Ben had been working steadily for the last hour. He had nearly gotten half the gold up from the cavern. He was loading it on to a wagon that Manson had pulled over. Mason was sitting on the bench, relaxed, gun out, pressed into Joe's side. Joe was half conscious only sitting up because he was leaning on Manson.

When ever Ben started getting tired or his arms and back began to ach, all he had to do was look up at Joe and he was filled with new strength brought on by anger. 'Hang on Joseph. I'm almost done…we'll be heading home soon. Just hang on.'

"What ya doing just standin' around, yer boy here anit standin' around…he aint doin' much of anything," Manson sneered from his perch.

Ben glared at him, but bit his lip. Until he had a gun it was no good risking anything. 'Just you wait…just you wait…' Ben threatened to in his head as he made his way back down into the cave.

Spot had been running his soul out. He'd pushed everything into his stride, put his all in it for his rider, but now he was tired. His lungs burned and he was starting to get tired. He loved his rider, but he loved his life more. He had to slow down, he had to….

"It's alright boy. I'm sorry; I shouldn't have run you so hard. It's alright," Adam said. Spot slowed to a stop and stood still. He could feel his rider's frustration and anxiety of his rider, but what could he do?

Adam dismounted and began to examine the dirt. He looked up as another horse and rider approached.

"Adam! Adam! Dang gone it Adam! What you mean by taking off like that! You've could been killed! What if your horse had stumbled?" Roy scolded.

"I found tracks, Pa's tracks," Adam said, ignoring his friend's tirade.

"Your Pa's? You sure?" Roy asked as he dismounted and joined Adam.

"I'm not Hoss, but yes I'm sure. Hoss had to make a special shoe…it matches. By the looks of it, Pa rode up to Minor's Land."

"Minor's Land?"

"Uh, yeah, that's what the hands call it. It's where all the mines are. See, we have Willy and the posse searching Ponderosa high ground, this isn't Ponderosa land anymore. We're in Minor land," Adam said as he stood to full height.

"That a problem?" Roy asked as he to straighten.

"No, shouldn't be. We have lumber contracts with most of the mines. Just cowboys and minors don't agree to often."

"Well there's one thing you all agree on, and that's he who wares the badge, must be obeyed. Come on Adam, we've got to catch that father of yours."

Hoss, Willy and the rest were riding near full tilt. Hoss had recognized the path that his father had taken, and being a country boy of course he knew a short cut. They were gaining on Adam and Roy, fast. Only about an hour behind them. Which was good, the sun was getting really low now. Hoss only hoped he made it to his family before it got dark.

Little Joe stifled another moan. How he wanted to sleep, but he knew he couldn't. It was too dangerous. He could feel himself slipping away, and he was scared.

He knew that Manson still had a firm grip on him. He could feel the gun in his side and the arm around his shoulder. He knew that his Pa was doing everything he could to help safe him. He could see him there in the fading light, lifting the heavy bricks into the wagon.

Joe thought back to the cavern, all the stacks of gold inside it, all the work that his pa was doing, and all that dynamite….dynamite!

"Pa…" Joe called as softly as he could, trying to pretend that he was in a fever, which honestly wasn't that hard.

Joe felt Manson shift behind him, and allowed himself to moan at the sudden pain. "Papa…" he called again.

"I'm here Joseph. Right here," Ben said reassuringly.

"I don't like the bang Papa…it's scary…don't take me to blow stumps again…I don't like the bang…" Joe said, prying his father would catch on.

"We're not blowing stumps Joe, you don't have to worry," Ben said, his voice laced with concern. Manson, for his part, settled back down and was ignoring the two.

"But Hoss brought a new load home…" Joe went on, "Don't see why you need all those sticks to blow those stumps. Makes so much noise…."

Ben studied his son, and he didn't find the fever riddled boy that he thought he would. No, instead he found the cleaver, quick thinking boy that he knew so well. It was then that he caught on…"It's alright son, I'll make sure Hoss doesn't bring them near you. It'll all be alright, you just take it easy."

"You two done with your little chat? You still got gold down there Richman," Manson snapped.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, hold your horses. I'm going as fast as I can. Maybe it would go faster if you helped," Ben responded.

"Right! I'm stupid, but I aint that stupid! You think I'd follow you into that cave? Leave the boy here by himself? Let you jump me? Hell no! Get back down ther' and bring me my gold!" Manson cackled out.

"Right, I'll bring you your gold," Ben growled, as once again he descended into the cave. Only this time, it wouldn't be gold that he'd bring up.