Chapter
Onus
"You let that boy take your place." His eyes shot open. "That's pretty cold. Even for a Cartwright." They were here. He went for his gun hanging in its holster over the bedpost but stopped at the clicking of the hammer.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." The man in the center of his room clicked his teeth drawing his attention. The moonlight shone off the silhouettes of two men. Both broad men. One standing behind another. The one behind a bit shorter and rounder. The one in front held a gun aimed at Joseph. He nodded at the post bidding Joseph to look. His holster was empty. He held up Joseph's firearm by its ivory handle to show the boy that he had possession of it before passing it to the bigger man behind him. Joe swallowed past the lump in his throat. "What does your family think about you being a coward?"
"I'm not a coward."
"I know in your father's eyes you could do no wrong. Your brothers on the other hand they must be pretty disappointed in you. Not really what you've been built up to be." The boy's nostril's flared.
"I'm not a coward."
"Not quite livin' up to the Cartwright reputation."
"I'm not a coward!" He shouted.
"Then why would you do that Joseph? Why would you let another boy take your place?"
"It wasn't my fault. I was passed out. I couldn't help what was happening."
"You could help it now."
"What are you talking about?"
"I don't think he wants to help him. I think he really is scared." The big man behind taunted.
"I'm not scared." This wasn't entirely true.
"Would you like to see what happened to him because of you?"
"Did you kill him?"
"Daniel's alive."
"Maybe not for long." The big man sneered.
"Would you like to see him? We could take you to him." He may have been called young and dumb a time or two but he was smart enough to know when he was being baited.
"I know why your here. You found out he got the better of you and now you've come back for the real Cartwright. Only, you want me to walk out the door with you. Not put up a fight. Well that's not gonna happen. You try taking me a fight is exactly what you'll get. I'll fight you the whole dang way."
"Then we'll kill him."
"How do I know you haven't killed him already?"
"Well you just have to believe us."
"No I don't. You're giving me nothing. I don't have to believe a darn word you say."
"I knew it. The boy is scared."
"I'm not scared, but I'm not stupid neither. My father and brothers would be crushed if I left them. For them I have to fight."
"If you fight us, that boy will die in your stead. Is that what you want?" He knelt right next to the bed putting his face on the same level as Joe's. "If you could end that boys suffering would you?" He could smell his rotten breath between them.
"Yes. I would. If I could. But somehow, I'm not thinking that'd really be the case. For all I know Daniel's dead already."
"What if I give you my word?"
"No offense but your word means nothing to me."
"Let me put this another way then." He pressed the barrel underneath Joe's chin pushing his jaw up with it. Joe struggled to keep his emotions in check as his fear burgeoned. "You will come with us. If you don't put up no fight, we'll let him go; otherwise we'll kill you right here, then we'll go back and kill him. What do you think of that? Better question what do you think your father and brother's would think of that? Finding your body right here in your bed. Staining the sheets. Rotting." Joe gave a swallow past the cold metal. "But that won't be the end of it you see. No. Because ultimately it's about the money. It's always going to be about the money. We're going to get what we came for. We're gonna come back. At the height of their grief, when they least expect it, when they're the most vulnerable, we'll come back. We want our money. Who'll it be this time? Adam his oldest? The boy he leans on for support. Or Hoss? The boy whose heart is bigger than he is. Which one do you think is worth more? Who do you think he'll pay more for? Losing a son that's got to be hard. Harder than a father could bear. Losing two, debilitating. Oh we'll get our money. You could save them all that grief, by walking out with us right now. Now what will it be?"
"Unless you really are a coward." The big man added.
~.~
The last few days have been rough on them, but dutifully they woke up to the early morning light peeking in through the shutters just as the day was dawning. They took their aching bodies to the café downstairs. After a quick breakfast and a well-earned cup of coffee to combat the grit in their eyes, reluctantly mounted up and made their way out of town, headed for Virginia City. Pa's explicit instruction was to head back to the ranch when they were done with this Chance kid. They were to wait for him there. Since they had to pass through Virginia City on the way home they felt inclined to stop by the jailhouse to see if there's been word.
"Morning Sheriff."
"Has pa come back yet?"
"Not yet."
"I sure do hope it all turned out." Hoss said taking a seat at the desk and reclining his feet. Much grateful for the moments rest.
"Don't worry son. If he's not on that stage, I'll send word to the Silver Springs sheriff. I don't care what your pa says. I'm gonna let him know everything that's going on. Ask him to watch out for them."
"It's just weird for my pa not to send any word."
"Maybe he has. Maybe it just hasn't been delivered yet." Adam consoled. "Anyone heard from Little Joe?"
"I sent Jeb out there a couple of hours ago to relieve Harper. He should be back soon."
"Hoss, you wait here with the sheriff for Harper to return. I'll head across the street to see if pa's sent word."
"Oh no, Adam." Hoss jumped up with an energy Adam was sure had been depleted. "Pa left explicit instructions. None of us are to be left alone."
"Hoss, I'm just going across the street."
"Not alone you ain't."
"Now, what do you think anybody would be foolish enough to try in the bright of day?"
"Even less with me at your hip."
"The streets are crowded right now."
"Adam, you heard what pa said. I ain't leavin you lone for nothin." Adam took a heavy breath pursing his lips into a dimpled grin.
"Well come on then."
~.~
"Morning Frank."
"Oh, morning Hoss, Adam. Say is Little Joe with you today?"
"No we left him back at the ranch." Joe and Frank used to go to school together. Franks father started the telegraph office in town. Frank took over the desk a little over a year ago.
"Ah."
"Hey Frank, have we gotten any telegrams?"
"As a matter of fact I got one for you right here." He thumbed through a stack of messages. Pulling it from the pile he hands it over. "Your pa's out of town huh?" Adam eyed the telegrapher tersely. Can't keep secrets from the messenger. He turned his back on the young man and read.
"Will be leaving this morning on stage back to Virginia City –(Stop)- Expect us early afternoon –(Stop)- Danny is not with us."
It was purposefully vague. It said less than they wanted it to but they understood the need for discretion.
"They failed." Hoss exclaimed. "Something went wrong with the exchange." Adam did his best to mask his emotions as the possibilities of all that could have gone wrong swirled in his head.
"Bad news?"
"Thanks Frank." Adam responded dismissively and went for the door, Hoss following him out.
"Hey, tell Little Joe next time he's in town to stop in."
"Yeah Frank." Hoss agreed. "What do you think could have gone wrong?" Hoss asked his older brother as the door closed behind them.
"Could have been any number of things." Adam stared at the plainly written message trying to decipher what wasn't written there.
"You think he's hurt? What if they killed him?"
"Hoss stop." He lifted his head. The idea chilled him. "No point on dwelling on 'what if's'. We just have to wait until they return to find out." Truth be told the same thoughts plagued him. He didn't want to voice them out loud. Lord knows his big-hearted brother didn't need this to worry him.
"Kind of makes me not want to head home just yet."
"You know pa wanted us to be there when he returned."
"Dabburnit Adam. How does he expect us to sit quiet like when all these questions need answering?"
"I agree with you there middle brother. As long as we don't split up, it shouldn't be a problem." He gave his middle brother a wry smile.
"Hey Adam, look over there." Across the street coming out of the jailhouse Jeb had his arms wrapped around another man. A young man with bright blond hair held the back of his head with a white rag, turned red with blood. Jeb escorted this man down the street towards the docs. Roy stood at the jailhouse door looking out on the street seemingly for them. "Hey, isn't that Harper?" As if hearing the question, Roy caught sight of the boys and eyed them telling them to come over. His look saying that this very much concerned them. They darted over to meet him.
"What happened?"
"Jeb rode out to the Ponderosa to relieve Harper there. He was tied to the staircase. Knocked cold. That's how he found him. He'd been pistol whipped." Hoss and Adam exchanged worried glances.
"What about Little Joe?" Adam pressed. "Where's Little Joe?"
"Harper said, they took him." Roy's eyes were full of regret. "He couldn't stop them." The brothers went white together. Not needing to say two words to each other they both ran for their horses. "Boys, he's not there." Roy tried calling them back knowing it was useless. "Duggonit." His friend was going to have a lot to come back to when he returned. One son missing and the other two... He'd sure hate to have to be the first face he saw when he came off the stage. He sure didn't want to be the one to deliver the message.
~.~
The brothers hi-tailed it back to the ranch house praying to God for a miracle. Hoping their brother would be right there waiting for them when they returned. They slid off their horses without coming to a complete stop and busted into their own house. The living room was empty. Blood stained the floor beneath the stairwell. They imagined that was the spot Jeb found Harper. They raced up the stairs to Joe's room. His bed was unkempt and empty. Oh No! The room empty. They split off at that point checking every room. Room for room empty. Kitchen empty. Bunkhouse empty. Stables empty. Shed empty.
The question was in his eyes as he came out of the barn to Hoss coming from the back of the house. Anything?
"Nothing nowhere." The big man answered with exerted and panicked breath. "There's no sign."
"They didn't even leave a note." Adam desponded.
"Oh God Adam." Hoss held his knees. "They got him. What are we going to do?"
"We need to get back to town. Help Coffee organize a posse. Get the horses fed and hydrated. We're going to need them at their best." With purpose and pedantry he went towards the house.
"What are you going to do?" Hoss asked aloud.
"We need to be at our best too. I'm packing."
~.~
Their passengers this time were an older man probably around Ben's age and his two twenty something, daughters; which a young man who they were sitting across from kept eyeing. Ben stared at Clancy. Clancy at the passing trees and hills, wondering where, in God's name, Danny was. Wondering if he was dead. They rode like this in silence. Ben knew the thoughts that plagued him. He wondered himself. There'd been no word. No further instructions. No change of plans. The men just disappeared as if they'd never existed. But they did exist. At least at one time. They took Danny. Now he's disappeared too. Without a trace. Taken down into oblivion. Had they failed him? Taking the chance to bring Clancy? Was that enough to kill him?
~.~
"Woah Adam stop. What do you make of that?" The tracks which marred the road towards Virginia City suddenly turned off. They were halfway between the ranch and town.
"You think it's them?" In their haste to make it home they were completely blinded to them. Now they were as plain as the Sierra's which was the direction they were heading into.
"It's got to be, Adam. There ain't no other explanation for tracks to be coming from our house heading out that way."
"All the tracks are going the same direction."
"West. They're not even tryin' to cover their tracks this time Adam."
"Maybe that's why they didn't leave a note. They want us to follow them."
"Let's go."
"Woah, woah stop. What are you doing?"
"I'm following them."
"Hoss it's probably a trap."
"Doggunit Adam. That's what you said about Danny and look what happened."
"This is different."
"How?"
"Why wouldn't they leave a note? Did you ask yourself that? Why do they want us to follow them? If we went on without help we'd be walking into something we're not prepared to handle. We need help. Let's get back to town and get that posse."
"I ain't going."
"Hoss?"
"Dab burnit Adam. Little Joe is out there and he's in trouble. I cain't just leave him."
"Were not leaving him we're bringing back help."
"You go Adam. Get help. I gotta do this."
"No we both have to go."
"That'll take too long. Don't you see, we took too long to organize when that Danny kid went missing and now look what happened?" Adam felt the weight of blame on his shoulders.
"We don't know what happened." He defended.
"Oh dang it Adam. Ain't it obvious? They killed him and came back for the real Joe." He didn't want to admit it, but this was likely exactly what happened. "I can't let them get away this time. Not with Joe. What happens when they kill him too?"
At 29, a good six years older than Hoss, Adam had a large part in the upbringing of his younger siblings. He watched over them and protected them and they leaned on Adam for support. Watching Hoss grow and mature into the man he is, he came to lean on him for support as well. Sometimes Adam thought of Hoss as older than he really was, because of his size and the responsibility he took on. Right now though, he looked to be every bit of the 23 year old kid he really was. He was vulnerable and scared.
"They're not going to kill Joe. They need him alive. They don't get their money otherwise."
"Little Joe is injured. They could be killing him and not even realize it. God, what if he tries to run, or fight them. You know how he is. Especially when he don't feel so good. They could be hurting him right now. Beating the fight right out of him." His face was sick.
"Hoss. You're scaring yourself." Truth be told Hoss was scaring him too.
"Anything can happen out there." Adam tried to fight off the imagery.
"Hoss, I understand how you feel, but you're not listening to reason. You want to go tromping all over the countryside all by yourself when you wouldn't even let me cross the street on my own. It's not safe out there for you."
"Then come with me Adam."
"Without telling anybody where we're going? Without pa knowing. Let him suffer with not knowing where his three sons are."
"Oh God Adam. I failed him. I failed him Adam." He broke down. "I knew we shouldn't have left him. I knew it that first night, when we left him with Hopsing. I knew that was a mistake. Then we go leaving him again."
"It's not your fault. We left him with a lawman. We all thought he'd be safe."
"We were wrong and he's paying for our mistakes." Adam lowered his eyes. The thought of his injured baby brother being tormented. Dear God, in the same way that Danny was. "You go into town Adam. Let pa know. Send back help." He let it happen to Danny and now he's letting it happen to Joe. As much as he wanted Joe home he couldn't risk having it happen to Hoss too.
"Hoss. I can't let you go out there alone." He said austere.
"Dogunnit Adam, you don't have a choice." Hoss spurned. "If you want me to go back with you, you're gonna have to hog tie me. And I'm tellin you, good luck tryin." His brother was challenging him to a fight he knew he couldn't win.
"Hoss I swear, sometimes you can be nothing more than a pig headed stubborn mule." He scorned. "I wonder where Joe gets it from."
"You Adam. We both get it from you." The jest spoken mechanically as he stared out into open country, his mind was already out there.
"Alright, you go. I'll meet up with you with help." He turns his horse to take off then turns back. "If you find them, get close enough where you can intervene if you have to, but otherwise you stay back and out of sight. Don't go in unless you have to. Hoss? You hear me?" He turned to face him. "Only if you have to." He emphasized. "You wait for us. You hear me? You wait for us." He nodded reluctantly. "Good luck brother. Don't go getting yourself killed. Lord knows, I already have enough to explain to pa." They exchanged smiles wrought with worry. Bitterly Adam turned his horse and kicked it into a gallop, riding it out about as quickly as when he rode in.
~.~
Roy was in his office by the time he got back. He explained to him all of what they'd found.
"Adam I know that your pa was willing to pay for this boy, but now we've got two boys missing. There's no telling what they did with the first. I think we need to gather that posse."
"Yeah Roy I agree."
"Harper if you remember gathered some names already who said they'd be willing. I'll send Jeb out to see if they'll still be up for it."
"Where is he now?"
"He's with Harper."
"How did this happen?"
"I don't know."
"What did Harper say happened?"
"Jeb's in there talking to him now. I haven't been able to talk to him myself just yet. I had to ride out to his sister's to inform her. She's with him now."
"How is Harper?"
"He's got some swelling. He was a while without care."
"Can I talk to him?"
"Adam, I think we should just let Jeb take care of it. He'll let us know what comes of it."
"I would really like to talk with him myself."
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why?"
"You're too close. Something's are just better to let the law handle."
"Roy if he knows something I want to know."
"You'll know, you'll know. It's just better to hear what Jeb has to say."
"No. I want to hear it first-hand."
"Why?"
"In case he knows something."
"You'll get the information you want. Just let them work."
"That's fine Roy, but I want to talk to him."
"Why? What's the point?"
"So I can hear it for myself."
"Hear what?"
"How it happened."
"What answers are you really looking for? What do you really want to know?"
"I don't know. Something. Anything."
"You want to know, what went wrong?"
"Yes. Maybe."
"Why?"
"Roy I have to know."
"Why?"
"Right now, Hoss is alone out there in the countryside, looking for my baby brother. As of right now, they're both missing. Which means they're both at risk. I just need to know why."
"You're looking for someone to blame."
"No."
"Adam?"
"No."
"Adam?"
"Fine Roy." He snapped. "Yes. I'm looking for someone to blame. Someone. Anyone. Anyone will do. Anyone other than myself, because right now, I'm all I got." Adam fell into his chair.
"How is it your fault?"
"I shouldn't have left him." He confessed ignominiously. "Hoss and I should have been there. We could have protected him."
"You were following up a lead."
"It wasn't a lead. It was a dead end."
"You didn't know that."
"We should have been there."
"It's not your fault. If you're looking for anybody to blame it should be me."
"You?"
"I made the decision to send him out there. I should have known one lawman wouldn't be enough to fight off a group of men."
"You didn't have a choice. You were short on deputies. You could only work with what you had."
"They shouldn't have even been out there. They should have been close by. Joe asked to stay at the hotel. Dabburnit I should have let him."
"We all agreed to get Joe out of the public eye. You were trying to save Danny."
"And you were too, when you rode out to the Milligan place."
Adam snorted and then considered. "I guess there's no shortage of blame. Hoss blames himself too."
"You foolish boy's." Roy assuaged. "We're all human. We do the best we can."
"You ever feel that your best isn't good enough?" Roy emitted a heavy sigh.
"Your pa's stage comes in in about an hour." He pulled the list of names from the top drawer. Let's go see what we can find out."
~.~
Adam followed Roy to the doctor's place. Martin admitted them. Ms. Harper was caring for her baby brother who wanted none of it.
"How is he?"
"I gave him something for the headache but that don't make it go away all together." The doc answered. Little Joe's short temper gave testament to that. Thinking of him now only reminded him of how much danger he's in. Being out there hurt like he is. "He's going to be out of commission for a few days."
Jeb hearing the Sheriff come in went out to join them. "If his recovery time is any relation to his sister's pampering, it should be sooner than that." Jeb jousted.
"What has he told you?"
"He doesn't know the direction they went, they knocked him out before they left, and the description he's giving of the men, it sounds like the same three men Hopsing described."
"Come on. Stop this. You don't have to do this." They peeked into the room. His sister was trying to maneuver a damp rag around his flailing arm.
"You're burning up."
"I'm not burning up. I got hit in the face and now it's red. That's what happens.
"You don't think I know what happens. All the hits you've taken over the years, you think I'd be well versed."
"That hurt." He snapped as she touched the rag to his face.
"Well, it's gonna hurt."
"Not if you stop doin that."
"I can't even. How do you even get yourself into these silly little scrapes?"
"It's not silly. I'm a lawman, Greta. A boy was taken last night. That's serious business." Adam could see out of his peripheral Martin turn to look at him. He guessed it was the first time he'd heard that. He felt his own face getting a bit flushed.
"Hey Harper how're you feeling?" Roy stepped in.
"I'd feel a whole lot better if she stopped pampering me."
"I'm just trying to help."
"I'm a grown man, Greta." Adam smirked at how much this man sounded like his baby brother. Even being considerably older than he was. 24 or so. Would the babies of the families ever really stop being the babies?
"Can we ask you about what happened last night?"
"I was just telling Jeb about it."
"Adam would like to hear it for himself." The laid up lawman drooped his eyes.
"Harper, we ain't looking for no one to blame." He said, giving Adam a sideways glance, suggesting that he proceed with caution. "We just need to know what happened to Little Joe."
Little Joe? Did he hear correctly? Doc Martin stood back. He knew enough about the situation to know this lawman's injuries were directly related to the Cartwright's in one way or another. Same as Toller. He'd heard bits and pieces so far but had not been privy to the whole story as of yet. This was the first Little Joe was mentioned by name.
Harper nodded. "Sure."
"How long ago did it happen?"
"I'm not sure exactly. About one, two o'clock in the morning."
"How? How'd they get to him?"
"They got to me first. Joe offered me the guest bed down stairs, but I didn't take him up on it. It just didn't feel right me being on the job and all. I did a perimeter check about every hour before and after Joe went to bed looking for anything out of place. All was quiet. About midnight, I fell asleep on the settee. Something woke me. I'm not sure what it was. A sound, a feeling. It could have been nothing more than my own clock waking me to tell me it was time to do a round. I walked the perimeter of the house. All was quiet. I made my way to the stables. That's where they ambushed me. I tried to cry out, to warn Little Joe. They silenced me. One of them stayed with me. The other two went inside to go get Joe. There was nothing I could do. It must have been ten, twenty minutes later when they pulled me in. Joe was still upstairs. They tied me to the railings. Brought him down afterwards. I was struggling trying to get loose. Trying to keep them from taking him. I couldn't understand why he wasn't fighting too. He just walked out with them."
"Woah, woah. He walked out with them?"
"It seemed strange to me too. From what I know of Little Joe it didn't seem his character at all."
"Had he been beaten? Did they hurt him?"
"No. It didn't look like it. They didn't even tie his hands. In fact," he thought.
"What?"
"He was completely dressed. He dressed himself before he left. Prepared himself to go. It just seems to me that he could have fought them, if he wanted to."
"What else happened?"
"Well not much of anything. He walked past me heading for the door. He gave me one final look and then he was gone. I kept thinking it was a trick. Surely he had something planned for them. But nothing."
"How did he look? Did he seem scared?"
"Yeah, a little but also…sorry. Like he was worried for me. Then it was like he took on this air of resolution. Like he was determined to go. Like he felt like he had to." What could have made Joe walk out with these men? They held something over him. Maybe it was Danny. They played on the guilt he has for the kid that saved him. "The skinnier guy who stayed with me the whole time. He waited until it was just us in the house alone. Then he swung his pistol into my face and that's the last thing I remember until Jeb woke me." Roy looked to Adam to see if that was enough for him.
"Jeb said you only saw three of them."
"That's right. If there were other's I never saw em."
"Thank you."
"We'll let you get some rest now." Roy squeezed his leg. Adam and the lawmen walked out leaving a dumbfounded Doc and Greta with the patient.
"Are you okay, Adam?" Roy asked. The young man had a dark look to him. His brows were furrowed and he was staring intently into the floor. At Roy's question he came back to them.
"What time is it?"
"Twenty minutes to one." Roy responded looking at his pocket watch.
"My father's stage will be coming in soon."
"Would you like me to come with you?"
"No. It's okay. If you could get Jeb working on those men."
Roy remembered the paper in his pocket and handed it to the deputy.
"Jeb, this is a list of men Harper gathered a few days ago. Start with them, see if they're still up for a posse. Fill in whoever's not willing."
"Yes sheriff." He took the note and walked out.
"You sure you don't want me to join you."
"No sheriff. I've got to do this alone."
He waited on the bench outside the Overland Stage Line & Depot. The streets were bustling as people busied themselves about their daily business. As if no one knew or no one cared what he and his family were suffering. Of course no one did. He was no more than a single figure looking out among teeming streets. He never felt more alone than he did right now. Right now he couldn't wait for his father to return.
~.~
The pace was grueling. Little Joe had about half a day's lead, so Hoss had a lot of ground to cover.
"Come on Chubb. I know you're tired. By gosh I am too. But Little Joe is out there. We's just gotta get him back." The two rested by the lake. Chubb had his fill of water. He made sure to give him food before they left the ranch. Adam packed for them whatever was readily available. He was happy Adam had that foresight. All he could think about was getting his brother back. Of course he wasn't sure how long this journey would take, but he was willing to go the long haul.
"I know I've been pushing you pretty hard." He ran his palm down the length of his neck. "You're the only one I feel I can really depend on. There ain't no other horse that can do what you can do. Please keep going for me boy. Little Joe is out there and he's depending on both of us. We'll rest again soon. I promise. Come on." He mounted up again and rode out.
Devoid of any human contact, Hoss felt pretty alone. Probably the loneliest he'd ever felt in his life.
~.~
They'd been riding since the night prior. He was surprised they didn't go into Virginia City. They didn't even go into Carson City. Instead they headed for Lake Tahoe, then right around. They were on Ponderosa land for a while, then crossed into the hills. Headed for a shack or something he could imagine.
The men let Joe dress and prepare for the journey. He put on more layers than he needed too. Not for his own sake, but for Danny's. If Danny was still alive like they claimed he might need the layers. Lord knows what state he'd find him in. The jacket he wore was enough to cut the chill of the May night air. In the bright of day however, when the sun was high in the sky, his added layers was proving to be a bit much, even in the high altitudes. He was uncomfortable to say the least but didn't complain. Afraid that if he took them off, he wouldn't get them back.
The big man they called Bogs. That was the one name he already knew. The barmaids knew him by that name too. If it were a nickname it was one he used often. It was nice to finally be able to put a face to the name. The one who seemed to be giving all the orders they called Chapman. That sounded like a real name. Even so it was possible it was made up. If it were real than that means he wasn't doing much to cover his tracks which either meant he was stupid and didn't plan for it, or they planned on not letting him go. The skinny man they called Squirrely. This name he was sure was a nickname. It was too accurate a description for it to have been real. That name fit him like no other name could fit a man. Except Hoss of course. His name was pretty fitting. The skinny man was all of what his name suggested. He reminded Joe of a little squirrel. Always on the move. Not the type to sit still. Being on a horse did nothing to settle him. While Joe and the other's kept their trek straight and narrow the other would ride ahead disappearing for moments at a time meeting back with the group and then riding behind them again disappearing for moments at a time. He was probably wearing down his horse pretty good.
The horse Joe rode wasn't a Ponderosa brand. It was a beautiful brown mare with jet black hair. Branded by two upside down V's. One larger than the other. Meant to look like a mountain scape he would imagine. Three different brands among four horses. Chapman had a brand that looked like a flowing river or sideways lightning bolt. Both Bogs and Squirrely, had the letters C and P. Probably someone's initials. Joe wondered if these horses legally belonged to them or if they too were stolen. It's funny, Joe thought, he didn't think stealing people like him or Danny was a hang-able offence, but stealing horses was another matter. If they were caught, Joe could be strung up right along with the rest of them, for being on a horse that wasn't his.
Though unarmed, they let Joe ride with them as if he was an active member of their group. Never once tying his hands. Entertained by the power they exerted over him. Happy with themselves that they were able to get him to walk out with them. To any nosy onlooker if they would happen upon them he would appear to them as if he was a willing member of the group. Escape was definitely on his mind, but he sure wasn't going to try though, until he knew for sure what had happened to Danny. The first chance he would get after finding out what happened to him, he would sure try. He hoped upon hope it would be with Danny at his side. If these guys were really smart they would bind him before he ever laid eyes on Danny. Otherwise their cocky attitudes would be in for a big surprise.
He thought of Danny and what he was living through now. He thought of his family and what they were doing. Had they figured it out yet, where he was? Would they be coming back for him? He missed his family now. He longed to be back with them. Being in the company of these ruthless creatures with his family nowhere in sight, he was lonely. Probably the loneliest he's ever felt in his life.
~.~
The stage pulled in about fifteen minutes after one. His father was the first to unload. Adam looked down at the briefcase held tight within their fathers clutches. His face was drawn and sullen. That was until he saw his oldest standing alone and all at once he was struck with fear.
"Adam, get off the street. What are you doing here?" He opened his mouth to expound. "I told you specifically no one goes anywhere on their own. You foolish boy. Where are your brothers?" Before he found the words to answer his pa, Clancy gets off the stage appearing just as sullen.
"They never took the money?" Adam was unintentionally monotone as he fit the pieces together. "They never even met with you."
"I think I screwed this up." Clancy answered. "I screwed this up bad. I think I was wrong for going. I think they saw me."
"Clancy." Adam shook his head subtly, intending on train-wrecking his thoughts, but Clancy continued adamantly.
"They saw me. They had to have seen me." This was hard enough as it was, without being interrupted.
"Clancy. They didn't see you."
"Yes. They saw me. They had to have."
"They didn't see you." He was stern now both men taken back by the abruptness of his tone.
"How can you be so sure?" Clancy finally asked.
"Because they weren't even there." He said matter of fact.
"What do you mean? What are you talking about?" The dark haired man gathered all his strength to spit out his words.
"Pa." His heart thudded within the walls of his chest as he turned to face his father. "They took Joseph."
"Who? Roy? The deputies?" He wasn't understanding. "Where'd they take him? Did they decide to hide him after all?"
"No, Pa. Not Roy." Ben was still confused. "Them."
"Them?"
"They came to the house last night. They were never in Silver Springs to meet with you." With those words combined with Adams ill look, Ben finally got it. "They were at the house. The Ponderosa. They got Joseph. Took him away. He's missing." A darkness swam over his vision and the earth opened up to swallow him.
Clancy and Adam caught Ben before he hit the ground.
"They know." Clancy projected. What that means for both boy's.
~.~
With Clancy's help they got Ben over to the jailhouse and into a chair. Looking around he wondered. "Where's Hoss?"
"We found the tracks Pa. This time we're sure. We know exactly where they're going. This time there's no splitting off like they did last time."
"Where is Hoss?" He asked picking up on Adam's avoidance to answer.
"He's following them."
"Alone?" Adam felt the heat rise in his face as he wondered whether the decision to come back was the right one.
"Ben," Roy answered the question for Adam. "He came back to let us know what they'd seen. To organize a posse."
"Is the posse out there?"
"We're still working on gathering more men."
"Is Hoss out there alone?"
"Yes Pa."
"Oh my God!" He exploded. "You let your little brother be taken and now you sent your middle brother out there to find him alone." The words stung. His father was blaming him for losing Joe. Of course it was his fault. His pa couldn't watch him being on that stage. He shouldn't have left. He didn't have to leave. Why did he leave? Now it was his fault Hoss was gone too but how could he have stopped him? "Have you all lost your ever loving minds?" His voice thundered.
"I tried to get him to come back Pa. I tried." The educated man had all at once ran out of words to say. Adam all at once was 12 years old, kowtowing before the wrath of his father. "He wouldn't listen."
"Ben." Roy stepped in again on behalf of the young man. His best friends weary boy, who was already struggling under the crushing weight of too much guilt. "Hoss is following the trail. He's keeping it fresh. Adam told Hoss not to try to go in there by himself. He told him he had to wait for us. But he'll be close by in case he has to. As soon as we gather the men we can ride out."
This seemed to assuage Ben.
"Are you riding out with us?"
"One of us will be. I'm short deputies Ben. It's just Jeb and I right now and one of us has got to stay. We can't leave this town vulnerable." The father nodded as if he understood.
As if on cue Jeb came through the door.
"They're outside."