Thank you all so much for your reviews so far! :) May I present the next chapter for your reading pleasure.

Chapter 2

Light and darkness swirled together, making his stomach churn. His neck and back crawled from the sour wetness of sweat on his skin. His body throbbed in time with his heartbeat. His hands clawed at the damp sheets, desperately trying to steady himself.

"Easy now, Sonny." A quiet voice called. Light pressure on his chest held him in place. "You're alright now."

Adam opened his eyes and the room slowly came into focus. The walls to the small room were bare and unfamiliar. Sun light streamed into his face and he turned away. It was then that he noticed the thin metal bars of a jail cell. His gut turned to ice. Memory flooded back. Five Thousand dollars. Being left for dead in the desert. The mine.

Peter Kane was dead.

"Hey, now." The same voice called, light and friendly, as if speaking to a frightened child. "Welcome back, Boy. We was gettin' worried about you! Figured you was related to that Van Winkle Feller that slept for twenty years. You're okay now, you're in my office over to the Jail. Weren't no room for you over to the Doc's place." He was a dark skinned man, perpetually tan from long days in the sun. His hair was starting to silver and thin at the temples. "How you feeling?"

Adam tried to answer, words coming out in a gasping growl.

"Oops, hold on, there. Sam! Run and get some water for him, will ya? I plumb forgot. 'Fraid I don't have much experience with this whole nursemaid thing, Sonny. Not to worry, we'll have you fixed up in no time. Sorry we can't say the same about your friend. Weren't nothing we could do by the time we found you."

A breath caught in his chest, the knot in his stomach tightened. He felt his hands begin to tremble. Peter Kane was dead and Adam Cartwright was the reason why. He shook his head. "I-" he started, his voice a thin whisper. He reached forward, weakly grabbing the Sheriff's vest. "My… fault."

The Sheriff scrunched his eyebrows up in confusion. "Don't take this the wrong way, Boy, but you're weaker'n a kitten. Ain't no way you could have kilt 'im, even if you tried. Besides, Doc looked 'im over and said it was exposure and heat. Looks to me like you did just about everything you could, circumstances being what they were. Ain't no blame to place except on that fool himself. He's the crazy that wanted to live out in the middle of nowhere. Been trying to get him back to town for ages. I think the Sheriff over to Salt Flats was on him about living alone, too. But I never got the chance to ask him personal like."

Adam narrowed his eyes, trying to focus on the Sheriff's long string of rambling words. His head began to throb with the effort.

"What's your name, Boy? Got any kin folk we can telegraph for you, Son? Maybe a wife and kids? Or your Pa? Where is he?"

"Sheriff!" A pair of boots clomped into the office and back toward the jail cells. A young, thin deputy threw back the door, his chest heaving from running. The badge on his chest was still bright with the shine of brand newness. "Sheriff, Murphy needs you right quick. They're at it again!"

"Of all the confounded times-" The Sheriff started as he straightened up. "Now you stay right here boy, you hear? I'll be right back and we'll get a hold of someone for you. Promise. Just don't go nowhere."

The Sheriff ran out the door, grabbing his gun belt from the desk as he passed.

Adam's head fell lightly back against the jail cot. Pa. His pa was home with Hoss. Adam needed to get to them so they could go find Joe. Fool kid was probably wandering the desert looking for him and getting himself lost in the meantime.

Carefully, he propped himself up on his elbows, ignoring the protesting muscles. He swung his legs off the side of the bed and sat with his head bent to his knees, waiting for his stomach to settle back into place.

Adam used the wall to slowly get to his feet, leaning heavily into the hard surface. He took a small step, then another and crossed to the open jail cell door. His hands grabbed the smooth metal bars and he leaned his face against the cold. His breath was heaving from just that little effort.

Perhaps this wasn't one of his more brilliant plans.

The world righted itself after a few deep breaths and Adam continued. Reaching the main door to the office he wrapped both hands around the handle and pulled with all of his might. It slid open just a crack, enough for Adam to work his hand in and push it open the rest of the way.

He stumbled into the walkway into the path of a well-to-do couple out for a stroll. Most of the people in the street gave a concerned glance or annoyed sneer if they paid any attention to him at all. Doing his best to stay upright, Adam inched his way over to the edge and stepped down each stair first one foot then the other. Adam's arms were flung out wide, trying to balance himself.

He heaved a sigh of relief when he found the water trough only a few steps away. He grabbed the side and eased himself to his knees. Dipping his hands into the cool water he cupped a few handfuls up and into his face, another to the back of his neck. Sand was hiding in places he didn't even know it could reach and he longed to dunk his entire body. However he had the feeling if he got himself in he would never be able to hoist himself out.

It took every ounce of willpower not to slurp the entire trough up in one gulp. A small mouthful trickled down his throat. It eased the scratching and aching and washed the dirt away. He allowed himself only a few more sips before pushing away from the trough and slowly getting to his feet. He swallowed back his stomach's urge to rebel.

He looked up at the sky, trying to decide which way to head. His heart sank as he realized he had no idea where he was. He didn't even know which direction he came from. His mind, fully focused on getting home to find his brother, wasn't thinking clearly. 'Joe.' He thought. 'I've got to find Joe.'

A wagon stood on the opposite side of the road. The hitched horses were lazily flicking their tails, allowing their heads to droop in rest. A man came out of the storefront carrying a large sack and made quick work of hefting it into the back of the wagon. He shifted it into a secure place before turning back. A woman followed a few feet behind, her armload of goods slightly smaller. As Adam moved across the dusty road he saw the man nod his head at the woman and head back into the store. The Woman gathered her skirts and started to climb into the tall seat of the wagon.

"Wait." Adam called. He staggered the last few steps to the wagon, only just catching the very end to keep from falling over. His chest heaved as he gulped for air. "Wait, Miss. Please."

The Woman nearly tripped herself at the sound of his voice. It took her a moment to recover enough to hurry to the back of her wagon. Her arms outstretched she maneuvered herself as if to catch him when he fell. "Land Sakes, Man! What are you doing out here? Someone should fetch the Doc."

Adam shook his head, raising his hand up weakly in protest. "You know… Virginia City… which way?"

One arm snaked around his torso and her hand firmly gripped his upper arm. Without realizing it she was helping him settle on the back lip of her wagon, his feet dangling off the edge. "Virginia City? Is that out by Carson? In Nevada Territory?"

Adam gave a weak grin and a nod. "Which way?"

"Past my place, that's for sure." She answered. She thought a moment before pointing down the main street. "But it's that way, only a few days ride I think. Never been there myself, only know from hearsay. But I have lots of hands from over that way."

Adam tipped his head down politely and shifted his hands to stand. He tried to thank the woman, but all that came out was a huff of air.

"Now, hold it there, Mister!" A lot more forcibly than needed, she pushed Adam's shoulders. His backside thunked against the wagon. "Where do you think you're going? I hope you weren't planning on walking out of here. Where's your horse?"

Adam looked down at the ground. "Stole 'im." His hands began to shake.

"Then you'd best march over and get yourself a new one if you plan on getting all the way to Virginia City." Her hands framed her waist and she pushed her nose almost into Adam's. Her dark green eyes were flashing. "Though in your condition you shouldn't be riding anything but your bed, Bronc-Buster."

Adam reached into the front pockets of his pants. His hands slid in more easily than they should have. Dryly as he could manage in his exhausted state, he made a show of pulling out the lining of his pockets and looking up at the Woman from under his eyebrows. Did she think he didn't know he needed a horse?

"Don't you sass me, Mister. You still should see the Doc or at least hole up somewhere to sleep for a few days. You're not getting anywhere if you can't even hold your head up."

"Joe. Gotta find… my brother, Joe."

Her eyes softened, the lines of anger on her forehead began to smooth. A delicate hand snuck up and wiped the perspiration from her temple and cheek. A curl of mouse-brown hair escaped from under her hat. "Your Brother? Is he out in that desert?"

Adam swallowed. "Think so. Supposed to meet him. Gotta get home… Get Pa… Look for him."

It was the Woman's turn to look at the ground. She fiddled with her fingers, her mind clearly years away. With a sharp shake of her head to clear away the thoughts she continued. "Well. You could, I mean, I'm going up that way anyway. At least until I get to our place a dozen or so miles from here. You could ride that far with me, if you'd like?"

The last bit of strength left Adam's muscles and his shoulders slumped forward. "Forever… in debt."

The Woman busied herself settling Adam against a large, lumpy sack that rather felt like potatoes to his aching back. She swung his legs up onto the wagon. "Ah, we'll talk about the outrageous fare I'm going to charge for lugging you halfway across this forsaken desert when I get you home. I guess you can get just as good doctoring at my place as you can from the Doc. And I don't force that foul so-called-medicine on people, either."

Adam's laugh came out more like a weak snort. "I draw the line at… mustard plasters."

The woman grinned. "Deal. You just rest for now, alright?"

After a few jostles from the woman climbing the wagon he heard the distinctive sound of reins snapping in the air and wheels crunching dirt. Adam's eyes drifted closed as a thought fluttered through his head.

He didn't even know her name.