I do NOT own Bonanza or any of the original Cartwright characters. *Jamie is introduced here, but obviously I've changed his circumstances and, since I have never been able to catch his last name on You Tube, I'll be making one up. If I'm right? I think I'll go into shock.

Star's Hope

Chapter Eleven

Jamie sat on his horse while Mr. Cunningham went inside the small cabin. Again, Jamie got an uncomfortable feeling; something was not right. He wished he knew what was coming, only he didn't. Like it or not, he knew life was like that. Sometimes you had the answers; sometimes, you didn't. Waiting was the only choice he had at the moment.

Inside, Mr. Cunningham was looking Brooke over. He did need a cook and someone to mend his clothes. Due to the fact that Brooke had taken to wearing loose dresses, her condition was still hidden; that is, to the person who wasn't very observant and neither men was. Mr. Mitchell wanted her away from Virginia City and Mr. Cunningham was only thinking of a free cook.

"Does she speak English?" Mr. Cunningham asked, as Brooke had said nothing; she simply glared defiantly at both men. She prayed Mr. Mitchell wouldn't tell him she could. After all, if he didn't the man would speak freely and she'd gain a wealth of knowledge. Her prayers were answered as Jason had gotten it into his head she wasn't talking because she had proven him right. He's said more than once anyone raised with the Indians would eventually go back to that way of talking and thinking if you took them away from any white man crazy enough to take them in.

"She knows she's Paiute. She has forgotten the white language," Jason had an evil grin upon his face, as if he was daring her to prove him wrong. She would have, but she wanted all the information she could get.

Mr. Cunningham pointed to her then the door and nodded his head, "Come." He opened the door. She glared and walked through the door.

Jamie was shocked to see the woman come out of the house. Unlike the men who'd taken her and the man who now had her, Jamie wasn't blind. He knew a prisoner when he saw one, and the fact that he could tell she was with child made him nervous. There was one angry husband someplace, and when that man caught up with them, there would be a price to pay. He went to open his mouth only to find himself with a stronger impression to keep it shut and to help the woman out as soon as he possibly could. "I'm crazy." Jamie thought, but decided to do as he'd felt prompted to do.

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Ben stood in the living room and slid the extra pistol into his holster; his own pistol was missing when he came to, as was Mitchell. He figured the man had high tailed it home or to the sheriff's. After all, his money had been taken, and he needed that to drink with. He then took a rifle down and began loading it.

Hoss, Candy and Little Joe walked in the front door. Hoss had taken Star over to his baby brother's and, after hearing the news, Rosa had quickly agreed to watch Star while the Cartwrights and Candy hunted down the men who had taken Brooke. "Mitchell has to be behind this!" Little Joe said as he watched his father finish loading the rifle and slide some extra bullets into his coat pocket.

Ben shook his head, "He was robbed too and the first to be knocked out. I'm going to go to the sheriff's and give him the description I gave Hoss. Afterwards, we find Brooke!" He headed for the door, anger and determination written all over his face.

As the men rode to Virginia City their minds were all on Brooke and what might be happening to her. Everything they could think of made them sick to their stomachs; it made them more determined than ever to find her and bring those men to justice! Though Hoss, Little Joe and Candy were still not convinced that Jason Mitchell wasn't behind the whole mess. They just couldn't prove it.

While the four men rode hard and fast to Virginia City, Jamie was helping Brooke cook the fish he'd caught while fishing in a nearby stream. Mr. Cunningham had been drinking and passed out near the wagon. It gave Jamie a chance to talk, even if he did think the woman by him wouldn't understand him.

"My name is Jamie," he said as he threw another fish into the pan, "those men and Mr. Cunningham, they're forcing you to be here, aren't they?" He looked with sympathy upon the dark haired woman. He wasn't surprised when she said nothing. It's not like he expected her too. "Your husband is going to be furious, if he isn't already. I would be too. Only reason I'm with Mr. Cunningham is because I was desperate enough for cash to take an advance. As soon as my debts paid I'm out of here."

The whole time Jamie had been talking, Brooke had been studying him. She had a way of feeling if a person was good or bad, and this one was good. She decided to take a chance and whispered, "Mrs. Ben Cartwright."

Jamie stiffened and almost dropped the knife he had been using on the fish. He knew of the famous rancher! Everyone who had their lanterns lit knew that name. "Good grief, Ma'am. We got to get you out of here and back to the Ponderosa!" He laid down his tools and walked quietly over to where Mr. Cunningham was passed out. He looked the man over and shook his head. The man was just another drunk. He hurried over and grabbed Brooke's arms.

"Come on," he whispered and pointed to the horses that were tied up. "If we hurry, we can lead those horses away to a safe distance and ride out of here, but," he whispered as he looked towards his boss, and then back to the woman he now knew as Mrs. Cartwright, "we'll have to take another route back to the ranch. He'll expect us to take the most common route. I don't know these parts that well; I'm fairly new in the area. Do you?"

"I know roads and hill well," Brooke whispered back. Jamie hurried and gathered a few items, as did Brooke. Soon the two had the horses and were hurrying off as fast as they dared.