Chapter Five

Previously:

Carson nodded and went back to the table, still thinking on what Silas had said. 'Guess I best get used to being called sober and humorless for now, not going to be easy. In fact, a lot of things won't be easy.' With that thought he gazed upon his gloved hands. Truth was, while Silas had said nothing, Carson had still seen the look the older gentleman had given him when looking at the gloves. The truth was, he dared not take them off for two reasons. One reason was the laws that forbade scars to be seen in public. Though, in all reality, those laws meant very little to him. It was the other reason that made him hesitate the most..the fact that someone might recognize his hands.

Victoria and Theresa, who had exited house from the side, now stood next to the house. From where the two women stood, they could see Carson working on the gate that surrounded the corral. It had broken shortly after the men had left on the round up. "I feel sorry for him. I don't think he's very happy." Theresa spoke up.

Victoria didn't have to ask what made the young woman make such a statement. Due to the fact that she hadn't seen the man smile even once, the Barkley matriarch thought the same thing. "You talked to him just before he started work." Victoria kept her eyes on Carson as she spoke, "Did he agree to learn sign language?"

"He's agreed to at least learn the alphabet and a few basics signs." Theresa told her, as she too kept an eye on the newest Barkley employee. "Though, I am hoping that-eventually, for his sake-he'll want to learn more." She then wondered out loud where he came from and what his life had been like as a mute.

"I wonder the same …" Victoria started to answer only to have Silas call out the door that she, Victoria, had a visitor waiting for her in the living room.

"Probably Reverend Stacy and his wife, they were supposed to stop by today." Victoria excused herself while Theresa did the same-she had other work to do. The two women went their ways unaware that Carson had been keeping an eye on them the whole time.

'I wish I could have come up with another plan' Carson thought as he moved the gate back and forth-in order to ensure he actually had the gate fixed. Turning away from the corral, he headed for the bunkhouse. Jarrod had been running late that morning and had only had time to tell him which bunk he could use, though he had never actually taken Carson into the building. He figured before he finished the rest of his work, he might as well take a look inside. After all, he was eager to see what-if anything-had changed over the past year.

Once inside, Carson walked slowly around. On one hand it seemed like only yesterday he'd been here, and on the other hand it felt like a lifetime. The table and chairs still sat in the middle of the room. The 'kitchen', shelves and other things hadn't been relocated in any way. Though, it looked as if anything, and everything, had been given a fresh coat of paint.

Carson's eyes swept over the bunk beds until his eyes fell upon a small footlocker that sat next to one of the bunk beds. He frowned slightly. It looked rather new and, with the fancy design that appeared on the side, it stuck out like a sore thumb. 'I've never seen that before' Carson walked over to the bunk bed it sat next too. His eyes widened when he read 'William Johnson' on the top. 'What on earth!" Carson silently yelled -even if every part of him wanted to literally yell the question. Even as he felt lightning bolts go through him, Carson had another memory flash through his mind.

'Boss plans on expanding his ranch someday.' William Johnson stood in the front of the Barkley home. He'd come to a party the Barkleys were holding and was now talking to all four brothers, along with a few of their friends. "When that happens, he says my youngest cousin can, if he wants, come and work with me."

"What is *Preston's and Skinny's cousin doing working here?" Carson thought as he absentmindedly knelt in front of the footlocker. He didn't know why only he found himself curious as to what William had in it. It's not like any of the ranch hands usually kept something like this in the bunkhouse. He thought about seeing if he could get the lid open only he shook his head and stood up instead. It's not like he had any reason to break into the footlocker. So, instead he headed for the bunk house door only to notice a lone piece of crumpled up paper sitting on the floor next to the garbage can.

"Someone has lousy aim." Carson allowed himself the luxury of muttering under his breathe before leaning over and picking the paper up. Normally, he would have simply thrown the paper away without looking at whatever might be on it. As it was, he found himself unfolding the small piece of paper and looking at it.

His eyes widened as he read William, be patient and trust me. I got rid of the main obstacle didn't I? I can get the rest of the obstacles moved. Do not do anything for now. Meet me at the Empire once the round up is over. I should have things in place by then. The message might not have sent thunderbolts through Carson only the note was signed by the very 'friend' who had shot him, causing him to fall over the edge of the cliff and into the river below. 'Lousy aim and careless' he shook his head. When Carson heard footsteps outside the bunk house, he quickly folded the paper and slid it into one of his pant pockets and exited the building. He would have to put this paper in his journal.

*Preston and Skinny are characters I took off Velvet Trap. I never heard any last names and couldn't find one looking up facts about the episode. So, I just gave them one.