Chapter 8

There was a tearful reunion on their arrival back at the Ponderosa. Cathy couldn't stop hugging and kissing Davy and asking him if he was all right.

"Pa saved me."

"Of course he did. We are truly loved, Davy." Cathy told him and she continued to hug him.

Then Hoss trying to raise the atmosphere said, "Won't Joe be surprised when he gets home in two days and told how he missed all of this. He'll be as mad as a hornet that he wasn't here to help out."

"Right. Let's get everybody inside and warmed up. No questions for now. There'll be enough time for that later. Ben instructed, as he led Cathy inside. Grace was waiting patiently inside to hold Davy. The stress had taken it out of her and was afraid she would faint at the sight of him. ….

Following a nice warm bath and a fresh nightshirt, Davy was back in the arms of his Ma, sitting on her lap by the fire.

"There'll be no questions today Davy, just rest here with me. But not for too long as you need your bed right now for a proper sleep."

"Oh, Ma. I don't need to go to bed. I'm not tired." He grouched.

"You'll do as your Ma says, young man." Adam spoke up and Davy knew from his Pa's tone not to argue.

"Fine, Pa." He got off Grace's lap, much to her relief, although she would never had said so, and quietly made his way to the stairs, but stumbled just as he reached them. Adam rushed across and picked him up before he fell to the floor.

"Not tired, eh? Come on, I'll tuck you in." Adam went up the stairs with a sleepy Davy in his arms. …

"Ma, will Davy be okay?" Cathy asked her mother, showing great concern for her little brother.

"Yes, sweetheart. A good night's rest and he'll be back to his usual self." 'I sincerely hope he won't be affected by all this.' she thought.

"Those kidnappers weren't too smart." Hoss said.

"They certainly made it easy for us." Ben agreed. "I'll ride into town tomorrow and see what those two have got to say about all this."

"And I'll be going with you, Pa." Adam said as he returned to the group by the fire.

"I thought you might. But you'll have to take a hold on your temper."

"I'll try, Pa." Adam said, knowing how hard that will be.

"Now, let's eat. Hop Sing you ready for us?"

"Yes, Mista Hoss," he replied. "You come now. Mista Davy now sleeping?" he asked.

"Yes, Hop Sing. He was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow." Adam answered. "And thank you so much for your foresight in what you provided for us out there."

"No, thank you for blinging Davy back to us. Now evlybody sit and eat, Hop Sing work hard today." ….

When Ben and Adam arrived in Virginia City the next day, they headed straight to the jail where Roy greeted them.

"How's Davy?" Roy straight away asked.

"He's doing okay. We're keeping both children home for the rest of the week or as long as it takes to get these two put in prison and away from Nevada." Ben told Roy. Adam remained silent, sticking to his promise to remain calm, but secretly wishing he could go in there and beat the woman senseless.

"Well, Jacob Edmonds has been talking but the woman hasn't opened her mouth." Roy informed them.

"Do you have her name, at least?" Ben asked.

"Nah, Jacob don't know her name. She never told him. He only worked for her for his share of the money. Which I suspect he wasn't going to get."

"Roy, do you mind if we take a look at her." Adam asked, hoping his temper wouldn't get the best of him.

"Sure. Just leave your guns on my desk." Roy picked up the keys and opened the outer door leading to the cells.

"You don't usually lock this door, Roy. Why now?" Ben asked as he and Adam laid their guns on the desk.

"Just makin' sure. We don't know if there's anyone else involved. Someone might want to try and break these two out of jail."

"Very wise, Roy. Well, let's get it done." Adam said. He was beginning to lose his patience at all this wasting time. They walked through the door after Roy unlocked it and made their way to the cells.

"It was all her plan." Jacob immediately informed them as he saw the two men walk in the room.

"Well, what about it ma'am?" Adam said, as he stepped towards her. "Is that the truth?"

Jessie remained silent.

"Stay silent for all the good it will do you. My son will testify against you and then you'll be spending a long time in prison, you and your man here." Adam couldn't bear to stay there a moment longer, afraid of what he might do, so he turned around and walked back through the office and outside into the street, mounted Sport and rode off.

Roy locked the outer door and Ben made his way out.

"I'll catch up with Adam. He just needs some time alone to cool down."

"It's understandable. The circuit Judge will be here in two days. We'll have the trial then. Will Davy be up to it by then, do you think? It's a lot to ask of a little kid."

"Yes, I believe so. He hasn't spoken to us about it. Adam didn't want him to be scared at what he was going to have to do. So Adam will be the only one to ask Davy what happened and he'll tell him what to do when in the courtroom."

"Alright then, Ben. I'll let you know about the trial as soon as I know the details."

"Thanks, Roy. Bye."

"Bye, Ben."

….

Two days later Roy called at the Ponderosa to inform them that the trial was set for the next day at l0am.

"Fine, Roy. We'll be there." Ben informed him.

"Is Davy okay to testify?" Roy asked.,

"Yes, he'll do fine." Adam spoke up. "I've been talking to him. He wants to testify."

"That's good, but the moment he looks like he's goin' to fold, I'll stop the proceedings." Roy told them and then returned to Virginia City.

Adam went up to Davy's room where he was drawing in his Christmas sketch book. He was drawing what he remembered of the cabin, but as he was mostly in the dark it wasn't something that could be used in evidence.

"Hi, Davy. I think you should stop drawing these pictures. After tomorrow I don't want you thinking of this any more. I know it will be hard, but I know you can do it."

"Yes, Pa. I'll try."

"Sheriff Coffee was just here. The trial is set for tomorrow, starting at 10 o'clock. Are you all right with that?"

"Yes, Pa. I can do it. I have to do it. They're bad people."

"Yes they are, Davy, and with your help we'll get them put in prison for a long time."

"I hope so. I'll do my best so that can happen."

"That's my son. I'm so proud of you. Now what you and I have to do is go over all that you know, so you can tell it clearly in court tomorrow."

"What if I can't remember, or say the wrong thing?"

"That's why we're going over it now. Come, let me sit you on my lap and hold you tight."

"But you won't be able to do that in court, will you?"

"No, Davy, I won't. But I'll be right there where you can see me. Just keep looking at me and all will be well."

"Okay." Davy then sat on Adam's lap with his back against his chest. Adam put his arms around him and held him close. Davy held onto his Pa's arms. Adam had left it this long to give Davy time to adjust to being back home and relaxed enough to come to terms with all that had happened to him. So this would, in fact, be the first time Adam will have heard what had happened.