Chapter

Darkness Falls

The sun would be setting soon. In an hour or more. His son's should be returning, if they hadn't already. He was directed to meet back at the sheriff's office at days end. Having spent 36 hours on his feet, and finally being given a moment of peace it was all starting to flood in at him at once. If his son's felt anything like he'd felt, they would not be up for the ride back to the house.

Tucker was at the doc's side helping him to fill every request before Ben could even think about helping. It was a good thing too. His mind was starting to get real foggy. He wasn't sure he'd be able to keep up if Tucker wasn't here. He seemed to be a good man. He was just a seasonal worker himself. He'd been hired last year and again this year for the cattle drive that was scheduled to take place tomorrow. He was single focused wanting to not give up on the deputy until all was said and done. Ben and Little Joe watched for a few minutes as the doc prepped the sight then cut into the lawman. Tucker looked away, looking a bit ill and pale himself, combating nausea and fighting to put his emotions in a neat little box so he could act as a proper right hand man to the Doc.

Though they wanted to stay right with him, Ben had an obligation to meet back at the sheriff's office. He gave Joe the choice. Ben didn't want his baby boy out of his sight for one second while they were in town, not knowing if these unscrupulous creatures who were out for his boy's occupied the same town or not. He did trust the Doc enough to keep after him while he was away, so long as Joe stayed put. Fortunately, to ease Ben's worries, Little Joe decided he wasn't going to be much use here and he wanted to see where they were at with finding this other boy. This stranger who took his place. Ben felt a little bit better for that.

He stayed at his father's side as they made their way towards the jailhouse. The horses were not back yet.

"Come on." They changed direction. Joe followed him across the street to the International House Hotel. "Can I get three rooms?"

"Three rooms. Sure thing, Mr. Cartwright."

"Well, look at what the cat dragged in." They turned at the raspy voice of a woman with too many years inhaling smoke. Father and son looked back at the lady approaching from the saloons entryway.

"Howdie Ma'am."

"Ma'am. Get a load of this kid. When are you going to grow up so I can ravage you?" The boy blushed in front of his father. Ben knew she was just poking some light-hearted fun. At least he hoped she was. He trusted his boy well enough not to be caught in her kind of web. Perhaps she was having some fun with the over protective father as well. "Ben how are you?"

"Fannie Mae."

"I see your boy got himself into a bit of a scrape." The old barmaid motioned to the white bandages. "How do you ever keep up with him?"

"He gives me a run, that's for sure." He feigned humor.

"Well if nothing else. He's keeping you young. Isn't that right?"

"He sure does." Though he feels older every day. She gave Ben a peck on both cheeks. His father though hesitant to accept, did not turn away.

"You holler at me if you need anything dear. You know where I'll be." She turned back to the saloon.

"Actually, there is something." She turned back around.

"What is it dear?"

"I was wondering if you'd seen some men come in on wagons."

"In the saloon?"

"Or in town?"

"Well there's been plenty of those. Mostly family types, but not all."

"How about any men that might have come in with someone about Joseph's age?"

"Plenty of those too. Do you have anything more specific? I mean how many men are we talking about?"

"I'm not sure."

"You're not sure?"

"Not yet."

"Well how about the wagon can you describe that."

"No."

"The horses?"

"No."

"Ben you're not giving me much to go on."

"The kid might look like he didn't want to be there."

"Friends of yours?" She asked sardonically. He gave her a look that suggested she not ask.

"The kid has dark wavy hair, kept short; dark eyes, light skin. A few inches taller than Little Joe here. He's quiet. Keeps to himself."

"What's his name?"

"Daniel. Daniel O'lewis. Have you heard of him?"

"No. Can't say that I have. What about these men? Can you describe them?"

"Tall, broad, strong looking fellow. Dark hair."

"That's half the men in the bar right now. You don't believe me, see for yourself."

"They were with two other men." She listened intently. "One was thin and the other larger, shorter than the first but big. He goes by the name of Bogs."

"Bogs? Now that name does ring a bell. Broad shoulders? Thinning hair?"

"I'm not sure."

"He's the only one I know that fits that description. Perma-drunk."

"Excuse me?"

"He's the type that's permanently drunk. Never seen him sober. Even if he has been a few hours without a drink, the years of drink inside him keep him drunk. Meaner than a skunk. Smells just as bad too. I haven't seen him around recently though."

"They might be riding alone or together. They might also have more men with them too."

All this was new information to Joseph. He got a clearer picture of the men who were in his home the night prior. He visualized these men hurting Hopsing. Visualized them standing over his unconscious body, eying him, scrutinizing him. Standing over the kid, his friend; encircling him as he held him near keeping him safe while he slept. He shook away the chill that rose up his spine. Pushing away the abhorrent images.

Fannie Mae saw the shudder Little Joe was trying to mask. Barmaids are supposed to have a keen eye for body language. They read the ones they can take advantage of and the ones who come to take advantage of them. They read the drunk and carouser and the ones looking for trouble. They read the scared and innocent too. Little Joe wasn't very good at masking his emotions. She'd watch him grow up all the while wearing his emotions on the cuff of his sleeves.

He had a secret. They both did. Both father and son. They shared it between them. Barmaids are privy to secrets. That too is part of the job. In a way it made them feel special. It's been said the secrets they keep are the true pillars of the community. They are what keep the town upright. Loose tongues could make the whole thing come tumbling down. The thing about secrets is you have to know when or if it's in your best interest to know them. "I'll talk to my ladies Ben."

"Please. But don't have it go any further. We can't have these men know we're looking for them." Whatever Ben was hiding, it would not disappoint.

"Sure thing Ben. Don't you know, discreet is my middle name."

"Thank you Fannie."

"Stay well. And Little Joe, get some rest. You look awful." He bent a slight nod and she returned one sly smile before turning her back on them and walking back to the saloon. "Jack, my old friend." She opened her arms to greet the gent at the bar who smiled widely opening his arms to greet her back. He probably felt like a million bucks about now. One thing about Fannie, she was good at her job. She could make everyman in a room feel like he's the only one that matters. She should know, she's had years of experience.

"Here you go Mr. Cartwright. If you could just sign here."

"Thank you Tom."

Ben pocketed the room keys.

"I've got a wagon and horses sitting in front of the docs place. Could you make sure they get stabled?" He placed another coin on the counter.

"Yes sir, Mr. Cartwright." The innkeeper said, picking up the coin.

~.~

The sun was setting when they both made their way back across the street. When not too much earlier it was empty, now the post outside the sheriff's station was filled up equally marked with the Ponderosa brand as they were with the symbol of the law. He recognized his brother's horses right away.

The room inside was just as packed with mostly faces he knew or has seen around. Adam with his back to the door turned around at the intrusion.

"Hey Joe." He gave a peculiar grin to his baby brother not expecting to see him out of bed. He shot his father a look asking him how much Joe knew. If he was here at the jailhouse, he had to of been told something.

"Hey punkin'. Good to have you back." His middle brother greeted warmly. "How ya feelin'?"

"I got a little seasickness on the way over, but the Doc gave me something for that."

"He says, it's okay for you to be out o' bed?" He asked incredulously.

"He's not too worried about me. He's got other things on his mind." That didn't sound right to Hoss.

"Toller's been shot." Ben offered the explanation. "The Doc's with him now. Tucker's there helping out."

"How is he?" Coffee stepped through the group of men.

"It's a gut wound. Doc says not too deep. Because of the placement of the bullet he says it shouldn't be too difficult to remove. On the same token he says there's going to be a high risk of infection."

"How'd it happen?"

"Toller and Tucker were ambushed in high country."

"You weren't there?" This was difficult for Ben to admit to his longtime friend.

"No. We were so close to the house, I went in to check on my son. I sent them on without me." Roy was deeply concerned for his deputy, this up and comer with a passion for law and order, who might have one day surpassed him, now he wasn't so sure if he'd make it past tomorrow. He couldn't chastise his friend though. The concerned father who just about lost his young'un the night before. You can't chastise a father's love. What Ben did was how he would expect a father should react. It was only natural and he would have expected nothing less.

"Did the tracks take you to Ponderosa land?" His middle son was aching to know.

"No, Hoss. Right around."

"Jeb."

"Sir?"

"Ride out to Toller's place. Let his wife know what's going on." Coffee ordered.

"Yes, sir." He responded before placing his hat on his head and walking out.

They were already in the midst of formulating plans when Ben had walked in. After catching them up they continued to hatch out new plans.

"I'll wire the sheriff in Carson to let him know what's going on. I'll need someone to ride out there tomorrow morning. Try to enlist as many as you can to keep eyes on. I want that place locked down." Clancy furrowed his brows deep set with trepidation. "Also, while we were out today, Harper was out organizing some more men around here. From the last place we stopped, we're going to hit the two other trails again with more numbers."

"You're going to go after them still?" Clancy broke in. Coffee looked at the man. Naturally, was screaming across his brain. Weren't they? As a lawman that seemed to be the only thing he could do. He hadn't really asked Cartwright what he thought about it. He glanced to him now asking for his opinion. Seeing the eye contact between Ben and the sheriff, Clancy cut in before Ben could answer the unspoken question. "Look, they obviously don't want us following them anymore. Why won't you just pay the man?"

"It's a big risk. There's no guarantee they'll let him go once they get their money." Ben offered.

"They might. What reason would they have to keep him?"

"They could end up killing him. He can implicate them. They were going to kill our cook for that very reason." Adam supported.

"But they didn't. They let him go."

"Because Danny talked them out of it."

"That's right, he did. Danny talked them out of it and he could talk him out of this too. If he could get them to let one lowly cook go, certainly he could outsmart them for the sake of his own life."

"But would he?" Adam asked. Clancy met his gaze and lowered his brow inquisitively.

"What do you mean?"

"You said it yourself he was ready to step out. All he needed was a means. Would he bargain for his life?" This ate at him. He wasn't really sure. He contemplated this, reasoning it in his own mind before putting it into words.

"He never put a gun to his head. He's not trying to kill hisself. If we give him half a chance, he'll take it. He'll try. I know he will. What they'll do to him. What they're doing to him now. For Chris sake." He faltered. "That's what will kill him. If we let that go on, that's when he'll stop trying." Tears formed in his eyes. "Right now, our best chance is to pay them." They all turned it over in their minds. He hadn't won them over yet. "Look, I was on board when I thought that there was a chance we might get him back, but right now we have no way of knowing where he is. They've gone through great lengths to make sure of that. Right now it seems they know more about us than we do about them. They could be watching us right now for all we know. Seeing what our next move is. There's no way of knowing they ain't and they've already proven that they're willing to hurt him."

"We don't know for sure that that was his blood." Adam offered.

"It was his shirt. Who the hell else's blood is it going to be?"

"Okay. Okay." He was just trying to offer him hope. He wasn't trying to get into it with the man.

"Wait. What shirt?" Ben asked. They'd forgotten to tell him. It was laying over the desk now, but between the men that crowded his vision and the dim light, Ben hadn't noticed that there was anything wrong with it at all. Roy passed it back to him so he could see it himself. Little Joe stepped in to look over his father's shoulder. When Ben saw the blood covered hole, he closed his eyes understanding now how this would change things in Clancy's mind. He felt his boy over his shoulder and really wished he hadn't seen. He wanted to protect him from the horrors of knowing what Danny was living through. If he knew his son, he knows he'd blame himself. Ben handed it back before Little Joe could ask to hold it.

"I understand where you're coming from. I really do." Coffee intervened. "But Ben's right. If we pay them, there's no guarantee they'll let him go."

"There's a chance and right now it's all we have to go on."

"Right now our best chance at recovering him is tracking the men down that took him."

"If we go after them, they'll kill him for sure.

"We don't know that."

"That's the only thing we know!" He shouted. He was fighting the whole dang room. One man against a whole slew of people that care nothing for this kid. Just concerned with catching the bad guys. "I'm trying to do what is right for Daniel."

"That's what we're trying to do."

"Then why won't you pay the men?!"

"We told you…"

"Your half-cocked notions are gonna get him killed!"

"Clancy." Adam scolded.

"It's alright." Ben mollified.

Clancy would allow none of it. "Let me ask you this Mr. Cartwright, if it was your son that was taken, would you pay?" Ben swallowed thickly. He glanced over his shoulder at the wide eyed boy who'd been so silent he'd nearly forgotten he was in the room. The boy with oceans of depth in his eyes as he soaked it all in. He didn't know. He thought he was doing the right thing, but he really didn't know what he would do if it were Joseph. Was he treating this boy different because he wasn't? He couldn't precisely answer that question.

Clancy felt he got his answer in the old man's silence and it disgusted him. After the sacrifice this kid made to save his kin, his own greedy nature kept him from paying for a man's life just because it wasn't his son. He shook his head and pushed past him headed for the door. The room was still as they let him walk out.

"He'll be alright." Adam reassured. "Let's just give him a moment to collect himself."

"Ben, maybe I'll give you some time to decide what it is you want to do. Right now, there's something else I wanted to talk about. I thought Clancy should be here but maybe its better that he's not." The room was all ears. "As you know, I had my deputy do a little research on Danny. Harper, why don't you go over what you've found." The young blond stood from his seated position on the edge of the desk. This was the same young man who rode out to Washoe Split in the early morning hours but left the search party to head back to town.

"I learned that Danny was actually born in Broken Bow, Nebraska. His family moved out to Wellington when he was about 4. I was able to look up birth records and tax history. Danny's never paid taxes a day in his life. His pa though, every year till the day he died. It was when Danny was 14 that he disappeared from there with his little brother. Danny's been living off the map since then. No marriages or children of his own. No bank records. No land or property he's tried to buy. Nothing. I talked to old Ed and he confirmed the boy worked for him last year and disappeared before the job was through. He also confirmed he paid him under the table as he does with most of his seasonal hands." That was common practice with a lot of the ranchers, miners and lumber jacks around these parts. "Now, that part about Danny's pa and brother being murdered, that got me thinking." That was a colorful part of Danny's past. Adam couldn't deny he'd been thinking about it too.

"And?"

"I got to talking to a sheriff down in Wellington. He wired me what he could. Told me where to find the rest."

"What'd you find out?" Hoss asked.

"Well, we still don't know a whole lot but what we do know so far is, the man who did the killing was caught and hung within a week of the crime."

"How sure are they, that they caught the right guy?" Adam asked.

"He didn't deny it."

"Not denying it isn't the same as admitting it."

"You think it's possible he didn't do it?" Hoss asked, picking up on his brother's inquiries.

"If he didn't, then it would raise a pretty interesting possibility that maybe the murderer is still out there. Don't you think? Who knows, this could have been about Danny this whole time. The kid that got away."

"What about the fact that they asked for a Cartwright?" Hoss inquired.

"They could have just asked that to throw us off."

"I hear what you're saying. To tell you the truth I had those very thoughts, which is why I looked into it."

"And?"

"They had enough evidence to convict him without a confession. They also didn't need Daniel's or his brother's testimony which was fortunate as they went missing before the trial. The evidence they had was hard evidence. A posse tracked Milligan right to his house. He had the bloody clothes in a fire pit which fortunately enough the man had yet to light."

"It's convincing, but it's still circumstantial."

"Yeah, that's true, but if there was ever doubt before, this would have fixed that." He pulled out a paper from a file.

"What's that?"

"It was a news article." He handed it to Adam. "He may not have admitted it outright, it's not a confession in the conventional sense but it's as close to one as they'll ever get."

The Article was from the Territorial Enterprise. Adam skimmed through it.

"What's it say?" Hoss asked over his shoulder.

He stopped at the one thing that really confirmed it for him that the right man was hung. A direct quote of his fated last words. Ben and Hoss saw his face change as he read.

"What is it?"

"Deathbed confessions."

"What do you mean, deathbed confessions?" Hoss asked. Adam looked at his middle brother and subtly shook his head. With that motion telling him he didn't want to know. But of course that wasn't true, as his curiosity burgeoned. Adam wasn't going to get out of not reading it. He took a moment to measure himself. He swallowed thickly and then began.

"When asked if he had any last words," He read aloud. "Milligan responded:" He took in a sharp breath. "Sin beget sin. O'Lewis was a sinner and an abomination." He spoke these words purposely dry, trying to exclude the emotion he imagined were in these words when they were first spoken. Not wanting to give the dead man that much credence. His efforts were in vain though as each man listening heard the passion come through his dry words. "God knew it and was set to wipe them out before I ever laid hands on them. He was taking them out and wiping our tongues clean of their name, undoing the mistake he made." His stomach knotted. "I was doing God's will and will be blessed for it. He will make it so my name lives on for generations." He adjusted his shoulders trying to shake out the new pain taking residence there. "Mark my words, O'Lewis will die with this generation and no one will utter their name." He barely got through it but was glad when he did. The words disgusted him and left a bitter taste in his mouth. He lifted the paper. "End quote." Odious words from the ravings of a madman.

"You mind if I ask, what all this was about?" Hoss asked. "I mean Milligan was obviously upset about something. Kept calling O'Lewis a sinner. What'd he do?"

"Milligan was suffering financial hardship. He ended up gambling away the last of his stock in a poker game. About 9 goats or so. A week later he discovered the man he lost them to was accused of cheating in another game. Though it wasn't actually proven it was enough to convict him in Milligan's mind. Milligan confronted the man and tried to get him to give the goats back. O'Lewis had already sold them off. Milligan demanded the money he got for them and O'Lewis refused."

"He died because he crossed the wrong person." Adam adduced sardonically.

"You think Clancy knows about this article?" Hoss asked. "His famous last words?"

"I can't even be sure Daniel knows." Harper responded. "Like I said, he went missing with his brother the day they were killed. Never showed up for the trial." Hoss nodded recalling. Grateful now Daniel didn't have to be left with that on his heart. Of course that wasn't to say he couldn't read the article just like they did.

"Okay. So maybe the right guy was hung." Adam offered. "That's not to say it's not retaliation. Does Milligan have any relative's; brothers, son's who might want to get back at the boy? Maybe finish what he started?"

"No brothers or any other siblings. He does have a wife and kid though. Milligan's kid was 16 at the time of the murder."

"Two years older than Danny. He'd be a few years into adulthood now."

Joe, who remained silent was the only one who noticed when his father slipped from the room.

~.~

Ben didn't have to go too far as Clancy sat at the edge of the porch with his feet in the dirt. The night was still new but the stars shone brilliantly through the crisp night air. "You mind if I join you?" He didn't say yes but he didn't say no. Ben stood at his back.

"It's easy for me to take control. I've had many years of experience." Was that supposed to be an apology? "I do it every day. Even in matters that could break a man, people still look to me to give them answers. They're not always the right ones and I may not have all the answers all the time but I learned a long time ago that even if I make the wrong decision, its might's better than making no decision at all. It's what separates leaders from men." Clancy let him speak, too angry to form the words to curse him and his self-righteousness. "It was my house broken into and my boy almost taken. My money that's being asked of. For that reason everybody is looking to me to make this decision. I guess I just naturally assumed the role. It's true that it was my boy that was almost taken, my boy they think they have and my money they want. I believe I should have a say at what happens here, but it was not my boy that was taken. It was yours." He looked up at him. "You should have just as much of a say as I, if not more." He just about broke at his acknowledgment. He was given credibility to his feelings. His sense of responsibility over this child. God has charged him with his safe-keeping and for the first time another man acknowledges the significance of this role. "You tell me 'you think we should pay'. That's what I'll do."

All of his defenses had been shattered. "Thank you."

With nothing left to say they remained in reverence soaking in the night sky as people bustled about them. The daytime activity ceasing as families nestled into their homes leaving behind the night-crawlers who were coming to life and finding their homes within the local saloons. The two men, joined in brotherhood aspiration, paid no mind to these night-crawlers; neither these night-crawlers to them, as their earthly desires were worlds apart. That was with the exception of a single man who sat in the shadows with a bottle of gin in hand passing himself off as a local vagrant which was the way he liked it. It were only partly true. He was considered no more than a drunkard a weak ago, but things were looking up. His world was about to change. He had high hopes for himself now. What money could do for people. In a little more than a week he'd be a different man. He watched the two men who were watching the stars. They stayed like this in silent reverence. He spotted the figure walking up the street way before they did. His mind filled with trouble and his gait with purpose. They roused from their reverence as he approached.

"How is he?"

"The Doc got the bullet out. His wife and baby are with him, but Doc said he has to rest. It's a good thing too cause that ain't no place for a baby. She wants to spend more time with him but she's got to get the baby to sleep and she's got no one to keep watch over him. Not until morning at least when she can call on her sister."

"Well, the operation was successful. We can praise God for that."

"Doc said that because of where the bullet struck, infection is almost guaranteed. He's given him some stuff to help combat it but he's sure it's gonna come anyways. He's says that's gonna be the real test on whether the deputy survives this. All he can do is watch and wait." There was sadness in his eyes as he conveyed all he'd seen and heard.

"Considering all that's happened, you performed well today."

"Thank you sir. I think I've had a long day. If you don't mind I think I'm going to grab a bite to eat, then turn in for the night." Ben looked back towards the full jailhouse, curious how Tucker opted to not join them inside. He was just as much a part of this as the others but now seemed he was choosing to take a step back. After the rush he'd experienced he could imagine the enervation he felt. Ben himself couldn't wait for the night to be over. The bed called to him now.

"I've got a couple hotel rooms if you'd like to take advantage of that."

"No, sir, I don't think I will, but that's kind of you to offer."

"Very well. Your horse is bedded down in the stable. You can talk to the hotel manager about retrieving him."

"Yes sir, thank you."

"Tucker." Clancy stopped him. "Thank you, for everything you've done."

"Sir." He walked off back towards the Docs office.

Without a word more they both knew it was time to rejoin the others.

~.~

They may not have noticed when he left but his returned could have been no more conspicuous than if it had been preceded with bugles. Ben didn't have to silence the group. They did that on their own. They waited for him to speak. Ben was not one to disappoint.

"Tucker came and went. Doc got the bullet out but Toller's not out of the woods yet. Risk of infection is high. The doc gave him something to help fight it. He's resting now." Roy nodded. "Also, Clancy and I talked. I'm going to pay." He spoke through the crowd directly at the lawman. Roy wasn't the only one concerned though. He could see his son's alarm through his peripherals. He didn't want to meet any of their gazes. "And, until Daniel is gotten out of harm's way, Clancy and I will be making decisions regarding his safety, together." Adam squirmed uncomfortably. He wasn't prepared for the idea that his pa would value the opinions of a hand over his own. After all he was educated. This man, well who knows about him, but he's just a hand. Except he's not. He'd taken up the role as guider, protector, and surrogate father- as young as he was. Adam scoffed. The role handed down by God himself. He couldn't help but turn his nose up at that as well. He didn't know how much of that to believe. It wasn't that he couldn't believe it was true. He guessed what bothered him most was being replaced as his father's right hand man by a man who was run by too many emotions and not enough brains. He was hardly up to the challenge and less than worthy of the role.

It was Adam's disapproval that spoke volumes. He could see him crossing his arms and pursing his lips through the corner of his eye. No matter. He didn't need his son's approval to make this call. Though their opinion matters to him most of the time, he didn't run his business based on them and he surely wasn't going to chance a man's life on them. One day they might understand why he had to make this call. If not today, then God-willing someday.

He'd never known his father to be such a softy. He knew Clancy was struggling with this but he'd never thought Clancy's emotions would be enough to sway his pa from doing what he knew to be right. He glanced at his kid brother and his shoulders softened. Perhaps his pa was having a harder time with it than he was letting on. Maybe comparing Little Joe to Daniel was enough to break him. He couldn't blame him. It was an intriguing question to raise. If it were him having to make this decision and all the circumstances were the same, would it be different for him if it were Little Joe? Well it wasn't Little Joe. The circumstances were different. Little Joe and Daniel were worlds apart. But what does that mean for Daniel? Did that mean that he didn't merit the same amount of respect? The same impetus? That he wasn't worth people moving mountains to save him?

But what was the right answer? Nobody really knew. There is no one right answer in situations like these. It was six of one, half a dozen of the other. Either decision could kill the boy, equally either could save him. What he did know is if they did follow through with his father's original plan to track these men down and that plan failed then Clancy would never stop blaming his pa. Now that they're going with Clancy's plan, if that one failed, Clancy would never stop blaming himself. Whatever they were talking about out there, he wondered if that was ever mentioned.

"Ben, if that's your decision, I'll support it; but I won't stop hunting these men." Roy said. "I'll wait until we get this boy back safely, but I won't stop hunting these men until they're found and brought to justice."

"That's all I ask."

"Tomorrows Sunday. The banks won't open until ten."

"The telegraph office opens at nine. We'll go there first to see if they've left any sort of message."

~.~

Ben shared a room with Little Joe, still ill with the idea of letting him out of his sight. Hoss and Adam shared the room right next door. Clancy was the only hand that took them up on the offer of staying in town. He respectively had his own room which he offered to pay for before being told Ben had already paid. The offer to pay him back was politely turned down.

The lawmen all lived in town and with the exception of Jeb, who volunteered to be the night watchman but fully intending to sleep through his shift; had all gone home for the evening. Ben invited Moreno to stay in town as well, but he opted to ride back to the ranch instead. He found more comfort in sleeping in his own bed as humble as it was, surrounded by his own belongings. That was a grand idea to the Cartwright's, if only they had the energy to make it back. They iterated to him that he wouldn't need to come back the next morning, so he assured he would link up with Dan instead, to push the herd out in the morning.

Their bodies ached with exhaustion. Little was said between them. Adam and Hoss shared the wash basin to wipe away the day's grime and hung up their clothes on the edge of the bed.

Plagued by the troublesome events, Hoss wasn't sure he'd be able to sleep at all. He was fast asleep a minute after his head hit the pillow. Adam rolled over on his right side and stared at the wall. Thinking to the tune of his brothers snoring of the last 24 hours. All that has happened. He thought of Little Joe and the trouble he was in. Protected now by their father. He thought of this other boy who he knew none of and his tragic life. One boy safe in the arms of his father and the other. Where was the other? What had they done to him? He almost wished that it was a ruse. That one man's life couldn't really be that tragic.

Authors notes"

Fannie Mae is an original character. The innkeeper is not.