on the situation. He had no choice really, given both women's complaints were backed up by the good doctor's testimony. He had indeed been called to the Ponderosa to treat the young woman's injuries and had been shocked to learn of how they came about. Still, he had sworn an oath to do no harm to his patients and that meant he had no choice to lie about the cause. It was all part of the evidence that would be heard in open court soon enough where the whole sordid affair would come out.

That day couldn't come soon enough for Hetty as she considered that these backwater western towns were so very uncivilised and she longed to be on the next stage and heading home for the comfort of New Orleans. But the job was incomplete and she would not sully her employer's dying wish by leaving things unfinished. She took another sip of her tea and watched as the man twisted his hat between his fingers and waited on her reply.

"Miss Angelique is simply not up to another conversation at present. I have left her to rest in our rooms which is why I am down here in this … this … restaurant." The disdain in her tone was clear as her hand swept around the room and Roy hoped that Clara hadn't heard the slur. She had worked hard to establish her dining room within the hotel and the food was acknowledged as excellent by all but the fussiest of guests. Roy was struggling to keep himself calm as each time he spoke with the woman before him, she would publicly slander his friend's family, making sure that others would overhear her comments. He knew that the town had been abuzz with gossip ever since Miss Angelique had made her outrageous claims against Little Joe. He had been forced to take a statement that he knew would be repeated in a public courtroom if the two women had their way. Of course, it didn't help that the boy had run off and fed the rumour mill about his guilt.

"Well, could you please get the hotel manager to send for me when she is up to talkin'? I have a few more questions for her."

"Of course, Sheriff Coffee. But I can't say how soon that will be as she has taken a sleeping powder as her nerves have been so unsettled. You know, she had another fit of the vapours last night and we had to call for the doctor again."

Roy knew all about it since the woman had chosen the hotel foyer to fall into a dead faint and there had been plenty of patrons around to see and gossip about the cause.

As Roy made his way back out into the street, he couldn't see the slight flutter of a window curtain as Angelique allowed it to fall back into place. Her wretched cousin had almost stopped the plan in its tracks, but they had managed to salvage things so well that half the town had Little Joe tried and convicted simply on her say so. Why were men such fools and so vulnerable to a woman's fluttered eyelashes and swaying hips? Angelique smiled as she turned back towards the settee and sat down to wait for Hetty's news. It really didn't matter why. It was just a very, very useful weapon in a world that was controlled by men.

Adam rested one foot on the hearth and stared at the empty fireplace. The whole house felt empty. They had looked everywhere anybody could think of for two weeks and there had been no sign of his brother anywhere. He hung his head as he wondered for the thousandth time how he could have been suckered so perfectly and so destructively. His father had gone over it time and again as he filled in details of the de Marigny family and tried to assure his son that he was not to blame. But Adam knew differently. No matter what else he may have butted heads with Joe over, he had known in his gut that Angelique's accusations were so far off the mark. He'd just been blinded to the truth at the time it mattered most.

It would have been a relief if the vile woman and her accomplice had left town already, but they were determined to stay put and were doing their very best to besmirch his brother's name in particular and the Cartwright name in general. Adam had felt the pleasure of planting his fist in a few faces along the way, but it did nothing to change the facts. Joe was missing and nobody knew where to look next.

The cattle drive to Sacramento had been put off once, but he knew it couldn't be left indefinitely. They needed the sale of this year's herd to go ahead or the ranch would seriously suffer down the track. Somehow, his father had rounded up enough men to make the trek, probably by paying extra wages, he figured and Hoss had left the day before to get the job done alongside their foreman and other trusted men. Hoss had objected vehemently, until Adam had intervened. He had promised he would track down their brother and bring him home if it was the last thing he did. Despite his protests, Clay had been sent along with Hoss. If Adam could do his job, there'd be more than one family reunion happening, but in the meantime, all hands were needed on the trail.

"Breakfast ready." Hop Sing stood in front of him and Adam hadn't even noticed his approach.

Adam headed across for the table and nodded as his father came in through the front door.

"The horses are ready to go when we are."

He didn't mention anything about another horse that stood in the stall and waited for his owner to come back and ride him again, but Ben had spent some time with the pinto, talking to the horse in much the same way his son used to. It brought a measure of comfort in the familiarity while simultaneously tearing at his thoughts that Joe may never do it again. He forced the bleak thought aside and made his way across to the half empty dining table.

Neither of them felt like eating the breakfast before them, but they had a long day ahead of them so they began while Hop Sing was busy in the kitchen loading supplies into saddlebags.

Larry sat with his bare feet dangling in the water and his pants rolled up to his knees. His line hung slack in the water and so far there were only two fish hanging from his wire hook. The kid was doing a little better with four on his wire. Fresh trout for supper was always a welcome way to finish a day and he smiled as Sam napped in the shade. The small section of creek was an offshoot of the main river and a favourite spot for fishing. Or sleeping. It didn't really matter much either way.

"Hey, kid. You never did tell me why those brothers of yours don't want you around. Seems to me you'd be a real useful fella to have around the place."

Joe flinched at the comment and stared straight ahead to where his line hung in the water.

"It doesn't matter why. It just is."

Not to be deterred, Larry pushed on. "What about your folks? They must be missin' ya by now?"

Joe kept his mouth shut and ignored the comment.

"You can't blame a fella for wonderin'. You turn up here, out of the blue, riding one of the best horses I ever did see and she ain't got no branding on her."

"She's mine! I broke her!"

Larry held up a hand to ward off the protest. "Never said you didn't. You're just awful young to be out on your own. That gear of yours cost good money. Same with those clothes. Just got a fella to wonderin'. That's all."

"Well don't." Joe hauled his line out of the water and began to stand up. "I earned everything I've got. I broke that horse after I caught her. She's got no brand, because I don't own a brand. I ain't done nothin' but work and do what you tell me to, have I?"

"True enough. You got a real hard work ethic. Somebody taught you that."

Joe's angry mask slipped for a moment as he sucked in a sharp breath. "Yeah, well, it weren't enough. Now stop asking questions that I ain't gonna answer."

Before Larry could stop him, Joe was heading for his horse. Sam had woken from his nap with the noise of the conversation and he stood to block Joe's path.

"Come on, kid. We're just worried about you. Is the law after you? Is that it?"

Joe gulped at the thought. Angelique could well have filed charges by now.

"Not that I know of."

As he climbed into the saddle and took off, Larry shook his head. "Sam, that kid is runnin' from something and if it ain't the law, what the hell is it?"

"Dunno. But maybe we should do some more digging and see what turns up. He said he was from Reno. Know anybody in Reno?"

"Nope."

"Me neither."

Nick leaned up against the railing and watched as his hands finished up with the last of the horses. Larry was right – the kid was good. He'd been shocked when his foreman had introduced the scrawny youngster and said he had been hired to work with the horses for the ranch contracts. He'd almost laughed out loud and asked if it was April Fools' Day. But Larry had more than proven his choice and Nick had been forced to eat his words. He watched as the kid rode a bay mare to a standstill and wondered again just where he had learned his craft. Somebody had taught him very well, but the boy remained tight-lipped about anything personal and nobody had gotten anything out of him other than he came from somewhere near Reno and he had some brothers.

He had wondered if he shouldn't do a little digging himself and finally decided it was none of his business. Families were messy and life in the West could make for some tough choices. The kid was doing his job and earning his keep. If he chose to keep things to himself, then so be it.

That had been up until today when he'd been in town and dropped in to see the sheriff on another matter. A wanted poster sitting on his desk had caught his eye and for a moment, he'd wondered if his newest hand was wanted by the law after all.

"Mind if I take a look at that?"

Morgan shuffled the paper across to him and as he swung it right side up, he drew in a sharp breath. The face staring back at him was definitely the kid he'd employed all those weeks ago. Except his name wasn't Joe Carson as he'd told them it was. It was Joseph Cartwright and there was a one thousand dollar reward for information about him!

"You know him?" Morgan had seen the reaction and figured his friend knew something.

"Yeah, he's out at my ranch. But this says he's a runaway from a family who wants him back."

Morgan looked up at his friend. "You ever heard of the Ponderosa?"

"Who hasn't?" Nick looked again at the written information. "You mean this kid is Ben Cartwright's son?"

"Sure looks like it. I'd better ride out with you and identify him before wiring Virginia City."

"Umm, that may not be a good idea. You'll spook him and he's likely to run again. Maybe you should just wire his family and get them here first."

Morgan frowned at the idea. "I don't want to be wiring information and getting them here on false pretences. You sure it's him?"

"Absolutely! Mind if I keep this?"

Morgan nodded in agreement as he pulled out a piece of paper. "Better get that wire off right away. You just make sure you keep him there, you hear me?"

"Sure." Nick chewed on his lip as he stared at the wanted poster. Who would have thought?

Joe had fallen asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. As much as he might talk up his skills, it didn't come cheap. His body was sore and he was beyond exhausted. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he recalled his father making sure he was allowed time to rest up between days like today, but this wasn't home and the foreman wasn't working for his father. Not that Larry didn't keep an eye on him, but it wasn't the same.

He had no idea how long he had slept before he jolted awake in a cold sweat. He didn't know if he had called out, but his whole body was shaking. Joe lay still as he waited to see if he had woken anybody. Across the room, Sam was snoring at a volume that would have given Hoss a run for his money and Joe felt his heart pounding at the thought.

Finally, he decided that nobody had been woken up and he slipped down from the bunk and walked outside. The cool night air across his bare skin was refreshing and he wandered across to the trough to splash some water on his face and chest before taking a drink with the dipper. His heart still pounded under his hand and he felt the water sloshing in his stomach as if he would throw up.

It had been almost six weeks and the dream still persisted. Adam would kill him if he ever caught up to him. Joe sat on the edge of the porch and dropped his head into his hands. He'd replayed the moment over and over and none of it made any sense. Every time he did, he felt nothing but revulsion for the woman who had trapped him and aroused a response in him that made his cheeks flare with shame. How could he possibly be attracted to his brother's girl? It was the worst kind of betrayal and he knew it. The only thing worse was his cowardly decision to run.