OHH, I know you all probably hate me now. I'm so sorry I haven't updated, and I really have no excuse. So, I won't make you wait any longer. Here's the next chapter, please review!

The Lions Cage

Ben Cartwright wearily took a seat at the table in a small room outside the Lions Cage. He put his head in his hands and sighed. Griff had been watching the door and noticed the older man's face dripping with sweat.

"You want a drink?"

Ben slowly lifted his head up, somewhat astonished that the con man was being nice. "Yeah."

Griff walked over to a water barrel and dipped a ladle in, "When, I get scared, my throats like cotton."

"So's mine." Ben said gratefully, sipping out of the ladle. "Thank you." He looked up as Cooper walked in.

"Now you begin to see what I mean." He said, taking a seat.

"Things will be changed." Ben said grimly

"You mean that? Me, and a lot of men in here deserve what we got, but Griff, he's different. What do you thing another four years in this place is gonna do to him, huh?" He looked over at the boy, "Hey Griff, tell the man what you're in here for."

"Hammered a man with a pick-handle," he took no joy in saying it. "I might've killed him, but I got stopped."

Ben's face was creased in disapproval, he still couldn't see why Griff didn't belong in prison.

Griff saw the look and explained, "My step-dad, he liked to beat on me, till I got tired of it." A small bitter smile graced his lips. "He was my legal father, that put the law on his side. My sister…" Griff's voice trailed off. He jumped up, "Want some more water?" he offered.

"No thanks."

"I could use some." Cooper took the blue ladle and walked through the door, only to be confronted by Plank.

"We got hostages, we could use them. But you lettin em get away with the promise of food we'll never get."

"Get outta my way, Plank." Just as Cooper spoke his name, the crazed convict thrust a knife into his stomach, twisting it as he pulled it out. "Plank, you stupid…" the older man collapsed, falling backwards towards the wooden table. Griff and Ben reached out to slow the man's fall, but it was too late.

Griff lunged at the murderer, three more of Cooper's friends behind him. However, they were all stopped short by Johnny's blade.

"Back, all of you." His eyes gleamed, Griff took one look and knew he was mad.

Warden's Office

"Food, blankets, soap, mail, we want the food that the state pays for and we NEVER GET! LIES! Accusations made by murderers." The warden slammed the paper down on the table. Joe snatched it up.

"These can't be lies, my father signed these demands."

"What they ask for is reasonable, give them what they want." Calhoun spoke up.

"Never. These men are prisoners, they are here to be punished."

"How long has it been since you were down there?"

"Well… I'm the administrator, my place is right here."

"Nothing they're asking for shouldn't have been there in the first place."

"I agree with Calhoun." The Sheriff spoke up, "Let's go tell them."

Calhoun and Joe walked down the corridor, and into the room outside the metal doors.

"Calhoun, what do you want?"

"Plank, we are here about the demands. Where's Cooper."

"ha, don't worry about him no more, and we have new demands: horses, guns, grub, and a head start. You tell that scaredy-cat warden of yours, he better be standing here in fifteen minutes or we start killing hostages."

"I'll tell him."

The Lions Cage

One of Johnny's friends walked through the room, making sure the other prisoners weren't causing trouble. Once he passed Griff continued to tell the story of Cooper's death to one of his friends.

"Cooper never even seen that knife, it was so quick."

"Cooper didn't count on trouble from just a con. But if one of those hostages dies, we'll all hang."

"Doesn't seem fair.

"It's the law."

"I'm gonna go see what I can find out."

AN- Im going to try and update more frequently, but my parent won't let me get on my computer very often because they don't want me shut up in my room. Oh well.

Reviews:

Fergus- Thank you, and I know right. I wish there were more stories about him.

AureaD- He always did keep a cool head in these situations, thank you for your continued support.

romirola- thank you, I hope you continue to read!

quwelli- Thank you for sticking with this story! I am trying to speed things up so Lissa and Griff will be together soon, and then there's the step-father. Haha, I love mystery.