Dust flew up around the hooves of the horse as Hoss came riding quickly down the road.
The trail was long and curvy making it difficult to control a horse. It was one of the side roads leading from Virginia City to the Ponderosa.
"Whoa Chubb!" Hoss bellowed, pulling the reins on his horse.
As
he slid down from his saddle he studied the tracks on the road. When
he noticed that they trailed off the road he quickly ran to help.
The
first thing Hoss saw was a wagon tipped on its side. As he made his
way closer he noticed a little girl lying beside it. He tried picking
her up not realizing that her hand was pinned under it. He carefully
laid her back down and lifted the wagon off of her. He then lifted
the unconscious girl and ran her to his horse. And as swiftly as he
could he rode home seeking help for the girl from his family.
Ben and Joe were sitting on the porch in front of the house when Hoss came riding up.
"Pa! Joe!" he hollered.
Their
attention which had been completely focused on their chess game was
now focused on Hoss' cries. When they noticed the young girl flung
over Hoss's horse they ran to his aid, pulling the young girl from
the horse so that Hoss could get down.
When his feet were planted
firmly on the ground he took the girl from his father and brother,
and carried her upstairs to the spare bedroom. While he layed her
down in the bed, Ben spoke with his youngest son.
"Joe, go into town and get Doc Martin, and if you see Adam tell him to hurry home."
"Alright Pa." Joe said already heading out the door.
Ben turned to see Hoss coming back down the stairs.
"What happened?" He asked him.
"I dunnno, Pa. I was just comin' down the road and I noticed the wheel tracks that went off the road. I found that young'n lyin' down in
the wreck. She's been unconscious like that since I found her."
"There wasn't anyone with her?"
"Pa, I'm not sure. I was just so upset for her that I didn't think about anything else."
"That's alright, Hoss," Ben assured him, "I'll send Adam to go take a look as soon as he gets back.
He then reached up and patted his son on the back.
"I'm going to get a cup of coffee. Do you want one?"
"Sure. I'll be up sitting with her."
"Okay, Hoss."
As Ben walked into the living room Adam came walking through the door.
"Adam." he said, calling his son.
"Yeah Pa?"
"I need you to do something for me. Did you see Joe on your way back?"
"No. Why is there something wrong?"
"Well,
Hoss found this girl whose wagon wrecked. She hasn't woke up yet but
I sent Joe in town to get the doctor.I need you to go back out to the
side road and see if you can find any other people or any of her
things out there. Hoss was too upset to check."
Ben stopped
and took in a deep breath.
"Can you do that for me?"
"Of course Pa. And I'll be back in time for lunch."
"Good. Thank you, Adam."
"No problem, Pa."
He then turned and went right back out the door.
It wasn't a very long ride and he found the site of the accident quite easily. The ground crunched under Adam's feet as he stepped down from his horse. The wagon was lying on its side and there were no horses in sight. Adam first looked for any other people but there were none. Then he began looking for any possessions the girl may have had with her. He did find her bag with some clothing in it. It was wide open so he looked for anything that may have fallen out. He found an envelope that said ,"Adam" on the front of it but, he thought nothing of it. When he thought that he would find nothing else he began walking back toward the road to return home. Then he stepped on something. It was a pocket watch. He bent down to pick it up when he noticed the engraving on the back. He dropped it in the bag and began his ride home.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, Ben and his two sons sat downstairs, waiting for Doc Martin to come down.
"Do you think Adam found anything, Pa?" Joe asked.
"I don't know. I just don't understand why a young girl like her would be out here by herself anyway?" Ben replied.
The doctor then came down the stairs.
"Well, Ben, she suffered some cuts and bruises and a broken wrist. Other then that she seems to be a healthy girl. Just keep an eye on
her and she'll be fine in a couple days."
"Can we go up and talk to her?"
"She's still sleeping right now, Joe. But, it won't hurt to have Hop Sing take her some soup later and then you could speak with her."
"Alright we'll do that," Ben replied. "would you like to stay for coffee?"
"No, I had better be getting back to town. Thanks for asking though."
"Well some other time then. Good night, Doc."
"Goodnight, Ben."
While the doctor was readying to leave, Adam came riding in.
"Hello, Adam." Doc Martin greeted.
Adam just nodded his head and added a simple, "Doc." And then made his way to the house. When he reached the door he paused for a moment. Reaching into the bag he pulled out the letter and the watch. He then removed the hat from his head and entered the house.
"Did you find anything?" Hoss eagerly asked.
Adam sat down in the chair next to the settee where his brother's sat and across from him in the other chair was his father. He sat his hat
and gun belt down on the table. He then let out a deep breath and answered, "Just the girl's belongings."
They
then sat there in complete silence. Adam held tight to the watch and
avoided eye contact with anyone.
Ben being so close to his son
knew that something was bothering him. He said nothing though in
hopes that Adam would come to him first.
Then Hop Sing came walking through the living room carrying a tray of food.
"Hop Sing!" exclaimed Adam, breaking the silence," Would you ask the young lady to come down once she's finished eating?"
"Yes Mr. Cartwright." he answered cheerfully.
He then sat and waited. Ben, Hoss, and Little Joe now all knew there was something going on with Adam. But he had the look on his face that let them all know not to pester him.
