Thunder Rolls

Chapter Five

Adam had left a message for the sheriff at the Carson City's lawman's office before walking over to the telegram office. Once inside, he asked for a paper and pencil. "Pa not here. Keep looking. We are. Adam." Once he finished writing the words, he handed the paper to Carson City's telegraph officer. "It needs to be sent to Sheriff Roy Coffee of Virginia City." He said as he paid the man. After the operator sent the telegram Adam walked out the door and to the café where he'd promised to meet Little Joe and Hoss. He'd sent them to the establishment to get something to eat, insisting that it took only one to send the message. He was almost to the front door when the sheriff hollered at him from across the street.

"Mr. Cartwright!" the man yelled as he ran to stop Adam. "I need to talk to you!"

Adam waited for the man to reach him. Since it hadn't been that long since Adam left the message for the lawman, he was left to wonder if the good man did indeed know something when it came to his father's whereabouts. "What is it?" Adam asked.

Hoss and Little Joe had seen him stop outside the café and saw the sheriff running. They stepped outside onto the boardwalk, but not before letting the waiter know not to touch what was on the table as they weren't through yet. Well Hoss hoped they would be back. Sheriff Colter looked at all three boys hoping they'd not go off half cocked once they heard what he had to say. After his hectic morning, it was the last thing the good man wanted or needed. "Two men were brought in this morning, one alive and one dead." He paused as he again took a close look at the Cartwright brothers.

The news had them draw back immediately. It made them nervous. Was he going to say the dead man was their father?

Seeing their anxious looks, the lawman realized what his pause had unintentionally said, he hurried to erase the notion. "The dead man was not your father. However, the deceased did have your father's billfold in his possession. When questioned, the other fellow said he had no idea how his friend got the billfold. He claims he just hooked up with his friend after not seeing him for a few years."

Hoss, Little Joe and Adam could all tell by the way the last few words were said the lawman did not believe the man. "You think he's lyin'? You figure he knows more than he's lettin' on?" Hoss asked as he slipped his thumbs into his pant pockets. His brother's eyes asked the sheriff the same question.

Sheriff Colter shrugged his shoulders and sighed. He hated this part of his job, the not knowing for sure. "It doesn't matter what I think; it matters what I know." He stressed. "He might be telling the truth; he might not. Men like that tell both and don't seem to know the difference. Though," he took a deep breath, "I think…with the dead man having your father's billfold… I'd say your Pa is probably dead. But," he again stressed the But, as the youngest of the men in front of him looked as if he was getting ready to explode, and the older two did not look much better, "there is no proof of that." Wanting to be more of help, the good man asked if the boys wanted help looking.

Adam nodded as he felt the tension inside of him growing. "It would help immensely, thank you sheriff. Roy, the sheriff over in Virginia City, already has men out looking. Having men here look too would help immensely." Adam answered as he looked around, half way hoping to see his father, "Though, could I have a word with that prisoner of yours?" He almost added the word "alone", but didn't. He was afraid of what he might do if he made such a request and it was granted.

"Maybe I should talk to him." Little Joe growled as he took a step forward only to have Adam reach and plant the palm of his hand upon the boys heaving chest. If he didn't trust his own temper, Adam sure wasn't going to trust his hot headed younger brother to deal with things in the manner they should be.

"I think you'd best let big brother deal with this." Hoss said as he nodded towards the stable. "Let's get our horses and start looking." Little Joe muttered something inaudible and followed Hoss. Adam followed the sheriff to his office.

0000

Callie took the rag she held in her hand, soaked it in some cold water and wrung it out. Afterwards she put it on Ben's forehead. His fever had finally come down and the poultices she'd been using seemed to be reducing the inflammation of the wound, thanks goodness. The fact that he'd been ill a good three days had had her concerned until his fever started declining. If only it would break, she wanted to get him back to his ranch and with his sons. She didn't have to know them to know how worried they'd be.

Once she laid down the rag, Callie lay down upon her own cot and closed her eyes intending only to rest for a few minutes. However, three days of nursing and watching Ben Cartwright had left little time for rest. Sleep finally overcame her.

While she slept Ben's fever broke and he found himself opening his eyes. Seeing Callie asleep, he couldn't help but smile. She reminded him of an angel lying there. Then again, he let out a small chuckle, in a way she was an angel. Hadn't she'd been tending him to him the whole time he was sick? Being the only one's here meant that she could not have gotten much sleep.

Ben tried to sit up and let out an involuntary groan. The sound reached Callie's subconscious and light sleep. She instantly flipped her eyes open and sat up then, seeing Ben struggling to get up, stood up and ran to his side. She quickly helped him. As there was no headboard, she set the pillow up against the wall and Ben leaned against it.

"How long have I been out?" Ben asked as he looked around the cabin and laid his good hand over his bad arm.

Callie told him and then said, "As long as you don't develop a fever again. We should be able to head to your ranch in a couple of days." She then excused herself as she grabbed her rifle and said she was going to see if she could scare up any fresh game for supper. She was tired of the jerky and what food they had. She wanted fresh meat. Of course, Ben was in no position to argue.