Chapter 4, by Patina

With one more quick glance up and down the street, Adam purposefully strode for Roy Coffee's office. Even though the hair on the back of his neck prickled as if he was being watched, his stride never faltered. He didn't want anyone who might be following his progress from the shadows to think that he could be intimidated. What he wouldn't give to have Hoss and Joe walking at his side so they could scan all directions.

Passing an alley, he was tempted to duck into its shadowed security and wait to see who might be following him. Since he hadn't heard any footsteps, he assumed that his shadow was walking in the darkness on the other side of the street. Seeing a light coming from Roy's office up ahead gave him a feeling his father must have felt as a seaman when he saw the beam from a lighthouse signaling a safe haven.

Reaching the door, he quickly looked up and down the street before going inside. Roy could handle trouble easily, despite what people in Virginia City might think. Just because a man had matured didn't mean that he couldn't outfox many a criminal mind.

Hearing the door open, Roy turned from the stove and saw his visitor. "What brings ya here this time a night?"

"My brothers, who else?" Adam replied wearily.

"What has Lil Joe done now?"

"It's nothing he did. Somebody and some help jumped him behind The Yucca." Roy started to interrupt but Adam only raised a hand. "He's not hurt too badly considering. Paul has already looked him over and told him to ride home. What if…?"

"Whoever started the job wants ta finish it?" asked Roy.

Adam just blew out his cheeks and crossed his arms over his chest. Why did his family have to attract such interest? Couldn't people solve problems in ways other than violence?

"Ya know I can't leave town and escort Lil Joe home."

"I know that, Roy, but someone's trying to get to Pa through Joe. Folly said Cal…"

"Folly says lots a things and sometimes she's even right. I don't need her addin' her two cents of misinformation ta what everyone else is tellin' me." Seeing Adam's surprised expression, Roy took a deep breath and swigged some coffee. "I know you're worried about your Pa and Lil Joe, but I work for all of Virginia City, not jest a few citizens. If Paul said Lil Joe was in good enough shape ta ride home, then that's what he should do. An' you should go with him ta make sure he gets home."

"What about Cal, though?"

Roy snorted before saying, "You're always sayin' that folks shouldn't be judged for making mistakes. Just because Cal's spent some time in jail don't make him the prime suspect. Go on home, Adam. An' take Lil Joe with ya."

Adam sighed wearily. He might as well go back to The Yucca and collect his brothers. Paul did say that Joe was well enough to ride. The boy would have to be in a lot of pain to not want to swing up on Cochise's back and race for home. "See you later then, Roy."

"Take care, Son."

Adam left the sheriff's office and carefully looked up and down the street before heading back to The Yucca. As he walked, he listened for footsteps and thought about Folly. She had implied that Cal was involved in Joe's beating and she had no reason to cover for the man. Cal had been lots of things—petty thief, hired muscle, and quick draw expert to name a few—and wherever the man went trouble followed in his wake. For Roy to ignore Cal's possible involvement in Joe's beating there must be someone putting pressure on the sheriff to look for suspects elsewhere.

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Hoss had been helping Joe to button his shirt when there was a soft knock on the door. Exchanging a glance with his younger brother, Hoss handed Joe's pistol to him; Joe held the gun under the covers so it wouldn't be visible to whoever might be on the other side of the door.

Crossing the room, Hoss leaned close to the door and whispered, "Who's there?"

"Folly."

Hoss opened the door just a crack to confirm that Folly was alone. Seeing that she was, he allowed her into the room.

"Do you plan on staying longer?"

Hoss noticed that Folly seemed nervous. She had said they could use her room as long as they needed to, so what had changed?

"Something the matter?" he asked.

"Folks downstairs saw me talking with Adam so they might think I'm giving him information. Working in a saloon, surrounded by crowds, isn't always safe."

Hoss shivered a bit and got an uneasy feeling. Adam was out there somewhere right now without protection. And he'd been seen talking with Folly; if someone had been keeping a close eye on her, then they might be keeping watch on Adam, too. Pa had enough to think about without having to worry about more than one son at a time.

"You feel up to riding, Joe?"

Letting out a soft groan, Joe swung his legs over the side of the bed. His ribs hurt but they needed to get home. If Folly was in danger, then it wouldn't be long before someone figured out that he and Hoss were in her room. Their troubles shouldn't be her troubles.

As Hoss gave Joe a steadying arm to pull himself up, a gunshot rang out. Both men and Folly went to the window and scanned the darkness. Footsteps could be heard on the sidewalk but the balcony blocked their view.

"You stay here, Joe. I'm gonna go down there and take a quick look."

Joe still had his gun in his hand and signaled to Hoss that he'd stay and keep Folly in the room. Before Hoss could reach the door, it opened and Adam fell through, onto the floor, blood leaking onto the wood from a hole in his leg.

"I'll go for the doctor," Folly said and she hurried from the room. This was all her fault. If she hadn't let Joe and Hoss use her room, no one would be hanging around here. And if she hadn't been talking to Adam in plain view, he wouldn't be up there bleeding.

Going quickly through the shadows in the alley, she was surprised when someone grabbed her arm and pulled her close to the saloon. "What are you doing here?" was all she got out before a man clamped his mouth over hers and kissed her roughly. In the back of her mind, she knew she had to finish her errand and get the doctor, but her knees were weakening from his kiss. Maybe the doctor could wait a few more minutes.