Adam didn't know how long he'd been out; it must have only been moments. Amelia was still against his body. He tried to raise his head again; maybe he could talk to her, find out what day it was. Just as he was about to speak a loud thumping came from up above. It made his already pounding head hurt worse.
Amelia let out a gasp as she lifted her face from his chest. "Sounds like the whiskey's starting to kick in." She released her hold on him and stood there. "I have to go now, Adam, but I'll be back. I promise." She turned and picked up the stew dishes, pleased that he was able to keep his appetite up. The bowls were empty.
"When?" he croaked as she made her way towards the steps.
"Soon." She took a few steps up the ladder then paused. "Adam, I'll do my best to keep David from hurting you anymore." She turned back and disappeared.
Adam listened as she yelled to be let out. Why was her own brother keeping her hostage at their ranch? If that was where they were. Maybe he needed her to tend the chores and prepare the meals. Whatever the reason, Adam was glad she was on his side. She had a good heart, just a bad upbringing - paranoid father, hateful brother. He heard a thud followed by some muffled arguing. David and Amelia he guessed. He tried to concentrate and hear what they were saying but after a short while it subsided and the room went quiet. Adam scanned the dim cellar. Amelia had left the oil lamp behind. It was nice to at least be able to see something for a change. It's amazing the things you found yourself being thankful for at times. He recalled a story where a person had kept track of time using the sand through an hourglass; perhaps he could use the principal to help him in his situation.
His arms were still aching horribly from being tied up for so long. His head was still ringing from the beating David had given him earlier. Struggling to keep himself alert he decided to recap what he could remember was going on. What day was it? What was the last thing he remembered? He was suppose to meet Pa at the ranch, the church bell's had chimed indicating the time. He couldn't leave, something or someone had prevented him from leaving. Amelia? But she was helping him. She had mentioned him being kidnapped by David, that meant there was going to be a ransom, which meant his family would be coming to get him at any time. The room was starting to grow dim. How much time does it take to burn out all the oil in a lamp? It's half empty. Mustn't think like a pessimist. It has to have been at least a couple of days that I've been here, maybe a week? Pa would've given David the ransom right away. He had to have been worried when Adam didn't show up for their meeting. Pa would've started searching immediately. They all knew Adam prided himself on his punctuality. In fact, his brothers often teased him about being able to set their clock by him. I know they'll find me, they have to. I would be searching for them, they must be searching for me. What's taking them so long to get the money together? Maybe they asked for more than was in the Virginia City bank and Pa had to go to San Francisco to get the rest of it. That must be it. His father would pay any price to ensure the safety of his sons.
I wish I could let them know where to find me, I wish I could go home, I wish… everything faded into a black haze again.
David tried to appear to be listening as Duncan rattled on about his grand plans for the ransom money he was never going to see. What a dolt, David thought to himself. He wanted to laugh out loud, but knew it was important to keep Duncan in the dark as long as possible in case he needed him for something. He never knew what kind of crazy stunt his sister might pull.
"So, what do you think?" Duncan finished.
David pulled his almost gone cheroot from his mouth and blew smoke in Duncan's direction. "Sounds great, Dunc." He leaned back in his chair and stretched his arms. "I'm sure we'll make a bundle."
"I know we will!" Duncan answered excitedly as he settled back in his chair. He slid his hands behind his head and stared upwards. "This ranch is going to be the best horse breeding ranch in the territory!" He smiled widely. "I can't believe all my dreams are going to finally come true."
"Yeah, whatever," David smiled. He was bored. Standing up he made his way over to the root cellar and started stomping on it with one foot. "You're time's up down there! Time to get your butt back up here and clean up this mess!" He looked at Duncan and laughed. "Remember what I told you." He put his index finger to his lips indicating for him to be quiet.
Duncan nodded and smiled back. "I'll keep it under my hat."
A pounding reverberated through the room. David and Duncan both looked down at the root cellar door.
"David, open up this damn door!" came the muffled voice of Amelia.
"I didn't hear the magic word, sis!" he teased.
There was a pause. Duncan stood up and was tempted to interfere, but the glazed look in David's eyes made him reconsider. "I'm gonna go out on the porch and get some fresh air." He turned and walked outside.
"David, open the door and let me out!" she sounded like she was crying, "Please?"
David leaned down and pulled up the wooden door. Amelia emerged holding the clean plates in her hands, tears were running down her face. "You are such an asshole!"
"What? I thought you'd think it was a little slice of heaven to be locked up with your sweetie." He let the door drop with a thud.
"You're still hurting him, aren't you?" she whined.
"So what if I am. A guy like that needs to know where his place is."
"David you promised he was all mine!" she screeched. "I can't marry him if he's dead!"
"I ain't goin' to kill him," he responded irritably. "He's worth too much to us alive."
Amelia stopped crying. "What do you mean?"
David realized he might have slipped. "Now, Sis." He moved towards her and ran his finger down her cheek. "What I meant was he's worth a lot alive because he makes you so happy and if you're happy then I'm happy."
"Then stop hurting him," she whimpered. "Please?"
"But it's so much fun," he replied evilly. "Sometimes I just can't help myself."
Amelia breathed out a light, uncomfortable laugh as she searched his eyes to figure out his level of seriousness.
"I'm not serious!" David cried out with a laugh, "What kind of monster do you think I am!"
Amelia responded with an exasperated scream then turned and charged over to the sink. She flung the dishes against the edge with a loud clatter.
"What the hell is your problem?" David plopped back in his chair and placed his feet on the table. Reaching forward he grabbed his bottle of whiskey and glass. He studied the glass for a minute, "Aw, hell." He threw it across the room smashing it against the wall then started chugging his whiskey from the bottle.
Amelia spun around. "What was that?"
"Nothin'," David responded as he pulled the half-empty bottle from his lips. "That's good stuff!" he breathed, then wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "You just concentrate on your woman's work."
"And what if I don't want to!" she replied angrily.
"Then you ain't goin' to see your sweetie no more," David responded smugly as he pulled his chair back over the top of the root cellar door. "I'll be baby sitting him ALL the time!" He let out a loud, unbalanced laugh.
Amelia narrowed her eyes giving David her best icy glare. Turning back around she started scrubbing a pot aggressively. "We'll see about that," she mumbled. "Weirdo."
Duncan sat on the front porch with his legs braced against the post. He was intently whittling a piece of wood that was going to be a horse. He heard the creak of the screen door open and looking over saw Amelia come forth. "Hey "Melia." He dropped his legs and leaned forward on his knees.
"Oh hey, Duncan." She looked back over her shoulder then pulled the inner door to the house closed. Smiling she made her way towards the chair beside her brother. "What're you doing?" she asked sweetly.
"I'm whittlin' a horse." He was concentrating heavily on carving out the tail. "Where's David?"
"He's inside passed out," she indicated with a point of her thumb. "Finally."
"He likes that stuff an awful lot, don't he?"
"Yeah, I guess," she responded with a long sigh.
Duncan stopped what he was doing and looked over at his sister. "What's the matter with you?"
"Oh nothing," she answered with a smile. "I was just thinking about Adam… and me."
"Oh yeah?" Duncan sat up, remembering what David had said.
"Yeah," she started to play with her skirt. "I'm so lucky to have him. He's handsome and smart and has the most beautiful eyes you ever saw."
"If that sort of thing interests you," Duncan replied flatly as he continued whittling.
Amelia leaned forward towards him. "He's got a real way with numbers, you know, and he designed and helped build the Ponderosa too!" She settled back dreamily. "He's so wonderful."
Duncan raised his eyes towards her. "So, let me ask you a question?"
She looked over at him. "Sure."
"Well, what are you hoping to gain out of all this?"
Her face lit up as she stared off towards the horizon. "Why I'm going to marry him, of course!"
Duncan stopped. "Nothing else."
Amelia's face brightened even further. "What else would I want? I'd have the love of my life as a husband." She moved back towards her brother. "I love him Duncan … and he loves me. We're going to be together forever!"
Duncan sat back in his chair and smiled. David was right, she wasn't too sorted out in the head. Oh well, he thought to himself, he didn't really need her help converting this place into a horse ranch anyway. He held up his finished carving of the horse and held it up to see how it would look in the corral. He could do it all by himself. Well, maybe he'd have to steal some hands from the Cartwrights, but he was going to be rich. Rich AND powerful.
