Chapter 5, by Grimesgirl

Ben startled awake. He looked around, wide eyed. What had he heard? A noise from the kitchen made him realize it had been Hop Sing starting his day. He leaned back in the chair where he had fallen asleep only a short hour or two earlier. He neck hurt and his eyes burned. His heart heavy with worry, he hoped that he had slept through the return of his sons. Perhaps they had come home, seen him asleep and, not wanting to awaken him, had gone on up to their rooms. A quick glance at the hat rack quickly dispelled that hope. What could have happened? Adam had promised to bring them back ' one way or another' and Adam was always a man of his word.

Ben rubbed his face hoping to clear his fuzzy mind. Coffee, that was what he needed. He pushed himself to his feet and made his way to the kitchen. Hop Sing was coming back up from the cellar with bacon, eggs and milk. He smiled as he saw his boss. "Mista Cartlight want breakfast now? Coffee ready on stove."

"Thanks Hop Sing, that's exactly what I need." Ben took down a cup and poured the strong, hot brew. A blow across the surface cooled it enough to allow him a swallow. That swallow seemed to clear the cobwebs.

"Let's hold off on breakfast for awhile, Hop Sing. The boys should be riding in any minute and they'll no doubt be ready to eat us out of house and home." Ben tried to sound confident as Hop Sing nodded his understanding but they both knew it was a false confidence.

Ben took his coffee and returned to his chair. His mind started to imagine all sorts of possibilities as to why his sons were not home. He knew the mood of the town and the cause for it. And he was right in the middle of the cause.

It had all started with a trip to the bank. He had been talking to the bank president, Weems, when a scream interrupted their conversation. A gruff voice told everyone to put their hands up and not make any false moves. By now a child was crying and a woman's low voice was trying to give assurance and comfort. Ben had moved quickly behind the door where he could see, but would hopefully be out of sight, until he could decide if he could do anything to stop the robbery.

His shock was overpowering when he saw the robber. He was wearing a bandanna around his face and only his eyes were showing but Ben knew it was Dirk Farrow, the son of one of the wealthiest men in the Comstock. For a moment Ben dismissed what he was seeing. Dirk had always seemed a happy, easy going young man. As far as Ben knew he had never been in trouble. Well, not serious trouble. He had been in the normal boyhood scrapes, like many other young boys. But bank robbery? Ben couldn't seem to grasp such a possibility.

As Ben continued his observations, the two tellers were emptying their money drawers into canvas bags and Dirk seemed to be becoming more nervous by the minute. One of the tellers dropped one of the bags and Dirk seemed to explode. He quickly stepped forward and pointed his gun at the man's chest. "Pick that up and make it fast. One more trick like that and you'll regret it." Although the teller had not been thinking of playing a trick and only his fright had made his hands not work properly, he nodded his head in agreement. He quickly pushed the money back into the bag and handed it to Dirk. The other teller did the same and Dirk started backing to the door, occasionally looking behind him to be sure no one was trying to creep up on him.

Ben knew he had to make his move now. In another few steps, Dirk would be out the door. The next time Dirk looked over his shoulder Ben stepped out into the open, his gun drawn and leveled at Dirk. When Dirk turned his head back, the first thing he saw was Ben and his gun. Dirk didn't hesitate, he fired, Ben ducked and Dirk ran. The others in the bank seemed to be frozen. No one made a move to try to stop Dirk nor did they go after him as he ran down the boardwalk, turned into an alley, mounted his horse and galloped away. Ben tried to stop him, but by the time he reached the alley, all he saw was the flying dust the horse had stirred up.

Of course, Ben had gone to Roy, reported what had happened. A posse was quickly put together, telegrams sent to Carson City, Reno and points beyond and two days later, Dirk was arrested in Placerville. None of the money was found. Roy and his deputy rode to Placerville, brought Dirk back and locked him in a cell.

Dirk proclaimed his innocence, claimed he was not even in town at the time, said the Cartwrights, especially Ben, had never liked him and now they were accusing him of a crime he didn't commit.

At first, Ben had been lauded as a hero for stepping forward and taking action. But soon, rumors started to spread. Ben and Ray Farrow had been rivals in several business deals. Farrow had bested Ben on more than one occasion and now Ben was getting back at him through his son. Opinion in Virginia City was turning against the Cartwrights. The good citizens didn't seem to remember the many times the Cartwrights had helped the town, tried to bring justice to the underdog, donated time and money for the betterment of the town and were just plain, good neighbors. A rumor, true or not, could have a life of it's own and this one was proving to have just that.

Ben came back to the present. His worry was only increasing. Where could his sons be?

Hoss was immediately at Adam's side. His brother was pale and his face tight with pain.

"I'm alright Hoss. We need to get out of town."

"You're bleedin' all over the place, brother. I don't think you're 'alright'. Folly went for the doctor. We're not going anywhere until he looks you over."

"Folly? Why did you send her?"

"Nobody sent her, Adam. She just said she'd get the doctor and left," Joe remarked.

"Did you see who shot you Adam?"

Adam shook his head. Between his previous exhaustion and the wound, his brain seemed to be slowing down. He couldn't afford to give in to them. Of all times, this was one time he had to think straight. But even Adam's strength and stubbornness would only carry him so far. Everything was turning gray. The last thing he remembered was his brothers' anxious faces and Hoss' 'Adam!'.

Folly pushed herself away and again asked "what are you doing here?" The answer was accompanied by a harsh laugh, one that make her weak again, but this time it was from fear. "You didn't think Pa would let them keep me in jail do you? All it takes is a good attorney and a few dollars to the right person. I hear you've been helping those Cartwrights. You know better than that, Folly. What are we going to do about it?"