The wagon careened wildly up to the front of the Sheriff's office in Virginia City. It had been a long and inconvenient trip and Amelia silently cursed her brother for his stupidity. She was in a hurry to get back home to her prize partly to just be with him but partly because she was nervous as to how she would find Adam's physical condition when she returned. Her brother seemed to be displaying the same vindictive characteristics she had been afraid of from their father and it was making her real uncomfortable. Maybe Duncan could be convinced to side with her and help her protect Adam from any further abuse. She threw down the reins and sprung from the wagon. As she made her way up the stairs she felt like someone was watching her. Slowly she turned around and spied several townspeople whispering and pointing at her. Irritated she barreled into the Sheriff's office where she found him sipping his coffee and looking at wanted posters.
"Sheriff, I'm here to get my brother out," Amelia stated as she slapped the money on his desk.
Roy laid down the posters, took his glasses off, laid them on the desk and stared down at her pile of paper money. "Well, that's right fine, Miss Amelia. How's about we take care of that." He stood up and set his cup of coffee down.
Amelia stood with her arms crossed impatiently tapping her foot. "That suits me fine. I'm tired of the way all the townspeople are lookin' at me. Seems they think we're criminals or somethin' and we ain't done nothin'!"
Roy pulled the key out of his top desk drawer and crossed to the outer door of his prison. "Folks is just upset due to the death of Adam Cartwright and all," he replied somberly. "He was a good man."
"Well, that ain't my fault!" she said angrily as she barreled her way into where her brother was.
"Amelia!" Duncan called out happily as he moved up to the bars. "You come to get me out?"
"Yes, dear brother," she answered shooting the Sheriff an aggravated glare. "Sorry it took so long."
Roy unlocked the cell door and swung it open. "You're free to go, son." He motioned for him to move forward. "Try not to get into any more fights if you can help it, all right?"
"As long as they leave me alone I'll be leavin' them alone," Duncan stated as he walked out of the jail.
Amelia rolled her eyes. "Come on, let's get home. We've got a lot to do."
"Hold on, Miss Amelia, I'll need you to fill out some paperwork," Roy said as he picked up his coffee and rummaged around his desk looking for the forms. "It'll only take a minute."
Amelia and Duncan both stopped and exchanged glances. "I don't believe this!" Amelia blurted out.
Roy shrugged his shoulders. "It keeps everthin' legal and proper like."
Amelia crossed her arms and let out a long, annoyed sigh. "Well hurry up," she stated. "Duncan, why don't you wait outside. This SHOULDN'T take long."
Duncan nodded and walked outside to wait for her.
Joe and Hoss tied up their horses in front of the undertaker's and stepped up onto the porch. Joe hesitated when they got to the door.
"I'm not sure I can do this," he mumbled.
Hoss placed a comforting hand around his younger brother's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "If you'd rather stay out here and wait…"
Joe nodded.
Hoss gave him a firm pat. "I won't be long." He disappeared inside the wood building.
Joe slowly turned and lowered himself onto the bench in front of Sylvester's. Leaning forward he rested his elbows on his knees and rubbed his hands together. He happened to glance over at the Sheriff's office where he spied David Fairchild coming out. Sitting up straight, he adjusted his hat. This was his chance to confront David, let him know how he felt and why. He stood up and stepped off the porch of the building. Glancing back over his shoulder he hoped Hoss wouldn't see him. Joe knew he wouldn't approve.
As Joe got closer and closer to David he could feel butterflies forming in his stomach. He continued to keep his eyes focused on the back of the man he believed to be his brother's murderer. Standing behind him he gave David a hard tap on the shoulder. "I want a word with you."
Duncan stopped adjusting the bridle on the horse and slowly turned around. He sized up the man standing in front of him trying to figure out if this was someone who might want to kill him. "What do ya want?"
Joe cleared his throat. "I want you to know that I'll be watching your every move. I know you had something to do with my brother's death and I plan on proving it."
"Your brother?" Duncan asked, "Who's you brother?"
"Don't play games with me, Fairchild," Joe cried angrily. "Adam's dead and you're responsible. Either you hired someone or you did it yourself. Either way, you're goin' to hang for his murder."
Duncan thought for a minute trying to place the name. It finally clicked that this must be kin of Adam Cartwright. What was he talking about? He wasn't dead. Or was he? He thought back to last night before he'd been arrested. His sister had mentioned that they would be moving the body after he made sure he was spotted in the saloon, but then he'd screwed up the plan by getting into a fight. Had his siblings gone and killed Adam Cartwright?
"Did you hear me, David!" Joe had a fistful of Duncan's coat and was now yelling at him.
Duncan didn't like people touching him. Furrowing his brow he forcefully brushed Joe's hand off. "I ain't deaf, Cartwright."
Joe returned his glare. "Why don't you take a swing? You know you want to," Joe taunted as he held up his fists. "You've always hated my family, how about a little more satisfaction, huh? First my brother, then me."
Duncan debated on taking him up on his offer, but a voice inside his head told him to leave it alone, he didn't want to end up back in jail. Instead he turned his back and continued adjusting the horse's bridle.
That infuriated Joe even more. He grabbed Duncan's shoulder and yanked him back around. "I wasn't done talkin' to you."
Duncan looked down at where Joe's hand had been then looked up at him. "No, but I was done talkin' to you." He gave Joe a hard shove that sent him on the ground. Laughing, he turned back around.
Joe scrambled to get up so he could charge David, but two strong hands held him back. "Stop it, Joe," Hoss ordered him.
At the same time Amelia and Sheriff Coffee were walking out onto the porch. "What's going on?" she shrieked as she raced to Duncan's side. "Are you okay?"
Duncan smirked, "I'm fine. Wasn't nothin' I couldn't handle."
Joe struggled to free himself from Hoss' firm grip, but his brother wasn't letting go.
"I suggest you two get yourselves out of town." Roy indicated towards Amelia and Duncan.
"Us? I think you're tellin' the wrong people, Sheriff," Duncan replied. "He's the one that started it."
"You killed my brother!" Joe yelled at him.
"No, we didn't!" Amelia yelled back, "Why don't you stop poisoning this town with your lies and leave my family alone!"
"I ain't gonna tell you again," Roy interceded. "Get yourselves out of town."
Amelia let out a grunt of frustration. "Let's go, Duncan. It's obvious we won't get fair treatment in this town." The pair climbed into the wagon and Amelia took up the reins. Duncan stretched out in the passenger seat and smiled when he tipped his hat at Joe as they rode by.
Joe started to struggle again. "Let go of me, Hoss. I'm goin' to kill him!"
Roy's head snapped around towards Joe. "Now you listen hear, you better not let me hear you say anythin' like that again. I'm sorry about your brother, but if David Fairchild turns up dead who you think they're goin' to blame? You stay out of his way, you unnerstand?"
Joe narrowed his eyes at the Sheriff.
Hoss gave his youngest brother a firm shake. "The Sheriff's talkin' to you."
"I understand," Joe mumbled quietly as he dropped his head. "Now, let go of me, Hoss."
"I'll let you go if you promise you won't go after David Fairchild," Hoss stated angrily. "We ain't got time for this foolishness."
"I promise," Joe replied.
Hoss relaxed his grip and released his brother.
Joe stood up straight and shifted his shoulders to adjust his jacket. Bending down he snatched his hat up from the ground and started beating the dust off it.
"I better not have any more trouble out of you, Joe Cartwright. Your father's got enough to worry about without you goin' and gettin' thrown in jail, you hear me?" Roy said.
"He hears ya, Roy," Hoss answered, shooting a sharp glare towards Joe. "We're about done in town anyway, then we'll be on our way. Joe, why don't you get in the wagon and wait for me."
Joe started to protest.
"Don't you give me no back talk, little brother," Hoss answered angrily. "I've had about all I'm going to take from you. Go wait in the wagon."
Joe reluctantly walked towards their wagon.
"I'm sorry, Hoss. I know this is a difficult time," Roy said.
"It is for all of us, Roy," Hoss replied somberly. "We're havin' the funeral Sunday, I hope you'll be there."
Roy nodded. "I'll spread the word. I know there's a lot of folks would want to pay their respects."
"Thanks, Roy," Hoss answered as he gave the Sheriff a friendly pat on the arm. He turned and walked to the wagon where his brother was sitting sulking. Climbing in, Hoss gave the reins a sharp slap and steered the wagon to the back of the Undertaker's to pick up the coffin.
